music 1a - introduction to music
dan mitchell | music department | creative arts division | de anza college |

2003 Winter Exit Survey

What was your primary reason for choosing to take Music 1?

1. General education transfer credit. 52
2. De Anza graduation requirements. 12
3. Music major course. 3
4. Personal enrichment. 12
5. Other reason. 2

What was your primary reason for selecting Music 1 instead of other classes?

1. It fit my schedule. 15
2. I like music a lot. 33
3. I thought it would be easier than other classes. 14
4. I was required to take Music 1. 5
5. Someone recommended it to me. 14
6. Other reason. 10

On average how much time did you spend working on Music 1 assignments and studying outside of class each week?

1. 0-1 hours per week. 14
2. 2 hours per week. 31
3. 3 hours per week. 15
4. 4 hours per week. 11
5. 5 hours per week. 4
6. 6 hours per week. 1
7. 7 hours per week. 0
8. 8 or more hours per week. 1

Now that you have completed this class, how hard would you say it was?

1. A lot easier than I expected. 2
2. A little easier than I expected. 4
3. About like I expected. 25
4. A little harder than I expected. 33
5. A lot harder than I expected. 17

What factor most affected your choice of the concerts you attended for the concert report?

1. Cost of the ticket. 19
2. Date and time of concert. 30
3. Distance to concert. 30
4. The type of group that performed. 14
5. Other. 5

If you could change one thing about the Music 1 class, what would it be? Why?

• Have a little less homework.
• Please be more considerate when people are taking tests. Sometimes it would ge very distracting, because you would talk to people or interrupt us after the test was passed out.
• STUPID SERVER! The website is a GREAT source of into and reminder but everytime when I go there to get my homework assignment, the server crashes or page doesn't work. There has to be another place where we can get homework.
• The extensive computer usage because I didn't particularly like how often we needed to go online, and you still would go over it in class almost every day. I got really sick of it and think you should keep class tome for class time. No more computers! :-)
• I think that I would make it optional to go to class everyday. It's hard to sit through and listen to the same stuff that I already read, because I already know it.
• less bull kaka online.
• More live performances. It helps people identify better with there is something to look at. Plus we get to laugh as you blow your horn...
• I would probably add to the end of the class a little bit of hip-hop and rap sections.
• It is a hard class which is good cause it is challenging. maybe one concert report. I don't know.
• Nothing
• I can't think of anything that I would change, but if I had to change one thing it would be the concert reports because it was hard for me to fit it into my schedule working full time and going to school full time along w/other obligations.
• More time studying jazz and rock and 20th century music because it is more interesting than the other types of music.
• I really feel that you should talk to the Dean about adding in the course handbook that a computer is recommended.
• Less composers to study. It would have been nicer to know a lot more about a handful of composers, [than] a lot about all of them.
• Nothing. I wouldn't change a thing.
• Give practice tests. They prepare us for what's going to be on the tests. It actually helps us learn easier.
• Nothing, because its nothing to change. [sic]
• I think the reading quizzes were to obscurely detailed for not reviewing the material in class.
• Nothing. I got what I paid for and more. I got what I put in because all the reading has helped me to understand music with a critical ear. Thank you.
• The online assignments. I think that it should be an option of getting online or handing it in during class. But I really liked the access we had to the greensheet & grades. [this was a] big plus to the class. :-)
• Nothing really. Everything was fine to me.
• I would decrease number of assignments because people get a lot of home work from other classes so they don't finish on time.
• Nothing to really change. The class is run well with the online website.
• Maybe one less concert report. (See tow concerts, write one report.)
• [Regarding the weekly quizzes] For 6 questions there was a lot to read and sometimes I spend like more that 5 + 6 hours a day but I didn't catch even one thing. I think maybe it is good to mention at least some pages of the test, especially on the short quizzes. Maybe I am a slow learner.
• That if you require people to show up to class you should cover material that will be on the test in your lectures. You make it kind of pointless to show up for class other than to be marked there for credit.
• The amount of homework. I did more homework for this class than my other classes combined.
• I wish when going to concerts we didn't have to write the report. Its hard to enjoy and appreciate it when you are taking notes constantly.
• It was a great class. Keep it up!
• Maybe have topics [assignments] due Tuesday [instead of Monday], but everything including topics was fair.
• The quizzes. I would change it to use paper - not from computer. Because it would help us review for the tests.
• I would change the online discussion topics done for this class and the quizzes @ the beginning of the class should be on topics already lectured to help students understand more.
• If [I] could change anything about Music 1 class it would probably be the location for the concerts. Most of the concerts are too far for people to travel and sometimes do not fit with their schedule. I think all concerts should be local or relatively local. Other than that I found the class to be my favorite this quarter.
• I was expecting to learn how to read music, but this is an introduction and the first thing learned is always history. You are a very positive teacher, I enjoyed being in this class.
• Nothing.
• We would be able to text message without being hassled! Just kidding.
• No. I think everything is fine.
• Nothing =) It's perfect. I enjoyed having access to your webpage =)
• No.
• I would change the time between concert reports because I felt that the 2nd report came up too quick after the 1st paper.
• Less work! Too much homework =(
• There is nothing to change about the class. I really enjoyed it.
• Examples of how each task is to be done. Ex. [existing] concert report example. An "A" topic, an "A" listening assignment, an "A" concert report.
• Nothing. I liked the online use of sources and topics! Thanks.
• The online topics were no-brainers. I think that the online topics should be a little more challenging.
• Less emphasis on "art" music, more time spent on other kinds of music.
• I would not really change anything. It was a good setup that you have. It was jus a whole lot more work than I thought. I felt like things were really rushed.
• Have another way to take notes in case the computers, projector doesn't work for some reason.
• Study harder for the last two tests because I thought I knew the material but when it came to the tests, I blanked out.
• I would have liked to analyze more pieces. (in class) and be bale to ask questions/discuss in a forum the different pieces/composers.
• I wouldn't change one thing about how this class is, but the tardy policy could be changed a bit because if there is a good reason why, like midterms being taken before class starts, I think it should not affect the person who came in tardy for that reason.
• The online topic postings did not seem very valuable.
• Nothing. Although I would have liked to take the class at a later time [in the day]!
• ?
• The content of the music covered. I wish we would have spent more time on big band music, blues, rock, etc.
• I really enjoyed it & how you taught everything. I know so much more now, thanks for making it fun an interesting.
• Time [8:30] is kinda early for lecturing / it makes me feel sleepy.
• Listen to more music with analysis.
• Try to find a way to [illegible] the material easier.
• If I could change one thing, it would be to have more concentration and discussion within the class lecture time.
• Good class, very thorough. Good teaching skills. But be more blunt. If you have people raise their hands they/we feel as if we were in the 6th grade again. I noticed most raise their hands to humor you. sometimes just doing it, even if it wasn't their answer. All in all good class - a class I would recommend to others. (I wish I had better study habits. =|
• Get less homework. The music assignments sometimes make me confused. I often can't listen to real elements at the questions, but it still takes me a lot of time to do them.
• Listening Assignment - because it was most difficult one to do. I needed many time to listen and find the answer of your question.
• In my case, everything was good. Especially, I could listen to more [different types of] music.
• Nothing.
• To have a study guide before each test to know what to focus on.
• Should have the test for every chapter instead of every two. It's just a bit too much to remember.
• Nothing. It is OK like that.
• The schedule; it is too early for me to take the 8:30 class and I have to admit it is my fault.
• Nothing that I can think of. =)
• I have no idea.
• I would give the quizzes at the same time [&] on the same week that the material on the quiz would be covered. I found that I had to study new material for weekly quizzes a well as old material for tests.
• I think everything is fine except in the beginning I thought there was a lot of [homework] and assignments, but later I did understand that all that work actually had its own benefits.