Derek Paravicini born July 26, 1979 is a blind English autistic savant and a musical prodigy. He currently lives in Surrey, England. Paravicini was born extremely prematurely, at 25 weeks. A normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks.His blindness was caused by oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit. This also affected his developing brain, resulting in his severe learning disability. Furthermore Paravicini developed autism. However, he also has absolute pitch and can play a piece of music after hearing it once.
Derek has played in venues across the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s and the Barbican Halls in London, in Europe and the U.S. and he has appeared in the news media across the world. Derek Paravicini like many other savants finds it difficult to communicate his thoughts and ideas. He also finds it difficult to carry out instructions given to him. The pianist when asked to raise three fingers to the camera, raised both his hands. Added to his being an autistic person, he is also blind, which makes the case all the more extraordinary. The pianist plays on the reed as if he could see the reeds in front of his eyes.
The condition of savant syndrome, sadly, most often does not come with ability as extraordinary as Paravicini’s. As with most human conditions, the vast majority of people fitting into the savant category do not demonstrate this type of special talent. Though the signs of extraordinary ability are often there, they are far more subtle.
According to the Savant Academy, an organization dedicated to helping people with Savant Syndrome, there are probably no more than fifty people in the world today who possess the sort of talent that Paravicini does. Derek Paravicini can take a jazz classical music and play it in a pop genre with an ease which leaves the audience astounded. On Sunday’s “60 Minutes,” the case was no different as the guest for the show played some amazing notes on the piano. From classical music, to pop to jazz it seemed that Derek Paravicini knows it all.
