The course in theory is a good idea, but there were several things that I think should be improved. Deveaux is really monotone, and he has a tendency to cut people off. If you say any idea that he disagrees with he will not listen to it. We spent a good portion of every class watching him try to figure out how to use the computer, and he is strictly set in his ways. The class itself has a lot of reading and writing, but does not count for the second writing requirement. Even though it says you do not need take music theory before this class, it would make it a lot easier if you did. Deveaux asks a lot of music theory related questions and it is a lot harder to analyse the material when if you don't know the terminology. If you are set on being a music major and have to take this class, you can bs your way through a lot of things, and you should probably take a music theory class first, but if you are not planning on majoring it is just easier to avoid it.

This class was awesome. Deveaux is ridiculously intelligent and his exams are easy. A small amount of reading - very do-able, usually interesting. Papers were graded fairly. I actually feel like I learned a great deal from this class. Take it if you can with Deveaux!!!