About Malia
Welcome, Musicians!😍
My name is Dr. Malia, and I'm the creator of Music Theory Shop. I'm a music theorist, pianist, and author, and I'm so happy you stopped by. Be sure to grab some FREE theory resources (for learning or teaching) before you leave. Sometimes I send out FREE learning materials, so consider joining my email subscriber list!
I help people like you: ambitious, multi-faceted, diverse musicians of all genres go from feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by music theory and musicianship, to loving the learning process and connecting how all of these pieces work together.
Do you have goals as music director, creator (composing and producing), performer, songwriter, music business and law, or educator? Studying the materials of music is the starting point.
I want you to step on that stage, into that recording studio, and enter the rehearsal room with confidence. "Music theory," which often is an umbrella term for "music literacy" encompassing music-language knowledge, is the foundation to begin teaching, creating, and performing.
Backstory
I struggled with the "music theory" part of my piano lessons, and that really showed when I got to community college. But it started to click in undergrad and I locked it down during graduate school. The process took a lot of grace and patience with myself. What was once a musical piece of me that felt foreign, became my strength and impacted me profoundly as a pianist. The theory-performing connection is real.
Bridging Music Academia and Spreading Music Theory to the Public
I became a music theory professor in 2013 and through that teaching experience, designed and published Music Theory Staff Paper with Hal Leonard (2019), the original hybrid staff paper that includes the keyboard, study references, and space for note-taking while in music theory class or lessons. This is the product that launched Music Theory Shop. Stay tuned for the "college" version of Music Theory Staff Paper!
I've been a content creator on Instagram and will be launching Music Theory Pedagogy on YouTube soon.
Now, I am YOUR music theorist, your music theory professor. Let me know how I can support your learning journey.
Music Theory Individual Lessons & Packages
Find me on SUPERPROF!
Training the Next Generation of Music Educators
My goal is to help musicians transition from student-musician to artist, and student-musician to artist to music educator.
I have lots of free learning and teaching resources relevant to music education and will continue to create and make free tools available.
I am also doing research on music educator marketing and working to publish more scholarship in the discipline. My field of music theory is taking action to include more voices, and although I am no stranger to criticism, it's important to include my perspective.
Would you like to support my work? You can buy me a coffee!!
Thank you so much 🙏☺️ and thank you for supporting music education.
Read My Scholarship
I just recently published the article, "Music Theory Influencers: The Content Creator Musicpreneur." Music Theory Spectrum.
Short Bio
Dr. Malia Jade Roberson is a music theorist, piano recording artist, and Lecturer in the Department of Dance, Music, and Theater at CSU Channel Islands, where she teaches music theory, piano, and music marketing. She holds a Ph.D. in Music Theory from UC Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Piano Performance from UC Santa Cruz. Her research explores the intersection of music educator marketing, public music theory, and music theory pedagogy. IDr. Roberson was the November 2024 featured artist on Pandora’s Solo Piano station following the release of her debut album, “90s songs for like, piano.” She published the article, "Music Theory Influencing: The Content Creator Musicpreneur" in Music Theory Spectrum, Jan 2025, as part of the public music theory edition.
At CSU Channel Islands, she was the recipient of the 2024-25 Exceptional Service Award and is a faculty member for the Summer SURF 2025 Project, which is a paid opportunity for students to be mentored and participate in faculty research.
Dr. Malia's current projects include a new music theory method book, “Music Theory for Visual Learners," an upcoming article on how music theory is represented in music educator ad campaigns, and her sophomore album. She is the designer of Music Theory Staff Paper (Hal Leonard) and is the founder of the brand, Music Theory Shop.
90s songs for like, piano (2024)
Featured Artist: Pandora's Solo Piano Station (Nov 2024)
Music Education
If you are a music educator or aspiring music educator, I invite you to read my blog, When Music Called, We Answered. Please leave your comments and pedagogical insights!
Work with Me
Musicians are lifelong learners. I train rockstar musicians 🤘🏼, but I especially enjoy working with musicians that are "coming back" to music; professional musicians that want to refresh their skills, or add an income stream teaching music.
I have worked with pop, rock, punk, folk, jazz, mariachi, and classical musicians. All are welcome.🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
If you'd like to work one-on-one with me, please reach out! Email musictheoryshop@gmail.com (limited spots available).
Most popular services ~ Weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 music theory via Zoom; weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 advanced piano in-person.
I offer online or in-person music theory coaching, group coaching, in-person piano (Pasadena or possibly Los Angeles area, online or in-person music marketing coaching.
Publications with Hal Leonard
Music Theory Staff Paper (Hal Leonard 2019), the original hybrid music manuscript notebook. It is the Cornell note-taking method, but for music! The cover design is inspired by vintage 19th and 20th-century European and American sheet music.
Visualize Keyboard Scales & Modes (Hal Leonard 2020) is not like any other scale method book on the market. This is for both readers and non-readers. It includes theory lessons and scales and modes are organized by tonic to understand multiple methods of building modes, which is truer to how musicians think about mode and scale construction.
Academic Credentials
Lecturer in Music Theory, Aural Skills, Piano, Music Marketing, and Undergraduate Research at California State University, Channel Islands.
Teaching Experience: Occidental College, Pomona College, California Lutheran University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Cabrillo College
Areas of research: music entrepreneurship, music marketing, music theory pedagogy, public music theory, music theory trauma
Article in Music Theory Spectrum, "Music Theory Influencing: The Content Creator Musicpreneur."
Membership: Society for Music Theory (SMT), ASCAP, Music Managers Forum, ReverbNation, Music Ally
Faculty Development and Service to the Field
Dr. Malia has participated as a Reader, Early Reader, and Table Leader for the AP Music Theory Reading (College Board) since 2019.
Dr. Malia has participated in four Workshops in Music Theory Pedagogy, at UMASS, Amherst and the Eastman School of Music and conference organizer for the West Coast Conference for Music Theory and Analysis (Eugene, OR, 2023).
- Ph.D. in Music Theory, University of California, Santa Barbara
- M.A. in Music Theory, University of California, Santa Barbara
- M.A. in Piano Performance, University of California, Santa Cruz
- B.A. in Music, University of California, Santa Cruz
How can I support your music learning journey?
Personal History
Malia's hometown is San Clemente, Ca. She was the webmaster for the Hobie Memorial Foundation and helped realize the memorial statue of Hobie Alter in Dana Point, Ca. The HMF built the most beautiful statue in the world that honors the boating~surfing culture and heritage in Southern California!!! Go see it!
Malia lives in Pasadena, CA with her boxer-bulldog, Cooper.
All items at Music Theory Shop are made or printed in the U.S.A.