Igor Stravinsky took private lessons from Vasily Kalafati for more than two years. These sessions occurred parallel to Stravinsky's studies with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov between 1904 and 1906.
Stravinsky characterized Kalafati as a gifted pedagogue, though conservative in his musical views. He expressed gratitude to Kalafati for teaching him to resort to hearing as the first and last criterion.
