Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you frustrated because music theory seems to be filled with arcane and unreachable knowledge? While learning music theory can present challenges for musicians with learning disabilities, it is possible to dispel the mystery surrounding how music works. Keep reading How to Learn Music Theory with a Learning Disability for study tips and music theory resources.
Learning Music Theory with a Learning Disability: Advice for Studying
Here are several tips for how to learn music theory with a learning disability.
Focus on multisensory strategies.
- The term multisensory sounds like just what it is. It’s using your different senses to help you learn.
- For music it’s primarily sight, sound, and touch.
- Look for websites and apps that incorporate these elements into their teaching.
If you struggle with reading, get the information in other ways.
- Study audio books and videos.
- Try doing hands-on projects.
- Also, color coding is especially effective for helping musicians with learning disabilities to master music theory.
Break tasks into small, manageable steps.
- Tasks can easily become overwhelming for people with learning disabilities, especially for ADHD musicians.
- Pick one small, manageable task and focus on it until you’re done. Try to avoid becoming distracted by tangents.
- Start with simpler concepts first (e.g., scales and rhythm) before tackling more complex concepts (e.g., harmony, chord progressions, and counterpoint.)
Visual aids
- Many people with learning disabilities have strengths in visualizing and spatial skills.
- Focus on charts, diagrams, and tables in theory books and websites, because they’ll often help unlock the information for you.
- Create your own charts and diagrams to help you organize and understand the information.
Find support
- Don’t try to do it all on your own.
- Look for a good teacher, find a songwriting group, or ask for help from online social media groups.
- Read blog posts and watch YouTube videos.
Keep at it!
- It’s easy for musicians with learning disabilities to get discouraged, so try to stay positive.
- Remember, the more you study the better you’ll get – embrace incremental change.
- As Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.”
Don’t give up – giving up is the worst kind of learning disability, because it’s one that you have a choice about.
Learning Music Theory with a Learning Disability: Music Theory Resources
Here are some music theory posts to get you started. They feature visual aids, soundtracks, and videos.
Melody
Example Scales:
Modes:
Scale Degrees:
Melodic writing:
- How to Extract a Melody from Your Lyrics
- Writing Great Songs Using Rhythmic Motifs
- Ten Ways to Spice Up Your Melodies with Melodic Variation
- Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms
- Exploring the Music Themes and Leitmotifs of Star Wars
Counterpoint:
Rhythm
Harmony
Adding chords under a melody:
Chords:
- An Easy How to Guide to Understanding Triads
- Chord Progressions (Including the 12 Bar Blues)
- Explain Roman Numeral Analysis in Layman’s Terms for Me
- What Exactly Is a Chord and What Does the Term Harmony Mean?
- What’s the Deal with These iv-V-VII Chords?
- What Exactly Does I7-vi7-V7 Mean?
- Tonic vs. Root in Music Theory
Mobile users: for best results reading the pictures, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
Form
Keys
Final Thoughts on “How to Learn Music Theory with a Learning Disability”
Takeaway points:
- Look for websites and apps that incorporate multisensory elements into their teaching.
- Focus on charts, diagrams, and tables in theory books and websites, because they’ll often help unlock the information for you.
- Color coding is especially effective for helping musicians with learning disabilities to master music theory.
- Study audio books and videos.
- Pick one small, manageable task and focus on it until you’re done.
Have fun learning!
Related Posts
- The 5 Best Free Music Notation Apps
- Do I Need Talent to Write Music and Compose Lyrics?
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Reading Music (A Quick Guide to How to Read Music)
Do you want to know how to read sheet music? It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking vocal sight reading, reading classical music, or understanding guitar tab, basic music reading will remain mostly the same. In some way, shape, or form all music notations track notes and rhythms, but how they do so will sometimes be different. Read more of "Reading Music (A Quick Guide to How to Read Music)" to get an overview of how to read sheet music. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
How to Color Code the Elusive Alto Clef
Do you have a child or a student who struggles to read alto clef? Are you confused about how it works? Why is the alto staff so elusive for most musicians? Because instruments rarely use it. In fact, only one instrument reads from it regularly. Even the closely related tenor clef is used by more instruments (sort of). Keep reading to learn how to color code the elusive alto clef. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
Sing Perfectly in Tune All the Time with Touchstone Instruments – Part 1
Want to be able to sing in tune every time you sing? Do you wonder what a touch instrument is? These instruments play a central role in establishing the tuning for a society. Keep reading to learn how to sing perfectly in tune all the time with touchstone instruments. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
Chord Progression (Including the 12 Bar Blues)
What’s a chord progression? It’s when you have a sequence of successive harmonies. In this post, we’ll look at common chord progressions, including rock n roll, the 12 bar blues, and jazz chord progressions. These can work as either piano chord progressions or guitar chord progressions. Read “Chord Progression (Including the 12 Bar Blues)” to learn the harmonic structure for these three styles of music. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More