Alma Santosuosso - Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Alma Santosuosso

Department: Music

College: Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MU171
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I was in a tough situation for anyone to grade me. Santosuosso is smart, it's just that we're not all as smart or specialized as she is. I tried really hard and got an A on her test, which is fine. I had no clue how to write a paper until later in my degree, so this was a learning experience for me. Please explain the perfect A paper better.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MU270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I enjoyed her class overall. Her lectures can be boring at times, but it is important that you show up. She is clear about what is important and what will be on exams. For the paper, make sure you see her in office hours, she is super helpful and leads you in the right direction. Double check your footnotes and bibliography!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MU271
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Here's the deal.. Santo bases everything off of her lectures. The readings are pretty much supplementary. She has a wealth of knowledge but talks softly and quickly so sit close and take good notes. If you show up and write it down, the exams are easy. She's tough but not tricksy. Also, super colour code your essay appendix!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MU2701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I love Dr. S. Be ready to write fast and attend every class if you expect an A+. She makes you work your butt off, but you come out knowing minute details like a composer's love of trains. She really cares about the students that put in an extra effort, and attending her office hours is important.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MU374A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Speaking as an individual who barley passed her first year classes then later received an A+ in her third year Romantic class, you must find a way to make the material interesting. Yes she speaks fast, so write fast. Put a giant asterisk next to anything she repeats. I did not get to know her on a personal level; this did not affect my grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MU270MU271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

An amazing professor. Very fair, very funny, very helpful if you take the time to see her in office hours. Is very specific about what she wants on the paper, but will do anything to see her students succeed. She also gives cookies to people waiting outside her office. A lovely woman, you are privileged to have her as a professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I was a non-music major taking her into-to-ancient-music course. Let me tell you, it was hard. There is SO much material she has to cover and you need to know. She really forces you to get "with it" in terms of university expectations. So yes, she talks fast, and is a merciless marker. But a warm and happy personality overall. Be prepared to work!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MU374
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Her marking is hard, but it's fair. She will not spare your feelings about the quality of your work, but it's only because she wants you to succeed. Take it as an incentive to improve rather than as a personal attack and you will do well in her class. Too many people take the latter option and do poorly.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSICA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Has favourites, and an extremely specific view of what history is (useless facts). Announces marks publicly. Very strange, hard to get along with unless you are one of her favourites.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MU271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Talks really fast. Very vague. Office hours consist of scribbling down notes frantically before she moves to the next panicked student. But I must admit, her lectures are hilarious and interesting. If I wasn't marked on music history, then I would take one of her classes again. Warning: she is a really hard marker.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She's a great funny person, but if you want to pass, read the text book, before the lecture!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUSICHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

One semester she hated our class so much, she did not give us the extension on our papers, and came in and read from a book sitting on a music stand. Totally uninterested in the material that year, all because we asked for our papers back.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUSICHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Alma is a very knowledgeable woman. She definitely knows her stuff. Unfortunately, she picks favourites, the mark you get at the midterm will then be your mark in every aspect of the course. She tries to cram in too much material and we do not care about her trip to Italy; it won't make us learn about the motet any better. She is DIFFICULT.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUSHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great classes love how she puts personal slides and experiences in her lectures

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MU374
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very helpful. Very clear. Very fair. Wants her students to succeed. Office hours on paper=very good. Sometimes dry, but she is kind, sweet, hilarious underneath. If you want to learn then she is a good teacher. Do not recommend for those who like bird classes. This class is tough but in a good academic way. if you are responsible&study will do well

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Her classes are a big snoozefest. Its incredibly hard to listen to her annoying monotone voice for 2 hours. Im really not sure why shes teaching here. Shes a nice lady but I know a lot of nice ladys and their not teachers...

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MU118
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

trying to stay awake in her class is impossible. although she really tries to help her students succeed and knows way too much about music history

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSICHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good prof, although she can be dry at times. Really helpful and nice; she'll give you the essay questions for the tests. Very fair. We love her bright red shoes and her fun slides! P.S. She knows EVERYTHING. Do your footnotes properly...she has page numbers from books practically memorized!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MU100200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She's dry. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING SHE SAYS... EVERYTHING. If you know what she's said in class then you should ace this class. If she doesn't mention it, you don't need to know it-EASY! and if you follow her help for the essay you'll ace that too. But she's on the dry side...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MU270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very good hints for exams/midterms and essays. Follow her advice and you're set!