Name: In the key of genius
Uploaded: 2013-08-09T14:58:21Z
Duration: 19 min 24 s
Description: Born three and a half months prematurely, Derek Paravicini is blind and has severe autism. But with perfect pitch, innate talent and a lot of practice, he became a concert pianist by the age of 10. Here, his longtime piano teacher, Adam Ockelford, explains his student's unique relationship to music, while Paravicini shows how he has ripped up the "Chopsticks" rulebook.

*In the Key of Genius*

*Music, Language and Autism*

Lesley Stahl talks to Derek Paravicini

Sweet Georgia Brown

*Applied Musicology*

Music, Language and Autism

Born three and a half months prematurely, Derek Paravicini is blind and has severe autism. But with perfect pitch, innate talent and a lot of practice, he became a concert pianist by the age of 10. Here, his longtime piano teacher, Adam Ockelford, explains his student's unique relationship to music, while Paravicini shows how he has ripped up the "Chopsticks" rulebook.

In the key of genius

A boy born three and a half months premature, blind, and with severe autism taught himself to play piano before age four. Despite no musicians in his family, he developed perfect pitch and a vast musical memory, performing complex pieces by age ten. His creativity goes beyond copying, as he reinvents familiar tunes and instantly adapts to new challenges. His story reveals how unconventional abilities can thrive through encouragement and a deep connection to music.