Derek Paravicini

Derek Paravicini

Derek Paravicini is a pianist from Reading, United Kingdom, born in 1979. He is blind and has severe learning difficulties, which result from premature birth and the oxygen treatment needed to save his life.

Early development and training

He develops a strong interest in music and sound at an early age and teaches himself to play many pieces on the piano by the age of four, including music with melodic and harmonic complexity. His early playing is technically unorthodox, but his musical ability is quickly recognised by Adam Ockelford, then a music teacher at Linden Lodge School for the Blind in London. Weekly lessons, later becoming daily lessons, follow and continue for several years. Through physical demonstration and imitation, he learns the basic technique needed to progress.

Style and performance

Paravicini shows an early affinity for jazz, pop and light music, along with strong improvisational ability, the capacity to play in any key, and confidence as a public performer. His first major concert takes place at the Barbican Halls in London in 1989, where he plays jazz with the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra. He later appears on national and regional television in the UK and overseas, and performs in venues across England and Europe, including Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London.

Education

He studies at Redhill College in Surrey, run by the Royal National Institute of the Blind, and attends courses at SoundScape, a performing arts centre for young adults with learning difficulties and exceptional musical abilities or needs.

Later work

He is associated with the Derek Paravicini Quartet.