James Petercsak - SUNY Potsdam

Professor: James Petercsak

Department: Music

College: SUNY Potsdam

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PERC1
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I never had him as a professor, but being a music business major I've had the pleasure of talking to him and hearing him talk about his experiences in the industry. He's a very sociable person and is very approachable inside crane and outside of crane. Definitely have been inspired by what he's done in his life and he's an industry role model 4 all

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

JP has forgotten more about percussion than you will ever know about percussion. The connections he has in the business are unparalleled. Teaching wise: he's extremely old school. I don't agree with 80% of the things he says. But he hooks you up with the top players to study under in the state. You stick with JP because of his connections.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PERC101
• 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:

He has a funny personality. For non-percussion majors learning percussion, we spent a lot of time on snare drum. This class could have been more fun if instead of playing rudiments on SD for the entire class, we learned more percussion repertoire as a percussion ensemble. (How about a drumline?)

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUCP001
• 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:

JP is one the most influential and knowledgeable percussion educators. He has ties to every great performer and music product company in existence. If you have a bad experience in his studio, it is likely that you are more of a hobby musician and should consider other majors.. such as, I don't know.. sociology..

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PERC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

JP never seizes to amaze you.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PERCSTUD
• 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:

I received such an outstanding foundation under J.P.s direction that I went on for a Masters Degree in Perc Perf at the Manhattan School of Music and then won a scholarship in Post-Grad Studies at The Juilliard School-2 years later I entered Juilliards D.M.A program and became the 3rd Percussionist to get a DMA in their 100 year history-thanks JP

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUSC
• 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:

J.P., as he is more affectionally known is a master of all things percussion, and, if you show interest, will teach you anything you want to know. Unfortnately, some of the more immature people who never found the fortitude to ask him to teach them something found it necessary to post. Highly reccomended teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

jp is what he is, and makes not apologies for it. he is a walking fountain of percussion knowledge but he will not go out of his way to make you a better player, you need to go to him and show that you want to improve. be dedicated and self disciplined.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSC
• 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:

Took Petercsak in the mid 80s - he was condescending, rude, more interested in his Yamaha deals than in teaching, and he ultimately turned me into a sociology major (I'm now a sociology professor) - but I'm still happily drumming, no thanks to Jim.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PERCTECH
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

JP Rocks my Socks. Had him several years ago for percussion tech, although it totally wasn't cool to let our peers teach the class. I learned more from him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PERC
• 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:

very approachable

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PERCUSSION
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him over 25 years ago and he was very good then. I appreciate him now that I am teaching percussion. Way to go Jimbo!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUCP
• 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:

Disrupting studio classes is rude and unprofessional.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PERCUSSION
• 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:

Percussion Tech was always always fun and interesting. I loved the Just play it half-fast...ha! Petercsak is so witty and truly loves what he does, always reviews what was learned the last time, goes over everything til you know it. He's awesome!