Ben Fritz - George Washington University, Washington, DC

Professor: Ben Fritz

Department: Music

College: George Washington University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This guy is great. At a school that does not offer a music major and consistently under funds the band program Dr. Fritz has built a positive environment where students can enjoy and pursue music at various levels. This class is appropriately laid back as GWU is not a music school and most students participate because they enjoy making music.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSC056
• 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:

Despite attracting students from across the country and providing scholarship opportunities for musicians, the GW Wind Ensemble performed only slightly better than my middle school's band. High School was far superior to this "University" ensemble. There was a concert where we played from the pep band repertoire.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS53
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you want a challenging music class, try hard on your audition and get into wind ensemble, or take lessons. Symphonic is easy and some people get bored, but the whole point is that everyone can get in! He's a nice guy and knows what he's talking about; he just doesn't go hard on people.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS56
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

After 4 years at GW, Dr. Fritz remains the only professor I would take a repeat class with willingly. Note- there are different levels of classes - if you can't make it into wind ensemble, where the degree of music played is much higher, tough. University/Symphonic Band is for everyone. Colonial Brass is the best! Caring, helpful, thoughtful prof.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BAND10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm seeing one thing from these reviews:Ben Fritz is a laid back guy. Unfortunately, this quality dosent produce quality music. If you want an easy class that will ask very little of you, this is a good option. If you want to actually play interesting music at a high level of proficiency, not so much. Fritz is unprofessional and rewards mediocrity.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: WINDENSE
• 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's way better compare to my high school band director (a jerk who picks on everyone) but I don't think he really cares about his classes. He has a very nice personality but he doesn't care....

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS056
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fritz is awesome! He helped me through a crisis with the University, and did everything he could to help me out with my financial aid, GPA, and yes, my musical interest. He may be a little unorthodox at times, but it only adds to the greatness of the class. I missed class a couple of times and still got an A, so attendance is flexible.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS56
• 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:

Yeah, definitely disregard anything negative about Fritz. He's a big dork but he definitely knows his stuff. Yaaay someone posted about the officers and stuff too, that's too cool! Anyway, take the class, it's a lot of fun and it's super laid back...I've been here two years and Fritz has been my favorite professor at GW, by far :-D

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS5610
• 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:

What a lot of people don't understand is that one can choose whether or not to take this for credit, so it's not very militaristic, like a lot of people are used to in high school. Awesome professor, always very helpful. Has GREAT officers and TAs to help whenever he's not available. Definitely take this class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC56
• 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:

Disregard anything bad that people have said about Fritz--he's a lot of fun, and he makes band a good diversion during stressful weeks of class. Yes, it's laid-back, but since most people in band aren't music majors, that's good because he doesn't have unreal expectations because he knows we're all really involved in other stuff. Great prof!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS801
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very funny and entertaing. Easy on the grade point average, but not at all in depth on the subject matter.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SYMPHONICBRASS
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Awesome director! Definitely helpful, always joking around. Even when he gets upset about something, he doesn't go insane and scream at us, like the horrific directors many of us have had before. Probably the most laid back professor at GW.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great Prof, easy A and hilarious!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: UNIVERSITYBAND
• 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:

hilarious guy. makes band great fun, but also knows his stuff. anyone who plays an instrument or is interested in playing an instrument should take this class. easy A and you'll really enjoy it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BAND
• 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:

Sweet, fun guy. He was the only GW professor to ever offer any sort of personal connection and support. A very fun class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BAND
• 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:

He's hilarious. If the band weren't so terrible, the class would be one of my favorites.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUS052
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Smart, nice, and very funny. He is somewhat disorganized, however, and the atmosphere in band could be more serious at times. The course is an easy A; all you have to do is show up on time.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BAND
• 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:

All you have to do is show up. It's an easy A only once a week

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS52
• 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:

Band is so fun, he makes everyone laugh and have a good time!! Truly one of the best musical experiences I have ever had.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUS53BAND
• 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:

Amazing guy. Sweet, funny, understanding. Easiest A in the entire university. Fun class, too, even if there are only 20 people at concerts.