Brenda Dalen - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Professor: Brenda Dalen

Department: Music

College: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS283
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brenda is honestly a gem. I've taken several music history classes with her, and can say that she is one of the best profs I've had. There is a lot of material covered, but she always gives a super detailed guide for assignments and tests! As long as you study that, it's easy to get a good grade. Also, she is always on your side!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof! Very passionate and fair! Class introduced me to some fantastic music.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Brenda is extremely kind, sweet, and passionate about music.. but it doesn't make her a good prof. She rambles excessively, providing way too much context and background info. that's not necessary or relevant. Class moves at a glacial, very inefficient pace. Will test your patience and attention span. Take in a 3 week summer course! Need textbook.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brenda is an awesome prof! She really made sure that I knew why I received the grade that I got, and I found that the assignments were more about personal reflection, which made the readings unnecessary. Her lectures do feel very long, but most of the important info is in the power points or is easy to look up.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The professor herself obviously cared a lot about music. But the material we were expected to know was quite specific. Dont expect to get a good grade in this class without studying hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Love her! Changing some future option courses to her courses. Participation isn't graded but it does help. Lots of assignments with smaller weight so it helps wit gpa. I have no classical music experience and I loved it. She is so funny and caring. She chose not to use a textbook and send us links. Exams were pretty easy if you read the slides

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

AVOID IF POSSIBLE. Her tests are so hard, you have to know every little detail. It's so unnecessary for a 100 level course. Her lectures are so boring no one ever shows up after a few days into the semester. She is a nice prof but that doesn't make her a good one. There's 2 midterms (20% each) and a cumulative final (40%); plus 3 easy assignments.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Attendance isn't mandatory as she just reads off her powerpoint slides and spends most classes getting off topic. Her assignments are easy but exams are tough. She expects you to study and know so much material its ridiculous. You need to memorize songs and she tests on songs that aren't covered in class. This course was so heavy for a 100 level.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Wonderful professor. Very approachable and gives detailed presentations each class. A delight to have attended her class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUS102
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Brenda is a delight! Although it was an intro course, you could tell she always wanted to share more; she exudes passion for music in a global context! Would highly recommend taking this course with her.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC633
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable and her door is always open to help. A well grounded history prof with a wide range of musical interests.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

BORING. Don't bother attending. Just read the crap out of the textbook and skim her slides. 2 midterms, 3 simple written assignments and final. MC exams. Noncumulative, except final. Do the practice final! Apart from concepts, you have to memorize around 8 listening pieces for each exam. More for the final, and always has at least one mystery piece

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Boring class. Helps a lot if you have any previous knowledge regarding basic elements of music (timbre, texture, tone, etc). There were two assignments worth 10% that took about 10 mins each to complete. Exams require you to listen and become familiar with 8 songs each time, and you need to memorize everything she lists in the study guide.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 284
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I adore this woman. She gives you absolutely everything you need to succeed. Very engaging lecturer, and lovely person. HIGHLY recommend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 284
• 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:

Brenda is probably the best prof I've ever had. She's incredibly knowledgeable, organized, thoughtful, and interesting. You can tell she's had a very interesting life. She's basically exactly who I'd like to grow up to become. Highly recommend her classes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUS365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's much more within her element than in 101/102. She still rambles a lot but she's very friendly and loves the material, and you get something out of it, usually a new iPod song or two. Her grading system isn't as harsh now, and she gets to know you on a more personal level. A lot of reading but you get a cheat sheet for the final essay.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Listen and know the required pieces, and do the practice final exam and you are pretty much guaranteed an A- or higher. The class itself is pretty dry. Attendance begins to taper off after the first midterm. Brenda is great though. Crazy, but great.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I still don't know how I feel about this course. I didn't really learn a lot, but it was an easy A. Brenda is a really nice woman, but pretty disorganized. A bit of a neurotic. I think I'd like her more as a friend than a prof.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

took world music. Easy course,grading system has high standards. Not for people seriously interested in music. Very sweet lady, helpful, but very incoherent. I skipped a fair amount of her classes just because the rate of progress was painfully slow. a course you can blow off, read the textbook and do well in, with a friendly teacher.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSICB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is a really great teacher, and always teaches with a positive attitude. As long as you keep up with the text book, you'll do fine!