The Savant Academy does a good job at trying to dispel the myths out there about Savant Syndrome. The common stereotype of a Savant is probably someone like the person depicted in the movie Rain Man , but the truth is far more complicated of course…
…Musical savants play back what they hear, note for note.
Savants grasp and retain the underlying fabric of a piece of music, and are quite adept at filling in the pieces and chords in ways that fit their hands, physical technique, and skill level. This is, in fact, one of their greatest strengths. Unless a savant has been specifically asked to replicate a piece exactly, perhaps as an exercise, savants are generally content to do their own thing. In fact, it’s what most of them prefer to do!
Savants are not creative.
The best savant jazz musician in the USA is Tony … who plays 18 instruments in addition to the piano. Now 29 years old, Tony’s story inspired the 1999 television movie, ‘Journey of the Heart.’ Unfortunately, ‘Journey of the Heart’ introduced a number of myths about savants, including the notion that creativity is a struggle for those with Savant Syndrome. In fact, many savants show a high level of creative ability from an early age.
For a period of time, Tony was regarded as the only savant in the world who was proficient at jazz; today, thanks to specialized training, there are several savants who are regarded as first-rate jazz improvisers… Tony’s mother, fought from an early age for teaching and funding for her son’s gift. She tells people that her son has a triple handicap: he is blind, autistic, and has Savant Syndrome. “Having Savant Syndrome is like having a whole other special need,” she explains. After attending Perkins School for the Blind, Tony DeBlois graduated … from the Berklee School of Music. He performs frequently … and is in demand for appearances all over the world…
(source: The Savant Academy )