This is a story of the getting of wisdom, tender and bittersweet.
In this superb and original memoir, Anna Goldsworthy recalls her first steps towards a life in music, from childhood piano lessons with a local rock muso to international fame as a concert pianist. As she discovers passion and ambition, and confronts doubt and disappointment, she learns about much more than tone and technique.
Goldsworthy evokes the hopes and uncertainties of young adulthood, the fear and exhilaration of performing, and the complex bonds between teacher and student. An unforgettable cast of characters joins her, drawn with wit and affection: her parents; her fellow musicians, both friends and rivals; and her schoolmates, in all their teenage glory.
Above all there is her teacher, Mrs Sivan, enigmatic, charismatic and intimidating all at once.
