The
Contemporary Piano Method is recommended reference material
for the AMEB's Contemporary Popular Syllabus
"
I must tell you, I learnt so much from your books and found
them so absolutely crammed full of juicy information!
...... Abe Cytrynowski
STAGE
1:
Reading Music in C Clef, introduction and exercises.
- Discussion of the Harmonic Series.
- Realisation of a Figured Bass - Part 1.
- Chromatic Chords, Altered Seventh Chords.
- Polyphonic writing, (a) Canon.
STAGE
2:
Root Progressions, introduction and Part 1: Cycle of Fifths.
- Polyphonic writing, (b) Two-Part Invention.
- Continuation of Figured Bass exercises.
STAGE
3:
Extended Chords
(a) Ninths
(b) Elevenths
(c) Thirteenths
- Root Progressions Steps 2 & 3.
- Rondo Form and Sonata Form.
- Timing of 'Four Against Three'.
- Figured Bass Exercises continued.
STAGE
4:
The Development of Modes
"
I must tell you, I learnt so much from your books and found
them so absolutely crammed full of juicy information!
...... You cover a huge number of topics - and in terms
of jazz harmony especially, you start where so many of
the puny, lukewarm tutors on the market actually finish.
I have a bulging collection of jazz tutors on my bookshelf (one
of my dreams has always been to gain some sort of profficiency
with improvising) - and I haven't found one yet, that
goes into the detail - from go to wo - the way your CPM books
3 & 4 do. The reading is at times dense and complex
....... but for the serious jazz student and certainly for all
teachers, it's truly a one stop shop. I learnt heaps about
the nomenclature of the altered chords especially, about substitutions
and extensions but more than anything else, I appreciated your comments
re which modes were most appropriate over various chords.
Again, I have looked up this particular topic many
times in other books, and although one can always find the obligatory
section on modes, rarely does the advice extend to the level
of detail that you get into. Anyway, again let me say
Wow and double Wow! It must be strange getting feedback
on achievements that you might well consider as "old hat"
by now, but there you have it. Your books have just been
sitting on my shelves for all this time - I didn't realise what
I was missing. Where on earth did you pick up all
your jazz know-how? It is so comprehensive and "connected"
- it all ties together so well. I would very much
like to put myself into a time machine and regress to the age
of 10, and take up lessons with you. I would work so hard,
and needless to say - earn so many elephant stickers that Oscar
Peterson would run for cover at the very mention of my name.
The bitter truth is that I am now 50 and can just manage a simple
12 bar blues, so Oscar Peterson needn't look over his shoulder.
I must simply forget about fame and fortune, and contend with
methodically working through all the ideas in your books...
Not such a bad consolation prize, at all!"
Abe
Cytonowski (2002)
The
Contemporary Piano Method Book 3