Maestro

The novel Maestro, written by Peter Goldsworthy is set in Darwin. When Paul Crabbe first moves to Darwin, the idea of learning the piano from Eduard Keller doesn't seem to good and idea, after his first visit. Eduard Keller also known as the 'Maestro' is a strange character in the novel. Paul is portrayed in the beginning of the novel as a young and innocent fifteen year old from South Australia.

Mr. And Mrs. Crabbe are the loving and supporting parents of Paul who have gone to much trouble simply for the purposes of Paul's education in music. Paul's parents are a great part of the plot and as we go through the novel, we are able to see the contrast between what goes on in Paul's mind during his piano lessons as well as when he is home with his parents.

Paul's first impressions of the Maestro are not very pleasant as he sees him as more of

. . .

Having returned always without the first price, discouragement gets the better of him. After coming third, it is the feeling of guilt that he could have done better, which drives him to enter more and more piano competitions after he graduated from Year 12. His relationship with the Maestro is displayed on every other page throughout the novel. As Paul discovers many things about the Maestro, he begins to have an interest in his past. With this desire to learn music as well as about his Maestro's past lessons become more interesting and develops into more of a probing session about Keller's life in Vienna before he emigrated to Australia.

As the teacher and student relationship grows, their form of communication is somewhat exclusive and indescribable.

Although Paul's expectations of the Maestro are profound, the Maestro teaches