Robert Cowden - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Robert Cowden

Department: Music

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A Princeton grad and it shows. Knows a lot! Students who don't study or show up have a tough time. He's really a pretty nice guy! SJS is lucky to have a prof who has his background.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

3 quizes each 20% of grade, 3 concert reports together are 15% of grade and the rest is a final essay. He gives you the topic of the final essay the first day of class which is helpful. Quizes were all true and false and I got C or C- even after I stopped going to class. Lectures don't really cover the material that much, take really good notes and you might get something out of them. Final is very easy. No book

Rating # 3

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

ZOMG THIS CLASS IS LIKE HELL! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I MANAGE TO PASS WITH A C!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Robert H. Cowden changed my life for the better. He was extremely challenging, as many have noted here. But his challenges are made in the spirit of molding great musicians from the students set before him. I bombed his first test, but aced the rest once I applied myself. Give him a chance, guys! Get to work!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSE1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he doesn't use a text book. It's so boring you don't even want to go to class. and his projects are useless in my opinion.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• 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:

He sets you up to fail! There is no book which you would assume is a plus but really it sucks because you have nothing to study cuz his lectures are so boring its impossible to make yourself go and if you do you wont stay awake. 3 or 4 100point true false tests all very random questions and really its all based on luck. You will learn nothing!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• 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:

Dude is a wildcard!! Talks on and on about music we had no idea about. You must take notes everyday for the the three or four T/F 100 question tests. He assumes everyone is a music major and thinks that the class is not on music but rather on "life". Yea right. VERY, VERY HARD to go to his class. Best naps of my life though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is the most self centered person ever. His tests are hard no one will honestly get more than a c+ (literally) show up and try to follow his lectures. Kinda boring but he is pasionate about music. Ok professor, but if you find an easier music 10 prof take them.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• 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:

Extremely boring! Barely anyone shows up to his lectures. All he does is play alot of music samples and lectures are not engaging. He is very passionate about music, it's obvious, but he just cannot teach it the right way. He gives almost everyone a C but I was lucky enough to get a B-. I do NOT recommend his class!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I am not a music major - feel sorry for those who are - he managed to make this subject a bore. He likes to talk about himself and loves to listen to music. But that doesn't make the class good. It was a hit and miss in the tests T/F - 3 concerts is a lot in a semester - he drones on and on...He was surprised people snoozed-not me!

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Not a bad guy, but NO ONE EVER gets higher than a C on any of his midterms. The FINAL EXAM is EASY and the reports are also easy which halp improve your grade. One more thing--BORING AS HELL, Talks bout how his own life relates to mozart and other old guys' music.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

beware Cowden. If you can avoid this teacher, you will be a happy person. He's a hard ass who doesn't really care what you get out of the class!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUSC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

SOoo extremely boring wanders off topic constantly so you dont know what to write... doesnt write anything out!!! is this a phisolophy or music class?? cant tell.. talks fasts expect you to know about all these ols composers!!! note recommended at ALLL!!!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Really cool class. You have to pay attention to the lectures, because tests & quizzes are 100% based upon them. They're all T/F questions, and there are a few freebies from time to time ("were music samples used in class...?" you'd know yes if you showed up to even one lecture). Won't cater to people who don't show up to class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He makes NO sense and he has NO book to help ya out!! I got the same grade on all the test reather I went to class or not!!! Always a C.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUSC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i agree with the last comments.......i guess i didnt pay much attention so the T/F stuff was more difficult for me....he's a nice guy though....

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUSC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Such a nice guy but his class was really boring. All his tests consist of True/False ?s, so if you know the material you'll do fine. But I noticed that not a lot of ppl get A's in the class...mostly B's or C's.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

ssoooooooooooooo boring. It is impossible to take notes in class, he will talk about music for the first 5 minutes of class then he will go in a completely different direction. zzZZzzZZzz

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUSC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

WOW!!! Need to study the tests from the previous years to pass this class. Don't even consider taking this course without. You will never pass if you try.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

can u say borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiingggggggg?