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Child prodigy shows off 'supernatural composing'

12:18, 09 July 2009

updated: 16:08, 02 May 2019

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Watch Shane in
action.

He is a natural on the piano, composes his own music and has
been described as an "absolute miracle".

Nine-year-old Shane Thomas lives and breathes music and is now
proving himself to be a Mozart in the making.

When not tinkling the ivories, the natural-born musician dreams
up complex compositions, even in his sleep.

The gifted youngster revealed his passion for the piano as a
tiny toddler to the surprise of his father Clayton Thomas.

Mr Thomas, who is also a musician, said: "When he was three
years old he said he could play the piano even though he had never
tried. He used to pretend he was playing."

Shane's dreams of being a pianist became a reality at the age of
seven when his family bought him his first instrument.

But nothing could have prepared Mr Thomas for what he witnessed
as Shane sat down to play the piano for the very first time.

The proud father-of-three, who plays the drums, said: "He knew
how to play it straight away.

"Within a few hours he could play using two hands and was at
least a grade two standard. It was a complete and utter shock."

Shane's talents shot to a new level when out of the blue he
started to compose his own music - without a piano in front of him
or having even had a lesson.

The nine-year-old has put together several complex pieces while
daydreaming at school, playing his games console and even when in
bed.

He showcased his talents with a performance in Gravesend
town centre on Saturday.

Shane's "supernatural composing" has been recorded in a diary by
his father, who says he still struggles to believe his son's
capabilities as a musician.

He said: "He composes in his sleep. He wakes up in the morning
having dreamt up a piece of music. What he is able to do is
boarding on the miraculous.

"He will go to school and compose a masterpiece in his mind. He
can then play the entire composition note for note. They usually
last about seven minutes. It is mind-boggling."

Earlier this year Shane spent a small amount of time with a jazz
pianist who began teaching him at grade eight level.

The teacher described Shane as "the most extraordinary young
musician I have ever encountered".

Shane is so desperate to play he even uses a keyboard in his
aunt's garage in Dover Road, Northfleet, when he visits there.

Although unemployed Mr Thomas provides his son with unlimited
emotional support, the father-of-three has never been in a
financial position to pay for permanent music lessons.

It is a situation which devastates the caring single parent.

He added: "It is very unfortunate for Shane. He is an
extraordinary little boy and it is a very sad situation.

"People say all the time that he could be another Mozart. What
he really needs is some kind of patron."

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