The Exceptional--Alma Deutscher

It is not the common, “just like everyone else,” average members of society or, “the community,” that are significant in this world, and no scheme of education, social programming, community organization, empathy, teamwork, or politics will ever produce the only thing of true importance in this world, the exceptional individual.

I’ve already explained why it is independent individualists who are the creators and innovators of the world responsible for every gain in human success, freedom, and prosperity, in the articles, “What Is an Individualist,” and, “Only Individuals.”

Please do not mistake this for a repudiation of those individuals who may not seem exceptional, but who are honest, self-supporting, decent individuals who seek to be the best they can be in all things. They may not seem exceptional, because their contributions to the world are seldom recognized. Their contributions may not be great and may gain them neither fame or celebrity, but it makes them happy and successful human beings which is all that is ultimately important to any individual. Whether exceptional or not, they are the only people who’s lives really matter.

As important as the decent individuals in any society are, it is the exceptional among them that are the creators and innovators who are responsible for every scientific discovery, every medical breakthrough, every important invention, every discovery of new successful methods of agriculture and manufacturing, and every great book, musical composition, or work of art; in the entire history of the world every advance in civilization, every gain in knowledge, and every improvement in the human condition has come solely through the efforts of exceptional individuals.

The Exceptional Alma Deutscher

Most of the world’s exceptional individuals go unrecognized, especially in their own lifetimes, and have often been subject to rejection and persecution just because their ideas were new and unpopular. They were innovators, after all.

For that reason, from time to time, I like to recognize some who are today’s exceptional people, like Chidera Ota in my, “Bright Future,” article.

There is no doubt that Alma Deutscher is an exceptional individual though she is not yet quite twelve years old. Alma is an accomplished pianist (since two years old), violinist (since three years old), and composer (since four years old), and she composes not only for her own instruments but for a full orchestra.

How exceptional is she? Her full-length opera, Cinderella, written when she was ten premiered in Vienna in December under the patronage of Maestro Zubin Mehta, as described in this article, “What does an opera by an 11-year-old (sic) sound like? .” It must have sounded wonderful because she received a standing ovation and ten minute applause.Alma is not only a musical prodigy she is also multi-lingual. In this interview she speaks both English and German, which she learned for the debut of her opera. There is a short visit by Zubin Mehta who praises her and you can hear her play the piano. She is also fluent in Hebrew, and I believe destined to be a polyglot.

Here she plays the third movement of her violin concerto at the Henley Festival

If you enjoy good music and learning about exceptional people a visit to Alma Deutsher’s You Tube page and Her home page will not disappoint.

How To Make An Exceptional Person

Of course it is not possible, but I am certain there are some things that have interfered with individuals becoming the exceptional individuals they might have become. One of those things is government education, and perhaps any kind of institutional education. Anything that restricts the potentially exceptional individual from exercising all of their mind, imagination, creativity, and ambition to learn, to experiment, and to do things their own way will discourage the true individualist. The world will never know how many creative independent individualists have been lost to the stifling regimentation of organized education.

Alma only ever spent one day in a school, and was totally frustrated and disappointed that they hadn’t taught her to read and write. If she had stayed in school who knows if they would ever have taught her. One thing is certain she would never have become the exceptional person she is if she hadn’t escaped the GCDP (government child day prison), and learned all she has learned at home and from private lessons.

—(12/30/16)