“My actual lessons with him, which lasted roughly nine years, were sporadic, but my focus on learning from him was constant ever since I first was captivated by his recordings at the age of 11. One did not have to have a lesson to learn from Rostropovich; one had only to be near him in almost any situation. His life and lifestyle were like great music itself: always just beyond the imaginable. Conversely, his way of thinking about music was like life: he taught mostly by metaphor, always creating real-life scenarios that corresponded exactly to a moment in music that needed improvement.”