Kip Lornell - George Washington University, Washington, DC

Professor: Kip Lornell

Department: Music

College: George Washington University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS3175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Jazz in American Culture with Lornell and he's the best! He has a philosophy of no tests and only short papers, and his lectures are awesome! Great guy, a fun class to take if you don't know anything about jazz, and not too difficult if you do all the assignments. One of my favorite classes at GW

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS2123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took his Black Music class and loved it. The class is set up where you do a bunch of small assignments rather than 2-3 big ones. There is a project where you go to a music event which was very fun to do and he spices up the class with guest lecturers. There is no mid term or final, just a 5 page paper due at the end which was very manageable.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS2123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Relaxed class. Kip is overally qualified and informed. Would take again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2505
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Intro to Ethnomusicology was one of my favorite classes at GW. Professor Lornell is all about individuality and allows his students to engage with material they are interested in. He molds lectures around expressed areas of interest, so make sure to participate. Ask about his field work experience, he has great stories. Best professor and class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUS1104
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took the Popular Music & Hip-Hop Culture class over the summer as a general Arts requirement. Professor Lornell is enthusiastic about the subject and provides you a vast array of knowledge beyond the syllabus. He does tend to side track from the lecture but it is useful since the class is long. Grades based on papers + guest speaker responses.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS3175
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lornell is a real gem. As an Elliott student who had never taken a class in the music department I was hesitant to take "Jazz in American Culture". BUT I can truly say that this was the most informative and enjoyable class I've taken at GW in my three years. The class is a mix of music and non music majors. There are no tests, only papers

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS3175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He stopped class so that everyone could buy half smokes to get a true DC experience after learning students didn't know what a half smoke was.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS3175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jazz in American Culture covers a lot of ground, but rarely have I been in a class that connects each topic so effortlessly. A long time contributor to the field, he is a wealth of knowledge. He is not afraid to get off topic if a discussion goes on a tangent if the tangent provides an additional learning experience. He returns assignments fast.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS2123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lornell is by far the coolest professor at GW. He is an active author and you will get the opportunity to read some of his books throughout the course. He is very passionate and always knows what he's talking about. Lectures are very engaging so skipping will not be a good idea. Lovely class and highly recommend

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUS1108
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Lornell is awesome. What can I say, the guy has a passion for what he's sharing. And thats what he's doing is sharing rather than the usual lecture style teaching. This professor is pretty hip and if your struggling (which somehow I was despite this class not at all being hard) and we were able to communicate easily. He cares.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS1108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is an excellent professor and cares greatly about his students. He tries to make the classes as fun as possible. He also has a "round-up" policy which helps with grades and is very flexible. Tests are pretty straight forward with listening and reading being main parts. He knows his stuff and is very enthusiastic. Highly recommend!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS1108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Jazz History cognizant of Prof. Lornell's reputation on this site. I assume the positive view - he is both hilarious and a Jazz wonk, and gives tests reliant on materials and reading assignments you have well in advance. Listen and read and and an A is yours. If you love music, you will love this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS2123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lornell is an awesome guy. Hes super knowledgeable, funny, and enthusiastic. The class probably isn't an easy A, because the reviews that you have to write aren't simple, but if you put in a little work you'll find it easy. The course material is some of the most interesting stuff I've taken at GW. The man has a Grammy! Would recommend.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS2123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His classes make no sense. He has no structure to what he is talking about, so it is hard to take helpful notes. He will assign reading and then talk about nothing applicable to it in class. Do the reading in order to learn something because going to class is zero help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AMPOPMUSIC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This teacher is absolutely ridiculous. He seems super chill and the class a joke until you have to turn in a paper. Then he grades your paper as if it was an intensive writing/research course. He gives barely any instructions for these papers as well, but then when he reads them he takes points off if its not what he wants

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUS210580
• 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 was in his Ethnomusicology class. He gets off topic a lot. You don't need to attend class to get a good grade. Just write the papers. Sending him a rough draft before the due date helps a lot. He is an easy grader.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUS1108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lornell is the funniest professor I have ever had. He makes class really entertaining. However, he is hard to learn from because he does not give any notes. He plays a lot of videos during class instead of doing the teaching himself. Midterm and final aren't that hard. Overall, Lornell is a funny guy, but not a great lecturer.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: JAZZHIST
• 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:

Honestly, I thought this guy was the man. I earned an A in the class, but that was only because I did all of the reading, studies, and did the extra credit. TAKE THIS COURSE. I honestly learned more here than anywhere else. Study like you would for any other class, and you'll be good, and you'll probably learn about American cultural history too.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUSC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Lornell has a very laid back class, he expects you to do the reading but as long as you know what he's looking for you can get by with doing very little. He's funny and know a lot about the subject, although his lectures rarely have a clear direction. It's a fun class where you'll most likely get a good grade without trying too hard.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUS008
• 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:

His lectures are entertaining but not all that focused. Pay attention to who his favorites are, do the listening, skim read the book, and you'll be fine.