MUSI 2340

Learn to Groove is LEGENDARY! Prof. Jospe is super cool and you sit around learning beats on a djembe drum. No homework and the written parts to the midterm and final are a joke. You do need to be able to play in front of the class when he calls on you, which can be intimidating, and might mean you have to practice outside of class occasionally. I found all the beats relatively easy as a musician who has experience on drums, but I could see how a non-musician could get lost quickly because Prof. Jospe goes pretty fast sometimes. That being said, he's more than happy to help when you need it-- just let him know that something isn't clear and the rest of the class will probably agree. Overall a super fun and relaxing class that is a nice addition to a busy UVA schedule.
#tCF2020

Prof Jospe was one of the most energetic, kind, and passionate professors I have seen! We learned about 19 different hand patterns and the origins/history of these patterns throughout the semester. Coming from no previous instrument experience, the course drumming patterns were quite challenging for me. However, if you put in a few hours of practicing each week, you will be fine. He expects you to learn the patterns, and he will check in with all of the students periodically to make sure you have been practicing. These check-ins may be a little anxiety-provoking, or at least they were for me. If you mess up in these check-ins, it does seem like he labels you as someone who needs to practice, which is understandable because I assume students in the past may not have taken this course seriously. The midterm and half of the final are written and easy. The other half of the final consisted of us playing the different grooves, one by one, in front of the entire class. This again was stressful, but Prof. Jospe was very understanding and encouraging. Overall, I would recommend this course, but make sure you stay on top of the drumming patterns if you take it.

I took this class during online summer session 2 and I'm so glad I did! Professor Jospe is so nice and he honestly just wants to have a good time playing the drums with some students. I have some prior violin experience, but nothing in the drum realm, but honestly even if you have no music experience whatsoever this class is so doable. With the online setting, I was unsure how the class would go, but we just had Zoom calls and we often played to different tracks. Sometimes he would ask if people would show him the rhythm to make sure we were getting it, but it was such a low-stress environment. He even started every class with a breathing exercise to get in the right midset. If you are considering taking this class, do it.

Learn to Groove is that iconic class that everyone tells you to take by the time you graduate from UVA! I did love the class but our semester's experience was very different from the rest. The beginning of the semester was great because we all played in a drum circle and jammed out but due the Professor's health complications we had a lot of substitutes for a few weeks. Most of the subs were great and we got to learn how to play different instruments but it was harder to play the basic rhythms for the class since we had missed so much class. Then because of corona we had online drumming which was pretty difficult. We couldn't play together and so I relied on office hours to learn. Professor Jospe is SO NICE. He met with me individually because I was struggling and I improved so much. I will say, if you have never played music, this class is actually slightly difficult and you will have to put in time to learn the patterns. I practiced a lot and luckily the final was a video recording of me playing the rhythms so I got to practice a lot of times before I submitted my piece. The written portion of the final was super easy because the professor went over the exam the class before (and the answers are all in the Learn to Groove book). Overall, this class is great because you learn a new instrument, it's relaxing and fun. It can be stressful at times when you don't know what you are playing but the Professor is nice and understanding. If you are taking this class next semester and it's online, I highly recommend going to his office hours (rarely anyone comes, usually it's a max of 3-4 people). You will improve so much more and you get to know the professor better.

If you can get in, definitely take it. It is very stress-relieving, guaranteed A class as long as you know how to play few drum patterns. Professor Jospe is awesome!

The best class I've ever taken at UVA. Highly recommend

You buy a hand drum and learn a few different patterns for an entire semester. If you want credit for playing in a drum circle led by an enthusiastic, easy-going professor this is the class for you.

Professor Jospe is the best. This class is really fun and easy.

chill class

Great, great, great, great class. It helps to have musical background, but not necessary. Jospe is the man.