Dr. Robert H. Woody’s Distinguished Teaching Award in Music Education

In the field of higher education, excellent teaching is one of the most valuable contributions a professor can make. For Dr. Robert H. Woody, a music educator at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), this excellence was formally recognized in 2006 when he received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. This award is one of the college’s highest honors and reflects a career marked by dedication, innovation, and meaningful impact in the lives of students studying music education.

The Distinguished Teaching Award is not given lightly. It honors faculty members who demonstrate not just good teaching, but exceptional skill, creativity, and influence in how they educate students. For Dr. Woody, this recognition came as a result of years of hard work in the classroom, designing lessons and learning experiences that were not only informative but truly inspiring.

Music education is a field that blends creativity, technical skill, and deep understanding of human expression. Teaching this subject requires more than just conveying facts—it involves nurturing a student’s relationship with music, helping them understand its role in the world, and guiding them in becoming teachers or performers themselves. Dr. Woody’s success in these areas is what made his teaching stand out.

One of the main reasons Dr. Woody received the Distinguished Teaching Award was his innovative teaching methods. Innovation in education means finding new, effective ways to help students learn. For some teachers, that may involve using technology; for others, it could mean designing interactive class activities or offering hands-on practice.

Dr. Woody’s approach to innovation likely included a mix of these strategies, all shaped to meet the needs of his students.

Innovation doesn’t always mean doing something flashy. Often, it means being thoughtful about how students learn best. It means recognizing when something isn’t working and trying a new way. Dr. Woody’s willingness to do this—while still meeting academic standards and maintaining a strong classroom environment—is a big part of what made him an award-winning educator.

At the heart of great teaching is a deep commitment to student learning. Dr. Woody’s work went beyond preparing lesson plans or assigning grades. He cared about whether students were really understanding the material and growing from the experience. He took time to help them work through challenges, answer questions, and think critically about what they were learning. Teaching is about relationships—between teachers and students, between students and their peers, and between students and the subject itself. Dr. Woody fostered all of these relationships in his classroom. His students were not just passive listeners; they were active learners, guided by a professor who was fully invested in their success.

Impact on the Field of Music Education

The Distinguished Teaching Award also highlights the significant impact Dr. Woody has had on students’ educational experiences in music education. His classes prepared students not just for exams, but for real-world teaching and performing. He helped them understand music in a way that was personal and meaningful, equipping them with the tools they needed to thrive in their future careers.

Music educators often go on to teach others—children in schools, young musicians in programs, or adults in community settings. That means the impact of a great music teacher like Dr. Woody doesn’t stop with one group of students. It spreads, generation after generation, through the people his students go on to teach. The ripple effect of his work continues far beyond the walls of the university.

Why This Award Matters

The Distinguished Teaching Award is not just about celebrating past success. It also sends a message about what good teaching looks like and why it matters. It tells students that their learning experience is a priority. It tells fellow faculty members that innovative, thoughtful teaching is valued. And it encourages future educators—like those studying with Dr. Woody—to aim for the same level of excellence. For Dr. Woody, receiving this award in 2006 was a powerful acknowledgment of his influence and effectiveness as an educator. It meant that his efforts were seen, appreciated, and celebrated by his colleagues and institution. It marked a major milestone in his career, one that recognized both his day-to-day teaching and the larger impact of his work.

Even after receiving such a prestigious award, Dr. Woody has continued his teaching and mentorship. Awards like the Distinguished Teaching Award are not endpoints—they are points of recognition along a longer journey. Dr. Woody’s ongoing work continues to reflect the same commitment and creativity that earned him the award in the first place.

In the field of music education, where passion and skill must work together, Dr. Woody’s legacy as a teacher continues to grow. The 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award stands as proof that great teaching makes a difference—not just for one class or one semester, but for a lifetime.