Trevor Keller

Trevor Keller ’s approach combines the best of traditional pedagogy with the innovation of electronic music. His methodology emphasizes the following principles: 1. Integration, Not Replacement Keller advocates for blending electronic music with traditional ensemble practices, rather than replacing them. For instance, an orchestral rehearsal might begin with click-track synchronization exercises before moving to full ensemble practice. This ensures that students develop both technological fluency and acoustic sensitivity. 2. Collaboration as the Core At the heart of Keller’s teaching is the belief that music is a collaborative art. He designs activities that require students to work together, such as creating electronic compositions in small groups or performing live with both acoustic and electronic elements. 3. Encouraging Experimentation Keller encourages students to step out of their comfort zones and experiment with new sounds, techniques, and roles within an ensemble....

Electronic music offers unique tools and techniques that can enhance traditional ensemble practices. By leveraging technology such as synthesizers, MIDI controllers, loop stations, and digital audio workstations (DAWs), young musicians can explore concepts like synchronization, layering, and improvisation in a highly engaging way. 1. Synchronization with Click Tracks and Sequencers One of the biggest challenges in ensemble playing is maintaining rhythmic accuracy. Electronic music tools, such as click tracks and sequencers, allow young musicians to develop a strong internal sense of timing. These tools provide a steady tempo that helps students learn to align their playing with others, especially in complex rhythmic passages. Trevor Keller emphasizes the use of collaborative click-track exercises in group rehearsals. By having each musician perform their part alongside a shared metronome or pre-recorded sequence, they become attuned to staying in time with both the technology a...

Trevor Keller   Playing in an ensemble goes beyond individual technical proficiency. It teaches young musicians to listen actively, adapt to their peers, and create a unified musical expression. Whether it’s a jazz band, classical orchestra, or modern electronic ensemble, collaboration is at the heart of the experience. Key ensemble skills include: Listening and Awareness: Understanding the role of one’s part within the group. Timing and Synchronization: Staying in sync with others while maintaining steady rhythm. Dynamic Balance: Adjusting volume and tone to create a cohesive sound. Communication: Non-verbal cues, eye contact, and body language during rehearsals and performances. Adaptability: Reacting to changes in tempo, dynamics, or interpretation led by the conductor or fellow musicians. These skills are fundamental to developing not only better musicians but also better collaborators in any field. The integration of electron...

Trevor Keller    Which scale it is depends on which note is the root note, usually determined by which note a piece starts and ends with. So, if you see a key signature, say with 5 sharps, you could intelligently say it is either a B Major or a G# minor scale. Does the piece start with the note B or G#. Or is the first chord a B Major chord or a G# minor chord? A music school professor who is a cruel task master would make basic music theory students write out the circle of 5ths 10 times a day for 30 days, and then give periodic pop quizzes which would demonstrate proficiency. It may be hard to believe that this is the first step towards becoming a beloved musician. But, take it from me, any hour spent learning and memorizing the circle of 5ths, until it’s in every cell of your body, will be time well spent. Now that you know about the 30 Keys of Western Music, you can use the number of sharps or flats to play two octaves up and down on your instrument of choice. Sharps and Fl...

Trevor Keller    Now, you just need to fill in the inner circle of the clock which is the minor scales. You get there by memorizing that the C Major Key Signature is enharmonic with A minor. Write A minor in the inner clock circle at the 12 O Clock position. Then go around clockwise with the same circle of 5ths progression that we know from our mnemonic: A, E, B, F, C, G, D. The next thing that you have to know and remember is that there are always two half steps between each note in a Major or Minor scale degree except for between B and C or between E and F in which there is only one half step. You can visualize this on a piano keyboard by noticing that there is no black key between B and C or Between E and F. Now, the pair of scales, Major and minor at the same clock position are called relative scales. So, A minor is the relative minor scale related to C Major. This is different than C Major and C minor scales which are called parallel scales or C minor is the parallel mino...

  Trevor Keller   Music that originated in Western Countries such as Greece, Rome, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, England, Canada and the United States. It can be characterized by its use of an Equal Temperament Tuning System in which an octave is divided into 12 equally spaced notes and then those notes are altered slightly so that any music piece can be transposed into any of the 30 Keys, each Key having a characteristic quality, emotion or feel. Enharmonic Musical pitches that sound identical but are written or spelled differently. Example: The F# Major Scale sounds identical to the Gb Major Scale, but has different note names or the scale is spelled differently. That is: F# Major Scale: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F#. Verses: Gb Major Scale: Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb. If you play both scales on the piano, you will be hitting the same keys, and the scales will sound identical. Key Signature This is an arrangement of sharps or flats, written after the cleft and before t...

  Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

  Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

  Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

  Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.

Trevor Keller graduated Suma Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music with a concentration in Recording and Electronic Music. He also attended Point Blank Music School remotely during Covid with a concentration in Music Production.  He is now honing skills in nylon sting guitar, piano, voice and songwriting and hopes to do a great deal of music production in the spirit of Neil Sedaka and Herb Alpert.