Jennifer Stasack - Davidson College, Davidson, NC

Professor: Jennifer Stasack

Department: Music

College: Davidson College, Davidson, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She tries to be nice but simply doesn't understand that some students are not music majors or minors. Kinda donkey move to not explain basic concepts in more detail. Would not recommend though is friendly outside class. Lectures can be very dry.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Stasack is so specific about everything. If you don't do everything the exact way she wants, you will get a bad grade. Office hours are not helpful at all if you need help, she will just make sure you know that you don't know anything. Do not take.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take this course if you are not extremely passionate about world music. Stasack is nice, but grades like a maniac and asks for A LOT on the exams. This class was definitely one of my most difficult courses at Davidson. Only take this class if you're ready to put in a lot of work.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS140
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best teacher I have had.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you take World Music with little to no musical experience, (insert South Park meme) you're going to have a bad time. HOWEVER, I've had Prof. Stasack for both a composition class and World Music and have enjoyed both. She expects a lot, but she readily provides help outside of class. She loves what she does and the material she teaches.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She changed the format of the class so that as long as you read, you can make a pretty high grade. The tests are hard if you don't like to memorize. Otherwise she tells you what will be on it. She is flexible and willing to work with you on the final project to make it fun and interesting.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Stasack was no help at all. At first she seems easy and very clear about what she wants, but once it comes to the tests that changes. Her grading is all opinion and she is very specific about how she wants answers. It is almost impossible to do well on her tests. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pretty interesting and fun class if you like music. Most of the stuff on tests is straight from the text and she gives handouts with notes in class most of the time, though she is very picky and arbitrary with her grading sometimes. Grades the final project and paper super easily.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS144
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Such a nice teacher! Made class entertaining and sometimes gave hints in office hours. Could do fairly well on tests simply by reading the textbook. Class was pure memorization but there was a ton of information to memorize.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WORLDMUSICS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID HER!! WORLD MUSICS IS A WASTE OF YOUR TIME. Undoubtedly the worst teacher I've had at Davidson. While she can be entertaining in class, her grading is irrational and arbitrary. She is useless outside of class in office hours (I talked with her for 1:30 and gathered nothing). I actually decided I couldn't minor because of her class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

MUS261 with Dr. Stasack is great if you are truly willing to put hard, honest work to it. It certainly led me out of my comfort zone. Stasack's comments as I was composing my final piece were often more hurtful than clear - but that's what pushed me to evaluate my own work and ultimately make something I couldn't be more satisfied about.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• 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:

Dr. Stasack is a wonderful professor. Though she can be a bit quirky, she is passionate about what she is teaching and is incredibly knowledgeable. She has lived, studied, and played music everywhere around the globe, and if you demonstrate legitimate interest in the material she will go the extra mile to make sure you get the most out of the class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's nice to a few favorite students, but in most cases she's unhelpful, mean, and even downright nasty. Inconsistent grader. She regularly butchers the English language, and half the time doesn't know what she's talking about. Stay away.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Interesting and eccentric course but very detail-heavy, and the lack of graded assignments will throw you under the bus if you do badly on any of them. Lectures can get dry at times, and she's a little arrogant about her musical abilities, but a very novel subject for most people.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Essentially a waste of time. Even though I did pretty well, each lecture was so extraordinarily drawn out. She is very unhelpful in informing you what she wants, and frequently throws curve balls. Your musical background doesn't really matter that much. She's also incredibly condescending, and she seems unable to speak in a succinct manner.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Stasack is incredibly easy in world music if you have any musical background at all. I almost never studied and got an A. Even if you don't "know" and answer, you can always get substantial partial credit. She is also extremely enthusiastic. However, she if f&$£ing nuts and sometimes gets lost in her own lectures, but I love her.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Her passion for music shows but you need to STUDY!!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Definitely study for World Music, I underestimated it. It can be tough. But Stasack is a great teacher, her passion for the subject is visible. Talk to her outside of class, she's a cool person.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took World Music. Not as horrible as most people think. She's extremely helpful in office hours, you just have to ignore her weird quirks. I genuinely like her and would definitely take more classes with her if I were interested in music.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the very worst classes I have ever taken anywhere. This woman is arrogant, mean, and totally unhelpful. She openly plays favorites. She should not be teaching here.