Robert Komaniecki is visiting assistant professor of music theory, a music theorist, and passionate educator. Born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota, Robert received his Ph.D. in music theory in 2019 from Indiana University. Robert received his B.A. in music and M.A. in music theory from the University of Minnesota.

Robert enjoys instructing students ranging from the freshman to the graduate level in music theory and aural skills. His teaching style is very hands-on, encouraging students to participate and perform frequently. Robert is also an advocate for diversifying the music theory core curriculum, using musical examples from popular genres as well as works composed by women and people of color. Robert's aural skills pedagogy research appears in the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.

Robert's dissertation, "Analyzing the Parameters of Flow in Rap Music," focuses on the rhythm, rhyme, and pitch of the rapping voice. His article "Analyzing Collaborative Flow in Rap Music" can be read in Music Theory Online, and Robert contributed to the St. James Encyclopedia of Hip-Hop Culture. Robert has presented on hip-hop, popular music, and music theory pedagogy at graduate, regional, and national conferences. Robert's most recent work, conducted with Dr. Anabel Maler, is a study of rhythmic techniques in Deaf hip-hop (dip-hop).

Outside of academia, Robert is an avid choral singer and has sung in several community and professional ensembles. From 2013-2015, Robert served as the director of OVation, an LGBTQA community chorus in Minneapolis, Minnesota.