In addition to his work as a composer, Neal is a dedicated scholar of music theory. His primary area of research is in the pedagogy of music theory, with particular focus on new strategies for effective teaching of Post-Tonal topics and on the diversification/modernization/redesign of the traditional music theory curriculum.

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He has presented his research at the Florida State University Music Theory Society Forum (2020) and Music Theory Midwest 2020. His paper, "Mamlok on Day One: Strategies for Incorporating Recent Music Into the Early Undergraduate Music Theory Curriculum," is published in vol. 34 of the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.

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