Dr. Keith Salley is the coordinator of music theory at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. He has been an instructor of guitar at Tulane University and the University of Memphis. His research interests include music theory pedagogy, linguistics, concert music at the turn of the twentieth century, popular music, and jazz. He presented a seminar entitled "Improvising Without Chord Scales" at the first annual National Jazz Workshop in July, 2009. In 2008, Dr. Salley was invited to attend the Mannes Institute for Advanced Studies in Music Theory in Rochester NY, where he exchanged ideas with other scholars on topics in Jazz and Pop analysis. His Master’s thesis, "Invariant Properties of Harmonic Substitution in Jazz," investigates similarities of harmonic sound, structure, and connectivity that allow jazz musicians to substitute harmonies in improvisation, accompaniment, and composition. His dissertation "Scriabin the Progressive" deals with innovative aspects of the early piano works of Alexander Scriabin.

Dr. Salley has contributed articles to the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy (2007) and Popular Music (2011), as well as a chapter in the book "Pop Culture Pedagogy in the Music Classroom" (2010). Dr. Salley has presented research at regional and national meetings of the Society for Music Theory, at the Northwest chapter of the College Music Society, and at various symposiums for music pedagogy.