James Walker - SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Professor: James Walker

Department: Music

College: SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUSC165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A really nice, smart guy--a Harvard graduate. But he always singles people out during rehearsal, which is really bad for self esteem. He can't keep a steady beat either, and he chooses music that is too demanding for students. I understand that he is passionate about what he does, but he really needs to lower his expectations for students.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was expecting an interesting, fascinating class. I was wrong. Nobody ever went because it was just so boring. I fell bad for him, because he has a lot of passion in what he does and is a nice guy, but no one really feels the same way. Lumps up huge amounts of information into just 3 tests. This class was a big regret, wish I took something else.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

WORST CLASS EVER GET OUT NOW! Very boring class so if your one of the few who go its nearly impossible to keep notes since your more focused on not falling asleep. Tests way to hard for a gen ed class. He expects that everyone is as interested as him in the material being covered. Can get extra credit by going to concerts, but still DO NOT TAKE!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSC165
• 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:

Wind Ensemble. Easy A, but he can be rather harsh, and can't keep a steady tempo. Tells funny stories occasionally. Music is generally loud, heavy, brassy stuff. For example, we're playing two paso dobles and a Russian symphonic dance at the upcoming concert.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant. Has 5 "Quizzes" which are actually tests. Good if you know music, okay if you don't, but it definitely helps. Very funny if you understand him as a person, if not very lame and boring. Course is based on listening to music, and identifying differences between the periods of music (i.e Baroque vs. Classical). Good luck!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WORST CLASS EVER. LECTURE IS BORING, NEVER WENT. AVOID. WAY TO HARD FOR A BASIC CLASS

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUSC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His tests have a lot of information, and you have to know songs too, so they can be pretty challenging. He is quite eccentric, and sometimes just rambles on. But he does give you 10 points of extra credit to your final average if you attend five approved concerts during the semester.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof for musc hist. NOT FOR MUSC PERFORMANCE. Got an A in 120. But I refuse to join wind ensemble because he CANT direct. Doesnt care about tuning. Plays musc too hard for Geneseo students. Very knowledgeable guy. not very applicable. My high school band director could school him...w/o the Harvard ph.d.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WINDENSEMBLE
• 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:

If you play an instrument, even if you play it really really really bad, TAKE BAND OR ORCHESTRA!!!! all you need to do to get an A is show up to your concerts and the rehearsals. Sometimes he can be a prick, if your first chair anyway, but he really is a nice guy. when he's in a good mood he is awesome. it's a fun way to get an EASY EASY EASY A!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didn't think his class was that bad. His tests are pretty straight-foward (from the book). But you should still attend class because sometimes he shows videos and it end up on the test. I got a B- in this class but I couldn've done a lot better- it's possible.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• 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:

Not a very good teacher. You just listen to music all class, he doesnt prepare you for the tests, he takes his job way too serious, especially for a class in which most people are taking as a requirement. He should stick to making music and not teaching it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

straight out of book

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• 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 obviously is intelligent and knows material but we just sit in class and listen to music. He has not once taught something in the book, and we have so many chapters to read before his impossible tests. This class is SO in depth. It's very hard. Having a lot of music experience may help only with musical notation and phrases.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: WINDENSEMBLE
• 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:

Awesome experience! So easy to get an A... just show up! He's very nice and helpful too.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WINDENSEMBLE
• 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:

I love Dr. Walker! He's really intelligent and always knows something about every piece that we play. He is also really funny- stopping the band to tell some random story... The music he picks is challenging and fun (most of the time) and i've enjoyed every minute of wind ensemble so far.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• 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:

To be honest professor Walker really isn't that hard. all you have to do is start listening to the music before the day bofore the test and do the red book and you'll do fine. really funny and the most adorable professor. so everyone stop your ****ing. J. Walk rulzzz

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy, but his tests are super hard. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. He's sooo boring!! Study way in advance for his tests if you do take this class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable man who loves what he teaches. Very boring class and tests are pretty hard. Make sure to read over the questions in the red booklet. Just about all of them are on the test.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUSICHIST120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Occasionally I fealt like he was looking down his nose at us uncultured non-music-majors, but he really tries to get you excited about music. Its nice to be somewhat familiar with music history. Definitely worth taking the class. Take it seriously and you will have fun and learn a lot.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ORCHESTRA
• 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:

As long as you show up and do what you're supposed to do you'll get an A. But DONT MISS A CONCERT. He can be very intimidating one on one, or even in class sometimes.