James Fiste - Central Michigan University

Professor: James Fiste

Department: TBD

College: Central Michigan University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fiste is an amazing teacher. He helped revamp my cello technique with very clear instruction and pushed me to becoming a better cellist. He has high expectations but is very patient, nice, and genuinely cares. Without him, I would not have been able to continue towards earning my masters and DMA in cello performance. He was a joy to work with.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fiste is such an amazing professor!!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend him to anybody. I had him for MUS 114 and the class was a lecture every day but it was very interesting and we got to listen to music nearly every class. He is kind of awkward which I loved! He also is a funny guy, easy A if you do the work assigned and show up to class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a lot of homework so it is important to follow the syllabus. Cool guy!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Absolute angel. If you're taking MUS114 for a UP, TAKE PROF FISTE. Easily done assignments, and if you do them with effort you will get a good grade. Professor Fiste is so kind, funny, and so awkward but in a good way. Absolutely loved his class, and looked forward to it every week. He is so passionate about music, and is so knowledgeable.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fiste is one of the greatest professors ever. He is so kind, caring, and helpful. You can learn so much from him. He is very knowledgeable and makes things interesting. He is also so funny. I am so glad I get to learn from him. He is the best.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SYMPHLIT1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is such a good person. Knows absolutely everything, but is totally scared of his students and just wants them to do well, so will never give anyone other than an A, (in fact I remember him saying once that hes never failed anyone) He is the most awkward person alive and its wonderful. Just an angel.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fiste was amazing, and a must take for anyone taking MUS114, two assignments for the entire semester, you cant beat it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

MUS 114 with Dr. Fiste was very interesting! We didn't really have any assignments and the ones we did, it was purely based on our opinion. If you did it, you pretty much got a good grade on it. Very lenient, nice, and funny guy. If you come to class, you will get a good grade.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS114
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

MUS 114 was a breeze with Fiste, your final grade was 70% in class participation and then 30% online listening assignments. Needless to say, much much easier than other MUS 114 profs who have legitimate tests every week and hard homework. This class is insanely easy as long as you come to every class and be respectful.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUS155A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fiste has been so far the best private teacher around the city of Midland, and so far one of the best music professors. He gets reasonably off topic, but one of the best that CMU could have hired. He will be missed when he retires.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS314
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is the most awkward person ever and it is great! He is hilarious in class, but has so much knowledge about the subject. He is an amazing person and cellist.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS206
• 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:

He definitely knows his stuff when it comes to music. I had him for music composition and am very satisfied. He is very nice in class but often is ineffective at answering your questions clearly on a one on one situation. Otherwise, he is very fair and understanding and often rants, which can be a good break.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS281
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fiste is an awesome teacher. I had him for my ensemble, so not as a cello professor, but nevertheless, he was very knowledgeable in how to make you sound your very best. He gets off topic a lot, but sometimes that can be a good break.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS281
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I have him for the advance ensemble that I'm in and I like him. He's funny and sometimes we really don't get anything done, but he's a cool guy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUS206
• 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:

Easy class, if you know mus, it can give some trouble to people that have no musical background. He is a very good celloist. Highly Recommend this class/professor to have fun learning music

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Fiste is an awesome teacher. He helped me rediscover my love for playing cello. We worked together on Shostakovich - YAY! I very much enjoyed my work with Dr. Fiste.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: STUDIO
• 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:

Couldn't ask for a better cello professor. Helpful, generous and a fantastic musician. I swear sometimes the man is insane, but no other prof out there could get me so excited about the cello.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUS355
• 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:

Very cool and a lot of fun!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: STUDIO
• 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:

Dr. Fiste is the absolute best professor in the School of music. He knows his stuff, and is the best Cellist I've ever seen. He is really flakey at times, but you'll never find another professor that cares more about his students.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUS206
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was pure, unadulterated fun. Learned lots and understood all of it with ease.