Arbie Orenstein - CUNY Queens College, Flushing, NY

Professor: Arbie Orenstein

Department: Music

College: CUNY Queens College, Flushing, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He isn't clear on his grading of papers, he is a harsh grader as well.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you are interested in Jewish Music, this is the course for you. However, if you have no background in music, or no background in Jewish music, or no background in Jewish culture, you might have difficulty understanding or relating to the subject matter. If you like to listen to recordings of Jewish music, you will love this class..

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hard listen but can easily get an A if you write well

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's an okay professor, in my books. He definitely has a very strong curve for grading, in the sense that it's easy to get a B+ but hard to get an A-. The good news is that he offers lots of extra credit to make up for it. He's rather dry; after a while, the class gets boring, but maybe that's just me. He's not the worst choice though.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He gives a lot of papers through out the semester. But gives plenty of time, and they're generally easy. He always allows you to re-do them for a better grade. His lectures are very entertaining. He's very sweet and cares that everyone does well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His teaching style is based on examples. He does not only limit the class to the textbook, in fact we only used the textbook about two times during the whole course. Expect to write a lot of papers, at least one every week. But he is an easy grader and you also get extension to raise your grades if you like. Best of all, this class has no finals !

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

It was a Jewish music class that fulfilled my second english requirement. The topic was very boring but he's a great teacher. There were no tests. He's adorable and very understanding. Definitely would take him again for another class. Plus he plays the piano at times for us. Just a wonderful professor overall.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC1
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is such a nice person. He really tried to liven up the classroom and be sweet and funny. You have to go to 4 school concerts and write a 1 page critique for them. Only downfall is that there is 1 quiz and a final. The quiz was okay but all the questions were short answer. The final was difficult but I somehow ended with a B+ overall.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

1 quiz, 4 concert critique, and a final exam, that's your grade. This professor has unbelievable grading rubric. 60 and 35% for final and quiz. Be prepared to study hard for both.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Love this guy. Only two tests and 4 concerts you have to write one page about. His enthusiasm is amazing and keeps the classroom very lively. Really relaxing when he puts on the pieces you have to listen to in class. Great Professor, would take this class again in a heartbeat.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor was pretty nice, but his quizzes and tests were pretty difficult, most of his questions are open-ended. He writes stuff on the board but it's hard to tell what he wrote because it's usually very disorganized. His class requires a LOT of listening. If you're not an auditory person, I would not recommend this class at ALL.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS001
• 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:

He is very vague and unfair gave one quiz all year and then a final. Avoid this professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUSC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he is extremely vague. we had 1 quiz, final, and a 4 page assignment. really hard to do well on his finals unless u know someone who took this course. he expects you to know every single detail as he wont tell you wants on final. i would rather avoid this class unless you have the exams. make it your last option.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very vague, never tell you how many exams there are and what's your progress. we had one quiz which was a mid term which he never mentioned so most ppl did pretty bad, a final, 4 mandatory concert essays if you do more it's extra credit. none of the essay are graded meaning if you did it, you got a credit for it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUS001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

really nice professor. tries to make the class interesting, but def not an easy A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC347W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

"Let's take a listen and see how we do. See what you make of it!"

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Best professor I ever had at QC.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Orenstein is an amazing teacher! He is very fair when it comes to tests and concert reviews. He is very classy and admirable-- such a great role model. Made me appreciate music on such a higher level than I did before I took his class. I think EVERYONE would benefit from taking a class taught by Professor Orenstein.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC001
• 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:

Great teacher. Easy. Class can get a little boring, but that's every class pretty much! Have to go to four concerts. Very understanding, I missed the midterm and still allowed me to make it up! You should def take him if you need to take Music!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUS001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For an old guy he's VERY with it. Very classy, very fair and FUNNY. The class is a lot of reading, but participation isn't necessary. 1 quiz, a midterm and a final. Must attend 4 concerts on campus and write a short review on all. He's such a nice prof. willing to help any and all who come to him. Easy A if you study and put in a bit of effort!