From the quality of the sound coming from the piano in a corner of Eric and Mary George's living room in their home about a mile south of Granville, it would not have been surprising to find out the musician was a well-schooled older teen or a college-age musician.

But sitting on the piano stool, all 4 feet, 3 inches of him, was 6-year-old Gavin George.

Just entering the first grade, Gavin is playing pieces that could challenge pianists four times his age. His teacher, Mary Craig Powell, of Columbus, said she learned the Bach piece, which is from the composer's Partita in B flat, in graduate school.

One of the longer pieces in his repertoire is Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2.

Powell is amazed with the speed at which Gavin is learning.

"I have had only two others in a long career that have been that advanced at that age," she said. "But he stands out. He can not only learn fast, but he is extremely musical and has a passion and sensitivity for music."

Gavin's parents knew there was something extraordinary about their then-2-year-old son when, one Christmas, Mary got a music video of The André Rieu Orchestra for Christmas. Young Gavin would sit glued to the TV, watching the video time and again.

"He tapped his hands in perfect time to the music and walked around conducting it," said Mary.

Feeling he needed enrichment, Gavin's parents heeded the advice of a friend and enrolled him in the Denison University Suzuki program at the age of 3 1/2. Gavin progressed quickly and could read music by age 4.

The Suzuki method delays reading music somewhat so students can focus on the physical and other aspects of music, Powell said.

Mary George, who has taught gifted children professionally, is Gavin's "partner" in the Suzuki training and oversees his practicing at home. She also directs his education through the Ohio Virtual Academy, in which Gavin completes lessons and interacts with teachers online.

That his talent was not biologically passed on from his parents is clear. Neither is particularly musical. But go back a generation, said Mary's mother, Frieda Nickle, who is Austrian, and everyone played an instrument or sang. A cousin of Gavin's also is extremely gifted musically and won a music scholarship to attend college.

But besides his inborn talent, it is the passion that Gavin has for music that astounds his parents and music teacher. Typically, he plays 1 1/2 to 2 hours per day, Mary said.

"Every day, he needs to have time playing ...," she said. "If he is not at the piano, he is listening to CDs. Music is Gavin."

Playing for a reporter and photographer, he radiated that joy. Without a hint of shyness, he sat down to play three or four pieces, smiling at the end of each.

"He is lovable and outgoing and so radiant about the music," Powell said.

Gavin said what he enjoys about playing is making other people happy. When at the keyboard, he said, he feels happy.

"I like how it sounds," he said.

Yet despite his precociousness, said his father, Gavin still is a 6-year-old. He likes the same things as other kids his age: Riding his bike and playing with friends in the neighborhood.

"Most know him as a 6-year-old," said Mary. "He tells jokes."

Gavin also has a number of other interests, such as playing with his chemistry and physics sets.

Where could his musical talent lead him? Powell said Gavin's gifts are sufficient to suggest a career as a concert musician is within the realm of possibility, if he chooses that direction.

"It takes money and breaks and having backers," she said. "But I see the potential to do great things."

Thoughts of a future in music have occurred to Gavin's parents, too. But they are taking a broad view at this point, realizing that predicting a direction for Gavin at this age would be confining.

Gavin (above at 5 years old) became infatuated with music at the age of 2 when he first saw Andre Rieu videos. He began playing piano at the age of 3 and absolutely loves to read, play and listen to a variety of music as well as make up his own songs. He has perfect pitch and is a very sensitive and passionate child which is expressed in his music. If he wins the lottery, he would buy one of every instrument in the world and learn to play them all!

Gavin recently celebrated his 6th birthday while vacationing and visiting relatives in Austria. He was very excited to begin working on Gigue while there.

To think this all started with inspiration from the music of Andre Rieu.