Small girl, big heart, ambitious dreams

UPDATE: Tiana's open house/CD release at Red Poppy in Ronan will be held Sunday, Oct. 5 from 3-5 p.m.

A delicate girl with graceful fingers and doe-like legs gingerly confronts the mass of a grand piano in even grander surroundings. 

As her tiny hands press the keys, the strings vibrate the sounds of heaven. Oblivious to the gathering crowd, the young pianist plays her own composition only to her grandpa, eyes focused on something deep within her heart.

She’s stunned by the applause as the last note reverberates through the Ohio library parlor, but she’s elated.

Tiana Shalom Crist’s musical journey was inspired by early morning drives with her grandfather, racing the rising sun to capture unearthly light. Both a photographer and music lover, Tiana’s grandfather, Don Angle of Ohio, would often listen to classical music as the duo explored dusty back roads in a search “to understand and pursue life and beauty and the grand design, and to communicate something intangible,” according to Angle’s photography website.

“We’re on the same page, expressing our emotions through the arts,” Angle said. “When we are together she makes me feel like a child again. We laugh and play and live in our imagination. Even though she’s only 11 and I am 66, we can relate on this level of expressing our feelings.”

The drives impacted the young Ronan pianist so profoundly that she decided to write music “that sounded a little like classical,” she said. “So I started writing songs. It was kinda hard at first but after the first song I wrote, if I felt in a bad mood, I would play the piano. If I was happy? Play the piano. All my emotions would go into my music.” 

Tiana’s first melody was aptly titled, “Grandpa.” She wrote nine more original compositions, recorded them on her piano teacher’s electric piano, and gave the homemade CD to him for Christmas.

Now Tiana’s sharing her musical compositions across the globe through iTunes and CD Baby, with downloads as far away as South Korea.

As Tiana composes, she remembers each melody in her head, sometimes jotting mysterious notes on her electronic tablet instead of writing music notes on a staff, according to Ronan piano teacher Karen Krystal (Randles).

“She has that mental capacity to hear and play tunes,” Karen said. “She owns them, and each is different and unique to her.”

The teacher, who also gives lessons to Tiana’s three sisters, takes no credit for Tiana’s ability to compose fresh music. 

“That is all from her,” Karen said.

As Tiana composes, she just closes her eyes, “and what I think about and what I feel is what I name my song.”

Karen describes Tiana as the consummate performer.

“She gets up to perform and plays with so much heart and so much feeling,” Karen said. “It’s not mechanical.”

Four years ago when Tiana came to Karen for lessons,  Tiana “was driving the boat,” Karen said. “Tiana is an eager, self-motivated learner. She is so excited it’s almost hard to hold her down to earth. She comes with big dreams.”

Tiana’s first request was to learn her grandpa’s favorite song, “Moonlight Sonata.” It’s a complex piece, written in a key with four sharps and octaves that exceed the reach of Tiana’s tiny hands. So instead of giving Tiana the sheet music, Karen taught her to play it by ear.

“It told her when her hands grew, I’d give her the original,” Karen said.

Tiana’s next lofty ambition was to record her compositions professionally. But the expense of studio time and 300 CDs was too costly for the humble family of seven. In February, with the help of her mom Sally Crist, Tiana created an online Kickstarter account where people could donate money to help her reach her goal. She posted a video explaining her plan with snippets of her playing the piano — including video footage of her Ohio library experience.

Tiana had three weeks to raise $3,500. If she raised that amount, it was hers; if she didn’t, she got nothing. 

By the last day, Tiana had 77 backers and $4,026.

Her parents drove her to SnowGhost Recording Studio in Whitefish, the result of which is her newly-released first album, a compilation of peaceful tunes titled “Heart of Shalom.” Titles include “Gone Tonight,” “Falling Stars,” and “Morning Hope.” Her grandfather created the album artwork and portraits. 

Tiana will share her music this Sunday from 3-5 p.m. (corrected) at the Red Poppy in Ronan. The event isn’t really a concert, but an opportunity to drop-in, listen, visit, snack, and buy an album before they are all gone. She’s already sold about 150 CDs and is saving the proceeds to fund her next album. 

The 6th grade Valley View student explained that when she performs, “I ignore everything and play for God, and nothing else. He gave me a gift and I want to use it to praise Him and not think about anything else. And, I think a lot about my grandpa while I play.”

Angle — who is quick to point out all 20 of their grandchildren are special to his wife and him — said he doesn’t take any credit for Tiana’s musical aptitude.

“I can tell you this for a fact: if there’s any genetics for music, she didn’t get any of that from me,” he said. “If there’s any influence, it’s from her parents. She has a good strong family. That is the foundation of her music.”

The young entrepreneur seems oblivious to fame, although it’s a concern of Angle’s. When young people are in the limelight, he said, they have to learn how to handle their ego.

“I’m glad she is responding to her gift and understands she has one, and wants to use it in a good way to bless other people with it,” Angle said. “Her music is great, and of course, when your granddaughter touches your emotions with her music, it’s really kind of profound.”