Bonnie Woodruff, has over forty years of teaching experience with beginners and adults. She has attended the Pasadena College Conservatory of Music, and has completed training in the Yamaha Music Education system. She has been using the "Fastway Piano Method" for twenty years and currently teaches students privately, and over the internet with Netmeeting.
Bonnie Woodruff
PO Box 668
Whittier, Alaska 99693
907.472.2483
fastwaypianomethod@yukontel.com
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The Fastway Piano Method is a practical course in piano that unifies into a single program the technique of the past and the present viewed from a point-of-view of the present; that the study of present day technique is not a breaking away from the old but a natural continuance and development of the same fundamental principles. It has developed from forty years of teaching experience. Materials may be downloaded by students from the internet and teaching advice and lesson/practice check-ups are done by telephone. E-materials may be viewed at www.FastwayPianoMethod. For further information, please contact the author.
The Fastway Piano Method philosophy consists of:
The "controlling purpose" of the Fastway Piano Course consists of the following:
Exercises: Well founded musical figurations that bring about the immediate ability to cover the entire keyboard even for youngest beginning student. Exercises based on the Harmonic Series; non-harmonic tones adjusted to any given harmony by "Pure" and "Impure" adjustments; scales and chord tones connected by harmonic and non-harmonic links; contrapuntal exercises and many others to help coordination and speed up the ability to play difficult passages with clear accuracy but also with a sense of abandon.
Points of Musicianship: This section includes among other things a study of the relationship of the tones within the Harmonic Series and the Major Scale including at least ten other scales derived from the Major scale; The study of Chords, their names (the names given chords in this program are those names which best describe the structure of the chord), and uses from the Triad through the thirteenth; The study of Harmonic Devices, Cadences, and Keyboard harmony; Six types of irregular resolutions of the dissonant tones of the small major seventh chord. Twelve ways of modulation; The harmonic structures necessary to shape sections, phrases, and periods; How to develop larger units in form; The study of various contrapuntal devices and their use in improvising as well as many other points of musicianship.
Letter Notation: A system of writing music notation with letters in combination with all musical signs of notation; Written for both bass and treble clefs it is a musical shorthand system for any music. This system acts as a reading-readiness program for those who may have trouble in fluent sight-reading and also facilitates note reading for the early beginner. Letter Notation makes the learning of difficult pieces easier and faster for the adult or younger beginner and keeps the interest of the student as the lessons progress toward reading of standard notation. The system has proven to be a "Life Saver" for many and an educational musical enrichment for all. Note Reading & Related Subjects: Note reading is presented with two diagrams containing four simple steps. The nature of these diagrams and the method of introducing the subject makes unnecessary the use of the worn out rhymes and limericks of the past used as a "Crutch" for the teaching of staff notation. Key signature, time signature, and the subdividing of beats in simple time, compound time, and irregular time is simultaneously presented along with other signs, symbols, and expression marks necessary to intelligent sight-reading. The selected compositions, by their very nature, will illustrate the technique of sight-reading with intelligent musicianship.
For more than the last two hundred years Music has been essentially chromatic. The Chromatic exercises presented in this program are neutral exercises which have, in the manner presented, never been put in print before. Hundreds of technical problems developing from difficult Chromatic passages are solved through these unique exercises and small Etudes.
Playing by "Sense of Touch" exercises, cadences, scales, harmonic and non-harmonic adjustments, passing tone scales derived from major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads and other musical figurations followed by "Letter Notation" form a better medium of approach to the piano for the beginning student (child or adult) than the numerous teaching methods, books, and piano theory courses on the commercial market.
All music grows out of the relationships of the tones in the Harmonic Series. A vibrating body whether it is a column of air inside an organ pipes, a string on a violin or piano gives out besides its fundamental tone a series of partial tones or overtones -- exercises in this program are constructed from the lower notes of the Harmonic Series and gradually advance through the higher notes. Practice of these exercises is musically sound and has absorbing interest.
The theory and Technique of music is still in its primary stage and is in a constant state of development. Contrary to the belief of some programs assumes there is still a great deal of development yet untouched in the equal tempered system.
The program is concerned with the music of the composers not the ideas of academic theorists, adjudicators and so-called mater class teachers. The program brings the practice of music back to its original natural origin -- SCIENTIFIC, INTELLECTUAL, and AESTHETIC: It brings balance to the present day hodge-podge of teaching ideas and methods so diversified because of the loss of musical direction. Here is a return in truth and fact to a rational background in music that gives a basic for teaching, performing, improvising and constructive criticism.
Analysis of music starts with the reading of the simplest of pieces and continues through the most difficult. By observing the habits and customs of good composers the student will learn good usage of Chords, Figurations, Cadences and will gain skill in improvising at the keyboard. Analysis will help discover the meaning of the music, the "WHY" of it all; There will be a more intelligent understanding, appreciation, improved interpretation and the recognition of beauties hidden and lost to those who have been deprived of this study. The musical knowledge now developing should be applied to every note in every piece. No person can properly call himself a musician who is not aware of the inner relationships of the music he/she is teaching or playing. The following are some of the steps included in Musical Analysis:
A piano theory program that offers less than has been stated here is in all respects unfair and unjust to both teacher and student.
For further information on the Fastrak Piano Method, visit: www.FastwayPianoMethod
The following are the individual books included in the Fastway Piano Method:
Book One: Introduction to piano and Book Two Musicianship Training, and Book Four Black Key Technique for Beginners.
Book Two: Continued study in Musicianship Training.
Books Three & Four: Continued Musicianship Training (which also included continued study in Books 8, 9, 10).
Books Five, Six & Seven: Continued study from Book One, page 14 in Black Key Technique.
Books Eight, Nine & Ten: Continued Musicianship Training, from Book Two in Tonal Formulation (Using the Number System of the seven natural tones).
Book Eleven: Note Drills & Related Subjects (includes a small Music Terminology Dictionary).
Book Twelve: Continued study "Letter Notation Songs"
Books Thirteen, Fourteen: Continued study in Note-songs, "The Classics."
Book Fifteen: Continued study for the Church musician.
Book Sixteen: (Soon available) Popular Piano Styles, and continued studies.
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