Success Music Studio

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geoff@successmusicstudio.com

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Geoff

Geoff (pronounce Jeff) Keith has taught instrumental music lessons for over 30 years, and special needs students for over 20 years, accruing over 6,000 hours working with special needs and LD students. In the 1990’s, he developed FBC Sudbury’s Kid’s Music Club program (children’s choir). His articles on teaching music to students with learning disabilities have appeared in the Dyslexic Reader. The information in the blog is similar to the information he presented at Berklee College of Music’s ABLE Assembly, which is a special needs arts conference for teachers. Also, he has been included in Marquis Who’s Who biographies.

What's the Deal with These I-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII Chords and Stuff - Musical Coffee Mug

What’s the Deal with These i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII Chords and Stuff? (Part 4)

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, The Craft of Songwriting / /

Do your eyes cross when you try to figure out Roman Numeral analysis? Roman numerals are broadly used to analyze chords in songs. However, you’ll use some Roman numerals to specifically describe harmonies in minor keys. Read more to find out the answer to, “What’s the deal with these i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII chords and stuff?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

What’s the Deal with These i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII Chords and Stuff? (Part 4) Read More »

How Do I Find the Key of a Song with Accidentals - Sheet Music and Accordion Key Chain - Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms

How Do I Find the Key of a Song with Accidentals?

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / / , , ,

Do you need to figure out the key for a song? Whether you have sheet music or figure out a song by ear, it’ll be useful to know the key of a song. This will help when adding harmonies, improvising, memorizing, or for just generally understanding the music. Plus, you can find out if the music changes keys during the song. Keep reading to answer the question, “How do I find the key of a song with accidentals?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

How Do I Find the Key of a Song with Accidentals? Read More »

Singing Shape Notes Solfege Lydian Melodies - Woman Singer

Singing Shape Notes Solfege Lydian Melodies

Shape Notes and Solfege / / ,

Do you want to be able to sing advanced modes? Are you confused about how the Lydian mode works? Modes are a feature of folk music around the world but are also both in jazz and 20th/21st century classical. Singing Shape Notes Solfege Lydian Melodies will help you master advanced modes. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

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Can I Become a Music Teacher if I Have Special Needs - Teacher Teaching Young Guitar Student - What’s the Best Lesson You’ve Had with Your Music Teacher? - What Is the Precise Meaning of Scaffolding in Teaching - Meet Special Needs Music Expert Geoff Keith at Lexsepta 2025 - What’s Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Its Impact on Music?

What’s the Best Lesson You’ve Had with Your Music Teacher?

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / / , , ,

What’s the best lesson you’ve had with your music teacher? The answer to this can take many forms. However, one of the most powerful and important experiences you can have in a music lesson revolves around a concept called ignition. What is ignition and how does it work? Keep reading to find out. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

What’s the Best Lesson You’ve Had with Your Music Teacher? Read More »

How Many of You Want to Know How to Tune with Guitar Harmonics - Solid and Hollow Body Electric Guitars - What’s the Catch with G Guitar Tuning? (Open G Tuning) - What Are the Best Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners to Learn?

How Many of You Want to Know How to Tune with Guitar Harmonics?

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How many of you want to know how to tune with guitar harmonics? Tuning using the 5th and 7th fret harmonics is the most common way to fine-tune standard tuning on the guitar. It yields better sounding chords than tuning using frets. However, it doesn’t restrict what you can use for open chord forms. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How Many of You Want to Know How to Tune with Guitar Harmonics? Read More »

What Are the Advantages of Dyslexia - Episodic Memory (Woman Remembering)

What are the advantages of dyslexia? Episodic Memory

Color Coding / / , , , , , ,

Do you want to know what the advantages of dyslexia are? How can people with dyslexia seem to have terrible memories sometimes, but not others? “He could remember events perfectly, even those that happened when he was an infant” (The Gift of Dyslexia 96). Episodic memory has a central role in the thinking process of many dyslexics which helps explain this puzzling fact. Also, it’s one of the four benefits to dyslexia. Keep reading to learn what the advantages of dyslexia are and how episodic memory plays a part in that. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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How Long Do You Take to Memorize a Piece of Piano Music - a Rose on Sheet Music - Singing Shape Notes Solfege Lydian Melodies - How to Play Your $@?% Clarinet in Tune

How Long Do You Take to Memorize a Piece of Piano Music?

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / / , ,

“How long do you take to memorize a piece of piano music?” It’ll vary from person to person how long it’ll take. I’ve known musicians who can memorize a piece of music after just one listening. For most of my students, it takes a half-dozen to a dozen listenings to just start learning a piece, much less memorize it. This means that for most musicians, memorizing a piece of music will be a process. Keep reading to get tips to help you memorize your music better and more quickly. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

How Long Do You Take to Memorize a Piece of Piano Music? Read More »

How Do I Write Good Songs Using Metaphors and Similes - Woman Working on Computer - Does ADD and ADHD Make People More Creative

How Do I Write Good Songs Using Metaphors and Similes?

The Craft of Songwriting / /

Do you want to write better songs using vivid imagery? Do you need to learn about figurative imagery? Figurative imagery expands your pallet of description beyond just literal imagery. Metaphors and similes are important literary tropes that help you to do just that. Read more to learn the answer to the question, “How do I write good songs using metaphors and similes?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

How Do I Write Good Songs Using Metaphors and Similes? Read More »

Once Sheet Music is All Digital, Why Not Always Colour-Code Notes - Computer Power Symbol

Once Sheet Music is All Digital, Why Not Always Colour-Code Notes?

Color Coding / / , , , , , , , , , ,

“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” Since most sheet music can now come in digital format, will there be any good reason not to color code the notes all the time? I’ve long advocated using color coding for helping special needs students to learn music from sheet music. However, the opening suggestion (by a person on social media) goes one step further. It proposes making a permanent change to how people read sheet music. Click to find out the arguments for and against adopting universal color coded music notation. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Once Sheet Music is All Digital, Why Not Always Colour-Code Notes? Read More »