Steven Isserlis

I was lucky enough to be taken to study with Jane Cowan at the age of 10. I stayed with her until I was 17, and went back even thereafter for more inspiration. She was unique – a fervent idealist, passionately in love with music, and with the great composers that created that music. I kept this book, in which she wrote during and after my lessons (of which I sometimes had 5 a week!) between 1970 (when I was 11) and 1975; so I thought that I should share it here. Of course, not all the references will be clear, by any means; but I hope that it will give some idea of her wide-ranging, holistic approach to music and teaching. It is quite a document…