I believe your book is "Down a Dark Hall," by Lois Duncan:
"Here's the deal: I read a spooky book when I was twelve. I couldn't
remember the title or the author; all I knew is that the memory of
long, dark hallways, doors locked from the inside and four lonely
girls trapped in an institution haunted my nightmares for ten years.
My concrete memories consisted of the thread of a plot: Four young
girls, gifted with ESP, are brought to a private school so the
headmasters can channel dead artists through their minds and sell the
art as originals. About a month ago, I mentioned the elusive book to a
friend, who immediately named the title and the author, admitting his
fear, as well. Pretending to buy for a younger sister who doesn't
exist, I bought the book again -- with a new cover no longer featuring
the young heroine with a candle -- and was overcome once more by Lois
Duncan's ability to surround the simple narrative with swirling mists,
dark corners and flickering candlelight."
"A fourteen year old girl named Kit Gordy is sent away to an all
girls' school called Blackwood. Madame Duret is the head of the school
and the other teachers are her son Jules and Professor Farley. Kit and
the other girls that applied had to take a "special test" that
determined if they had "special powers" in order to be accepted. Kit
has a bad feeling about the place from the minute she arrives. She
then realizes there are only three other girls that will be attending
the school Sandy, Ruth, and Linda. A few months after they arrive,
famous dead people started taking over their bodies. The famous piano
player Franz Schubert took over Kit, the poet Emily Bronte took over
Linda, and the two other girls were taken over by more than one
person. Do they escape the dangerous Blackwood school?"
Hall Teens
http://hallteens.com/index.php/Mode/product/AsinSearch/0440918057/name/Down%2520a%2520Dark%2520Hall/browse/17454/page/1
"Down a Dark Hall will always remain my favorite book by Ms. Duncan.
It's the story of a teenage girl named Kit Gordy who is sent to an
exclusive boarding school, Blackwood, by her newly married mother. She
really doesn't want to move away from her friends back home and when
she finds herself as 1 of only 4 students at the school, she knows for
sure that she REALLY doesn't want to be there. The school is run by
Madame Duret and along with her attractive son Jules and one other
instructor, the students begin to adapt to life at Blackwood. However,
life at Blackwood isn't exactly as it appears. Kit and the 3 other
girls, Sandy, Ruth, and Linda were chosen to attend Blackwood because
of their psychic ability. Mdme. Duret chose these particular girls so
they would be able to channel the talents of great painters and
musicians. As the students were able to create works of art in the
manner of their psychic channeler, Madame Duret would then pass those
new items off as "lost" works of art by famous, dead artists."
Epinions
http://www.epinions.com/content_58271501956
Search terms used:
"girl named kit"
"private school"
"piano"
"spirits"
I am confident that this is the correct book. If it is not, please
request clarification before rating my answer, and I will be glad to
continue the search.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
