Rylee Bentley, a junior at BHS, has been playing piano for fourteen years. Starting when Bentley was just two years old. She has an amazing talent with music. Piano is not the only musical instrument she knows how to play. Music is a big part of her life.
“I have been playing piano since I was two years old,” Bentley said. “Started with writing my own songs, then playing only Christmas songs, and now playing all different kinds of genres of music, my favorite is romance.”
Bentley has publicly played at college competitions and has two recitals a year. She has played at Baker, KU, and Washburn and other music professors. One of her Grandmother’s friends. Beth Smith, who was named top piano teacher in Kansas is how Bentley is currently getting lessons.
“One concert she came up to me and told me she would love for me to be one of her actual students,” Bentley said. “Ever since I have been going to lessons once a week for an hour at her house.”
Bentley has an amazing musical talent; she played guitar for two years and was in the BHS band for four years. The first three years of band she played clarinet and her last year she had switched to oboe. Her junior year she joined the BHS jazz band as the pianist.
“I highly recommend anyone to play an instrument,” Bentley said. “Even if it’s for a year or less. I have learned so much from it.”
In Bentley’s family her grandmother played the piano and that is where she learned how to play. Her grandma was starting her own business and she was a test child for the website. The website turned out to be successful. When Bentley turned 10 her grandma had taught her all she knew. She recommended that Bentley continue with lessons.
“I love playing it. It’s my happy place. I can relax,have fun and playing is like my therapy,” she said
Aside from playing piano Bentley plays softball and basketball for sports. She is also a member of 4-H and stands up to cancer and is on the junior firefighter program as well. Bentley is currently working on a piece for her fall recital.
“I am currently working on a beautiful piece for my fall recital. Along with two other songs for fun. I am also working consistently on my Jazz band piano stuff as well,” Bentley said. “Jazz bands are a different kind of playing and still working to learn it.”