Martin Kutnowski is a composer and music theorist whose work is based in the tonal style. His compositions often include references to the past, which are mixed with folk music elements. This blend shapes much of his creative output and gives his music a distinctive character. As a scholar, Kutnowski has studied tonal rhythm in composers like Mozart and Scriabin. He has also worked on topics like atonal voice leading in Peter Maxwell Davies and the connection between music and movies in popular culture. His research has been presented at conferences such as the Schenker Symposium and international music theory meetings in places like Tallinn and Montreal. His articles appear in journals including Latin American Music Review, Popular Music and Society, Música Clásica, MTO, and Extempore. Kutnowski has shared his knowledge through lectures around the world in countries like the US, Canada, England, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Estonia, Taiwan, and China. Besides music theory, he writes about how teaching and learning happen in colleges. His work on education has been published in About Campus, Teaching Perspectives, and Community College Journal.