Instant Genius: How Derek Amato Transformed From Aficionado to Musical Savant in a Day
- Public Event
Come and join us to learn the fascinating story of Derek Amato, a man whose life was transformed in an instant by an accident—an accident that endowed him with prodigious musical talent.
In this program, we'll come to learn how his experience challenges scientific perception of how the human brain acquires, encodes and unleashes this talent. We will get a glimpse of the unique challenges that Derek Amato faces as a result of acquiring his gift and how he uses science to understand what has happened inside his brain. Ultimately, he will face a terrible choice – to release himself from the incessant challenge he faces and risk losing his new-found musical gifts or to embrace his new world. Together, we will discover how science plays a role in helping Derek understand himself and ultimately what he values most.
A stunning high-definition movie will serve as the springboard for a lively discussion about the science behind the beauty and wonder of nature.
Enoch Yeung, a graduate student in Engineering and Applied Science at Caltech, will introduce the film and guide the post-screening discussion.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Presented by: Caltech Committee on Institute Programs
Derek Amato "sees" music as flying blocks of black and white
