Richard Desinord

(he/him)

Assistant Professor of Music Theory

Richard Desinord is Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the Michigan State University College of Music. His research interests include harmony and genre in contemporary black church music and neo-soul, the music of Robert Glasper, theory pedagogy, and the visualization of music theory. Desinord has presented research on composers of jazz, R&B and Neo-soul, and his work appears in the the Cambridge Stravinsky Encyclopedia. Having some of his personal and professional goals rooted in making music theory more accessible to, and inclusive of, people of color, Desinord is a member of Black Classical Music Educators and the International Society of Black Musicians, and a fervent supporter of the Classically Black Podcast. Prior to his appointment at Michigan State, he lectured in music theory in the Department of Music at Howard University. He earned a PhD in music theory at the Eastman School of Music, an MA in music theory from Penn State University, and a BM in music education from Howard University (magna cum laude).