Amit Peled: Life Lessons

I started learning the cello quite late, at ten years old, so I had to understand playing from an intellectual point of view rather than through imitation. I was lucky that my first two teachers – Csaba Balok, who was also a yoga teacher, and Uri Vardi – were both students of János Starker, who was known for encouraging body awareness in playing. Through them I learnt how to use my breathing, weight and movement to express myself musically. Uri liked to say, ‘Your body is your Strad.’ I feel very thankful for having that instilled in me from day one. My whole being as a cellist today is based on those years. Your priority is to express music in the best way you can, and to do this you must know that you’re making music with your body…