Paul's Response To Keller's Letter

This letter is not intended to be sent to Keller

Dear Her Keller,

I am sorry that I did not reply to the letter you sent me in response to the tape I sent you of my Honours performance in Elder Hall in 1972. At the time, I could not find the words to say, to be honest I was angry and disappointed. When the parcel came to my door I was stunned to receive the tape back for a start, but along with a book of notes full of harsh critique telling me to go back to basics, Six months of The Children’s Bach I recall was the last thing I wanted to read. I was too proud, too proud of the fact that I was a well-known pianist.  

However looking back at this now, I realise what you said was right. When I had gone back to Adelaide in 1974 I had forgotten the basics. I became so wrapped up in the attention that came my way that I forgot to pay attention to all the important little things you taught me, things at the time that seemed so insignificant, yet in reality were the fundamentals that would lead me to being a truly successful pianist and someone you could be proud of.

I am writing this letter to you to express to you how appreciative I now am of everything you taught me and to the time you took to teach me everything you knew. I am sorry it took me so long to realise.

Paul Crabbe.

Darwin 1967: Gap Exercise Herr Keller

My eyes followed him as he ran from my room. I turned around and retrieved my textbooks from my shelf, opened it and starting from the beginning, as i did every time. 

"That boy is so young, he has so much to learn." I muttered to myself. 

Unfortunately he does not realise until you have grown up, you will not understand what you don't understand. He is too spoilt, too overconfident, I could tell from the moment he walked in and from the way his father spoke so well of him. I do see potential in him however, i believe he can one day become a concert pianist, yet he has so far to go. So I must go back to basics, he needs to listen to what I tell him, work hard to fix his bad habits. He will come back, I know he will. I thought no more of this and closed the textbook placing it back on the shelf, and walked downstairs for my 5 o'clock beer. 

Monday's Lesson- Intermezzo

In Intermezzo, while Paul is in the library looking for clues in books that will tell him more about his piano teacher's (Keller) past, we are positioned to view Paul in a different way. This visit to the library affects my view of Paul, this is because his response to the lovers in the library demonstrates to me that he has grown and matured since the last section, in the way that he has gone from a boy, to a teenager. This is supported by the way Paul shows a strong curiousity about was is occurring in the next aisle in the library, where he becomes distracted by the lovers. This moment in the novel is an instance where his interest in learning about Keller is interrupted and conflicted with his budding sexuality. While Paul is successful in finding information about Keller's wife, he walks away from the library more excited about the couple he had just witnessed.

From the previous section of the novel we learn before and after Paul comes for his piano lessons, Keller is often engaged in his scrapbooks, symbolising its importance to Keller. Towards the end of this section, Keller's teaching methods also change, "His teaching methods also changed with the coming of the Wet: suddenly he seemed to find music of certain composers unbearable" (P.49) He later says to Paul, "'Beauty simplifies,... the best music is neither beautiful nor ugly. Like the world, it is infinitely complex. Full on nuance. Rich beyond any reduction. We must not make the mistake of confusing music with emotion.'"(P.50) The gift Paul later receives from Her Keller in Intermezzo is a "battered, yellow edition Czerny, the Opus 599 studies." (Pg. 54) Paul is disappointed with this gift as he already has it, however his father discovers the value in this gift. The value of this gift and the way in which it is received, is a demonstration of the obscure care in which Keller has for Paul.

First Impressions in Maestro

The first impressions I have of Paul Crabbe at the beginning of the novel is that he is a bit of a misfit, a ‘fence sitter’ (Chapter 4, p. 17) He does not appear to be a quiet child because he says exactly what he feels and claims that he is self centered due to the fact he is a child. I was child enough––self-centred enough––to think it likely’ (Chapter 1, p.5). Pauls relationship with his parents differs quite a bit, his mother is presented as very motherly and as the carer of the household ‘As always, my mother… began fussing in the kitchen” (Chapter 2, pg. 7) Paul also states ‘my mother, ever the conciliator’ (Chapter 2, pg. 8) meaning that she acts as a mediator. She is also presented as more emotional and talkative, the complete opposite to her stoic and quiet husband John Crabbe. Paul is quite obedient when speaking to his father, ‘In these pairings of opposites I have always put my father first,’ (Chapter 4, pg. 15) but it appears that he can be more open with his mother and express his feelings more freely. 

Week 2: Imaginative Response

Dear Diary,

The end of the year is coming so fast, so many decisions will need to be made, decisions i need to make for myself. I understand my parents want to be there to help me through this and I appreciate it, I just feel like I need space to figure things out, learn from my experiences and my mistakes. There are so many exciting events coming up in the next few weeks, I have my formal, parties and then graduation. And then it is all me, in the big wide world. What will I do, do i want to go to uni? Or take a gap year instead? All teenagers at this age and then ones before me would and will be facing the same decisions I am at the moment. All we want is to be independent, keeping in mind we have family who are behind us, who are willing to help when we need and ask for it and support us 100% with what we choose in the end. I know I am not alone when i say this but us teens need a chance to take risks and learn from experiences on our own.

Homework Task: Senior Year of a High School Advertisement

 “ “Senior Year of a High School” is a powerful advertisement aimed at parents of teenagers to make them aware that being a teen and growing up can be a time of vulnerable risk taking and making the wrong decisions. The advertisement was designed to give parents advice on ways they can influence their teen during this time to make the right decisions that will benefit them now and later in life. This advertisement emphasises that this stage in a teens life is a time of making the wrong decisions, and that it is essential for the parent to be there to guide their adolescent in the right direction. For example, veering them away from exposure to dangerous behaviour, the possible temptations of alcohol consumption and the use of illicit drugs. The article would not have been aimed to teenagers a teenage audience because it would not be taken into any consideration, with the intended message of the advertisement not a concern to them. The viewer is firstly presented with the title “Senior Year in High School. A Time of Nostalgia, Excitement, Possibility and Temptation”, followed by a by line which ensures the parent that even though their teen may be graduating soon, they shouldn’t let go right away. These two important elements encourage the reader to continue because they want to know why it is not time to let. The viewer is then directed to an image, where the focus is a girl who is presented with different pathways. This image is powerful in emphasising the vital nature of this time, supporting the fact that it is a time of important decision-making and a world full of opportunities. Following this image is where the meaning of the advertisement lies, it is supported by statistics, and points advising and commanding parents on ways which they can support their son/daughter in making correct decisions and keeping them safe and healthy. The use of command and capital letters throughout the advertisement reinforces the understanding of this stage in life and what needs to be done to ensure a bright future for all teenagers. The advertisement “Senior Year of High School” positions the reader, to view adolescence as a time of excitement and growing up yet also a time of risk taking and making decisions. The article encourages the importance of parents and their role in assisting their teenager in making the correct choices for life.