Young Englewood Prodigy Teaches Himself Piano

(CBS) -- Englewood resident Anthony Morrison was a preschooler when he walked by a keyboard and knew he had to play it.

He hasn't stopped, despite having no money for lessons or an art program at school.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov explains how he's still able to pursue his dream.

Anthony is 11 years old, but he found his passion at age 4.

"I just love the piano. I love the way my fingers move," he says. "How fast it goes. How slow it goes."

Self-taught, the young Englewood resident not only plays songs, he writes them.

Dozens of them.

"When I hear all the bad news, I go to the piano and play it. It makes me calm down," he says.

Anthony's mom does her best to nurture his talent. And so do his teachers and staff at the Montessori School of Englewood.

"When you see a child with passion, it's your job to ignite that passion," Executive Director Rita Nolan says.

The charter school – which gets financial assistance from Chicago Public Schools -- does it without having the money for a music program, or any formal arts program at all.

"We have to raise $350,000 to keep the lights on. Every year we raise $350,000 -- and that's before we add a music teacher," Nolan says.

Anthony plays for 15 minutes a day at school and tickles the plastic of an electronic keyboard at home.

"In the area that we live in, there's not a lot of positive things to do," his mother says. "When he gets on his piano this is his sports. This is his everything."

After a tough budget cut last year, the school's director says CPS has told her to expect another huge cut this year.

There is a Go Fund Me page for the school.