Anna Goldsworthy’s Piano Lessons is a memoir which is actually a tribute to a teacher, a Russian pianist and émigré living in Adelaide, Australia. The teacher, Eleonora Sivan, is a mystery and the book allows her to remain a mystery. As a very ambitious, self-confident child prodigy, Goldsworthy took piano lessons from Sivan and quickly discovered that she herself was either totally without talent or knew next to nothing about the piano and its music. Her teacher does nothing to lessen the shock. An elderly woman, Sivan long ago gave up any notion that tact is an aid to teaching — or so we are led to believe for much of the book. She is eccentric, dictatorial, yet incredibly insightful, and in her broken English she manages to say everything that needs to be said. Goldsworthy becomes not only a much better pianist, she comes to realize what is required to become a true artist. With the help of Sivan, she discovers within herself resources she had no idea she possessed. I have never read a better depiction of a great mentor and of how true learning takes place. Every teacher of anything should read this book. Twice.
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