David Fuentes - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: David Fuentes

Department: Music

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC317
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didn't care for Dr. Fuentes. I took theory on a different schedule, so he wouldn't trust my ability to write music; he only let me write short choral pieces. (I have also written to symphonic works and a string 4tet, but he's never heard them despite my invitations to the concerts they were played in). If I had a choice I wouldn't take him again

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

So much homework for a core class, especially at the end of the semester when he assigns a huge group project to do in 1 week and a 5-6 page final paper in addition to the final. Closed to other opinions different than his own, but I don't think he does it on purpose. Don't take, especially if you know nothing about music.

Rating # 3

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Fuentes did not create a comfortable environment to share any opinions other than his own. If you disagree with him and use your own opinion you will fail. The work load was unnecessarily heavy for a class most people are taking for core. I would rather have taken Art History or really any other class than this one.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSC101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fuentes is the kind of prof that makes me want to drop my music minor. He doesn't have you buy a textbook, he teaches from one he wrote himself. Everything is cliche, and I haven't learned anything useful from this class. The homework is ridiculous, and the study guide for the midterm is just a dialogue, not terms, and instructions are unclear.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This course is really helping me understand music and why it matters. I find myself thinking about things we covered a lot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fuentes is a very interesting man. He has very interesting ideas and refuses to listen to any contradicting ideas. The class is very conceptual, and all the material is based on his opinion. I would not recommend taking this course if you don't have to.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: THEORY3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fuentes is a deeply spiritual man and I appreciated that. However, his style of teaching is extremely unclear, and that I did not appreciate. When it came to homework assignments for this class, I was never really sure what was due and what wasn't. And there was a LOT of homework. So unless you have to take him, I wouldn't. Save a headache.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fuentes is a good prof, but not a great one. The grade depended a lot on writing and being able to apply points from the lectures. But if you put in the effort and use what he teaches you, a good grade is very achievable.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a very funny and quirky guy. For a 101 class, the subject material is kind of out there, but it definitely challenges you to think about how you perceive music. I would definitely recommend taking this professor for music majors and non-music majors.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSC101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unfortunately for music majors and minors, you HAVE to take this class, and even worse, he's the only one that teaches it. If you aren't a music major or minor, DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS. I've never been more confused in my life. The class isn't about anything. He tries to be super deep but it doesn't work. He's a nice guy but can't answer questions.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MA103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I started semester liking him. Seemed intelligent and reasonable. As it went on realized all he wanted to do was hear himself talk. His exams are part take home but very confusing. Says to refer to lectures but present it in a new way. Really just wants you to repeat what he said. Dont bother asking for help, even 1:1 he still is confusing.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I completed all of my theory classes on the old program, so he didn't know me or my background when I signed up for composition and he made it clear he didn't want to teach me composition. I didn't really learn anything from him and he limited my accepted participation to short choral works. Very discouraging.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy and tries to be funny, but he'd rather hear himself talk than teach an engaging course. His assignments can be long and abstract and seem rather pointless. If you want to learn something, I would not take this class with him. If you want to get a good grade on his papers all you have to do is basically spit back one of his lectures.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUSC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he is just boring and trys to sell textbook that he wrote, which is boring as well. i just dont get anything in his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very spiritual man and shares his thoughts on a Bible passage every class period. Pretty good sense of humor. However, there was a ridiculous amount of homework for that kind of a core class. The topics are not engaging at all (except maybe film music), and it is extremely hard to participate in class because those topics are so boring.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you enjoy music do not take this class, b/c afterword you may not. The only one who might enjoy and do well in this class is....David Fuentes. He is a nice and sincere guy, but a little naive about musical love in a 100 level core class. The class includes to much work which feels rather useless. I would caution anyone before taking it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: IDIS150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is useless. I didn't learn anything. His humor was lame and beside the point. I recommend you not take this course at all costs.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COMP304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fuentes, is not a great teacher. If, you do not take goo notes in class, you will not do well on his exams. Also, in his comp. class, everything is subjective. If he likes your writing, you do better, but if he doesn't, it is your fault. Even if you like what you wrote and think it sounds good, he might not and he will take points off for it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wow. I don't know what to say about him. He gives tons of homework, but none of it really matters. Lectures sometimes drag on. Tests are 100% spitting out what he's already said. You don't have to understand any of the concepts.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No matter how much work I put into his classes, I never feel like I'm learning anything. His tests consist of "what did I say about..." - regurgitating rather than thinking.