Paul Smith - California State University - Northridge

Professor: Paul Smith

Department: TBD

College: California State University - Northridge

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUS233
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUS112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

In my experience you either get along with Smith or you don't. I personally did. While he does show up late that isn't a big issue for me. He's caring and wants his students well but almost impossible to reach outside of class. I think people are being a bit harsh. He also brings in a lot of food into class. Nice Guy.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUS373
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most of the other comments here cover it. The man has no respect for students or their time, and genuinely believes that the world revolves around him. Avoid him. Not just his classes, but everywhere

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUS173
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher I've ever had. Has poor people skills, poor time management skills, and always late to class. All he does is talk about his personal life which wastes rehearsal time, plus impossible to get ahold of via email and office hours. Also we get a dinner break and then continue singing, which is terrible for the voice. Don't take his class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUS372
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The lack of punctuality, respect, and professionalism Paul consistently demonstrates, along with his reprehensible behavior towards students, makes me wonder what kind of school CSUN truly is if they choose to hire professors like him. Especially if Paul's superiors do not discipline him. Also makes me doubt the value of the tenure system.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUS372
• 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:

People misunderstand Prof. Smith's passion and dedication to music as being a "bully." He is not a bully, he truly cares for each individual student. He is very well educated, and yes, STRICT (meaning he won't allow you to act like a junior higher), yet, allows us to have fun within reason. Grow up, children, this is a university.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUS373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is an amazing choral director. Yeah, he can get a bit carried away with his anecdotes, but he's otherwise friendly, cheerful and passionate. As long as you don't talk while he's talking, you'll have a blast in Master Chorale.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC112
• 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:

Every comment you read below is Completely True This guy is by far the worse teacher I have ever had and I have no idea how he still has a job at the CSUN. I am not lying when I say stay away , STAY the FRICK AWAY!!! He is unorganized and will blame you for his mistakes. I could type a 5 page essay on all the bad experiences I had with this guy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is okay to me. Not so hard to deal with but not too easy. Nothing really happens on the right time. He delay things a lot. Class gets cancelled many times and he comes late like 10 to 15min. But I liked that. :) He's not so bad.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUS365
• 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:

is he still at CSUN? Wow,,I don't know why CSUN keeps this professor even though 99% of students are complaining about his class. I took his choral conducting class a few semesters before, didn't learn any thing,, this was the worst class I had.. so surprised he is still here,

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS363
• 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:

Paul Smith is almost always late to class by at least 20 minutes (several times he didn't come at all, and gave no notice). We got no syllabus until the 13th week of semester, and constant changes to assignments made it almost impossible to know what to do. He rambles often, and even managed to screw up our grades! DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASSES!!!!!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MUS363
• 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:

The worst teacher I've ever had. All I learned from him was how not to teach. He rambles, is impossible to have a real discussion with (he feels the need to "win" every conversation), is incredibly demanding without ever laying out actual guidelines for the assignments, and is regularly 1/2 hour or more late to class. Avoid him at all costs.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MUS363
• 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:

Paul Smith is the single most useless teacher I have EVER encountered. He is late to the 65% of classes he actually shows up for, never seems to have a lesson plan, rambles endlessly without communicating any useful info, changes assignments and due dates at whim, and has no regard for his students' schedules. DO NOT TAKE ONE OF HIS CLASSES!!!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While his attendance is atrocious, I think if you pick up the subtle nuances of his teaching, there is something to learn. However, he is generally weak when it comes to class lectures. But I have found him to be very helpful when I have had one-on-one sessions. Not a recommended teacher, but not as bad as other reviews say he is.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUSICCOND
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't take him!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUS233
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Paul Smith has no doubt read many books on public speaking. A book he most needs is one on how to shut up. He is a loudmouth know-it-all totally consumed with having the spotlight on him at all times. I feel sorry for anyone who has him for a teacher. Due to his rudeness and hypocrisy, I would never want to work with him professionally.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHOIR307
• 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:

I have NEVER witnessed a teacher as horrible as Paul Smith. He thinks that because he won Choir or the World that he can get his way. He's irresponsible, arrogant, and has no concept of time or other people. Of course, he is the last to post grades! Fire him!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUS373
• 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:

Horrible experience w/the class. The class is unorganized, he will come in late ever single time, class often cancelled at the last minute. He even changed the start time of the class. You never know what to expect and he's rude and hypocritical. I didn't learn much here other than to stay away from his classes as much as possible.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHOIRMUS
• 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:

The most arrogant, self-righteous, pompous teacher I have ever had the unfortunate experience of sharing a room with. Shows up extremely late to classes (30 mins or more), has the audacity to demand that students arrive exactly on time. Hypocritical and uses fear to bring about a response in his pupils. Ineffective, uninspiring and infuriating.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PIANOFORMUSED
• 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:

He wasn't really around this semester, which made things hard, especially when he didnt call and the class was waiting outside w/o a note, for fear he would show up and be unmerciful if we left, even if he was 30 mins late for the 50 min class. Not too much respect for students....a hard grader and doesnt understand where students are coming from.