Samuel Gardner

  • Assistant Professor of Music Theory

Areas of Study

Biography

Samuel Gardner is a scholar who specializes in music cognition. His work, primarily empirical, has focused on topics such as physical gesture, the role of musical training, and perception of AI-generated music. This work has appeared at a variety of conferences including the Society for Music Perception & Cognition and the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, and has been published in a range of journals. More recent research has focused on how musicality mediates perception of aesthetics and creativity.

At Oberlin, he also directs his music cognition lab. In this role he has worked with a number of undergraduate students who present and publish alongside him. In 2026, he was recognized for his work in this area, and awarded the Oberlin Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award.  

From 2022–2025, he was chair of SMT Music Cognition Interest Group, and is one of the chairs of the Music & Cognition minor. Gardner has been at Oberlin since 2022.

Fall 2026

Aural Skills I — MUTH 101

Music Theory II — MUTH 132

Music Cognition Laboratory — MUTH 158

Spring 2027

Aural Skills II — MUTH 102

Music and the Mind — MUTH 150

Music Cognition Laboratory — MUTH 158

News

The Meaning Behind the Motions

What makes a live performance unforgettable? Assistant Professor of Music Theory Samuel Gardner has uncovered compelling evidence that physical gestures—ranging from subtle, unconscious movements to lively, intentional displays—are central to understanding how both performers and audiences connect with sound.

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