Richard Gradone - County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ

Professor: Richard Gradone

Department: Music

College: County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS117
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a decent professor, be prepared to do an in depth study on a few topics. He wasn't my top choice as a teacher, but he cares a lot about his topic and works very hard. Participate, do all the work, ask questions when you're confused, and use office hours, and you'll do fine.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He doesn't answer questions, he's unclear. All he does is talk in metaphors. He doesn't pay attention to people who are confused.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS118
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He goes on unrelated rants for most of the class and makes it extremely difficult to clearly understand and focus on the information. I was lucky to have taken Theory in high school because that is the only reason I have been able to do well with this class the past two semesters. If you get stuck in his class, I highly recommend getting a tutor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: THEOR2
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't know theory? Get an outside tutor. He is the worst at explaining things. Never ask him a question because he'll never answer it. The sight singing literally helped me pass his theory class. Seriously if you bomb all the test, just keep sight singing!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BASICMUS
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love Doc as a person, musician, professor. He is unbelievably confusing, so I felt a lot of my work was self taught until I skipped class a bunch and came back completely lost. He teaches with bizarre analogies and you walk out of the class thinking you wasted your time, but at the end of the semester, everything makes sense. Taking him again!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Talks in metaphors and answers questions with questions, so you need to pay close attention or you'll be lost. He's unclear and made it difficult to understand the material sometimes. Only helps during his office hours. I would only suggest taking him if you're a fast learner and will attend every class. Sight singing is a large part of the grade

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JAZZHISTORY
• 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:

Nice guy. Participate and show up every class and you'll do fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: THEORY1
• 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:

One of the nicest/strangest guys on campus. Lectures are a bit confusing. You can fill a notebook of metaphors by the end of the semester (it can be distracting). Grade is heavily influenced on sight singing. He encourages you to have self realizations about theory. As a result, I did take a lot away from the course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gradone is probably one of the most interesting professor you will ever have. A lot of the stuff he says has true meaning and always hits home with theory as well. PAY ATTENTION to everything he says though, and try not to get too overwhelmed with the work load. Definitely worth it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I asked him for help every time we had class and he would always say "okay one sec" and run out of the room and never help me... very unclear, speaks in metaphors... avoid Doc at all costs. Try Bevia instead.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS118
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a genius. Probably one of the smartest people I've ever met. He's a great professor. I gave him kinda low clarity and easiness ratings because he's not easy... You have to put in the work to pass his classes. He's willing to help but he'll never flat out give you answers. He'll guide you to figuring the material out. Great prof!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• 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:

Books for the class were 300 bucks he most of the time gave enormous amounts of homework. Once took points off of a students test for responding to one of his "jokes" (test was not yet passed out) flips the switch alot meaning somedays he will be laid back some he will be high strung he has a great knowledge of subject but cant teach it

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome teacher! Very helpful and says the craziest and funniest things! He knows theory so well but can make it confusing at times but is always there to help. But can't wait for Theory II!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: THEOR2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing muscian. Speaks/teaches in metaphors. Always there for help. Gives a lot of opportunities to bring up your grade. Do a lot of sight singing; it can either raise or lower your grade 10 points. Pay very close attention. Somehow all his metaphors come back to theory. He has his moments but he's a pretty good teacher

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MSCTH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant music theorist, incredible jazz cornet player, and a fun teacher. Incredibly remarkable teacher if you pay very close attention, everything he says and does has a meaning, but requires focus and full attention to fully comprehend what he is explaining or demonstrating. Don't give up, keep seeking help and attention from him, it's worth it

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great professor, but a bit confusing at times. Answers a lot of questions with another one, but usually it makes sense!Uses a lot of crazy analogies.I remember that once there was, according to him, a elephant in our classroom, it was just invisible, and somehow that related to what we were learning about.Seems crazy, but is really just brilliant!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUS201
• 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:

Has good knowlege of the subject but has no structure or form to the class. Not very clear with his explanations and is a little self-absorbed.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the most musically talented and interesting professors I have ever encountered. Inspiring still today despite not having taken a class with him in over 4 years.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was a pretty good teacher. He was very nice, but his wacky analogies threw some people off on occasion. ("It's still bologna, no matter how you slice it.") He does know the material and what he is doing, even thugh he looks at things in a somewhat weird kinda way. Overall, a good professor though.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Cool guy. Thinks as if there's a universe out there. Impressed, very supportive teacher.