“Music is an inherent part of the universe.”
The human mind is mysterious indeed. For example, how is it possible that a 26-year old man who can’t count to ten and doesn’t know his own birthday—-a man who is blind, severely learning impaired, and autistic—-can also be a musical genius who plays thousands of complicated piano pieces with perfect skill and accuracy? Derek Paraviccini’s talents will truly astonish you.
He was born three months early, a twin whose sister was unable to survive their early delivery. Derek nearly died three times after his birth but was resuscitated and kept alive. During one of the attempts to revive him, he was given too much oxygen. This caused his blindness and probably contributed to his severe learning difficulties. Despite these disabilities, Derek began to play the piano by ear at the age of two. Today he performs in concerts to sell-out crowds all over Europe and the United States. He is the epitome of a gifted savant.
An amazing video is now available for you to view online which showcases Derek Paraviccini’s musical genius, including the ability to hear another pianist play a complicated piece and then duplicate it exactly from memory, without ever having heard or played it before. He can also perform “Flight of the Bumblebee” by sitting between two different pianos and playing with one hand on each keyboard. In the video, you will observe Derek’s stereotypical autistic behaviors, such as using echolalia, as well as view other savants who excel marvelously in music. Specifically, another young piano prodigy who is similarly blind and learning disabled plays the piano with Derek in a live concert for the benefit of persons with neurological disorders. If you enjoy piano music and are fascinated with the abilities of autistic savants, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this documentary.
This video is in five parts, so you’ll want to watch them in order. To view Derek Paraviccini’s story, click here.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
Related Articles:
The Autistic Savant: When a Disabled Child Has Extraordinary Gifts
Brain Wiring: Understanding the Autistic Mind