Musical Features of People with Williams Syndrome

Abstract

People with Williams Syndrome (WS) often express a special interest in music, particularly in music listening and creation (expression and improvisation). They may present absolute pitch and develop a special expressive and emotional relation with music. However, their ability to learn to read music notation and their ability to process analytically the structural elements of music show a significant deficit. Recent neuro-anatomical and neuro-physiological studies attempt to approach the structural and functional features of the brain of people with WS during the processing of musical information. In this paper the following are presented: (a) the cognitive and neuro-biological features of people with WS with regards to their relationship with music and (b) the potential role of the development of an educational approach that focuses on the development and use of the special musical abilities of the people with WS in the framework of their general education.