Paul O. Harder (1933-1986) taught theory at Michigan State University from 1945 to 1973. He also played oboe in the Richards Quintet (the faculty wind quintet) until 1965 and played in local orchestras and ensembles. He earned his master’s degree in music theory in 1945 from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, and his Ph.D. in music theory in 1959 from the University of Iowa. Following his career at Michigan State University, he accepted a position as Vice President and Professor of Music at California State University, Stanislaus.

Harder was very interested in the pedagogical aspects of music theory and developed a series of programmed learning texts in the 1960s. He worked in parallel with Merrell Sherburn; Harder focused on the intellectual aspects of theory, while Sherburn was concerned with aural harmony. Both men lectured around the country, separately and together, and had numerous publications and reviews of their material. Revised editions of several Harder texts, variously edited by H. Owen Reed and Greg Steinke, are still available and in use in 2016. Harder also composed approximately 50 works for various ensembles.

Paul Harder married Mildred Hart (widow of Weldon Hart), whose daughter, Margaret (Peggy) Dionise, is employed at Michigan State University. Paul and Mildred’s daughter is Kristin Hawks.