Edmond Girl Writes Songs After Mother's Death

Sunday, May 14th 2006, 11:18 am

By: News On 6

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) _ An Edmond girl who didn't particularly enjoy playing the piano before her mother's death has since developed a love for the instrument and has become a prolific writer of faith-based songs.

Brianna Gaither's songwriting has provided the 16-year-old Oklahoma Christian Academy student with an outlet for her grief since her mother, Oklahoma Christian University biology professor Kim Gaither, died last November at age 46 from breast cancer.

Ironically, Kim Gaither made sure her daughter practiced on the piano even though Brianna dreaded playing. Brianna says that her mother would be thrilled that Brianna now spends many hours composing songs on the piano.

Brianna's songs are mostly poignant and bittersweet melodies. Curt Niccum is a Bible professor at O-C and says he's used some of Brianna's songs in a class he teaches on the Psalms.

He says it's perfectly normal for some spiritual songs to be songs of lament and that God wants it that way.