Keller was an influence on Paul's development as a young man.

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Maestro by Peter Goldsworthy opens with a 15 year old boy named Paul who is portrayed as arrogant, spoilt and callow. Towards the end of the novel, he develops into a "graying, dissatisfied" person who lives a life of regret. His development into a mature, caring, self-critical person was influenced by his parents, the rock and roll band, but in particular both Keller and Rosie.

Paul's biggest influence was Eduard Keller, a talented musician who suffered the atrocities of the Nazi regime and afterwards tried to find refuge in Darwin. Keller, the only piano teacher in Darwin was asked to teach Paul. Paul finds his teacher's methods absurdly eccentric and his attitude humiliatingly less than reverent. During the piano lessons, Keller teaches Paul lessons about life (as well as music) , for instance; "we must not make the mistake of confusing music with emotion" and "Always the most difficult part of a race ...

is the last steps." One thing that Keller attempts to teach Paul is not to be arrogant. Unfortunately, after Paul moves to Adelaide to study music he is still arrogant, "I was smug, insufferable - and far better at playing the piano than anyone else." Paul thinks that since he was taught by the "Eduard Keller" , his skill at playing the piano should be superior, this idea fuels his arrogance. If you consider this, Keller may have been a bad influence for Paul. As time goes on, Paul also develops a relationship with Keller, Paul is the only person that Keller has had any emotional attachment to since his wife and child were killed. Paul is like a son to Keller and Paul comes to love Keller. " I slipped my arm beneath his head ... and kissed him."Paul travels to Vienna...