Repoitoire Choices for talented std

[green]

10years old, recently played first mvts from mozartk545 and the bflat Sonate, also 'Barentanze' by bartok, and a short prelude by bach. That was about 2-3months.

He has aspergers and is gifted musically. Undecided about our next step, I see the commitment there, I would like to go through he 2 & 3 pt inventions. What is ur usual procedure for playing these works? Play them all?

[bernhard]

My usual procedure with students is to let them choose their repertory (up to a point). For instance, they may have to play a Scarlatti sonata, but which one I leave to them.

In the case of two - three voice inventions I would suggest that you let him listen to all of them and decide his favourite(s) and go from there. there isn't that much difference in difficulty between the 15 2-voice inventions, so it does not really matter which one he starts on (unless you want to address some specifc technical problem that is prominent in a specific invention). The 3 voice inventions are more varied in difficulty, some being much easier than others. I have posted somewhere a grade list of them. If I ever find the thread I will post it here.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[faulty_damper]

Aspergers?  Wow, I'm interested.  Aspergers is like autism for those who didn't know.

Asperger kids really do have a talent for music and usually absorb music much faster than normal kids.  I would suggest you do some research on Autism/Aspergers syndrome.

My sister works with children with autism and aspergers so I know some things about it.  But not about teaching music to them.  Since many autistic children are considered to be "slow" with the way they learn "regular" things, the same teaching technique may not work with the student.  But they are repetitive and retreat to things they are comfortable with.  So perhaps try aiming high with this student and don't neglect his creativity; maybe playing something and asking him to follow your playing - improvising.

[green]

I've heard a rumore that G Gould had aspergers. Nothing to confirm this, and if he did why would we know about it? Supposedly Kissen is autistic.

Yes my student is very talented. Absorb is really the right word, he seems to internallize and learn music in a way that is amazing. Despite observing a poor technique, he always seems to play 'through' it, it doesn't seem to matter! Despite what we work on, he finds a way to play something that seems to be other than what we worked on. He needs tutors to sit with him when practicing or he does nothing. In fact he would never go to the piano without a tutor. However he sits at the 'electron' for hours playing pieces with accompaniment.

[bernhard]

Have a look here for some interesting ideas for teaching students with learning disabilities (it includes both autism and Down’s syndrome)

https://www.melody.me.uk

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[comme_le_vent]

aspergers kids do not have learning disabilities, in fact they are more adpt than average in most cases.
the only understanding you must have is for unusual habits and unusual sociability.

[comme_le_vent]

in fact you can take of the aspergers' traits - the kids usually have obsessive specific interests - and if you nurture this interest in piano, and if he genuinely has talent - then you can be sure that he will be obsessive with piano and very intent on improving.

[comme_le_vent]

and yes glenn gould surely had it - his pshychiatrist posthumously diagnosed him with it.

and it is also likely that many other people in the musical elite have it or have had it - eg kissin, bartok, mahler and even possibly beethoven.

[green]

Well, that is remarkable, can u give me a reference for G gould, bartok, mahler? I'd be very interested in that, and I'm sure the parents of my std as well.

"aspergers kids do not have learning disabilities, in fact they are more adpt than average in most cases"

Yes, I never felt that it was anything unusual or something to feel sorry about, however, i mentioned it to 2 teachers one day who both immediately said how 'sad' it was. Sad? I don't know how this will affect him later in life. He takes retilin now. Does it get worse?

There is a quote from a mexican poet, i forget who, perhaps Machado, he says, "there is something in common between those who are seen to be mentally 'impaired', and people who are considered to be of genius, they are those who have been 'kissed' by God".

He definately is talented, very much.

[comme_le_vent]

if you have the time heres an interesting article

https://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20000618mag-asperger.html

an interesting list of people who either have it or have a great likelyhood of having it or a similar disorder-

https://www.edensway.net/historical_famous_people.htm

i know so much about it because i was diagnosed with it a few years ago.