Composer, 10, has bright future, teachers say

Max said the first time he heard a song on the piano, he wanted to play it.
NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- He's only 10 years old, but already Max Loutzenheiser has won national attention for his music compositions.
The North Canton pianist began writing music when he was 7 and this spring was named a national finalist in a Music Teachers National Association contest. He won state and divisional titles to reach the national competition that had 391 entrants.
"After the Rain," the piece Max entered, evokes the impression of raindrops falling with its crescendos and accented notes. While performing it at his home, Max bobbed his head slightly in rhythm with the music as his hands almost continuously moved in opposite directions on the keys.
Max said he wrote the song more than two years ago, as part of a series of songs called "The Perfect Storm." "Storms Tonight" and "March in E Flat" are other creations by Max.
He said he's unsure how he writes songs. "It just comes out," he said.
Learning music theory
It was only recently that Max began to put his numerous compositions on paper. Max's father, Scott, said that his son's ability to compose songs in his head had developed faster than his ability to notate music. That didn't bode well for the longevity of some compositions.
"We'll get them on tape, and then they'll be gone. He'll be working on something else," Scott said.
The Loutzenheisers said they wanted Max to be able to write his songs down to save them, so they sought out a music theory teacher.
"It was quite a feat to find a [theory] teacher who was willing to take a 10-year-old," Scott said.
In September, Max began studying music theory with Sebastian Birch at Kent State University Stark Campus.
"Max is amazing," Birch said. "His musical talent is really astounding."
Birch said that Max's musical abilities are in many respects at the level of a typical college student. Max's pitch and sight-reading skill particularly impress Birch.
"I always have to remember, you know, that he has only a few years of musical education behind him," Birch said.
A standout
Max's piano teacher, Carole Singer, said Max is different from other child composers.
"A lot of little kids do repetitive things that are uninteresting. He doesn't do that," Singer said.
"I've been teaching a long time," she said. "I've had a lot of wonderful students, but I will say he's one of the best."
Singer has been Max's teacher since November 2000. At that point, Max already had been playing piano for about three years.
His mother, Stacia, said her son's interest in piano began early.
"He came home from preschool and started playing the songs they were singing," she said. Ever since then, Max said, he has been fascinated by piano.
"The first time I heard a song on the piano, I wanted to play it because it sounded cool," he said.
Max comes from a musical family: his mother also plays piano, his father plays guitar and drums and his 13-year-old sister, Samantha, plays violin with the Canton Youth Symphony.
"I see a very rosy picture in his future," Birch said. "If he keeps up with it ... I don't even want to guess what he can do."
Scott Loutzenheiser said he hopes Max eventually will reach the level of John Williams, a composer who has written Academy Award-winning scores for movies.
"Maybe I'll just conduct," Max said, marking beats with his hand in the air.