Pianists with Asperger´s syndrome.

[sevencircles]

I recently heard the many famous pianists  have a mild form of Autism called Asperger´s Syndrome.

Both Glenn Gould and Beethoven propably had it and Pogorelich, Lang Lang and Kissin etc. among todays pianostars.

Are you familar?

[stevie]

 

[quasimodo]

I tend to think AS is some kind of pseudo-scientific BS. The symptoms of that so-called syndrome are applicable to most professional artists and an imprtant proportion of outstanding persons in various domains.
When a dude appears to be significantly more skilled than average, then he's not supposed to be "normal". Genius is an illness. Nice simplification.

[counterpoint]

Both Glenn Gould and Beethoven propably had it and Pogorelich, Lang Lang and Kissin etc. among todays pianostars.

Do they have "it" before or after they learned to play piano? 

[da jake]

I don't like when people make these sorts of claims without real proof. 

To me, these sound like subtle attempts at disparaging the artists' accomplishments by suggesting their ability is the by-product of some problem.

[bernhard]

I don't like when people make these sorts of claims without real proof. 

To me, these sound like subtle attempts at disparaging the artists' accomplishments by suggesting their ability is the by-product of some problem.

I agree. Mediocrity relishes the idea that geniuses are actually ill people.

Besides, the whole idea of autism in particular and mental illness in general is far from clear cut (I suggest that people who entertain the idea that Einstein, had Asperger´s, Glenn Gould was autistic and so on, read Thomas Szazs "The manufacture of mental illness" to start with. Then move on to Michel Foucault ).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[da jake]

Respect. 

[mephisto]

I agree.

But new science shows that the line between being insane and a genuis is very little.

[franz_]

I recently heard the many famous pianists  have a mild form of Autism called Asperger´s Syndrome.

Both Glenn Gould and Beethoven propably had it and Pogorelich, Lang Lang and Kissin etc. among todays pianostars.

Are you familar?

Kissin absolutely HAS a form of autism.

[bench warmer]

I agree.

But new science shows that the line between being insane and a genuis is very little.

.........a la Robert Schumann ?..............

[mephisto]

.........a la Robert Schumann ?..............

I am no expert on the area but I guess it is something like that. Poor Schumann.

[sevencircles]

Besides, the whole idea of autism in particular and mental illness in general is far from clear cut (I suggest that people who entertain the idea that Einstein, had Asperger´s, Glenn Gould was autistic and so on, read Thomas Szazs "The manufacture of mental illness" to start with. Then move on to Michel Foucault ).

Good point!

But many of the characteristics that belongs to people with Asperger´s syndrome definately belongs to some of the wordclass pianists.

Pogorelich and Kissin are propably the best examples I can think of when it comes to classical pianists alive today.

An example of a person that propably doesn´t have Asperger´s syndrome or Autism would be Hamelin.

He often states that a social life is more important then playing the piano for him.

[BoliverAllmon]

I don't like when people make these sorts of claims without real proof. 

To me, these sound like subtle attempts at disparaging the artists' accomplishments by suggesting their ability is the by-product of some problem.

or comme's attempt to prove to us that he is a genius and gifted.

[pekko]

Maybe Beethoven was so "odd" because of his father and deafness, not because of any mental illness or syndrome.

It actually seems it's becoming normal for everybody to have an illness. Obesity, diabetes, ADHD, allergies (my friend knows one kid who can eat nothing but kangaroo's meat), sexual diseases, head ache, back problems, extra bones, heart diseases. Also narcisstic people, besserwissers what ever. Healthy people are becoming minority! And even they die... 

[BoliverAllmon]

I don't think there is a such thing as normal anymore. Everyone has to have some scientific explanation for why we act the way we do.

[bernhard]

Maybe Beethoven was so "odd" because of his father and deafness, not because of any mental illness or syndrome.

It actually seems it's becoming normal for everybody to have an illness. Obesity, diabetes, ADHD, allergies (my friend knows one kid who can eat nothing but kangaroo's meat), sexual diseases, head ache, back problems, extra bones, heart diseases. Also narcisstic people, besserwissers what ever. Healthy people are becoming minority! And even they die... 

Mental illness, just like Social disease is a metaphor. There are no such thinkgsin a literal sense.

In the case of mental illness, the drug industry and their pushers, the medical establishment saw a golden opportunity to make some money, and so any "divergent behaviour" instead of being regarded for what it is: behaviour we may not agree with, is immediately described as a medical condition (something which it is not) and therefore debased.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[stevie]

or comme's attempt to prove to us that he is a genius and gifted.

 

[sevencircles]

Maybe Beethoven was so "odd" because of his father and deafness, not because of any mental illness or syndrome.

Beethoven was a workoholic and antisocial in some way. Even before he was deaf.

He didn´t care about the social norms at all.

When a violinist said to him that it wasn´t  possible to play what he had written on a violin. Beethoven responded "Why should I care about about a violin? When I come up with something I want in the piece I write it down."

[mike_lang]

Mental illness, just like Social disease is a metaphor. There are no such thinkgsin a literal sense.

In the case of mental illness, the drug industry and their pushers, the medical establishment saw a golden opportunity to make some money, and so any "divergent behaviour" instead of being regarded for what it is: behaviour we may not agree with, is immediately described as a medical condition (something which it is not) and therefore debased.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Wait, wait...

There in fact is such thing as autism, a mental disorder and developmental retardation.  My cousin has it, and it appears a form of mental retardation and social ineptitude.  He has always had a very difficult time dealing with change and it is a developmental problem.  Because of his autism, he will never be able to live alone.

I realize we are trying to protect our dear geniuses of piano, but let's not discount legitimate illnesses or developmental disorders.

Best,
ML

[pekko]

Is autism neurological abnormality or a mental illness?

[bernhard]

Wait, wait...

There in fact is such thing as autism, a mental disorder and developmental retardation.  My cousin has it, and it appears a form of mental retardation and social ineptitude.  He has always had a very difficult time dealing with change and it is a developmental problem.  Because of his autism, he will never be able to live alone.

I realize we are trying to protect our dear geniuses of piano, but let's not discount legitimate illnesses or developmental disorders.

Best,
ML

I refer you to Thomas Szasz and Michel Foucault´s works.

Best wishes,
Bernhard,

[stevie]

to make thinks clear for those who dont know already, i am a pianist(barely), and i was diagnosed with AS 7 years ago, feel free to ask questions or whatever, im cool with it.

[Kassaa]

to make thinks clear for those who dont know already, i am a pianist(barely), and i was diagnosed with AS 7 years ago, feel free to ask questions or whatever, im cool with it.

Are you retarded?