Arnold Lessing - Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Professor: Arnold Lessing

Department: Music

College: Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC87A
• 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:

When I first walked in I thought he was Jack Nicholson's brother. He looks like him, he talks like him. Can be very funny. Is a brilliant guitarist. Will help you if you're doing something wrong. He is very involved. Hard work, though. This is not for the faint hearted.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC87A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Man this guy is senile! He still hasn't turned in his grades for the FALL semester. But I have to admit that this class wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that great. I did however come out of the class with some essential skills in the style of flamenco and classical guitar. Turn your grades in ARNIE! Butthead.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he is a good teacher when he wants to be if u ask for help or he sees u struggling he will help but mainly u work with partners and that is how u are to succeed i wouldnt mind recommending him he is a nice guy

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• 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:

Never played guitar before and I was able to tune within the 1st week with help from my bro. I was really impressed with my ability to strum & pick in guitar songs at the end of this class, especially with the very little effort I put in (15min right before class every now and then). Some said he was a bad teacher, but they never had any interest.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I was very disappointed with his teaching method. Most students learned from their partners... he often wouldn't even try to help most people. He expects you to be able to relatively tune within a few weeks, which is ludicrous. I'd advise against taking him; he basically threw material at us without offering any real instruction. A waste of time.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MSC8784
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professional & friendly. Eexcellent Guitar player. Has been playing/teaching the guitar for a long time. Studied Flamenco guitar in Spain. It is better to take the Flamenco/Classical class with him, because he is a Flamenco player himself. Your attendance is important. I took both Pop & Flamenco classes with him & it is easy to get a good grade.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BEGGUITAR
• 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:

I'd been playing for a few years before I took the class and I got so much out of it. This is a great class if you already play and you want to learn better technique, picking patterns, meter patterns and reading practice. I wish I had time to take more of his classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is very talented, and sometimes funny. But he's been teaching for so long that he's bored to tears! You can tell. DON'T take any class that's over 1.5 hours at a time. I took it during winter semester, 1x a week for 3.5 hours. It's tough to stay awake and just not an ideal learning environment.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Comming from a gutarist I hated this class. It was way to easy and I hrdly learned anything. He wouldn't even let me cut heads with people in class. However He's a great guy and mavelous guitarist.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He sucks he doesnt teach very well. Dont take this guy run run run run

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As an honor student at SMC, and a life long guitar player, I was insulted by Lessings lack of course structure and dedication to student needs. I helped him tune half of the classes guitars every meeting, and he rewarded me with a "B". His best days seemed to have past him by.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very good guitar teacher. Although it's the class that you'll find even more enjoyable.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GUITAR3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest class to get an A in ever. His plays like Hendrix or Santana. 2 tests but all you have to do is play a song and read some notes. I recommend him more for advanced guitar students. Or beginners who put in more effort and want to sound like they h

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• 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:

Not approachable in class and he literally races to leave after class. U get to ask 1 question after class and no office hours. Expects u to pair up which might not be possible. No tutor available through school. U would be better to buy a video .

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's a cool guy. You'll learn something.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Arnie's the man. Great guitarist, very laid back. Even though he teaches Beg. Guitar, I would recommend him more for advanced players. See Mayer for Beg. Guitar players.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC84A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

excellent musician. not so clear and helpful. strange sense of humor

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

laid back class. he's an excellent musician himself