Scott Fessler - Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

Professor: Scott Fessler

Department: Composition

College: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CM231
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm taking his score preparation class and it's is extremely boring. Most of his answers to student's questions are gonna be "I'm not sure". Also, you'll get a thick packet which he says "everything's in there" with unclear and even cut-offed letters in it. Exams are insanely hard. You'll basically gonna learn by your self with that sloppy packet.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As someone who struggles with tonal harmony, I found it hard to keep up with Scott sometimes, but he is always willing to go over topics again or provide extra help. You have to speak up for yourself. He is really smart, and knows the subject inside and out. He makes the material relevant and interesting by providing examples for every topic.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor & class I've ever taken at Berklee. Tons of homework with little explanation, 2 full points taken off for every small mistake. Extremely hard exams - AVOID AVOID AVOID

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculous amount of homework which he knows the class can't do. Races over new topics and expects people to just understand it immediately. Not helpful when asked to explain things, although is willing to explain in office hours. Lots of unnecessary work, stressful class overall.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this guy expecting to have one of the best professors I've ever had, but as it turns out he's just a fountain of knowledge with no teaching skills. Sure I learned a couple of things, but not once did he make it clear how to use what he was teaching. The only way you will be successful in this class is if you already know what you're doing.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MLAN1
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Scott is awesome

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CM231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lecture is very comprehensive and you will learn a lot if you love the subject he talks about. He is humorous only if you interact with him in class. If you just sit and listen, you will find him boring. His projects and tests are very hard. You need to put lots of efforts into it, but you will learn so much if you are a dedicate student.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CP210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic teacher and class if you put in the work. Show up, do your part, and you'll get a lot out of it! He's very thorough and has a way of providing an explanation for everything, which is extremely helpful.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This class - more specifically, Scott - really made me appreciate my time spent at Berklee so far. I've had the most apathetic teachers here, but Scott is different. He treats the knowledge he has of the subject like a library, meaning you get out what you put in. If you want to learn (and you're a Berklee, so you should) take this class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• 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:

He is very good if you love tonal harmony and counterpoint. If you enjoy anything else DO NOT TAKE HIM. He is not the best at explaining and makes you feel somewhat dumb when you ask certain questions.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LHAN311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting and insightful. Great teacher! He's no pushover - I loved how he made certain smart alecs speechless when they tried to challenge him. I wish more teachers were like him. Bravo!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CM212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, and great teacher. Scott can be a little monotone at times, but he has a passion for the material and it shows in his teaching style. Yeah you have to know your stuff and study, but that's college.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: THIITH
• 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:

Ok so Scott is a really nice guy, but he is freaking hard. He knows his stuff really well and expects you to know it too. He is a little vague sometimes and does expect you to somewhat learn from the book. If you're like me and suck at harmony and ctpt you won't want to take him, because you'll do bad in his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CP211
• 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:

Wonderful teacher! VERY patient, nice, willing to repeat things 100 times just so you understand. Hard grader, but it forces you to learn the material. I wouldn't take his class unless you have a serious appreciation and desire to learn counterpoint. Classes were always fun, insightful, and interesting. Never a dull moment with Scott.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COUNT1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. He is clear and organized. Hard grader but if you work hard he will help you. Always there for extra help out of class. RECOMMEND ONLY if you're really interested in the subject

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Scott is a great teacher. His soft spoken manner forces you to attentively listen to every word. He grades tough, but if you do your work and show up to class, you will grow significantly as a composer under his guidance. Puts things in a clear to understand perspective and is generous in feedback of both good and bad.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: INSTCM12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Scott for both tonal harmony 2 and instrumentation, and he's a really straight forward, clear teacher. He didn't give easy tests, but if you needed help with something eh was glad to give it to you. Instrumentation was based on a notetaker file on a projecter, so if you don't like that kind of class, take a different teacher.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CM211
• 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:

Scott is clear and has organized teaching this class very well. I am never confused in the class and I've never studied classical music before. Those that are bored in the class are most likely bored by the material. I'm surprised that the class is not as difficult as all the hype claims it to be. This is because of Scott's teaching.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CP212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Once awhile, it's good to have someone push you to the extent. I was challenged by his assignments that sometimes seem ridiculously difficult, but it was really worth having him stretching my creative chops. If you think you write well, take him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PREP1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Scott is a nice guy. He's willing to help you when you ask some questions and pretty knowledgable.. but i guess he doesn't know how to convey his knowledge to students. Everything was so unclear and class itself was boring and his teaching style even made it worse. He's really tough too. I got C+ for the first time in my life. Maybe the class..:(