Success Music Studio

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.

Do You Want Cool Chords for Your Song - Sheet Music with Chords - after they can sight-read what’s left for musicians to learn - Can I Become a Music Teacher if I Have Special Needs - Need Advice for Teaching a First Year High School Jazz Pianist - Tonic vs. Root in Music Theory - What Exactly Does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V Mean - Chord Progression (Including the 12 Bar Blues) - What Is the Precise Meaning of Scaffolding in Teaching - An Easy How to Guide to Understanding Triads - Why Is EADGBE the Unquestioned Standard Guitar Tuning?

What Exactly Does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V Mean? (Part 3)

Do the Roman numerals used to analyze music make your eyes cross? Do you want someone to explain how it works? Roman numeral analysis might seem a bit cryptic. However, it can be really useful once you understand it. Read more answer the question, “What exactly does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V mean?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

What Exactly Does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V Mean? (Part 3) Read More »

How Do I Switch from Minor Key Shaped Notes to Standard Notation -Sheet Music

How Do I Switch from Minor Key Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 2

How do I switch from minor key shaped notes to standard notation?” Sight singing minor keys in standard notation can be challenging. Because it can be difficult to figure out if you’re in a major key or the relative minor. Read more to learn how to transition from shaped notes to standard notation for minor keys. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How Do I Switch from Minor Key Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 2 Read More »

How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Symbols - Certificate of Graduation

How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Symbols – Part 5

“How do I finally get my students to be able to read music without color coding?” In today’s post, we’ll look at the last stage of graduating from the colors: flashcards. Keeping reading to learn how to graduate from color coded music symbols. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Symbols – Part 5 Read More »

Help Me! How Do I Improve My Touch on Piano?

Help Me! How Do I Improve My Touch on Piano? Part 4

Do you want to be better at piano touch? Do you need help learning how to interpret a piece of music? The term piano touch covers the different ways you strike the key to get certain effects. Carl Seashore, in Piano Touch, states, “The pianist has at his direct control only two of four factors in music: namely intensity and time” (360). Read more to answer the question, “How do I improve my touch on piano?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Help Me! How Do I Improve My Touch on Piano? Part 4 Read More »

Harmony is Tone Color - Xylophone - Tips for Synthesizing an African Balafon Style Xylophone Sound

Tips for Synthesizing an African Balafon Style Xylophone Sound

Do you have a hard time recreating on the synth the xylophone sounds from your favorite world music? Do you want to know how to tune the African balafon? The tuning and tone color of an instrument are closely tied together. Keep reading to get info and tips for synthesizing an African balafon style xylophone sound. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

Tips for Synthesizing an African Balafon Style Xylophone Sound Read More »

Please Explain Vowel Modification to Me Like I'm a 5 Year Old - Girl Singing at Microphone

Please Explain Vowel Modification to Me Like I’m a 5 Year Old

“Please explain vowel modification to me like I’m a 5 year old.” Vowel modification helps you get a good vocal tone, so you can raise your singing to the next level. It’s an essential technique to master if you want to reach your full potential, because singing is all about vowels. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Please Explain Vowel Modification to Me Like I’m a 5 Year Old Read More »

12 Easy Piano Songs (Including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) - cute girl playing piano, little girl, piano

Is Playing the Piano a Suitable Activity for Autistic People?

Do you want your autistic child to play piano? Or are you an adult with autism who’s wondering if piano would be a good fit? Playing piano brings a lot of benefits beyond just the fun of playing music. Read more to find out the answer to the question, “Is playing the piano a suitable activity for autistic people?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Is Playing the Piano a Suitable Activity for Autistic People? Read More »

Why is Classical Music Interpreted Differently from Pop Music - Ludwig van Beethoven Bust - Beethoven (Why Did He Keep Composing After Deafness) - Singing Beethoven’s Beautiful Ode to Joy - Learn How to Play Beethoven’s Beautiful Fur Elise

Why is Classical Music Interpreted Differently from Pop Music? Part 3

“Why is classical music interpreted differently from pop music?” Interpretation has a very important role in performing classical music. This doesn’t mean that interpretation can’t be important in pop music. However, classical artists seem to be very aware of the process of how to interpret a piece of music. You can be too. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Why is Classical Music Interpreted Differently from Pop Music? Part 3 Read More »

Tonic vs. Root in Music Theory: Are They the Same Thing? (Part 2) - Sheet Music and Pencil - How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Symbols - Musical Talent and Giftedness

Tonic vs. Root in Music Theory: Are They the Same Thing? (Part 2)

Are you confused about the difference between the root and the tonic in music theory? Some musicians treat the terms root and tonic as if they were interchangeable. However, they have different, but equally important roles in music theory. Click to learn the difference between the tonic vs. root in music theory. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Tonic vs. Root in Music Theory: Are They the Same Thing? (Part 2) Read More »

Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm – Color Music

Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm

Would you like to introduce your kid to piano? (Or are you a music teacher who has a student with learning difficulties?) Multisensory teaching methods will help! Click to learn about playing piano with color coded left hand notes and rhythm. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

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