Tom Bennett - University of Houston, Houston, TX

Professor: Tom Bennett

Department: Music

College: University of Houston, Houston, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

First off, TB is a great teacher and director. Yes, he has a dry sense of humor. No, he doesnt dance around when he directs. But that doesnt make him awful. Why does he drill fundamentals so hard? Because thats how you master your instrument, you fools. If you NEED a dir to force music out of you, perhaps you simply need to practice more.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BAND101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He came to JJ Pearce HS in 1979. Our stage band blew away all of Dallas HS that very year. Loved him.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BAND101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had him MANY years ago at his first university. (ETSU) Condescension and disrespect towards students was common then as well. He was the reason I quit band after one year-it was a souring, frustrating experience that bothers me to this day. He was an OK clinician, but this was tempered greatly by his demeaning attitude towards the students.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Finally, U of H realizes a professor may not abuse students with many extra rehearsals on nights and weekends! The so-called "green" method is nothing more than drill, drill, drill.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I am going to one of the previously mentioned "real" music schools, and it was in no way a result of Tom Bennett. The fact that he thinks music making can be condensed into a non-thinking, one size fits all approach should be enough of a clue for you band directors to figure out he is an utter joke. He's just a mediocre highschool band director.

Rating # 6

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Yes, the wind ensemble sounds great- but so does a computer with a tone producer. The only difference is the computer makes more music. If you want to get I's at UIL, etc. Bennett is your guy. If you want to be a good MUSIC educator, he isn't even close. The only person with less of an ear for music than Tom Bennett is Merlin Paterson

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

wondering what Grainger compositions and Patterson transcriptions we have to play THIS year

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BAND
• 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:

People, really, get over yourselves. You can hardly deny that the ensemble sounds amazing. Disagree with parts of what we do, but understand that it obviously works...And you would be hard pressed to find another teacher who cares more about his students. Hey, you made the choice to come to UH...

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you think Bennett is musical then a few things can be assumed. First of all you've never heard anything outside a highschool band. Second your probably a hack on your instrument because if you are then every thing he says is gold to you. Those of us with skill are beyond him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This man couldn't hear a low flying jet clip his forehead. The word musician doesn't even apply. Watching him flail away up there is like watching a turkey just after the axe has fallen. Seriously, there are no real musicians as ensemble leaders at this school, not orchestra, not band, not chorus.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: WINDENS
• 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:

Has to force students to be in his band by threatening to take away their scholarships.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BRAINWASH
• 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:

Total robot. Tom Bennet's conducting looks like a movable action figure, and his teaching is worse. He's so square and boring that you might actually start to fall asleep while playing your instrument.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course:
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you need to learn how to be a metronome, he's your man. The wind ensemble is musically stifling, due to the fact that he conducts and runs the wind ensemble like it is a high school band. If you disagree, you've never played in a truly musical group.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LAME
• 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:

Fundamentals concert? This guy is such a joke. Get a life outside of forcing students to take your class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Likes to stand in front of his band picking his butt, then proceeds to pick his nose. Kinda nasty...needs to take FUNDAMENTALS of personal hygiene.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BAND
• 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:

His class is horrible. Stay away if you want to be creative and think for yourself.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WINDENS
• 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:

If you are going to be a BD, memorize every word he says. If you are a performance major, transfer to real music school. As a performance school, the MSM is a JOKE. (By the way, the previous post is totally UNTRUE and uncalled for.)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WINDENS
• 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:

Why should he respect performance majors? Do you know how few MSM graduates have had successful playing careers? And they were in Mr. Green's wind ensemble. If you want to play, go to Eastman or Juilliard. Oh yeah, you couldn't get in.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WINDENS
• 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:

If you want your future threatened when you fail to laugh at his bad jokes, then he's for you. His ensemble sounds great, but he doesn't use respect to get that sound. You're best to avoid him.