Luis José playing the piano...musical savant?

Luis José is a 12-year-old adolescent, diagnosed with severe autism when he was 4. He started piano lessons at age 8, and months later he was playing in his first talent show. He grabbed very fast from the beginning the musical skills to keep learning and enriching his deep musical knowledge as he grows old. We think he might fit the description of a musical savant, according to some literature. Several of his piano instructors and other musicians that have seen/listen him playing the piano believe he has "perfect" or "near perfect" pitch, because of his ability to listen to a song and then be able to play it back (almost like a tape recorder, but of course with his very own flavor!).

In contrast, it is almost impossible for him to lace up his tennis shoes, or tell what he did at school during the day, or describe the plot of a movie or book, no matter how simple it might be. On the other hand, Luis José deeply enjoys swimming lessons, riding his bike, listening to all kinds of music (from Gregorian chants to "oldies but goodies" from the 80's and "reggeaton" music), and watching his favorite movies. He enjoys much family and friends gatherings, although it is quite challenging for him to engage in verbal social exchanges.

We invite you to watch all Luis José's videos, and to subscribe to our YouTube account to keep you posted on future videos. Thank you for taking the time to watch! (-;

Although autism is not curable, there are a lot of effective treatments that could help in stabilizing the body's systems (gastrointestinal, neurological, sensorial, etc.) in order to initiate an effective learning process or habilitation/rehabilitation program. It is extremely challenging to learn or acquire new skills to our people with autism if their bodies are not ready for the process. As a matter of fact, this even applies to neurologically typical people like you and me. Nobody can learn feeling sick or bad or disorganized. Learning has some very important pre-requisites: to begin with, to be able to pay attention, to recognize authority figures, to be able to follow some basic instructions, etc. Is not clever to go to step #2 first (learning) instead of thoroughly going through step #1 (getting the physical part ready for the learning process).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• autism
• autismo
• musical
• savant

[stephanielynnkeil]

Musical savants come in different flavors...some play classical, some play jazz and savants don't play back a piece note for note perfectly: they grasp the "fabric" of the piece. A "prodigious musical savant" is given the title if the person with a severe disability would qualify as a "prodigy" or "genius" if s/he were not disabled. You can simply YouTube "piano prodigies" and then compare your son. The main difference between a musical prodigy and savant is that a savant has a disability.

[josebru1]

Our son is a person with severe autism. Now he is 13 yrs old, and keeps getting better in his musical abilities. I am not fully convinced, but I think some might consider him a musical savant.

[philipriv]

iono savantism is a little different than being very good at the piano. Obviously your son is very good.

But can he hear a long piano score and then replay it note for note, or finish songs based on what would in musical logic would come next, things of this nature.

Hard to explain I guess. But I'm just saying there is a difference between being completely one tracked because of autism and being amazing at something because of it, than being a savant.

[josebru1]

Hi and thanks for your comment. Did you notice the question mark at the end of the title of the video? Since we started to notice our son's musical abilities, I came across with the term "savant" and its link with some people with autism. I've found a variety of definitions, and I believe our son fits some, some others not (like the one you mentioned). He can't replay immediately a song after listen to it only once-at least not note for note-although he might play some parts of it perfectly.

[josebru1]

Definitively interesting...our son's musical abilities are getting better and better all the time...it is quite impressing what he can accomplish with his piano. Later I'll post more videos.

[18skeetskeet]

i admire this very much!

<3

[josebru1]

Thanks! Do you have a relative with autism?

[thepsychicbeing]

very inspiring!

[fellowrobots]

Hey, this inspires me greatly.

[souljaboiification]

wow he is really good! Im 24 and have aspergers and I play piano by ear as well and compose my own music, I have a support group I just started on facebook called autistic musicians, just click like and feel free to share his music, I created the page for ppl on the autism spectrum who play an instrument to share and talk about there music! so just click like on autistic musicians on facebook!, God bless

[souljaboiification]

@day10020 awww are you a little jeleous? go make your own taco and do your own landscape

[day10020]

no, this child is worthless. (except for making tacos, and doing landscaping work.)

[ColorOfContext]

Yes, your son is a musical savant -- and there are tried-and-true methods to improve his skills - but sadly at least in the US, unless you have a movie deal option ready for Lesley Stahl and her daughter (for example) you're unlikely to find support in the media. These children have a long history of being exploited, and sad to say, they are being exploited today at the expense of using their example to help others.

[trancourtney234]

its really good. i've never heard such wonderfull music like this. he is sure a genius with this song. i bet i can't even play this. this song touches my heart. it's so relaxing on the first one. the second is like a haunted house your in and really scarry. the third one is so heavenfull. he sure has great talent in his heart.

[slugdeez]

It sounds like Michael Moore touched you in your private parts when you were younger, and now you're suffering from panic attacks and a severe phobia of anything remotely "socialist." Do yourself a favor and seek some counseling.

[healthmusic]

But, what if the unfriendly economic climate refuses to allow you to work. There aren't enough jobs to support this privatized (so called "world's best care"). Yes, the European universal healthcare systems are not perfect; I realize they have problems, too. One big fear of American privatized system is it doesn't offer prevention. Furthermore, preventing illness would be detrimental to their business. We have a system that rewards treating illness, not keeping us healthy.

[mechmusician]

Yes, I would. You do not have a right to a "living wage" nor do you have a right to health insurance. That is up to you to achieve. This is the land of opportunity, not the land of guaranteed safety and security. That would be called socialism, and Michael Moore is an anti-Capitalism socialist. We all have problems that we must overcome. Get over yourself.

[healthmusic]

Would you say the same thing if you were the one that lost your job and lost your medical insurance? You don't know if you can ever again have a job that is living wage, is that okay? Living in this unfriendly econmc climate, you need a job so you can have health insurance; are you okay with that. I'm not for socialized medicine; I'm for socialized insurance. I am for as Michael Moore said, "Christianized Medicine." Having this mild handicap I am in unfair disadvantage finding a living wage job.