Stephen Gomez-Peck is a music theorist whose research focuses on the theory and analysis of form in hip-hop. His dissertation maps pop-rock scholarship onto rap with a critical awareness of how unique creative and sociocultural contexts shape one’s understanding of recorded music. Two eras are the focus of this work: the Golden Age of hip-hop and recent trap-influenced hip-hop. Stephen has presented this and other research at regional and national conferences, including at the annual meeting of the Society for Music Theory.

As a teacher, Stephen takes a learner-centered approach. He connects core material to a broad range of student interests and backgrounds by using music from a wide variety of repertoires like blues, jazz, rock, pop, and hip-hop in the classroom. Stephen fosters a learning environment in which students frequently connect their own experiences and creative interests to the course topics through such activities and assignments as podcast projects, blog posts, and compositions. Stephen has presented on the use of these teaching and learning methods at the joint pedagogy interest group session of the Society for Music Theory and the American Musicological Society.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Alabama School of Music, Stephen taught music theory, music history, and aural skills courses at Indiana University and at Hunter and Queens Colleges, CUNY.