Mary Goodman BA GRSM ARCM
Violin teacher and author of the 'Fast Tracking' method...
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"Let's Go!"
Mary
Goodman's first Violin tutor book was published by Feldman
in 1971. It was described by Yehudi
Menuhin in glowing terms "This book contains all that
the beginner violinist needs to know - plus the incentive to learn
it." Later, Hugh
Bean wrote "This book represents a revolution in violin
teaching. It is excellent and could well become a classic of its kind."
From the very beginning, pupils played with all four fingers on the lowest string (whether violin or viola) in order to establish the correct left hand position. Bowing also started on the lowest string, using divided martelé. This approach produced a deep, rich sound. By their fourth lesson, beginners of all ages and abilities, whether learning singly or in groups, were playing actual tunes. They also played in a variety of keys after only a few weeks - or months, (depending on the pupil) - including flat keys. This led to orchestral playing at primary school level plus trumpeters and clarinettists - a big excitement for all including the children who were not yet learning an instrument.
Articles
about this new method of violin teaching appeared in local and national
newspapers. On 12 March 1973 the Sun's centre page spread carried a
picture of Mary, like a Pied Piper, with a large number of beginner
violinists behind her, entitled "Dockland Kids String Along
to the Sound of Music with Mary Goodman".
Also in 1973, groups of Mary's beginner violinists from Hull junior schools were featured on BBC Radio Humberside, BBC Radio 4, Pick of The Week, Anglia Television, Look North Nationwide and Pebble Mill at One.
In 1974 Hull University Music Department, under Graham Sadler, made a video of two groups of 7-year old children having their first ever violin lessons, live, on camera, with "Let's Go!".
Mary Goodman's approach to string teaching was based on her own experience as a pupil from 1932 onwards, when it was taken for granted that string pupils would start using the bow in their very first lesson, and especially on the lowest string. Pupils were also required to use all four fingers on the lowest string, and by their second lesson to play with both bow and fingers.
After World War two, Mary Goodman was surprised to find that many pupils coming to her from other schools were afraid to use their 4th finger; afraid to use the lowest string for either bow or fingers; and had in many cases been plucking for 6 months or more without using the bow at all! "Let's Go!" was the result of these experiences.
(Note: "Let's Go!" is now out of print and is therefore no longer available for purchase)