Joel Bluestone - Portland State University, Portland, OR

Professor: Joel Bluestone

Department: Music

College: Portland State University, Portland, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS362U
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

It wasn't too hard to just cross reference the book and get A's on the tests, thus an A on the class. But the teacher himself was not very accessible and was condescending. On one test, I got a question wrong that every single source I checked contradicted. Asking him about it showed he chose the answer based on personal opinion. Unprofessional imo

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS362
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Bluestone is a great teacher. Most of the gripes I see/hear from other students are blaming him for their lack of attention to detail on assignments and tests. He is passionate about his subject matter, and is happy to talk if you engage him. If you take his class thinking that it is an easy way to earn specific credits, you shouldn't be here.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS361U002
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've really enjoyed being in Joel's class. He's strict, but his work was easy and informative. It's an online class that's easy to do on your own time. The work/quizes are easy and straight forward. I think a lot of the people complaining are lazy or mad because they didn't learn about their own personal rock tastes lol. I'd recommend the class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS361U
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I have no idea what class all these other kids took. I took history of rock and it was so easy. I got 100% on every assignment without reading or trying. I got an 96% in the class because I do a few discussion posts.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 362U
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class completely online and was required to get a text book. Only for all the answers for tests to be off of quizlet online. He gave me a 89.02 but in the letter grade section is an F (DO NOT LIKE HE DOESN'T DOUBLE CHECK THESE THINGS). Not clear on what he would like, not that easy to get a hold of.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS194
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

LOVED Joel. If you're lazy, stay away from his class. In fact, why are you in college if you're lazy? You should APPRECIATE the professors that make you work hard and actually teach you something. I'm disappointed at the reviews on Joel.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 62563
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His class room etiquette is poor. He's not an approachable professor. He often shoots downridicules the opinions of others, but becomes frustrated when no-one participates in his boring ass lectures. History of Rock? Not even close. I took this class hoping to learn about Led ZepACDC, but I learned about Blind Lemon Jackson. Boooring.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS362U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a disappointment. The tests were super short, but covered hardly any of the class material (or the text book) and included questions about obscure trivia that was either given a split-second mention or never part of his lectures. I'm an A student and yet I finished these tests anxious and frustrated because of his "gotcha" testing style.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC362U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's the most disappointing class I've ever taken. The text book is poorly written and referenced in a test once and never again. The teachings are based on HIS opinion of music, not fact, and seem poorly informed. He is not consistent in grading or what's taught. He will say A, B & C are on the test and it's P, Q, & R. AVOID THIS CLASS!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ROCK
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Reliable,responsible, and fun when we had a "rock" band.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS362U
• 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:

I have a feeling he's probably better as a percussion teacher, but for Mus 362U (history of rock) his instruction was not easy to follow. Also, he never made it clear what he expected for tests. I got a good mark in the course, but if I had to do it over, I would take it from another teacher and save myself the anxiety.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS361U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Joel is a careless teacher with no respect for students. How people like this teach in our universities we shall never know. NEVER take a class with this professor. He doesn't care about anyone.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: UNST321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible class that requires attendance because he writes insane questions like, "what book did I bring to class that one day". The power points he used could of been made by his 8 year old daughter as a punishment. Avoid this class like the plague unless you can take notes on the non-sense he comes up with. Worst class in my 4 years of attending.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS361U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class expecting a cake walk itt isn't. You have to put in time. The "bad" reviews about him r by people who didn't bother to show up to class. It's Intro to Rock Music, & where does rock start? With country blues music in the 1920's. You start in the 20's & work up to the 60's. class is usally 1/5 full, except for midterm & final.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 362U
• 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:

This guy should not be teaching or at least he needs some instruction on how to teach. His motto is "Whatever you do, don't make me think." Hence, there are no assignments outside of mid-term and final. He writes the tests the night before and tries to think up gotcha!questions to trip students up. Not nearly as cool as he thinks he is.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUS362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The professor is a really nice guy, but it's as he intentionally makes the class more difficult then it should be. 1)Song forms on exams, irrelevant to the class 2)Only mt and final NO extra credit 3)ridiculous questions on exam 4) Not really a social history of rock and roll 5) 3.7 gpa until this class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUS362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable instructor. Casual and laid back in appearance and instruction, but very strict on the grading of papers and exams. Not easy to get an A, but not overwhelmingly difficult either. Has a tendency to put exam questions on material not covered in lectures or the text. A lot of writing required.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUS361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I liked his lectures and his laid back nature. But he SUCKS when it comes to tests. He sometimes likes to base questions on obscure material, for instance, the caption of a picture from the textbook! He requires you to memorize every possible minute/obscure detail on the subject. This was the first time I've ever failed a class before.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS361U
• 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:

One of the worst I've had. If you make the littlest mistake you get a zero. Don;t turn in 1 5 point assignment? Fail the class. Forget to meet with your TA? Fail the class. Spell a name wrong or forget to underline an album title? Fail the assignment. Also the tests are really hard and not on what was discussed in class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUS261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At first he was humorous and fun, but after a few weeks of his class and the content I was sick of his "rocker dude" thing. He doesn't grade any of his work. Even though the content was interesting I was misled when signing up for it. Also, his tests are really irrelevant and very hard.