Student Course

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Woody's Piano Circle™ Student Course

This programme is designed as a 2 year unique, educational and fun individual or group piano/keyboard or classroom music programme for year 1 and 2 students, using a mix of keyboards and tuned percussion (e.g. chromatic glockenspiels) with original songs, piano pieces and complimentary activities. Students learn to read, write, play and compose developing listening and aural skills. It is structured but flexible to suit individual situations. It is a result of over 44 years of teaching music both in a classroom and privately. It is perfect for face-to-face or online lessons for distance education.

Overview

This unique course has proven outcomes. During its development and culmination it was taught by its author, Bev Woodford (see About Woody for more information about Bev), and then 4 other teachers trialled it very successfully. It consists of 20 themed units in 4 books.

Each Unit Contains:

  • An original fun song
  • Related rhythmic and percussion activities
  • Original piano pieces
  • Fun theory puzzles to reinforce work learned in lessons

Teacher Support Material Includes:

  • A large Woody hand puppet and stand
  • Laminated class set of Woody's Paper Keyboards
  • Laminated class set of Woody's Note Fun stave sheets and music note buttons
  • A teaching manual for each Student book containing comprehensive lesson plans, teacher notes and ideas
  • Backing tracks for all the songs and piano/keyboard pieces
  • A digital copy of the books for use with an interactive whiteboard
  • Sight reading material
  • Woody's rhythm flash cards
  • Woody's music Wall Charts
  • A comprehensive 3 hour teacher training workshop for Units 1-5 (Book 1) and subsequent 2 hour workshops for Units 6-10 (Book 2), Units 11-15 (Book 3) and Units 16-20 (Book 4)
  • "Unit Review" sheet for teachers to submit to administration

This programme is designed for piano groups but works equally well as a classroom programme using glockenspiels or other barred instruments and/or a mix with keyboards. It follows closely with the Assessment Guidelines and makes classroom reporting easier.

Do You Wish To Become An Accredited Woody's Teacher?

In order to use this program, you must become an Accredited Woody's Teacher.

Woody's teachers are accredited by Bev Woodford.

Woody's Teacher Prerequisites:

We are looking for enthusiastic teachers with a positive attitude, who enjoy working with young children. Applying for accreditation requires that you provide evidence of the following:

  • A current Police Check and current Working With Children certificate
  • A current resume including qualifications and experience

You can register your interest in accreditation via the Contact Us page as explained further below under How to Register.

Course Outcomes

By the end of Book 4 the students will have covered the basic music fundamentals listed below giving them a solid basis on which to further their studies on any instrument -these are the measurable skills learned.

Equally as important they will have experienced and absorbed a significant level of unconscious learning in melody, rhythm and harmony through all the aural and subconscious learning activities - this gives the students a long term appreciation of music to enhance their future lives.

But probably the most important element is that the students have been in a fun environment and have a desire to learn and experience and experiment.

Technical Aspects Covered

The technical aspects and measurable skills learned in the Woody's Piano Circle Student Course are as follows:

  • Recognise, name, play and draw the treble and bass clef line and space notes.
  • Recognise, name and draw the symbol of a treble and bass clef, bar line, double bar line, stave, time signature, key signature, repeat sign, tie, slur, phrase, legato, staccato, DC al fine, accent
  • Recognise, name, play and draw the music notes of semibreve, dotted minim, minim, dotted crotchet, crotchet, quaver(s) and semibreve, minim and crotchet rests
  • Understand and can demonstrate the difference between beat and rhythm.
  • Sing and play confidently solo and in a group or ensemble.
  • Understand basic Italian terms and their meanings and interpret them in their playing.
  • Move and react to various styles and speeds of music.
  • Learn to transpose their piano pieces aurally.
  • Have fun experimenting with keyboard sounds.

Completion Certificates

At the end of each of the 4 Student Books there is a Woody's Hot Shot Completion Certificate designed to summarise the lessons learned and allow the students to gain a sense of achievement.

Student Course Books

There are four books in the Woody's Piano Circle™ Student Course series as shown below.

Woody's Piano Circle Student Course Books

Sample Pages

The following provides examples of the contents of the Woody's Piano Circle™ Student Course books.

Woodys Piano Circle Student Course Sample Pages
Woodys Piano Circle Student Course Sample Pages

Payment Method (as of 1st July 2021)

A school campus, individual music teacher or a music retailer purchases a Woody's Music Education yearly Licensing Agreement which includes all the teacher training and resources listed below. The Licensing Agreement fee is payable by credit card or direct debit.

Indicative Pricing

Units 1-10 (approx. 1 year)
  • The Licensing Agreement (1) fee is $1565 payable before lessons commence
  • plus the cost of Student Book 1 ($24) and Student Book 2 ($24) for each student (paid by the school or parent)
  • plus the cost of a Woody Music Bag ($16)– where applicable
  • subsequent teacher training workshops $500
Units 11-20 (approx. 1 year)
  • The Licensing Agreement (2) fee is $800 payable before lessons commence
  • plus the cost of Student Book 3 ($24) and Student Book 4 ($24) for each student (paid by the school or parent) for the year 2’s
  • plus the cost of Student Book 1 ($24) and Student Book 2 ($24) for each student (paid by the school or parent) for the new year 1’s
  • subsequent teacher training workshops $400

The Licensing Agreement (3) Annual on-going fee is $500 payable before lessons commence.

  • covers ongoing support, training, updates for each year that the programme is taught
  • plus the cost of Student Books 1-4 ($24 each) as needed for each student
Responsibilities of the School or Teacher
  • School or teacher provides a suitable room, keyboards/glockenspiels, percussion.
  • If in a school situation an interactive whiteboard is invaluable.
  • Teacher completes and submits the Unit Review to Woody Administration on the completion of each unit.
Included in All the Above
  • Woody's Music Education Administration conducts 4 Woody's Teacher Accreditation Workshops over 2 years covering the 20 units.
  • Woody's Administration provides teacher resources including comprehensive teaching manuals with lesson plans and teaching ideas and methods, 24/7 support, backing tracks for all fun songs and piano/keyboard pieces, written chorded piano accompaniments for all songs and pieces, teaching aids including Woody puppet and stand, Woody's rhythm flash cards, a set of Woody's music Wall Charts, class set of laminated Woody's Paper Keyboards, class set of Woody's Note Fun for treble and bass clef, 150 x 16mm music note buttons and online unit reviews.
  • All the lesson plans are carefully structured and set out, but flexible enough for the teacher to infuse their own personality and develop their own style of teaching.
Extra Information
  • A Replacement Costs List is also available if materials are lost or destroyed.
  • Student Books (and Woody bags where applicable) will be forwarded on receipt of payment.

How To Register

In order to use this programme, you must become an Accredited Woody's Teacher.

You can register your interest in accreditation (without obligation) via the Contact Us page as follows:

  • Go to our Contact Us page.
  • Provide your full name, email address and phone number (so we can contact you).
  • Tick the "Becoming an Accredited Woody's teacher" box.
  • Enter a message explaining a little more about yourself.
  • Request an Introductory Information Pack.