Feuermann, the Teacher

Marika Hughes, granddaughter of cellist Emanuel Feuermann shares insights about her grandfather, cellist Emanuel Feuermann, regarding his teaching style. She notes that he didn’t need to practice extensively as an adult. Instead, he often took walks and would spontaneously visit his students to hear their progress. This approach sometimes caught students off guard, not having had enough time to prepare since their last lesson.

Marika reminisces about the stories from students like Klaus Adam (who later became founding cellist of the Juilliard Quartet). He described the surprise lessons Feuermann would initiate, emphasizing his demand for readiness and excellence. She parallels this with her own experience studying under Gregor Piatigorsky, who also called students unexpectedly for lessons, reinforcing the idea that one must always be prepared. Marika reflects on how Feuermann’s demanding, yet dynamic teaching methods, shaped the lives of his students.