Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners Through Music Education and Beyond

Adam Ockelford; Lorella Terzi

Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners Through Music Education and Beyond

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The notion of learners who are 'twice-exceptional', who are both singularly talented and significantly challenged, has gained currency over the last two decades and is apposite in the case of so-called ‘musical savants’, who are on the autism spectrum, have moderate or severe learning difficulties and musical abilities that are outstanding by any standards. This chapter reviews changing attitudes to the co-existence of disability and ability through the lens of the ‘capability’ approach, and in the context of three musical savants, who all have public lives: Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley, and Lucy Illingworth. Pedagogical and ethical issues are considered in light of the ongoing musical journeys of Derek, Ashleigh, and Lucy, the impact of their frequent public appearances on views of participation in the arts, and what the future may hold.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Caring for Gifted and Talented Music Learners.
Editors	G López-Íñiguez , G.E. McPherson
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	15
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 13 Apr 2026

Cite this

@inbook{fa286935866e4083b7f026c4eacff677,

title = "Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners Through Music Education and Beyond",

abstract = "The notion of learners who are 'twice-exceptional', who are both singularly talented and significantly challenged, has gained currency over the last two decades and is apposite in the case of so-called {\textquoteleft}musical savants{\textquoteright}, who are on the autism spectrum, have moderate or severe learning difficulties and musical abilities that are outstanding by any standards. This chapter reviews changing attitudes to the co-existence of disability and ability through the lens of the {\textquoteleft}capability{\textquoteright} approach, and in the context of three musical savants, who all have public lives: Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley, and Lucy Illingworth. Pedagogical and ethical issues are considered in light of the ongoing musical journeys of Derek, Ashleigh, and Lucy, the impact of their frequent public appearances on views of participation in the arts, and what the future may hold. ",

author = "Adam Ockelford and Lorella Terzi",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

day = "13",

language = "English",

editor = "\{ L{\'o}pez-{\'I}{\~n}iguez \}, \{G \} and G.E. McPherson",

booktitle = "Caring for Gifted and Talented Music Learners.",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

address = "United Kingdom",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners Through Music Education and Beyond

AU - Ockelford, Adam

AU - Terzi, Lorella

PY - 2026/4/13

Y1 - 2026/4/13

N2 - The notion of learners who are 'twice-exceptional', who are both singularly talented and significantly challenged, has gained currency over the last two decades and is apposite in the case of so-called ‘musical savants’, who are on the autism spectrum, have moderate or severe learning difficulties and musical abilities that are outstanding by any standards. This chapter reviews changing attitudes to the co-existence of disability and ability through the lens of the ‘capability’ approach, and in the context of three musical savants, who all have public lives: Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley, and Lucy Illingworth. Pedagogical and ethical issues are considered in light of the ongoing musical journeys of Derek, Ashleigh, and Lucy, the impact of their frequent public appearances on views of participation in the arts, and what the future may hold.

AB - The notion of learners who are 'twice-exceptional', who are both singularly talented and significantly challenged, has gained currency over the last two decades and is apposite in the case of so-called ‘musical savants’, who are on the autism spectrum, have moderate or severe learning difficulties and musical abilities that are outstanding by any standards. This chapter reviews changing attitudes to the co-existence of disability and ability through the lens of the ‘capability’ approach, and in the context of three musical savants, who all have public lives: Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley, and Lucy Illingworth. Pedagogical and ethical issues are considered in light of the ongoing musical journeys of Derek, Ashleigh, and Lucy, the impact of their frequent public appearances on views of participation in the arts, and what the future may hold.

M3 - Chapter

BT - Caring for Gifted and Talented Music Learners.

A2 - López-Íñiguez , G

A2 - McPherson, G.E.

PB - Oxford University Press

ER -