Woodruff, Christopher  

Great teacher. He has a great personality and answers just about any question you throw at him. He lets you know everything that is going to be on the midterms and final. grades easily on the concert reviews and homework. i had absolutely no musical background and i ended up pulling an a. i really enjoyed this professor's class

Hahaha, he's absolutely hilarious if you have any sort of background in music. He made theory very easy and enjoyable, and you really get the sense that he wants you to know your stuff. Great teacher for MU 101.

C-Dub was a pretty good music theory instructor. He knows the material like the back of his hand since he's been involved in music so long, but he sometimes has difficulty making analogies to help students who don't understand certain topics the same way he does. What ends up happening in the class is the experienced musicians thrive, while the music newbies have to learn at a nearly-unrealistic rate in order to keep up. His dry, quirky humor was always welcome, though. I recommend him.

Great teacher who is funny and a very good teacher. He teaches the material at a perfect pace, the class is fun, and the tests are fair.

I am a member of Mustang Band so I have had classes with professor Woodruff before. I was a little disappointed with his ability as a lecturer. He was funny as usual and he made references to science fiction and band things, which I really liked. But his lectures were surprisingly scatterbrained. He is still a decent professor and I learned the material.

Please don't take this class if you have little to know music theory knowledge. It is extremely fast paced and designed for students who have a background in music (even though the course description says otherwise). Dr. Woodruff is great. He is entertaining and very knowledgeable and has a deep passion for anything and everything music. He is the best in office hours and is able to simplify and help with any problems.

I agree with some of the other reviews, although he is a good professor, I think some of the music material stretched way beyond what I was expecting for an intro class. I play (and can read) piano and some guitar so it's not like I'm completely musically challenged, but this class seemed to be geared towards music majors and people in band and such. I felt lost at times and I only missed one or two lectures. Moves really quick, but did pull off a solid B+ on the final after a ton of review. Overall, nice guy, lets you out early most days, but for MUS 101, it isn't a breeze.

I really enjoyed this class. Music theory can be a bit overwhelming if you're not familiar with notation or chords or whatnot, but C-Dub does a pretty good job of presenting clearly and what you need to know. He's also super open to questions, either during class or during OH, which I really appreciated. He gives a sample midterm and final that are basically the same as the real thing. For the activity section, you have to attend 3 concerts (they do verify attendance) and write like 500 words about the experience. They take like 15 minutes each, easy points. Also, he's a huge science fiction fan, so ask him about his favorite Star Trek episode or his favorite SF movie.

I took this class for personal benefit, as I sought to add an understanding of music theory to me potentially working with music in the future. First I would like to say that I am not one to ever criticize a professor simply due to my own shortcomings. However, I need to stress that professor Woodruff lacks the ability to teach this subject effectively to students who do not have any musical background whatsoever such as myself. Often times I found the professor skipping levels of detail and passing them off as common knowledge, this worked for most of the class because it was evident they already played an instrument, something I figured out through conversations with them and/or overhearing their conversations with other students in the class. For someone like me, who never played an instrument as a child or had any musical background, this class was unnecessarily stressful, especially for a 101 class. Woodruff clearly knows the material like it is the back of his hand however is abysmal at going into the level of detail required for someone without musical background to understand fully. I found myself teaching myself the material way better than he could have. Furthermore, I have gone into Woodruff's office hours seeking help but felt uncomfortable doing so because if you gave the wrong answer to a practice problem, he would sometimes look at you with the face of "how do you not know this", which is the last look you want to give to a student, ESPECIALLY if the exact reason they're seeking help is because they don't know the subject you're judging the student for now understanding. I just found it baffling as to how you could judge a student for now knowing a topic or concept, I figured that was the purpose of office hours. Lastly, I want to mention that Professor Woodruff was absolutely adamant on having an in-person final in the midst of concerns over Coronavirus, putting students at risk for a final that could've easily been made online. I do not know if this was simply because he was too lazy to make and set up an online final, however it was very disappointing and ignorant. (I do however understand that music theory basically has to be handwritten, but there could easily have been a better work around for that rather than putting students at risk of exposure to a virus) It was not until the first case was confirmed and the administration made online finals mandatory did he make the final online. BOTTOM LINE: Do not take this class with Woodruff, if you are like me looking to learn music theory for personal benefit and/or don't have musical background. You can teach this class to yourself through online material. Save yourself the stress, money, and guaranteed disappointment you'll have in this professor. IF you do have to take this class, do whatever you can to take it with someone else.

Prof. Woodruff is a great teacher, he keeps the lectures interesting which is extremely difficult in the morning. You can easily pass as long as you put in the study time.

Very nice professor. The lectures are extremely boring if you aren't a music major, but Woodruff's animated character and sarcastic comments got me through it. I enjoyed going to the concerts that were required for the class, but the quizzes were a little hard and overly specific. He really wants people to know specific things about different composers, which was annoying, but in the end, not a horrible class.

If you take good notes and intend on attending every class, you don\'t need to buy the book. Woodruff is a great professor and an excellent lecturer. Take good notes, study, and get the listening lists nailed into your brain and you\'ll get an A for sure.

**Selling his book for 45.00 without CD's** However, I got an A without the CD's because most songs are on the website and I met with friends if needed! Great teacher! Listen to the songs over and over again and you'll ace the music part. Woodruff is super passionate about the class! Contact me if interested in the book! Tchan05@calpoly.edu

I took this class a year ago, my second to last quarter. Woodruff is boss! He made me like music, and now I know more about music than my current co-workers. Take Woodruff; he is the man!

The love child of David Cassidy and Sen. John Edwards! I love the man! And yes, he does have quite the cute bum!

C-Dub is great when i didn't make it into Wind-O i was put into chamber winds and got half hour lessons with C-Dub every week. I grew so much in my playing that quarter. C-Dub is worth taking anything with

c dub is a great professor. he knows his stuff backwards and forwards. He is a great conductor and excellent teacher. He is pleasent to be around and funny to talk to. He is approachable and accomodating. I can't say a bad thing about this guy.

I think I would like Woodruff more if I knew him better. I agree that he is a great conductor and really knows the scores to the music we play. When J, our band director says something that may not be agreed by everyone, I notice that Woodruff often make slight facial expressions/gestures showing his disagreement, etc. Another example is when someone says a comment or remark about J, Woodruff often finds it amusing. It’s hard for me to respect someone entirely when one can’t show respect for his colleague. Generally, he seems to be a nice guy, but I just wish he could try and connect more with everyone, not just his favorites.

C-Dub is a great conductor and teacher, I always enjoy wind orchestra when he is instructing us. Highly recommend him.

Dr. Woodruff is one of the best things that the Cal Poly Music Department has. Not only is he an incredible conductor, but he articulates what he wants in such a positive way, one can't help but enjoy playing for him. He adds humor, which is aways an added bonus. Looking at the two reviews below regarding Dr. McMahan, I can definitely see how those students would feel that way. First, sorry to rant on Dr. Woodruff's review, but as for the Director of Bands, Dr. McMahan is not consistent with his personality and with what he advocates to his students. He has told the band how much he cares for every single student involved in band and that he hopes we will stick around and not leave because we are mad, etc. I wish he would practice what he preaches. Honestly, I don't enjoy being apart of the band program because of him. He is often tactless and tends to give little digs to piss people off such as commenting on a student's flaws in performance, forgets about recognizing certain soloists, especially by name, often it will be...so and so, so and so, and trumpet (he definitely has favorites, but never lets on that he does), and he is an extremely odd person. I definitely agree that he is so insecure and is very jealous of our talented musicians, especially those who are thriving. You may think, why he would be jealous of talent? I think it's because he doesn't feel he is fully proving himself, especially to the music faculty, with what he can do and he is struggling to make something of himself. When he sees other people doing great things, I have a feeling there is some resentment there. Sorry for the long review...avoid Dr. McMahan at all costs. Stick with having Dr. Woodruff and you will avoid much stress and feel like a much more positive person.

well, this was my first quarter with Dr. Woodruff in his Wind Orchestra. Didn't talk a lot with Dr. Woodruff but I truly feel that he is a great professor and a conductor! Seemed like Dr. Woodruff was a quiet guy outside the band room; however, he was funny and passionate when he stand on the podium with the "stick" :) Those music we played in the first qurater were kind of easy imao...Overall, Dr. Woodruff is a great professor, can't recommend more.

Professor Woodruff is a brilliant conductor. He his hands down the best musical instructor that has even picked up a baton for a group I've performed with, and I had a pretty well renowned director back in High School. He is very polite about everything and never offends anyone, but is EXTREMELY efficient and getting work done in class and making the music sound the way it should. One quick (and generally ammusing) facial expression from him is enough to tell anyone in the band exactly what he wants changed the next time through, and it doesn't even require stopping! When stopping is required to fix something, Professor Woodruff explains the issue quickly and clearly and makes it sounds right faster than any conductor I know.

He's an excellent teacher! He has great taste in orchestral styles and I really feel encouraged to continue playing my instrument because he's so nice. Since it's hard to laugh with J being around, having Professor Woodruff conduct and make us laugh is like a sigh of relief. He's hilarious!

Professor Woodruff is such a difficult person to read. He often gives off a I\'m better than you, I don\'t want to take the time to get to know you vibe, but it\'s done in a subtle way. I was always so friendly to him and all I would get would be a \'hello\', after I initiated the \'hello\', but his response often always seemed fake to me. Honestly, I know a lot of people love him, but I couldn\'t seem to break though his closed off exterior. What irritated me a lot was when he had to make a comment to my section, he would look at everyone but me. Maybe he felt I already knew what he wanted, but it\'s polite to acknowledge everyone. When we are sight-reading pieces, he rarely ever stops. Even if section are totally lost, he will just sing the part, but won\'t stop conducting. Dude, give us a chance to actually play the part, not just listen to you sing it. Maybe he is just one of those guys who takes a while to let people warm up to him. He doesn\'t ever come to the music major dinner party, nor to the informational meeting the first week of school, which I find odd. Every single faculty professor attends. Perhaps he\'s just not very social. Anyway, sorry to bag on Woodruff. I know he means well to the ensemble, but he needs to work on his interpersonal relationships.

Professor Woodruff is so intelligent and I agree with the student below that he is extremely reserved, but I don't mind that so much. It does take time for him to warm up to people, but honestly, if you go to his office hours and get a one-on-one conversation, he is very welcoming. Oh, and I apologize for rating the Director of Bands, Dr. McMahan, in this review, but I do have to agree with the student below. The new director seems extremely insecure and I sincerely think that he will not last long at Cal Poly. The previous band director, William Johnson, left an incredible legacy, bringing the band program to its high level. Dr. McMahan does not even compare in the slightest. He has a lot of growing up to do and I really hope he gets his act together quick. Everyone can see through him, even most of the faculty, so I have been told. Dr. McMahan seems very lost with how to act and can't give praise or compliments in the slightest. Avoid Dr. McMahan at all costs...terrible, terrible, terrible. His way of critiquing each student's playing is not that effective and is definitely not constructive. He said to some musicians one time, "Oh, I thought that was going to sound like crap, but you actually sounded good...wow..." WTF?!?!?! He has no tact whatsoever and is such a mother fucking asshole who needs to be put in his place. He irritates beyond end. Anyway, so sorry to rant on Woodruff's page. I really wish Woodruff had applied for the position, he would have made such an incredible Director of Bands. He is amazing!

C-Dub is the best! He knows how to bring out the best in all the players in his ensembles. However, there is a slight downside. Wherever you find a music group with Woodruff, you'll find 'J'. Luckily, C-Dub is just awesome enough to make it worth it!

c dub is the smartest man in the history of the world. plus he is super nice and friendly and funny as hell. man what a baller.

Professor Woodruff is the nicest professor I have ever met. In my two quarters with the Mustang Band I have yet to see him show any signs of anger, especially none towards students. He (of course) has genuine interest in music, and he continues to play his trumpet in a community band here in SLO. If you have to take any sort of GE that a music course with Professor Woodruff will fill, DO IT.

Professor Woodruff is a living god. Seriously, look it up, there's a Facebook page dedicated to worshiping him. He's always super calm and collected and gives solid feedback. He's freaking hilarious and awesome and has even invited students to a couple get-togethers at his house to hang out and listen to music. You won't find another professor/person like this guy. +10 not a creep like McMahan, -5 trumpet playing ability, +50 suave as hell. Godspeed

Super fun and chill, easy A. Take this class if you are minoring/majoring in music!

Although Professor Woodruff is extremely reserved, he brings out his inner feelings when he conducts, which is wonderful to watch. He is so helpful with anything a student needs assistance with. I highly recommend taking a class from him. Heck, if you love to play music join band and have him as a conductor. I cannot say enough high reviews about Professor Woodruff. I really wish he was Director of Bands. The new director, Dr. McMahan, is so disappointing in terms of his personality and how he is with people, at least for me. I am seriously considering joining brass choir, which Woodruff leads. Some days McMahan acts "friendly" and then he completely freaks out over the littlest things the next day. He just seems fake and bipolar. Unlike Dr. McMahan, Professor Woodruff is very professional and tactful when it comes to critiquing a student's playing. He doesn't just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. By all means, join marching band, which is amazing (like a family!) or join an ensemble that Woodruff coaches/conducts. Your time at Poly will be so much more rewarding if you do.

I LOVE WOODRUFF! Best director ever. He's so funny. Some of the things he says are lowkey savage, but he says them in such a gentle tone that it makes it even better. I don't think the literature he has Wind Orchestra play is especially difficult, but I still find myself improving musically throughout every quarter I have him. This class is basically all participation (with one midterm playing assessment that you can perform as a section), and it's a great, fun, one unit easy A.

If it wasn\'t for him, I would have dropped out of wind ensemble because J made it absolutely unbearable. He\'s totally awesome and really cares, not only about the music, but about the students. I hope when J retires that he takes that job; he makes me want to be a better musician.

This is somewhat in response to the person below me. Professor Woodruff is one of the best things that happened to the band program at Cal Poly. I have never seen him be rude to a student, however his is VERY proper, which is a good thing. He is very private, but if you have a question, he is very willing to do anything to help. He has given me lessons and spot checks almost every quarter on things I need help with ON HIS OWN TIME. He does take a while to warm up to, but he definitely does not think he is better than anyone. Ask him sometime about the struggles he had while learning playing trumpet. Don\'t take it too personally that he is not looking at you, your bias for him is showing, and he probably is looking at you. Lastly, in some schools of thought, it is important not to stop while sight reading, also other sections might not be lost and he doesn\'t want one section to bring down the entire process of the band. Lastly, there is ALWAYS a volleyball game the night of the music major dinner, so that is why he does not attend. He also does not have a car, and generally has Brass Choir until 4 or 4:30 with the call time being at 6 for the games (so he has to get there earlier). Professor Woodruff is one of best things that happened, and we are so lucky to have someone that is so kind and willing to help students every single chance that he gets. He is also a fabulous conductor and a great teacher!

C-Dub is a Gangsta. If you take a class with this guy, you won't be disappointed. I would recommend not taking your eyes off of him because if you do, you'll probably miss something funny. Have him for marching band and pep band, and also took his MU 101 class, which I was glad I took from him. In a music department where you will most likely have to put up with J, woodruff is a godsend.. actually is probably a god. I wish the MU department would hand the Marching band over to him so we wouldnt have to listen to J's ramblings on resonance and beautiful sounds, and actually DO WORK SON on the stuff we need to focus on as a MARCHING BAND. Badadedaduhduhduh