Comments on: Student Projects (Fall 2007)

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:46:12 +0000

Yeah… I mean…

Sheesh.

The production techniques tunes are waaaaay in another time zone.

By: Stick

Stick — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:22:53 +0000

Shhhh… don’t tell them that! Take the credit and run, dude!

By: michael lee

michael lee — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:49:26 +0000

I taught them very little. This class is the capstone of things they’ve been learning along the way. More than anything else, I just give them some ideas about process, how to organize a project this large.

By: Stick

Stick — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:52:24 +0000

Wow.

You taught them this stuff?

Just kidding… all three are really nice. The sound/groove/vibe of the third is quickly approaching pro record making. Very well done.

By: michael lee

michael lee — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:58:39 +0000

Updated with songs from the Studio Productions teams. Check it out.

By: Stick

Stick — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:10:39 +0000

Like I probably said last year, this stuff utterly and completely smokes what I was doing at this point in my life.

Pipes indeed. Please don’t tell me he wants to be a banker.

By: Chad

Chad — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:52:04 +0000

Dear Students of Professor Awesome:

I want you to all know that next semester, we’re available (for a moderate fee) to sub out your projects. That way, you’ll understand what the real world can be like, where you pay money for other people to make you look brilliant.

By: Sharolyn

Sharolyn — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:47:58 +0000

Isn’t this why you’re paid the big bucks?

By: michael lee

michael lee — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:12:58 +0000

They’re happy now … but not so much when they get to grad school, and realize that they don’t know how to write worth a damn. Then, they curse my name, and all my ilk along with me.

I hate grading, but I feel like each semester, if I keep getting better at critiquing their work in meaningful ways, a culture of expectations builds up around the class. Future students spend more time on the front end planning for the papers, and knowing that they have to deliver high-quality work in order to pass the course. Then, those that do pass know that it actually means something.

There are a few profs at APU who have built that culture of expectation into their courses, and as a result, students in those classes function at a very high level. I’m sure it was a bitch for them the first few years, but the payoff now makes it worthwhile, to hold out for a higher standard. I’ve already got something like that going in my Intro to Music Tech course (the students pass rumors and myths down to all the incoming freshmen). I really, really want that culture to become part of the Music and Ethics course, even though it means much more work for me.

Hot damn! When did I start to sound like, all growed up and whatnot? Sheesh.

By: Daniel Semsen

Daniel Semsen — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:51:41 +0000

I could always just enter them here for you…oh wait…then I’d REALLY be fired (and so would you).

Sooooooo scratch that.

By: Sharolyn

Sharolyn — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:43:21 +0000

[quote comment="140286"]

Sweet! Thanks! Now would you mind giving me a hand with some of these 30 page thesis papers? I have like 20 of them to grade.[/quote]

Consider it done - all As. They’re happy… you’re happy… Merry Christmas to all!

By: Cerise

Cerise — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:48:26 +0000

Yeah, Mike, we know. Your status in Facebook pretty much sums it all up. For you non-Facebookers: “Michael Lee
is grading in his office, and nobody has brought him any christmas cookies, so he’s in a pretty bad mood. And your project is probably up next. Just saying ….”

Don’t worry, Faith Kathleen, as long as you keep calling him Professor Awesome he’ll never think you’re dumb.

By: michael lee

michael lee — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:24:13 +0000

[quote comment="140284"]We’ll do your grades. They both get an A.[/quote]

Sweet! Thanks! Now would you mind giving me a hand with some of these 30 page thesis papers? I have like 20 of them to grade.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:11:00 +0000

You’re right on that second one, that kid DOES have pipes.

Now Mike, make sure that your computer doesn’t crap out on you again this year. Losing six different versions of “Bubbly” would be a tragedy.

I would probably shed a sarcastic tear.

By: Sharolyn

Sharolyn — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:08:53 +0000

We’ll do your grades. They both get an A.

Is anyone else disturbed that Michael Bolton’s face is on Addison Road?

By: Faith Kathleen

Faith Kathleen — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:08:07 +0000

Oh my lord….he entered all of those by hand?? Nice work, Mason.

I like seeing all the Freshman in the midi lab working on their projects…I assure them that Professor Awesome is not as scary as he seems and that Logic Pro will not really ruin their lives…

Well Ok that might be a lie. Professor Awesome is pretty darn scary…but at least they calm down long enough to play in a bass line.

Also, I love that the comment box has spell check. Spell check help student not look dumb in front of teacher. Sweet.

By: Daniel Semsen

Daniel Semsen — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:51:28 +0000

wow…that really IS stubborn-but it did turn out good…