What an inspirational story! Specially for parents with kids with Autism:
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An 11-year-old boy in Tooele was born with multiple disabilities. They're so profound, he can't even do simple things. Yet, despite all the mis-wiring in his brain, he's a genius. It takes years to become a polished musician, one who can make the keys talk and talk well. But for Kodi Lee, it just happened naturally, like turning on a switch. Communicate? His mother, Tina, said, "You ask him to carry a simple conversation, and he just can't do it." He's autistic, hyperactive and emotionally reactive. He's learned how to breathe to control crying spells, but put him in front of a keyboard and Kodi turns into a genius - what researchers call a musical savant. No books, no teaching, all natural, from a part of his brain that dishes out reams of music. Tina said, "The minute you put him on stage, it's like he turns a hat and he's a professional." Without notice, we threw everything at him, asking him to play Star Wars, then the background music from Spiderman. We had to stop him or he would have played it all! Researchers say rare savants like this have incredible recall, almost a compulsive need to let it all out. Kodi can improvise instantly while he's playing; for example, classic Moonlight Sonata becomes a little more contemporary. Professional musicians don't interfere because what he does is unique, intuitive. Eric, Kodi's father, said, "Music to him is like air. I mean it's not like he's an autistic, blind boy who likes music. I mean it's really a part of him and he's driving himself to do better.... |