Delta Music Institute Director Dr. Richard TremmelCLEVELAND, Miss. — In Mississippi’s Delta, where blues legends echo, Dr. Richard Tremmel is redefining entertainment industry education as director of the Delta Music Institute (DMI) at Delta State University. In 2024, he earned a D.P.S. in Curriculum Development Leadership from Franklin University, a milestone that crowns decades of blending raw musical passion with academic rigor to guide aspiring musicians through the industry’s complexities.
Tremmel’s journey as a musician began early. At nine, he started learning various instruments, and by 15, he was gigging in rock bands. “I played just about everything I could get my hands on,” he recalls. These early experiences—juggling high school sets with big dreams—shaped a career that fuses heart and hustle. His academic path, pursued alongside real-world gigs, deepened his understanding of music’s creative and business sides, equipping him to mentor with authenticity and insight.
Tremmel’s education wasn’t just about earning credentials; it was a deliberate quest to master the tools of mentorship. Through years of study, he explored the mechanics of music, the intricacies of the entertainment industry, and the art of teaching. This journey taught him how to translate raw talent into sustainable careers, blending the psychology of collaboration with the realities of contracts and revenue streams. “The degrees get me in the door of higher education. What really connects me with the students came before college,” he says. “I’ve got that experience, that love of playing, but I also went through these education programs to get more knowledge, and to hopefully be smarter about how to navigate that world.”
At DMI, Tremmel designs practical, current curricula, drawing on his doctorate in curriculum leadership. “I’m responsible for designing a curriculum, monitoring it, and making decisions about what we need to be teaching,” he said. His programs balance technical skills with industry savvy, ensuring students avoid naive dreams of record deals without understanding the fine print. His academic path sharpened his ability to craft courses that are both rigorous and relevant, preparing students for the real world.
Beyond the technical skills, Tremmel stresses the human element, informed by industry feedback. “It’s not always about the specific body of knowledge that you have…it’s about being somebody that other people want to be around,” he noted. “Are you somebody that people want to hang out with? That’s one thing that people forget about.” His education taught him to prioritize communication and collaboration, skills he passes on to students chasing tours or studio dreams.
The rewards of teaching often come later, like a delayed chorus in a song. Tremmel treasures calls from alumni who’ve landed gigs and realized his lessons’ worth. “Maybe a year or two after the student has graduated…they’ve gotten a job at a recording studio, or they’re in a band…I’ll get a phone call or an email and they’ll say, ‘you know, all that stuff you told us back during that class, you were right,’” he said. For teachers, gratification is rarely instant, often arriving years later.
Armed with a fresh doctorate, Tremmel remains driven. His journey—from teenage rocker to curriculum visionary—equips DMI students to emerge skilled, savvy, and sociable. In the Delta’s storied musical landscape, Tremmel is a bridge, turning personal triumphs into collective harmony, ensuring the next generation carries the region’s legacy forward with both talent and wisdom.
