Robert Bedford - West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA

Professor: Robert Bedford

Department: Music

College: West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Despite how many poor comments you read about this man's teaching, he's great. Whoever wrote the comments must have been too impaired to want an advanced education. I think WCU is lucky to have him. He cares about his students, pulls students in the direction that brings out the best, and has an approach to teaching that is top notch.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PNO151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bedford has always helped me work through my difficulties as a pianist. He has a lot of knowledge and even more patience.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PNO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Since I started, I have known Dr. BEdford t o be an extremely patient and wonderful professor. I have yet to come out of lesson without a smile on my face.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSICPIAN
• 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:

Robert Bedford was a thoughtful teacher in 1976 when I took lessons at WCU post BS Mu Ed from another university. He made me think about WHAT I was playing; his critique helped me advance. Having experienced many piano teachers, I liked him a lot!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PIA191
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really easy, but only if you already know piano. If you know nothing about playing piano, he will not help.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PIA191
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bedford is past his prime... I may have had eleven years of piano experience before taking this class on the basics, but even with that he still confused me. It was an easy A, but other people in the class with very little piano experience didn't learn much...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PIA191
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I signed up for Dr. Craig's piano class only for it to be switched to Beford last minute. Immediately half the class dropped. I stayed as one of 6, and it was awful. He is not a good teacher. He might be a good 1 on 1 teacher, but he's past his prime and needs to stop making young musicians hate music. his court case was BS, his time is up.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PIANO541
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him as a postgrad in piano perf. back in '92. He is both amazing and amazingly difficult to deal with because he demands the world! I had to change him because I spent a great deal being upset, but continued to learn from him through talking to his students and evesdropping! I owe him a great part of my piano concert career. Not for amateurs!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PIA442
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All I know is that when I started at WC as a music ed. major I knew little about piano. Now I am getting ready to complete my degree in piano performance under his instruction. Yes, there are times when I've hated him, but I know that no other teacher could have gotten me as far as he has pianistically, and I always get A's on my juries!

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Had him for piano class initially, no prior piano experience. Learned great deal by following his instructions, ended up taking him as a piano minor. Always challenged me in a positive way and made me laugh in lessons. Listened to what I had to say. Learned as much about piano as I did about myself. A great mentor and performer.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PIA201
• 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:

This may be one of Bedfords only positive reveiews. I know students and others have had their problems with him, but his alexander technique approach revolutionised my organ and trombone playing. If you were prepared he was very helpful, and could translate his level of thinking to be helpful. Excellent performer if you've ever heard him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PIA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I was gald to see such harsh reviews of this teacher. He is a teacher that really picks favorites. Not a respected teacher at WC. WC has tried to take him off the board for audition and he took WC to court so he could stay on. not many people know it. if piano major at WC stay away from him!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PIANO000
• 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:

Bad teacher for beginning pianists. Decent for private lessons. Just be prepared to be treated like a 5-year old. He will spend half the lesson telling you about 'who you really are'. If you play something wrong, he will not tell you how to fix it, rather give you an analogy that makes no sense. Get around that, and the lessons aren't too bad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PIA101
• 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:

He has taught me nothing so far.....when we take his "tests" he tells you to play what you want to play but he gives you a bad grade because you didn't play "enough", even though he never told you how much to play or what to play.......bad for a beginning piano player....

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PIA191
• 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:

I withdrew from his piano class after the first time.Now I wish I stayed. I hear his students do well even though they didn't think that good of him first.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PIA192
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

i'm a transfer student and got stuck in this class. after having piano at my last college i was appalled at Dr. Bedford's teaching habits (or lack there of). we did the same thing every class. "sight read" ave maria and boom-chicked you are my sunshine. i decided to withdrawl from the class before it was too late. i learned nothing.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GROUP2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you are serious about making changes in technique he's an excellent teacher. His "psychological" insights are necessary because out psychological attitude towards music and the instrument has a lot to do with how well we can play. I'd imagine that most people giving him bad ratings are untalented non-pianists with a fringe interest in piano.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is unconventional but great. You really do have to be open-minded to learn something from him, but if you are, you will learn SO much - and not just about piano, about life! At the very least, he is an amazing Alexander Technique instructor...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PIA191
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wouldn't take him twice. If you have any piano experience, the class is a breeze. If you haven't, good luck. Might be either too easy or two hard, depending on your experience.