In The Key of Genius

Derek Paravicini is blind, doesn t know his fingers from his thumbs and needs round-the-clock care. But he has an extremely rare gift he is a musical prodigy who amazes all who hear him play. orn prematurely, weighing just 1lb 5oz, he remained in hospital for three months and technically "died" several times before finally growing strong enough to go home. It was not long before his blindness became apparent, and as he grew older, it also became clear that he had severe learning difficulties and autism as well. esperately trying to find something to engage and stimulate baby Derek, his Nanny discovered a toy organ at the family house and put it down in front of him. Miraculously, without anyone realising it at first, Derek taught himself to play. By the time he was two, he could pick out nursery rhymes before he could even talk! Music proved to be an outlet not only for expressing himself, but for communicating with others his way of dealing with a strange and confusing world. By the time Derek had graduated to the piano, aged four, he was already an exceptional musician in the making. I d never seen anything like it, says Dr Adam Ockelford. He hit the notes with his f