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Steven Rings is an associate professor in the Department of Music at the University of Chicago. He earned his PhD from Yale University in 2006 and is recognized as a music theorist with a focus on popular music, voice, and transformational theory. His significant work includes the book 'Hear?: Music Bob Dylan' published by the University of Chicago Press in 2025, where he delves into the complexities of Bob Dylan's music-making. Rings's publications include the award-winning article 'A Foreign Sound Ear' and the foundational book 'Tonality Transformation' from Oxford University Press. He has edited and contributed to numerous volumes, reflecting his deep engagement with music theory and criticism. Rings has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses centering on Black experimental musicians and the intricacies of melody, song, and performance within diverse musical traditions. He is actively involved in a Mellon-funded collaboration with composer Glenn Kotche, and has contributed significantly to the academic community, serving as the chair of the University of Chicago Society of Fellows. Additionally, he co-founded City Elementary, a school dedicated to neurodivergent K–8th graders in Hyde Park, and is an accomplished classical guitarist who has performed internationally.
Department of Philosophy