Rob Lyda

Rob Lyda is the music teacher at Cary Woods Elementary in Auburn, AL, and an adjunct instructor at Auburn University. He has taught a variety of instrumental, vocal, and general music courses for students in grades K-undergraduate. Dr. Lyda received the B.M.E. from Troy University and the M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Music Education from Auburn University.  In addition to his academic degrees Dr. Lyda has completed certification studies in Kodály, World Music Drumming, TI:ME, and is an Orff-Schulwerk (Levels I-III) certified teacher at the Master level.

Dr. Lyda regularly presents research on technology integration, creativity, and general music education at state, regional, and national conferences. He is a sought-after clinician for professional development workshops, particularly for topics related to elementary music education. Ensembles under his direction have performed at Walt Disney World, The Alabama Association of School Boards conference, and throughout the local community. Currently, he is the director of the Auburn Ukulele Band. His efforts have been recognized through awards that include Teacher of the Year at the school and district level, the Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award, and the Alabama Music Educators Association’s 2019 Lacey Powell Outstanding Music Educator.

His writings can be found in the Ala Breve, General Music Today, and the International Handbook for Middle Level Learners.  He has contributed to curricular materials for NAfME, the Alabama Learning Exchange, and the Alabama Course of Studies for Fine Arts (music). For three orchestral seasons he has created the Teacher’s Guide for the Alabama Symphony’s Young Persons Concerts.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lyda has been a passionate advocate for both music education and music educators.  In the fall of 2000, he founded and hosted the first CMENC (now CNAfME) Collegiate Summit, which is still a well-attended workshop for pre-service music educators across Alabama. Currently he hosts the East Alabama General Music Workshop each fall to provide high quality free professional development for music educators.  In order to fund education initiatives for school and community groups, he has written and received over $500,000 in grant funding.  During the 2016 – 2017 school year, Dr. Lyda was the music education representative on the Alabama State Superintendent’s cabinet.  In addition, he supports music education at the state and national level as a member of the NAfME President’s cabinet, Advocacy Chair of AMEA, and as a delegate to NAfME’s National Assembly in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Lyda holds memberships in the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), College Music Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE), and the National Band Association. Currently, Dr. Lyda serves as the National Chair of NAfME’s Council for General Music Education, Secretary of the Elementary Division of the AMEA, the Advocacy Chair of the AMEA, and is on the advisory board of Teaching Music Magazine.