Special Musical Gift
Special Report from KARE-11 TV, Minneapolis, MN
February 27, 2003
Thursday night at ten, KARE 11 reporter Brad Woodard introduced us to a special Minnesota teenager who's turned a disability into an amazing ability.
Alec Sweazy was born with a rare genetic disorder called Williams Syndrome. The disorder happens in one out of every 20,000 births.
The 18-year-old is developmentally delayed in some areas, but when it comes to music, he's amazing.
The following story is based on Woodard's report.
How is it that a few simple tones, when structured in a particular fashion, can reach so deeply into the soul and send the imagination soaring.
In a world of earthly limitations, music sets us free. It’s beauty, in the ear of the beholder, in the hands of its creator.
”It makes me get into a different mood and think about different things, takes you to a different place,” says Alec Sweazy.
Sweazy, 18, lives in a different world than most of us. His remarkable musical ability….the result of a genetic disability known as Williams Syndrome.
Alec’s mother, Lori, says in most cases people diagnosed with Williams Syndrome are missing the gene that produces elastin and gives tissue stretch, and that is why they often have heart defects. A lot of them have joint problems.
And although a lot of them are developmentally delayed, for some reason they have not just an affinity, but a gift, for music.
Inspired by his grandmother, a former Salvation Army worker, Alec also plays the accordion. He also sings in the top choir ensemble at Hopkins High, a position for which he had to audition.
Alec’s mother says the singing has always been there. “He loves to sing,” Lori says.
He may have been singing his ABC’s by the age of three, but it began much earlier than that, says Lori.
“He was 10-1/2 weeks old, and he was in his little swing. When I hit a whole note, he made an ooh sound, and matched the note. It was very spooky,” Lori said.
Sensing her son had a gift, Lori made every effort to make music a part of his life. She enrolled him in piano lessons at age six, but it was short-lived.
”The teacher would say keyboards off. He wanted to keep playing, so he was seen as a problem in the class because he was disruptive in that way,” said Lori.
But three years later came a turning point in Alec’s musical life.
“There was a Williams Syndrome music camp at Belvoir Terrace in Lennox, Massachusetts. For many of the campers, it was the first time they had seen another person with Wiliams Syndrome, so that was pretty amazing. When I saw those kids at camp, I felt so much better. I knew he’d be fine,” said Lori.
Inspired by the experience, the Sweazys set out to find the most talented piano teacher they could. Not only was Joanne Minnetti up for the challenge, she quickly realized Alec needed musical challenges of his own.
Minnetti gave him Prokofiev’s ‘Diabolic Suggestion.’ The piece of music was a dissonant departure for Alec.
When Minnetti asked Alec if it was difficult for him to read all of the notes, Alec replied,”yeah, it is, a little, but once I get the full hang of the song, it won’t be that much of a problem.”
Minnetti was amazed with Alec’s ability
I’d show him with one hand, and he could play it with either hand. It’s amazing to me,” Minnetti said.
When asked how Alec remembers things, he says “it’s like I hear them in my head, and then I pick stuff up from there and transfer it to my fingers.”
Minnetti says Alec also has a harmonic sense that is “incredible.”
”Like when you learn Rachmoninoff. Ten note chords in the beginning and I thought, oh man, how am I going to do this, teach him all these notes? So I played it for him and he heard it and played it back for me. And I got, I would say, 80 percent of it right,” said Minnetti.
You see, Alec possesses an ability most musicians can only covet. He has what is known as perfect pitch.
With his back to the piano, Alec guessed correctly what was being played.
Alec’s mom says she doesn’t know if Alec has a disability.
“Does Alec have a disability? He says he doesn’t. I don’t know. Sometimes I don’t think he’s worse off than any high school boy. But I worry about his vulnerability. He’s so friendly and trusting.”
Alec told reporter Brad Woodard he is like the other kids.
“Yeah, I think of myself as being a normal person. I may have some difficulty doing stuff sometimes, but I get through it,” Alec said.
Difficulties aside, in his obsessively tidy room, is evidence Alec is indeed a normal high school boy when Woodard finds a swimsuit calendar.
”Do you have a girlfriend?” Woodard asked. “No,” Alec said
But, spend any amount of time with Alec and it becomes clear that he’s a young man of substance. That’s reflected in the music he composes off the top of his head.
”It must be nice to know there are other people out there like you,” said Woodard. “Yeah, it’s really wonderful,” Alec replied.
”Have you ever felt like you were alone?” Woodard asked. “No,” Alec said.
You see, the music is ever present. And, for that reason, Alec will never be alone.
Alec hopes to pursue a career in performance, and his teachers say there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do that.
About 4600 people in the nation are known to have Williams Syndrome. A story of inspiration Thursday night at ten in the Extra.
