Rand Ali: autistic teen and talented Sulaimani pianist
SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — An autistic teenager from Sulaimani has spoken to Rudaw of his musical talents and inspirations.
Rand Fryad Ali has been playing the piano for five years, and is particularly inspired by the works of Johann Schobert and Greek composer Yanni.
He is a student at the Institute of Fine Arts in Sulaimani.
"Rand has sometimes needed three months to learn some pieces on the piano. In the past, he was able to learn a piece in an even shorter period of time. There are some pieces of music which he practices daily," said his piano teacher Shahran Jasim.
Almost 3,000 people in the Kurdistan Region are known to have autism,but less than 20 receive formal treatment, according to Kamal Jabari, head of the Kurdistan Autism Group.
Currently, there are 20 autism centres in the Kurdistan Region. Seventeen are private.
Rand Fryad Ali has been playing the piano for five years, and is particularly inspired by the works of Johann Schobert and Greek composer Yanni.
He is a student at the Institute of Fine Arts in Sulaimani.
"Rand has sometimes needed three months to learn some pieces on the piano. In the past, he was able to learn a piece in an even shorter period of time. There are some pieces of music which he practices daily," said his piano teacher Shahran Jasim.
Almost 3,000 people in the Kurdistan Region are known to have autism,but less than 20 receive formal treatment, according to Kamal Jabari, head of the Kurdistan Autism Group.
Currently, there are 20 autism centres in the Kurdistan Region. Seventeen are private.