When musicians hear Gibson, they think guitars and when they hear Baldwin, they think pianos. And that is what Margie Balter’s audience heard and saw last night in the Gibson Baldwin Showroom, but they weren't listening to just any pianosg.

Perhaps it’s because the evening was about music that revolves around dancing fingers pounding black and white keys, but the mere three pianos stole the spotlight from the guitar-filled showroom. 

The first, that greeted visitors as they walked through the doors, was zebra print with hot pink lining, reminiscent of a middle-schooler’s lunch box.

The second screamed Independence Day, as it was patriotically decked out in red white and blue.

The third, that faced it, could have stopped a few ladies that walked by and didn’t feel like pulling their mini mirrors out of their purses.

It was the spectacular sounds resounding from these uniquely embellished instruments, however, that kept listeners in their seats with their eyes closed and the corners of their lips constantly rising up.

Margie Balter also known as “Piano Teacher To The Stars,” is a brilliant performer, composer and teacher. She earned her nickname after teaching Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Holly Hunter, in "The Piano."

Soon actors and actresses like Tom Cruise, Sandra Bullock, Susan Sarandon, Sanaa Lathan and Kevin Spacey followed. She also taught Paige Hurd, who played Queen Latifah’s daughter, Vanessa Norris, in the comedy "Beauty Shop."

Balter earned six credits in the film, one for composing “Finding My Wings,” the song played by Hurd in her piano recital, and others for played and arranged segments heard throughout various scenes.

Last night, a select audience gathered to hear solo selections by Balter and a few of her talented students.

Elizabeth Hunter, Acting Director of Playing For Change, opened up the evening with information about the foundation that shows and tells the universal power of and relation to music. “When you make music with other people, you create something that’s bigger than yourself,” said Hunter. That is the goal of the foundation and also what Balter and her fellow performers achieved last night.

Balter then played three solo pieces: “Whisper In The Dark,” “Watching The Days,” (a song inspired by the wise words of her father) and the “Theme From The Piano.” It was an evening of being placed into Balter’s world; evident of hours of practice, experience performing, talent developing and most importantly a love for music. 

Hurd started the duets of the evening when she joined Balter to perform the “Recital Piece” that brought them together. Magnus Ferrell (son of actor Will Ferrell) then joined Balter (who sat at the patriotic piano) on the mirror piano to improvise on an African piece, “Zanzi.”

After 8-year-old Ferrell displayed the bountiful ways music can spark a child’s creativity, singer Moqui and saxophonist Reinhold joined Balter to perform “Love Has Got Your Soul.” 

Drums, bass, and guitar then joined Balter and Reinhold for a self-explanatory yet timeless performance of “Bluesie.” Balter then took a break and welcomed her third student of the night, Hannah, to play “Crystal Dream” with the band. It was the next and final act, however, that brought the crowd to their feet. 

Graham Berger Sacks, 11, has been playing with Balter for eight years. His love for music is easily identifiable through the look on his face when he talks about it.

“I love the way it makes me feel,” said Graham. “Playing it, listening to it, practicing it, it just makes me feel good.”

It's his favorite genres (R&B with Soul as a close second) that further communicate the power in his passion. Like other kids, he might have listened to his favorite artists, Ne-Yo and Bruno Mars, on the way to the concert, but his love for and probable study of Billie Joel radiated as he sat down to sing and play “First Baywatch.”

Everything about his performance was natural, as were the positive reactions from the audience. As his foot tapped, his body swayed. As his hands flew up and down the keys, his head bopped and listeners grooved to the angelic singing that could compete with a Mickey Mouse Club-era Justin Timberlake. 

By 8:30pm (about an hour after Balter’s first piece) the audience was ready to hear more, but it was a school night for the young stars in the room. And it’s not just their parents, but also their piano teacher who they’re learning necessary lessons like “practice makes perfect,” and “rest is important,” from.

The third is a lesson Berger Sacks appreciates most about Balter: Have fun.

“Margie’s not an ordinary piano teacher, she works us hard and she’s fun, and that why I love her,” said Berger Sacks. That's surely only a few of the reasons why everyone who knows her, loves her.

Read more of NT's show reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Cortney Riles here. Follow her on Twitter here.