maybe she's Beethoven!

[Guest guest]

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16736728.htm

 

Posted on Tue, Feb. 20, 2007

 

Piano-playing cat is YouTube star

 

It's not " Für Elise, " but an on-key cat is wowing the

Net.

 

By Amanda Rittenhouse

 

For The Inquirer

 

 

By tickling the ivories, Nora, who lives with Betsey Alexander in

Center City, has tickled fancies on YouTube.

 

 

From rags to ragtime.

 

A Philadelphia feline and former stray is tickling the ivories and

hearts of YouTube viewers around the world. The video, listed on

www.youtube.com as " Nora, the Piano-Playing Cat, " has been

viewed more than 600,000 times in three weeks.

 

The video has received 21 YouTube honors, including February's

third-most-viewed pets and animals video.

 

Nora's owner, Betsy Alexander of Center City, who is new to the

YouTube Web site, said that Nora plays the piano daily and capturing

her performing on video was not difficult.

 

She said Nora, a 3-year-old gray bull's-eye tabby, began playing the

piano at age 1. Nora doesn't play songs, just notes.

 

" When she first started, she played two notes at a time and then

learned how to play one note at a time. She sometimes reaches up to

the black notes. She has a little bit of rhythm but I don't know if in

her mind if that's a song or not. I don't know. You never know what's

going on in their little heads, " said Alexander.

 

Alexander, a composer, painter, private music teacher, and a musical

consultant for the Society Hill Synagogue, adopted Nora from PetSmart.

She describes her as a diva and the fattest cat of her six-cat

house.

 

Since Nora's video debuted, Alexander has received e-mail from Spain,

Italy, Canada and the United States, and online comments from

Malaysia, Japan, Brazil and Argentina.

 

" Nora even got a valentine from Texas, " she said.

 

To reward Nora's concertizing, Alexander gives her cat treats.

Alexander denies YouTube rumors that she spreads catnip on her Yamaha

Disklavier grand piano.

 

" I didn't teach her how to do it. She's just imitating and she

actually plays when we're not here, " said Alexander.

 

In the video, Nora provides accompaniment to her favorite song, the

Bach " Minuet in G, " with piano student Barbara Eberlein.

 

Eberlein has been a student of Alexander's for six years and usually

takes lessons early Monday morning.

 

" I think that's why Nora likes to play with me most. I walk in

first thing Monday morning and she jumps on the piano and starts

playing. It's hysterical. "

 

Eberlein said the cat runs downstairs when she hears the Bach

minuet.

 

" Long before Betsy had the idea to videotape her, she would play.

Some of her cats would inadvertently walk on keys but this cat just

sat down with perfect posture and sometimes even played the same key.

If I hit one key over and over that's what she'll do. If I play

something with two hands she will use two paws, " said

Eberlein.

 

Alexander and Nora live and work out of their home with Alexander's

husband, Burnell Yow, and five other cats, Miro, Rennie, Max, Clara

and Gabby.

 

" She really has the personality of a great composer, "

Alexander said of Nora... . Maybe she's Beethoven. She puts her ear

towards the piano, doesn't get along with the other cats, and

definitely likes to be in the spotlight. "

 

Contact Amanda Rittenhouse at 215-854-2771 or

arittenhouse.