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Musical Genius: Color Notes

Related Article: Learn more about music.

Derek's savant brain discerns every note he hears. Learn more about music and savants in this video.

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Musical Genius: Young Jam (1:59)

Derek joins other musical savants for a musical jam session. Learn more about music in this video.

Musical Genius: Color Notes (2:22)

Derek's savant brain discerns every note he hears. Learn more about music and savants in this video.

Bringing Music to the Masses Through Guitar Hero (22:07)

Watch this TED video to learn how professors at the MIT Media Lab are extending musical expression to everyone using video games and opera. See what the future of music could sound and look like.

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Schubert was born the son of a schoolmaster in a suburb of Vienna. His struggle to live off his compositions was enlivened by the group of friends among whom he lived and who supported him and valued his work.

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Brahms was discovered by the violinist Joachim and the composer Schumann, and he enjoyed amazing success from his very first published work. He settled in Vienna, where he came to be recognized as one of the great musical masters of the century.

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Richard Wagner was born into the family of a government official in Leipzig. He had immense natural musical gifts and a huge ego, both of which helped him bring his massive operatic projects to fruition.

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Mozart was born into a musical family, and his extraordinary musical talent was evident at an early age. As a child prodigy, he traveled to all the capitals of Europe and became one of the greatest composers of all time.