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2009/6/10
Born 14 Weeks Premature, Survived Miraculously but Lost Sight—Fortunate to Meet a Mentor with Thousands of Musical Pieces in His Mind
[Comprehensive Foreign News Report by Merit Times]
British blind pianist Derek Paravicini is currently on a concert tour in the UK. Though reticent, he responds to every request from the audience, effortlessly playing any major key or style without hesitation.
Behind his masterful performances lies a story as moving as his melodies.
Now 30 years old, Derek was born 14 weeks premature, with his twin sister stillborn. Doctors initially told his mother he wouldn’t survive, but moments later, a faint cry signaled his miraculous survival—though with severe consequences: blindness, language impairment, and cognitive disabilities.
By the age of one, Derek loved banging on an electronic keyboard with his tiny fists. At first, it was chaotic noise, but gradually, he discovered chords. One day, his sister rushed to their parents’ room, shouting, “Come quick! Derek is playing the hymns we sing in church!”
Heaven had gifted him extraordinary talent. Derek could identify every note in a 10-note chord, while most musicians can only discern five. Additionally, he possesses an impeccable memory, retaining thousands of musical pieces—his mind akin to an iPod.
But even a gifted horse needs a discerning mentor. Twenty-six years ago, music professor Adam Ockelford “discovered” Derek at a school for blind children and has since guided him on his musical journey.
Adam recalls that the teaching process wasn’t smooth sailing; it took months just to adjust. “At first, he wouldn’t let me near his piano. It was his territory. If I played a single note, he’d hit me or butt me with his head to drive me away.”
The only solution was to push Derek to the other side of the room and quickly play the piece he wanted to teach before Derek rushed back. This way, “Derek would remember the tune.” With little verbal communication, melodies became their shared language.
Adam hoped Derek wouldn’t just be a machine replicating music. Derek didn’t disappoint—his playing gradually became flexible and emotional. Now, he no longer rigidly reproduces original pieces. Instead, he memorizes key sections, recombines them, and performs in his own style. For complex compositions, Derek deconstructs and reconstructs them, offering refreshing interpretations.
Roger Huckle, conductor of the Bristol Emerald Orchestra, who will collaborate with Derek next month, believes uncertainty is Derek’s greatest strength.
“Even if he hits a wrong note, he can seamlessly correct it within half a second,” Roger says. “But perhaps he doesn’t even think it’s wrong.”
Derek Paravicini, hailed by the media as a genius, overcame multiple disabilities thanks to his mentor, Adam Ockelford. Derek’s father, a banker, deeply respects Adam for his tireless and unpaid efforts in nurturing his son’s talent, even calling him a “saint.”
Source: http://www. merit- times. com. tw/ NewsPage. aspx? unid=129442
Blind Pianist, Brain Like An IPod
Born 14 Weeks Premature, Survived Miraculously but Lost Sight—Fortunate to Meet a Mentor with Thousands of Musical Pieces in His Mind
[Comprehensive Foreign News Report by Merit Times]
British blind pianist Derek Paravicini is currently on a concert tour in the UK. Though reticent, he responds to every request from the audience, effortlessly playing any major key or style without hesitation.
Behind his masterful performances lies a story as moving as his melodies.
Now 30 years old, Derek was born 14 weeks premature, with his twin sister stillborn. Doctors initially told his mother he wouldn’t survive, but moments later, a faint cry signaled his miraculous survival—though with severe consequences: blindness, language impairment, and cognitive disabilities.
By the age of one, Derek loved banging on an electronic keyboard with his tiny fists. At first, it was chaotic noise, but gradually, he discovered chords. One day, his sister rushed to their parents’ room, shouting, “Come quick! Derek is playing the hymns we sing in church!”
Heaven had gifted him extraordinary talent. Derek could identify every note in a 10-note chord, while most musicians can only discern five. Additionally, he possesses an impeccable memory, retaining thousands of musical pieces—his mind akin to an iPod.
But even a gifted horse needs a discerning mentor. Twenty-six years ago, music professor Adam Ockelford “discovered” Derek at a school for blind children and has since guided him on his musical journey.
Adam recalls that the teaching process wasn’t smooth sailing; it took months just to adjust. “At first, he wouldn’t let me near his piano. It was his territory. If I played a single note, he’d hit me or butt me with his head to drive me away.”
The only solution was to push Derek to the other side of the room and quickly play the piece he wanted to teach before Derek rushed back. This way, “Derek would remember the tune.” With little verbal communication, melodies became their shared language.
Adam hoped Derek wouldn’t just be a machine replicating music. Derek didn’t disappoint—his playing gradually became flexible and emotional. Now, he no longer rigidly reproduces original pieces. Instead, he memorizes key sections, recombines them, and performs in his own style. For complex compositions, Derek deconstructs and reconstructs them, offering refreshing interpretations.
Roger Huckle, conductor of the Bristol Emerald Orchestra, who will collaborate with Derek next month, believes uncertainty is Derek’s greatest strength.
“Even if he hits a wrong note, he can seamlessly correct it within half a second,” Roger says. “But perhaps he doesn’t even think it’s wrong.”
Derek Paravicini, hailed by the media as a genius, overcame multiple disabilities thanks to his mentor, Adam Ockelford. Derek’s father, a banker, deeply respects Adam for his tireless and unpaid efforts in nurturing his son’s talent, even calling him a “saint.”
Source: http://www. merit- times. com. tw/ NewsPage. aspx? unid=129442