Kid with autism plays Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”
At the age of six, Ethan Walmark is able to play Billy Joel's iconic track, "Piano Man," with the same energy and passion as a seasoned professional.
Diagnosed four years ago with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ethan has battled with the developmental disorder for most of his life. His parents, Allison and Mike Walmark, support his musical talents and always try to find a balance between his gift and the difficulties that come with raising an autistic child.
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"You'll always have thoughts and goals and dreams and they may change, but that's OK," Mike said in an interview. "Life is messy." Adding, "We just want our son to be happy, whatever that means to him. It's not about us anymore. It's about him."
According to the Westport Patch, Mike used to sing The Beatles' track "I Will" to Ethan every night before bed. By the age of four, he could play the song by ear and, by the age of five, he could also perform tracks by the Doors, songs from the show "Glee," and most recently, Billy Joel's "Piano Man."
Over the weekend, Joel reached out to the Walmarks in a statement that said, "I think I like his intro to 'Piano Man' better than mine. And this kid plays with a lot more energy than me. Maybe he could teach me a few things."
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In reply to the overwhelming viewer response on YouTube and after receiving Joel's kind words, Allison and Mike released their own statement saying, "The past 72 hours has been like living a Fellini movie! We are honoured and humbled that Mr. Joel watched Ethan's video, and took the time to make such gracious comments about his piano playing. If Ethan's love and joy of music can change one person's mind about autism, we are happy."
Check out more of Ethan's music, including covers of tracks by Coldplay, The Beatles and even Ludwig van Beethoven, by heading here.
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