Jim Stinnett - Berklee College of Music

Professor: Jim Stinnett

Department: TBD

College: Berklee College of Music

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BASS1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Jim made me feel awful. He would belittle me instead of asking why I had trouble with the material. I still have nightmares. I'm serious. If you want to fall in line like a beaten dog and memorize licks, Jim will show you how. If you want to express musical ideas and actually listen to what you play, take with somebody else.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AR111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definition of old school. Has relatively easy assignments, therefore will not take any BS if its thrown at him. Very clear curriculum. Get on his good side and you'll be fine, slack off and he'll make sure to keep you in line. Generally positive attitude though! Took arranging because it was required, took his section because he's a fellow bassist!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AR1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Jim is a great professor. He treats you like a human and not another factory product. He doesn't give you a hard time if you miss a few assignments, which is a good thing in my book. He has fun entertaining conversations and cuts class a bit short so you dont have to sit for a grueling 2 hours. Do it. You will get an A. It's a stress free class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PBI3
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best Teacher at Berklee by far. I have taken him for the past 3 years. If you respect him. He will respect you. If you work hard. He will pass you. If you do what ever he says, without question, You will be heads and shoulders above your peers. NO he won't put up with BS. He will change the way you look at music.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AR111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was the worst class I have taken at Berklee. Jim barely taught any arranging material and used class time to instead talk about himself and complain about Berklee. He clearly had no interest in teaching or answering questions, he would assign homework then never go over it. Easy class but frustrating waste of time.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ARR111013
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you are actually here to learn arranging material, don't take Jim. He uses 85-95% of class time to complain about Berklee and has taught us, at most, 3 or 4 actual lessons on arranging. He never answers questions and makes students look stupid for asking. He assigned pages in the workbook and never went over them. Save yourself the frustration.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BASSREADINGC
• 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:

Jim is an interesting character. At first, he seems very pompous and arrogant, but this is to weed out the weak ones. If you want to learn - he is simply incredible. A bit harsh, but you learn how to deal with it and thus convert it into good work. Thumbs up!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PIBS101
• 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:

I've had a number of private bass teachers and Jim has been, by far, the best. He's extremely straightforward and can seem arrogant at first, but this is just a show he puts on to weed out people who are not really interested in learning. Once you show him that you are dedicated, he will do absolutely anything to help and support you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JAZZB101
• 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:

All the negative comments are correct. He's lazy. He's arrogant. His way is the only right way. Oh and unlike alot of people on here I took his online class and he's a dictator of a grader there. Not only that, his grades are often arbitrary. I want my money back. Oh and good luck having assignments graded/questions answered in a timely manner!!!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BASS1
• 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:

Jim is an amazing teacher. He works very, very hard and is generous with his time for students that try hard. He also gives honest opinions, which probably bothers some -- but in the long run, his candor is extremely helpful. He is an awesome player and composer. Jim is the man.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUSJB1
• 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:

Jim is an awesome teacher. He is extremely generous with his time and really cares about his students. He also cares enough to be honest with students when their work is not up to par. He knows his stuff and has developed a method that is excellent. If you do what he tells you to do, you will become an awesome player.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PW110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Stinnett is a lazy teacher. He doesn't give a care whether or not you learn anything. He just wants you to pay him. Terrible teacher, luckily the class is ridiculously easy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLBS2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Missed half of the lessons over the course of the semester. Very opinionated and full of himself. Learned one thing, never take him again!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: WS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not a good teacher. Doesn't explain things at all. Cancels class at random. Boring, boring stories about bass and how awesome he used to be... I wouldn't take him again if the paid me.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AR111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Auto A. He gave us all A's on day one. No motivation for us whatsoever. I learned the arranging stuff because of the projects he gave us. He free-styled the class. We didn't do much out of the book, and we did many projects, which was good IMO. He rarely taught for more than 1.5 hrs, and we mightve talked more about ear training than arranging.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ARR1
• 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:

Most of the prof. ratings I've found have been very accurate, except this one! I have learned quite a bit so far in his class. I think part of the problem is that people don't realize they're learning. I've heard tons advice in his stories and conversations, and that's really all he can do. It has to come from the student first, then be critiqued.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Looks like Uncle Fester. Condescending. Very opinionated. If you shoot it right back at him though he'll respect that. He's not there half the time. Lots of cancellation notices on his door. Doesn't email you in advance when he's going to be absent. The final was so easy it was a joke. He is pretty straightforward and clear though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PIBS3
• 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:

if you're an idiot, he'll treat you like one. If you don't care, neither does he. Amazing teacher if you are competent and hard working. apparently a lot of these other folks ain't.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AR111
• 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 found him to be a very kind teacher. He was there if you had any questions. He told us it was important to review the text if you needed to. He trusted you were studying independently. Being a very shy and sensitive person, I cannot grow with strict teachers and insanely cruel comments. I found him to be poeticly sweet and peaceful to learn from.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

do not take anything with this guy, trys to convince you that his way is the only way, maybe he WAS a good player 20 years ago but doesnt have the chops anymore.....huge ego, doesnt really care about his students, avoid taking classes with him, so many good teachers here why settle for him??