Geoffrey Block - University of Puget Sound

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Geoffrey Block - University of Puget Sound

Professor: Geoffrey Block

Department: Music

College: University of Puget Sound

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: MUS220
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Terribly confusing as a professor. The way he teaches is so confusing. He grades based off 2 papers, 2 exams, and maybe some pop reading quizzes. There's no buffer for grades. He expects a high level of analysis difficult for people not familiar with music. Would not recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: MUS 230
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Block is seemingly knows everything, but is so endearing. This class was incredibly challenging, but was a good source of academic growth. I don't recommend MUS 230 if you are not a music major, but it is manageable. Dr. Block's exams are infamously difficult and he expects a lot from his students, but he's helpful in office hours.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: MUS230
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Block is an extremely intelligent professor, however can sometimes be a bit full of himself. You will learn a lot, but you will work very, very hard.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: MUS220
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Block is a good professor but not a good teacher. He's not very helpful at all and is very confusing. His passion for music and his research is clear. If you're willing to deal with lack of clarity traded off for genius then take a class with him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: 230AND231
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Just an overall very thought class with a professor who is generally unwilling to help or make things more clear.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: MUS220A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Block is highly intelligent, and the class is interesting. However, as a professor, he seems to care more about himself and the course subject than he does about his students. He doesn't seem to have a passion for working with students, and it makes his class a negative experience.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: MUS231
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Block is the worst teacher I've ever had. I struggle with musicology, so one day I went in for help because I didn't understand a reading and his response was "But it's written in plain English!" Instead of helping when I didn't understand, he beat me down for it. Being in his class almost made me hate the study of music entirely.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: MUS493
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Amazing professor. Very demanding! You will work harder for him than you would for any one else... it will pay off, though, when you finally get an A on your paper! Always do your reading. He sometimes has surprises for you... He derps around with technology a lot, like trying to insert a VHS into the DVD player, but it is sort of endearing.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: MUS493
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Taking Dr. Block's class was the most positive experience I had at UPS. He is a difficult teacher, but will teach you how to be RESPONSIBLE for your own education, and if you show any amount of enthusiasm to learn, he will reciprocate 10 fold. I've found that the people who don't like him are the students who expect to be spoon fed their degree.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: MUS231
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The first couple weeks of the course were incredibly confusing since the content seemed off topic. His expectations weren't clear and he was not helpful at all during office hours. Can be quite intimidating if you accidentally upset one of his peeves...

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: MUS493
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He will change your life. Best and hardest professor any of us will have to deal with, but he is a remarkable man and will push your scholarly level to the MAX!

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: MUS231
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you want to get your money's worth at UPS, take a class with Dr. Block. He is the most intellectual and challenging professor I've ever had. College shouldn't be about good grades, it should be about pushing yourself. Block understands this. He's a great man.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: HUM315
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Im really surprised by the negative reviews. I think because his classes are alot of work, students (especially non music students, who dont know what they're getting into) tend to hate him. Do your work, visit him regularly, it is well worth the work.I think people who don't like him, just dont like him because they show up unprepared and are lazy

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: MUS493
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's incredibly difficult. His tests and papers make people cry. BUT, he's hilarious and an absolutely fantastic professor. His classes have caused me unwarranted amounts of stress, but it's totally been worth it. Ive learned so much in his class. Plus hes the sweetest!

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: MUS201
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

What a strange professor. Although I didn't quite agree with what he considered to be "20th Century Music" it was a very interesting class nonetheless.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: MUS121A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Block is quite a character. You will find much hilarity some of the words that come out of his mouth. He's very often scatterbrained. For the most part, he is a nice guy who cares a lot. His classes are challenging and there is A LOT of reading involved, but I would say that he's the professor I've learned the most from at college.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: MUS201
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Doc Block is one of the best teachers I have ever had at Puget Sound. He's quirky and extremely intelligent. I'm not sure why he has so many bad reviews. He's one of the best teachers on the music faculty.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: HUM305
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class was co-taught with Proffesor Garrat. This was bar far one of my favorite classes at UPS. The way they work together to integrate music,literature, and art is amazing. Make sure you don't miss any classes, or Block will let you know it in a not so nice kind of way.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: MUS493
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Block is one of the most caring and respected professors on campus. Reading the negative reviews came as a huge shock to me. I found his classes to be well-organized and full of needed information. His classes are hard and his expectations are high, but I learned more about music and writing than in any other class at UPS.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: MUS121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He was at first really hard to understand. Eventually it was easy to catch on and fill in the blanks where he would leave off from one sentence to another during lecture. He is a demanding professor, which I think makes some students really loathe him, however I think he is realistic in what he expects from his students. He really cares, too.

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