Perhaps we receive our most important education from models around us. We emulate them. And if we don't imitate behavior details, we may take on the approach or method of someone we admire. Vicarious models can be important. At 14, I devoured Arthur Rubinstein's My Young Years. I loved it more than Mr. Rubinstein's playing that I heard on recordings. The book seemed to offer a complete how-to-live prescription to a young pianist -- or young … [Read more...]