I took this course with already an interest in Electronic Dance Music before I entered this class. It really does go through the HISTORY behind EDM starting from the 1800-1900s. I would suggest this class if you have any interest in music or music history. I thought it was mainly focused on modern EDM music but you'll learn soon that Professor Fink builds up the past behind many genres, the instruments used and the artists behind each genre to give us our modern EDM genre. Everything is based really off your TA so I would suggest that if you get a difficult grading TA during the first week, try to switch into another TA's discussion. Your TA gives out group work, individual work and tiny review lectures each week and they also grade your midterm, 2 reports and final. My TA was an absolute sweetheart and made every discussion very fun. The reports/written assignments are very easy and will probably take 20-50 minutes max to do. Overall, I did enjoy this class even if it wasn't what I initially expected.

If you like EDM, I would definitely recommend this class! It's easy, interesting, and fun. Lectures just talk about the different genres of EDM, the culture surrounding it, the drugs involved, etc. It may be a little less enjoyable if you don't care about EDM, but it should still be an easy A as long as you do the work and study a bit. I got at least an A on everything I turned in.

The grade is based on one rhythm assignment where you make your own drum patterns, a midterm, a paper on either going to an EDM concert or reviewing an online DJ set, and the final.

The rhythm assignment is pretty easy. You just make a few drum beats according to some rules they give you.

The midterm has you memorize the name and artist of about 25 songs. On the midterm, about 3 of them will be played and you identify the name and artist, then write a bit about the genre/artists/instruments used/etc. Then there is a vocab section but they'll give you like 10 vocab words and you choose 3 to write about. Then, you write an essay, they send out 5 prompts the week before and 3 will be on the exam and you choose 1. Overall, the midterm will be pretty easy as long as you memorize the songs and prepare for the essays.

For the paper, you either go to a concert or listen to a DJ set online and write about it. They give you a lot of freedom with this, it just seemed like they wanted you to think deeply about music and write about it. They weren't really looking for anything in particular.

The final is pretty much like the midterm but a bit longer.

Overall, you don't really need to read the assigned readings or anything like that. Just do the two assignments, pay attention in class, and prepare for the midterm and final by memorizing the songs/their meanings and figuring out what you will write for the 3 essays.

Professor Fink is THE MOST AMAZING PROFESSOR EVER! I could literally just sit in his class and be happy to be there because he is so passionate about his subject and enjoys teaching it so much you know that when he's in class he'd rather be nowhere else. It's inspiring to see such a professor who genuinely enjoys teaching his subject and is so good at it. Not only that, the class is structured in a way that you are pushed to think creatively and actually engage in the material you are studying. He plays music during the class and I have discovered some of my favorite songs because of him. He is also the department head so you know he knows his stuff. This class was hands down my most favorite class ever and its all thanks to him. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from him! Also, his class is on the BuzzFeed (?) list of 8 classes to take at UCLA :D

Even if you aren't that interested in EDM you should still take this class! For the first half of the class Fink covers pre EDM genres and influences, like funk,disco. Then the second half he talks about edm sub genres. Participation is essential for passing the class because although he posts his slides on CCLE they're mostly just pictures. Readings are beneficial but you can get by without them. There is a midterm and a final that is an essay about a theme in the class, vocabulary aka short answer and naming music from the playlists you have to listen to. You also have like two easy homework assignments and an essay you have to write about an EDM concert you went to. Fink does keep the lectures entertaining, I would suggest going to his office hours because he has so much knowledge.

He was a very fun lecturer. He has a tendency to get really into his music and it might take up a lot of the class, but it's pretty fun to listen to edm. The first half is mainly the history and the second half is more about the music. The hardest part of the class is memorizing songs. You have to be able to listen to it and identify the song title, artist, and the year it was produced. Other than that, if you pay attention to class you will pretty much do well. He posts his lecture slides online and passes out an outline every time.