sections:
The extraordinary story of the musical genius Derek
Paravicini, born blind and with severe learning difficulties, by the
music psychologist who has acted as his mentor for the last twenty
years.
'In the Key of Genius: The Extraordinary Life of Derek Paravicini' tells
the story of one of the most remarkable people you are ever likely to
encounter. After being left for dead when he was born four months
premature, blind and with severe learning difficulties, Derek started
to teach himself the piano. When Adam Ockelford encountered him aged 5,
he was already playing a wide range of pieces in his own inimitable
style. After daily tuition for some years, Derek's first big break came
when he was nine, playing jazz with the Royal Philharmonic Pops at the
Barbican. Concerts in the UK and Europe followed, and international
media attention, most recently with three appearances on the '60
Minutes' show in the US. Now (aged 26) a new documentary is about to
made about Derek's life and extraordinary abilities, funded by the
Discovery Channel in the US and Channel 4 international and Channel 5
in the UK. This will be screened in the autumn, 2006, to coincide with
the release of Derek's first commercial CD. His biography will form
part of that package.
book reviews
- Publishing News
“An extraordinary story of a troubled child who found his metier.” - Mail on Sunday
“A moving account of an incredibly gifted pianist” - Daily Telegraph
“Nobody can really 'know' Paravicini since he is locked in his own world ... What Ockelford demonstrates is that it is possible to make such an insular world fulfilling, and the contemplation of this can touch the rest of us. That, in itself, is a considerable achievement.” - Daily Mail
“Ockelford tells his story well. No one else ... could have explained Derek in quite the same way.”
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