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.

How Do I Switch from Chromatic Shaped Notes to Standard Notation - Choral Music - Choir Meaning & Examples with Videos, Pictures, & Soundtracks - I'm Confused About These Stupid Vocal Ranges

How Do I Switch from Chromatic Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 3

Do you want to learn how to transition from shape notes to standard notation? Have you ever wondered when you should use the special solfege syllables for sharp and flat notes? Standard notation gives you clues on when to use the diatonic solfege syllables versus the chromatic syllables. Read more to learn the answer to the question, “How do I switch from chromatic shaped notes to standard notation?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

How Do I Switch from Chromatic Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 3 Read More »

Advanced Heterophony Concepts - Man Playing Oud

Advanced Heterophony Concepts – Part 1

Do you want to understand advanced heterophony concepts? How does timbre affect heterophony in the ma’luf ensembles? Many cultures organize their music by using heterophony which forms the music in essentially different ways than harmony-based music. Keep reading to understand the relationship between heterophony and timbre. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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Sing Perfectly in Tune All the Time with Touchstone Instruments - Woman with Mic - How to Have Fun Singing Karaoke Songs

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.

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Positives to Dyslexia - Everything is Connected to Everything Else - Skills Web

Positives to Dyslexia – Everything is Connected to Everything Else (Part 2)

Do you want to know some of the positives to having dyslexia? Does all information seem connected to you? Global thinking is the capacity to see cohesive relationships between different domains of knowledge. It’s also one of the four strengths resulting from dyslexic brain structure. Keep reading to learn the details of how everything being connected to everything else can be a positive aspect of having dyslexia. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Positives to Dyslexia – Everything is Connected to Everything Else (Part 2) Read More »

How to Overcome the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience - Concert Pianist - Tips for Playing a Different Dynamic in Each Hand on Piano - What Are Some Elegant Examples of Polyphony?

Tips for Playing a Different Dynamic in Each Hand on Piano

Does playing a different dynamic in each hand on piano seem like it’d be impossible to do? Would you like help figuring out how it works? A lot of people have trouble playing a different dynamic in each hand. However, the trick is to treat as them connected – not as separate dynamics. Read more to learn the tips for playing a different dynamic in each hand on piano. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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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.

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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 »