MUSI 2350

This is probably the easiest class you could possibly take at UVA. You should go to lecture because he doesn't post his slides, but each slide doesn't have too much info and you're all good for the exams if you copy it all down. Lecture can be a bit boring but he usually starts with or plays a bizarre song during lecture which keeps it a bit interesting. Exams are extremely easy, but if you happen to not study and mess up they're each worth less than 10% so its fine (I did well on the first exam, bombed the second, decently well on the final, and near 100s on all the homeworks and got a high A). Lab is just learning different kinds of music software and working on the homework assignments. My TA was Aaron Stepp and he was great -- lenient grader, super helpful and understanding about us not being totally functional at a 9 am lab section. Professor Burtner also brought donuts on the day of the final so that was a plus!

Really easy and great class. You're kind of forced to go to lecture because Burtner doesn't post up his slides on Collab, so you have to go in order to take notes. Two quizzes/tests (call them what you want) throughout the year with three homework assignments; ironically, the homework is worth much more than the two quizzes that you'll take, so don't be worried if you bomb those. As long as you follow the instructions on the homework, you're pretty much guaranteed an A. Focus mostly on listening for the quizzes, and if you've taken notes during lecture, you should do fine on those too. There's an artist review at the end and a final composition project, but both of those are really easy as well. The final was a breeze--25 multiple choice questions that were basically identify the song by genre/song/artist etc. If you spend a few hours listening to the songs (Burtner posts the entire playlist he chooses from on Collab) and are able to identify them with the first few seconds, you'll do great. Seriously, easiest A class I've ever taken at UVA.

I thought easy As didn't exist at UVA...then I took this class

This was probably one of the best classes I've ever taken at UVA. There's something very rewarding in learning musical skills that you can continue developing past this course. My ta was Aaron Stepp who was super chill and knowledgeable.

This class is extremely boring. Beyond boring during lecture. Eli Stine is a great TA.

Matthew (first name Christopher) Burtner is the man! I loved going to class, and he cares a lot about making it enjoyable. Almost every class included him playing music for us which was awesome. Eli Stine is an all star TA, take discussion/lab with him if you can.

This class is perfect for people that are interested in the history of electronic music. Also, you get the chance to make your own electronic music compositions which is really cool!

We had to do 3 music compositions, two midterm quizzes on the history stuff, and an artist review. Our final was so easy, 25 questions long, and each question involved listening to a song and identifying something about it (genre, type of media art, country of origin, etc.) Overall an amazing class and a great elective.

Also, BACS majors (people studying Computer Science in the College), this counts as an integration elective!

Go to every class and take notes and you'll be fine. There are three music making assignments that are surprisingly fun to do!

This was a cool class and I'd recommend it. Relatively easy A. In lectures you learn about the history of electronic music, some basic music theory, and different types of electronic instruments, and you listen to many different artists in different electronic music genres.

In lab, you learn how to use Audacity, Garageband, SPEAR, modulators, and other programs to manipulate and create sounds. There are three projects and a final project for the lab. It's generally pretty easy to do well on them because the class is focused on creativity rather than sticking to a formula.

After taking this class you can definitely continue making electronic music on your own if that's your thing. It also introduced me to a few new genres that I didn't know about, and I discovered a lot of artists I liked. It's definitely a worthwhile class.

Burtner is a somewhat interesting dude. You will hear electronic sounds that are unique, awkward, and sometimes jarring but all somewhat cool. Most of the class is learning the history of electronic music but there is a small composition aspect as well. It is more of an electronic music appreciation class than an electronic music composition class.

Very easy and interesting class. Burtner is extremely enthusiastic.In lectures you learn history of electronic music and listen to some of the strangest things you will ever hear. Lectures can be boring, but you also learn some cool things about electronic music. Labs are pretty fun, you learn to compose original music using garage band and sound samples. More emphasis is put on lab compositions than quizzes / tests on the lecture material. Quizzes can be tricky, but judging by the grade distribution I think they're probably curved significantly. If you like music or have any interest in modern electronic music you'll probably have fun!

Burtner is a really, really nice guy, but the class really diverges between lecture and lab. In lab, you learn how to use Garage Band, Audacity, and some other tools to make some compositions that are graded relatively easily (depends on your TA on how easily). Lecture on the other hand is a history lesson on electronic music, which can get pretty weird at times. That being said, Burtner is so into this stuff, and he really puts his heart into it which really does come through. Overall, it's not amazing material, but it is very easy to do well and the work you do in lab is pretty interesting most of the time.

Burtner is such a nice guy. He said preparing for the class is the highlight of his day. He's easy to listen to and very approachable. Go to his office hours or go talk to him after class about dubstep or something at least once. He's so nice and enthusiastic. Work is manageable, has easy to follow guidelines, and quizzes are simple too. overall pretty easy class

One of the strangest but most enlightening classes I've taken here at UVa. I came for the easy grade and thought it would be based on more current electronic/techno music (NOPE). Grades come from quizzes (easy if you attend class most days), compositions (not hard even if you have no prior experience in music) and essays (also graded easily). Although it's said to be one of the "Easy" classes at UVa, I still feel like I've learned a lot. Burtner's a really cool guy. He's definitely interested in the subject matter, and is also involved in current experimental music events.

Easy A. Don't need to study for tests or quizzes because no one pays attention to lectures and everyone doesn't do well. Most grade from assignments, but you may want to have Turowski as TA if you want A. He basically gives you perfect scores on every assignment as long as you try your best.

Easy class. However, it is crucial that you attend lectures (or get notes from a friend) since he doesn't post up the powerpoints on collab. Additionally, the assignments do take a good amount of time if you are not good at familiarizing yourself with new software.

Overall easy class. You don't really learn anything..
I recommend ted coffey's classes if you're actually interested in the subject matter.

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU ARE FROM CLASSICAL MUSIC BACKGROUND. This class is not worth taking for an easy A if you really don't like to repeatedly listen to and create noise purposely put together. The historical aspect of it was okay, and the professor was knowledgable and seemed nice. However, my TA Kevin Davis was not really helpful with all the softwares that were new to me. Also, with his grading, you are not even guaranteed A.

Great class with lots of interesting material! The garageband assignments can take a while. But quizzes are generally easy, and doing the extra credit really helps. The TA can make or break your grade though. Chris was a very reasonable TA and I was lucky to have him.

This class is a gpa booster. Must take!

Easy overall class, especially with the extra credit.

If you like music I would not take this class. I went into it expecting to learn different tricks to make music on the computer but instead received the history of early electronic music (most of which sounds terrible) and 3 restrictive music assignments that had me learn techniques on my own. He doesn't post lecture notes and there's no reading so you just have to go to class. Definitely an easy A but more weird than fun.

Awesome TA, easygoing, very approachable.

Interesting class, although time needs to be spent making the music assignments. Fun class though.

Great class and very easy