A musical genius | Usman Riaz | TEDxGateway

TED Fellow and OneBeat Fellow, Artist, Composer, Multi-instrumentalist.

21 Year Old Usman Riaz grew up playing classical piano since the age of 6. Picking up guitar at 16 Usman taught himself how to play percussive guitar. Along with these 2 primary instruments he experiments with a number of other ones such as Harmonica, Mandolin, Harmonium and percussion. His recent at TED performances and talks at TED Global 2012 and his selection for the US State department funded cultural/music exchange program OneBeat have proven to him that the internet can be used as a reliable platform to learn new things and open up pathways that seemed impossible before.

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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[violetlantern]

Now this very guy is set to debut his first animated movie called "The Glassworker". He has been working on this project for the last 10 years. As a fellow Pakistani, I'm really proud that our country has talents like him.

[brinkman]

So many people missed the point of the video was that we live in an era where we can teach ourselves highly impressive and complex skills from the web despite our cultural and geological background. He used his skill simply as an example not a showcase.

[steelfoot]

People don't seem to understand that he didn't do what he did just by "watching the internet". As he said in the beginning he was trained in piano since he was six, meaning by the time he had a deep understanding of music theory and a developed musical ear. Using these, he was able to examine the placement of people's handling of the instrument and listen to and pick apart a chord to figure out how it works. While this is no small feat and this guy deserves every drop of praise he gets, people need to understand you can't reach that level of skill just by "watching the Internet".

[micmillist]

Being a musician and playing a couple of instruments, I recognise clever, when I see it.
Not only is this guy clever, he GETS the whole thing about playing music. That is to FEEL what you are playing. No teacher can teach you this...it comes from deep within.

[LazyFoxLore]

He is representing his country as a figure of what is possible for kids whose creativity are closed at a young age. He isn't claiming to be a genius. He never said he was, the title of this video is which I don't believe he uploaded this. His message is to show whats possible. 

[irun_mon]

A:What do you learn from internet?
B: I learn about music
C: I learn about film maker
D: I learn about engineering
E: I learn about science
Me: I learn that cats are cuter than dogs :D

[dhavalparmar]

All it takes is "practice", "patience", "Efforts" and "Dedication"

[deanaccords]

This is by far the most amazing humble brag I have ever witnessed. Bravo man bravo.

[yeheyz]

Slave of Art; Master of Craft.

That's what people do. We stand on other people's shoulder to reach higher and become greater. This guy right here used the Internet to perfect his craft by learning from the great artists from before and learned from them and perhaps become greater. He's awesome.

[acsk]

He is showcasing the ability that us humans of the 21st century have, of learning everything we want. This is the century of limitless knowledge at our fingertips, for the first time in all human history.

[DeanRobinsonMusic]

He never called himself a genius. He said he has an aptitude for music. He wants to encourage people to be resourceful and put time into expanding their talents.

If someone else has the opinion that he is a genius, that's that - an opinion. Everyone always regurgitates Bach, Beethoven, Einstein, Plato etc. - People who are widely accepted to be geniuses. Show some originality. Everyone loves to label, classify, restrict, put down. Positivity is the way forward.

Take his advice and improve yourself, no matter what you're good at. That's the only way to create a genius. 

[FindTheTRUTH]

He’s not just a genius. He’s a genius who worked very hard.

[myaa]

according to the comment section being able to play the piano, guitar, harmonica, compose, paint and direct a short film without a teachers and learning most of the techniques from just watching videos is so ordinary and normal and anyone can do it yet almost no one does LOL

[TheCombatCompendium]

Holy Crap, Everyone thinks they know everything. Guys, The guy learned all of this just from watching videos, with very little professional help. And all of a sudden everyone becomes a music critic, Cant you guys just enjoy the music and not ruin the experience for others by squabbling or judging him in the comments, This guy is Good, he is extremely talented and deserves even the slightest bit of respect. Jesus.

[TheOriginalMrBadaBing]

That kid is genius. He operates at such a high level, his intelligence allows so many things to seem so easy for him. But, you know he's a dedicated soul, he practices and has advanced beyond just an expert level... he's truly amazing. BRAVO!

[connerallen]

"This is the first thing I learned"
*shows led zepplin*


all my respects my man.

[masterminds]

He is inspiring to those who waste their time doing nothing important in their life. He is experimenting things and utilizing his time to the fullest. Bravo!!

[danielalien]

I won't say I didn't get the feeling that we was bragging, but I think there was another message in there besides 'look what I can do'.

For me the main message was about the great opportunities that the internet has given us and that it's possible to be anything you want to be if you're willing to commit time to it.

[chingasofarkaso]

Im proud to be a guitar player watching this.

Because those who don't know how to play don't really understand how FUCKING AMAZINGLY DIFFICULT his final performance really is to pull off.

I'm proud, as a guitar player, to say....I can't even fuckin do that because I know how talented one must be to do it.

[clispi]

My god these comments. Just appreciate his effort, his amazing talent and his fantastic performance on that stage. He learnt everything on the internet, just watching videos on yt, and he's fcking good at every instrument he plays. I find it just so incredible. Beautiful.