What initially inspired you to take the course? What were your expectations going in, and has the course met your expectations?

I was inspired to take the course mostly because I have always loved music, especially jazz. It’s a great course covering the history, essence, and metamorphosis of jazz, starting with a gentle introduction to jazz and then [learning related] terminologies. We also put a spotlight on specific artists, listened to their works and discussed their impacts. The professor is a professional jazz musician and he explains some concepts [by playing] the guitar and the piano. Overall, it’s a great course and I’d recommend it to anyone who is really into music. 

In what ways does the course cater to students with varying levels of musical background?

This course delves into an extensive range of subject matter. The professor has made the curriculum easy enough for people with little or no musical background to digest. Even so, the professor sometimes doesn’t mind dropping in some music theory here and there, especially for those who are really interested in becoming better musicians. They are not part of the curriculum and don’t appear in the exams, but are helpful for music enthusiasts. If you [like listening] to music, you can definitely take this course. 

(Samuel Dawit Assefa, School of Freshman)