This class was very easy, in my opinion. There was a midterm, a final both multiple choice and he tells you the entire format and what to focus on. There were also two papers, 4 pages each as well as 2 listening quizzes. The listening quizzes were really easy. There were 16 songs to be memorized/recognized for each quiz. Very doable. Overall, I liked Prof. Harrison, he seemed like a cool guy. Really helpful.

this class was ridiculously easy. don't worry if you have no musical background; it's pretty laid back where you can just sit there and play around. the TAs type up the notes during lecture so all you have to do is copy it down. my TA was Kate; super nice, easy, but helpful at the same time. the listening quizzes is really nothing; all you have to do is listen to the songs over and over...these quizzes were actually helpful because it was prep for the midterm and final. speaking of that, these were the easiest tests ever. professor harrison practically gives you an outline of what is on the test so you should go to the lecture before the midterm and final. overall harrison was a great professor because he actually knows his subject. an EASY A.

Take this g.e. if you want an easy A, and a laid-back class that you can really enjoy. I took 21 units this quarter, so I was actually glad for the listening quizzes because it forced my attention away from all the science homework I had to do. : P

One of the previous reviews mentioned something about how the listening sections during the exams will have you dancing in your seat. that's so true! it only takes about 3-4 seconds to identify the title and performer and the rest of the time I was just relaxing w/the music and waiting for the next question. it's practically therapeutic.

And it was really nice to be able to get A's on papers without killing myself over them after slaving away to get A-'s in my cluster course last year. Overall, I almost always looked forward to going to this class (although it was a bit slow sometimes) and the tests are nothing to stress over. I haven't gotten my grade yet, but I'm expecting an A or an A+ (if he decides to actually give any of those). Nice g.p.a. booster, nice professor, and my t.a. Kate was very helpful. She actually sat down and briefly went over my first (already-graded) paper just to point out why I got the grade I got and to remind me of some of the writing basics that had slipped my mind after taking all science classes for a quarter. Great course.

As most before taking this class, I was out looking for an easy GE A. This class was very chill and professor Harrison does a good job making you feel comfortable with what is going to be on the final exam and midterms. You MUST attend lecture or get the lecture notes from someone. Even though he almost covers directly the material from the book. The lectures are vital for his focus areas. The CON of the class. I guess I was thinking I was going to learn a bit more depth about the history and development of jazz, however the second half of the class was a complete bore and listing and memorizing sidemen and their perspective instruments. I wish the class had been a bit more informing towards the end. However, easy A, slightly boring lectures-- oh yea Essays are hella easy!!!!!! No joke 3-5 page papers on high school like topics, nothing complex! I a a science major and took two science classes with this one! I did not have to pay very much attention to the work load of this class so it made my life easier.

Professor Harrison is a brilliant teacher and is an easy A if you attend his lectures. He gives major hints for the midterm and final. The lecture before the tests are extremely important because he goes over everything that will be on the test, including about half the questions. He wants his students to enjoy and learn as much as they can about jazz, so he makes it enjoyable and stress free. He's the best teacher I've had so far and was definately the most interesting. I would highly reccomend this class for an easy GE. If i was majoring in ethno I would definately take more of his classes.

So, after suffering my first year with terrible grades, I decided I should take a class that shouldn't be too hard and improve my GPA self esteem. Finally, I chose the right class! The crazy thing is that I learned so much! I am in love swing and early jazz now. Prof Harrison just seems like that laid back, funny guy who loves what he teaches. I went to lecture the first half of the quarter but never really found myself to continue going afterward. I did, however, attend every TA discussion section, which counts towards your grades (merely for attendance and 2 quick quizzes). Take Kate! She's extremely helpful. Since I didn't attend the last half of lectures, she really helps going over what material you need to study.

Anyway, hardly attending lecture, I scored an A on my midterm, A on my papers. It's a very easy class but very effective. You'll find yourself dancing in your seat during your quizzes, midterm, and final since a listening section is included.

The main structure of the midterm and final is what artist played what instrument, what song, who composed it, etc. It's a lot of memorization but I studied for both tests the nights before and did well, just like everyone else.

Take it! take it! Take it!

Prof. Harrison is amazing! :] This was the best class ever.

Prof. Harrison is a man with nice humor in class. His class lecture CAN be boring for non-jazz enthusiasts and can put others to sleep sometimes, but his lectures were mostly interesting. Notes are given via projectors as he speaks (typed up by the TA's), so just write down whatever appears on the projector and you will be fine. The readings in the book pretty much just reinforce what he said in class. Just study the notes and you will be fine for the quizzes and exams. There are 2 essays (4-5 pages) throughout the quarter, but they are really easy to write, for there's a list of resources that you can use for the essays in bibliography form on his course webpage. The quizzes and exams are EXTREMELY easy even for those people without a music background. The midterm median score was 94%... go figure. The ONLY slightly challenging part is that you have to know the assigned 16 pieces of jazz music before the midterm and the final. There's also a concert report, but you can turn in extra concert reports for extra credits (like you really need them at all...). You can definitely get an A in this class if you go to class just half-awake and type/write up the notes. There is no teacher easier than him.

Harrison provides a lot of humor in his lectures. Some lectures are boring and could put you to sleep, but the material is really easy to understand and memorize. Notes are given through a projector from a laptop, and are pretty much all you need to know. Theres a midterm, final, 2 quizzes, 2 papers, and a concert report. which is honestly not to bad at all. Theres assigned reading, but the notes given in lecture are just the main points from the reading. You dont really need to go to lecture if you can have someone take notes for you. but the class is pretty relaxing and i hardly hear anyone complain about going to lecture. Definitely take this class if you want an easy A

very nice, good sense of humor, extremely easy midterm/final. if you're breathing and show up to lecture you should absolutely get an A. harrison makes the material very interesting and he helped me gain a great appreciation for jazz. this class is the best of both worlds - its interesting and valuable to me, and its really easy.

Course load:
2 small quizzes in discussion section throughout the quarter
2 medium essay (4-5 pgs)
1 concert report (basically you go to a jazz performance and write a review about it)
midterm/final (all multiple choice)