I recently stumbled upon this guy, and he is an autist, with a special musical ability. For those of you who haven't heard of autism, it is a disability which affects a few areas, for example your ability for emotion, or to take up information. However, some people with autism have a special ability. Some are incredible human calculators, others are musical geniuses. This man is called Derek Paravicini, and he is an amazing Piano Player.
Skip to 3:00 in the video and the best part starts at about 4:10. This guy is incredible. You have to watch it. The first time I saw this I couldnt believe my eyes. When he starts arpeggiating the notes with the orchestra I nearly fell of my chair.
He also does some Jazz improvisation which is also very nice. Search for him and Jools Holland, they did a nice ensemble. Normally they say you arent able to compose when you are an autist, but he is.
Joined: 23 Dec 2007 United States Lessons: 1 Karma: 45 Moderator
I had to smile as I watched this. What an amazing individual. Someone who you might think is your intellectual inferior can do something that you and I will most likely never achieve. It's astounding.
I applaud Derek.
I wouldn't change places with him but I envy him at the same time.
Phip
I had to smile as I watched this. What an amazing individual. Someone who you might think is your intellectual inferior can do something that you and I will most likely never achieve. It's astounding.
I think that describes it pretty well. I wonder how he feels inside, how he "hears" or "feels" the notes. It must be like sparkling colours lighting up inside his head.
He is also a great improviser: At about 6:20 he starts.
There's another guy, savant, that can recite Pi up to 25,000 decimal places. It took him hours to do and he stopped just because he was tired. He see's numbers as a picture.
