Stephen Press - Illinois Wesleyan University

Professor: Stephen Press

Department: TBD

College: Illinois Wesleyan University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GW109
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HE IS A HORRIBLE PROFESSOR! IM ONLY IN HIS CLASS BY DEFAULT CUZ U HAVE TO TAKE GATEWAY! FML I HAVE TO WRITE A PAPER ON A CRITIC, WRITE & PRESENT AN ABSTRACT & PRESENT A "READING VERSION" OF MY PAPER TO THE CLASS! WTF! ALSO DOESN'T ART CRITICISM SOUND LIKE YOU'RE GONNA CRITICIZE PIECES OF ART LIKE PAINTINGS? NOT MUSIC RIGHT! WTF! I DONT GIVE A SH***

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Press's survey of Music History was the hardest class I've ever taken in all my life. He would never tell you what would be on a test (which is normal) but the material would cover more than 5 chapters. One of the those people who thinks that everyone else understands the material because he's an expert on music history.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor doesn't really "teach" at all. he stands in front of the class and reads sections of the chapter you were assigned to read. He puts in little to no effort and is uninterested. His tests are unpredictable and he is little help outside of class. On lighter note, he has an awesome, dry, sense of humor and is a very interesting man.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS202
• 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:

Dr. Press is pretty awesome, and Survey IS NOT THAT HARD IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THE READING AND LISTENING AND PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS. Also, don't be afraid to ask him for help, because he's a lot nicer than he can sometimes seem. Anyway, to conclude, take a Dr. Press class because you will learn a crapload of interesting stuff.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST202
• 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:

Very Brilliant professor!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Press knows a lot about music, but does nothing but read from the textbook during class. He also doesn't limit the scope of the lecture to what he will test.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I don't understand why Press even teaches b/c it is obvious he hates the students...from his nasty demeanor to the ridiculous difficulty of the tests (which he offers no help in studying for). I am really sorry for anyone who has to take a class with him. the only people who like him are crap musicians who can't play and girls who think he's cute..

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUS201
• 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:

dr. press is amazing..got me interested in things that i was never interested in before. awesome professor. highly recommend to everyone! warning: do not think you will be able to do nothing in his class and get an A. he works hard and you have to do the same!!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS201
• 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:

He is a genius. You can talk to him about anything. One of my favorite professors at Wesleyan.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUS210
• 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:

Fantastic!

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The book was a better teacher than Press. The exams test your ability to memorize absolutely everything and how fast you can write.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Press' Survey class is indeed difficult, but he teaches it very well. It is not really possible to get through the entire history of music in 2 semesters, so of course you are going to feel overwhelmed. Dr. Press is great though. He's funny and is extremely intersted in what he is teaching. I recommend him highly. He's stinking brilliant.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Press knows more about music than probably any other living person on the face of the planet. Survey is a tough class...people who complain that he doesn't teach the material and is unhelpful are probably the people who never read or do the listening. Dr. Press is always willing to offer advice and is very enthusisastic about music history.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SURVEY
• 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:

terrible teacher. the material could be interesting but he make it incredibly boring and acts like we're too dumb to understand. seems like he hates his job. stay away at all costs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SURVEY
• 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:

Worst teacher at IWU. He has a terrible attitude about teaching and acts like he doesn't want to be there. Rolls his eyes at questions in class. Tests over 15 chapters and picks impossibly obscure questions (very few A's on his tests ~ many people do poorly). Made me want to change my major at the thought of having him for two years.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISTORYETC
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took several classes with him, worked for him. He is amazing, knows a ton. Go into his office hours and talk about anything, he is a genius. If you love early 20th century music he is totally your man.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SURVEY
• 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:

a somewhat difficult class, but quite do-able. Each class covers a ton of material, but he does a good job of explaining things and selecting listening examples. He really knows what he's talking about, and if we didn't need to memorize anything, just listening to his lectures would be enjoyable.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SURVEYMUSHIST
• 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:

Dr Press is a great teacher, and he's hilarious. Everyone ****es about the amount of information covered - Yes, there's a ton of info but if you simply take the time to learn it it's not difficult at all! He's fantabulous.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

tough class, but good prof

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSICHISTORY
• 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:

The absolute worst teacher I have ever had period. That includes elementary school, grammar school, high school, and college. He consistently proves himself a dismal teacher in every aspect; a blind one-armed monkey could do a better job at "teaching" than he does.