2.8
Quality2.7
Difficulty39%
Would Retake94
Reviews39%
Would Retake
94
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
18
4
22
3
13
2
16
1
25
What Students Say
“If you want an easy A take him but don't expect anything great”
MUSIC187 - 1.0 rating“This class makes no sense, I strongly advise to avoid it”
MUSIC187 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
38%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.27 avg changeRatings by Course
AA
5.0
(1)MUSIC75
3.0
(4)MUSIC187
2.9
(72)MUS187
2.8
(17)Difficulty by Course
AA
4.0
MUSIC187
2.7
MUSIC75
2.5
MUS187
2.4
Reviews (94)
Nice guy; is it just me or does he kinda want to dress like a college student despite being middle aged? Knows his material, gives a tad too many notes than necessary. Lectures very clear and easy to follow along with.
Too many notes, too arrogant, too boring, tests are too hard, too many outside projects to do. Don't take this class with him, you'll regret it or fail it.
Comes off rude and arrogant. Tells the class to contact him and then provides smart remarks when you ask him a question - like were stupid.
yeah he's arrogant and acts like no one already knows the subject matter that he's teaching (history of rock and roll!).like we need to listen intently and take good notes on the beatles. put it this way in his syllabus he says if you miss a class due to a funeral you must show him a death certificate or lose attendance points. Seriously!
awesome class. VERY arrogant teacher. carries class as if he is the only musician in the room. does a great randition of 'mary had a little lamb.' maybe his new marriage will settle him down a bit. study for the tests, know the listening examples and matching parts (songs to artist) and the rest is easy. very decent grader on written report. im a horrible writer and got an A
too much notes!!!!! he's so boring!!! His style doesn't fit interactive learners!
It was a very easy class if you go every day. It is like 16 weeks of VH1, Behind the music. Tests are short and easy. He grades papers very fair.
I thought this class was the worst class that I have taken so far..Too many notes, hard tests and a lot of out side projects. Very boring class.
great teacher, and wants to help his students understand and learn. the reason he talks like he is the only musician in the room is because the class is general ed, and he wants to make sure everyone undrstands. phenominal musician as well
HE IS GREAT AT WHAT HE DOES. TAKES HIS JOB SERIOUSLY
He cares about his job, he takes it very seriously. He's an amazing musician.
He is an excellent professor! Dr. VonBerg is not boring at all. I looked forward to going to this class. He is a jazz mucisian who really knows his stuff. You don't really need the book, although it's good to have if you miss a lecture or two. Don't miss more than 5 lectures though or your grade will drop. Tests ar easy, many term papers thoug
All you have to do is just attend lecture and keep your eyes open! Tests are SIMPLE! And, the material is cool. Papers are plentiful but, he's an EASY grader. This is a no-brainer class to take.
The lectures are crucial to succeeding in this class. You don't have to be a musical expert or even be a music lover. However, you do have to be willing to listen to music and be able to write about your opinions on it. Vonberg has a lot of passion for the material in this class and it shows.
great teacher but u have to go to class. and also read the text book but its about music so it was fun reading take this class i promiss it will be wroth it really easy.
Comes off as very arrogant, and even more so if you have a question. He addresses the class as if you're high school students, not college students. I think he forgets that we pay his salary.
This guy comes off as a **** but overall the class is pretty interesting. Sometimes it drags on. There are three tests(semi-difficult unless you study)and three papers(two of which that are super easy and involve going to a concert).
great professor. all 3 profs combine to teach this section so its like you have 3 teachers at dif times=great. powerpoints, book is cheap and you must read to prepare for the tests. only 50pgs per test+10 songs. this class is so interesting! a break from boring core classes and you still learn a lot
He comes off as rude and a know-it-all, simple class but he makes it a little harder than it is, warning: he does not remind you when anything is due!! Make sure to check your syllabus and FS email WEEKLY at least..had to turn in one assignment late cuz he mentioned not ONE THING about it in class. other than that, nice guy!
He is very pretentious, slow on returning assignments/putting scores on blackboard, and very monotone. I'm sure the class would have been WAY more interesting had it been a different instructor. His instructions are too detailed when it comes to writing assignments, but grades easy. His "study guides" pretty much say "know everything".
very slow on returning assignments so u will not know your grade til the end of the semester but he's nice and chill and expects u to do well detailed papers on time
One of my favorite classes at Fresno State! He expects you to study and do your work, and he gives you all tools needed to succeed. Incredible class, and a brilliant jazz musician.
Worst professor I've ever had. Emailed him a few times with questions and got very rude emails back. He isn't helpful and basically makes you feel stupid 90% of the time. Horrible class....horrible professor.
This was the worst class ever. Takes his job too seriously and way too much work for a GE class. I emailed him about someone not participating in the group project and he said "oh well let him present". This was the worst class ever.
Great professor, straightforward and easy to understand. Just go to the classes and listen, and you'll ace the tests.
VonBerg takes this class way to serious for an upper GE. There are 6 quiz's that have a 25 min time limit with 20 questions, a panel discussion, a project, 6 in class listening quiz's, and 2 papers, 1 is a music lyric connection and the other is 2 live performances. The explanations are way to elongated. When asking questions, he's very rude.
Expects you to teach yourself all the material covered. Discussion questions are vague and not all of the answers are even in the materials given. You are always wrong when it comes to discussions. WAY TOO MUCH WORK. Online quizzes expect you to know minute details such as song names, bands, producers, etc. Pick another class for this GE section.
Rude, and ignores your emails. when you do talk to him he makes you feel dumb. Do Not Take Him. He expects you to teach yourself. Not a good teacher.
This class was too much work for GE course. With 1,000 points possible! The lecturesonline content were not as helpful as the book. Two papers with very strict criteria, listening quizzes, unit quizzes, and two group presentations. It is passable if you do the work and the content itself is very interesting! Just poor organization of the course.
Craig was not a tough professor whatsoever. His assignments were very easy and he was an easy grader as well. HOWEVER, he is rude, know it all, and arrogant. He thinks he is part of the Rolling Stones and brags at every opportunity he has. I recommend to take the hybrid class though just because it's easy & its once a week with his annoying self.
This guy is the most arrogant, condescending, and know-it-all teacher I have ever come across. He will deliberately interrupt students in the middle of their presentations and panel discussions just to make them feel stupid that they pronounced something wrong. Way to much work. Good luck satisfying the requirements for assignments. Horrible Guy
This is a self taught class. Easy class just do the two papers he assigns & you pass. Show up & remember to read for your panal discussion answer 3 questions and your good. Quizzes are easy just remember the songs. Online quiz not easy but not hard either its 2 tries best suggestion is to do the quizzes with your group. Passed with an A.
He is by far one of the easy instructors in Fresno state. -He allows 2nd test retake. The test are online, and you can look over your first test. Same questions. The other side is that this class is fast paced. You will have a lot of going on the first day. DO NOT QUIT. -You will have group projects. -Listening quiz (In class) -Term paper part
Class has no test just listening quizzes. Group project is big part of the class. If you don't like speaking in front of the class get ready to. Overall pretty easy class if you stay on top of the schedule.
Great teacher, plays music to go along with slides so you understand what type of music goes with the powerpoint and era you are talking about. Go to class for the points and learn the stuff but gets posted online and you can just read it in the book. Tests are easy but need to read the material for it.
At first it seemed like a lot of work and overwhelming. But, it was an easy class once everything got started. No final in his class which was SO nice. He can come off as rude sometimes but he is nice when you talk one on one and he really is a good teacher. You get points for attendance, I would recommend taking for easy upper GE
1 panel discussion, 1 group activity, takes attendance (it's 50 points) & two papers. 6 in class listening quizzes and 6 BB quizzes. Class is very easy if you show up. You have to attend a jazz concert and another concert of your choice for one of the papers. Doesn't email back in a timely manner, sometimes can be rude. But easy class!
Professor Vonberg was an interesting and informative instructor. He did however grade pretty strictly on a few papers. His quizzes are easy and so is the group project, but you have to write two papers and take a bunch of online quizzes. This is an easy course and Vonberg is a solid instructor, but nothing too extraordinary.
You have to do a lot of outside work like attending many events for papers, watch many videos & take quizzes based off of them, & do unnecessary group presentations throughout the entire semester based on assigned sections of the book. Literally no one in this class is majoring in music & takes it b/c they have to meet UD requirements & he know it.
Teaches hybrid style but then doesn't respond to multiple emails. Going to class is pointless if you're not presenting that day and if there is no listening quiz. Online quizzes straight from book. Kinda rude sometimes, asks discussion panel questions people don't know just to feel superior I guess. Boring class, mediocre prof, but not much work...
Professor VonBerg is so cool! He makes class interesting, who doesn't want to learn about all the wonderful music that surrounds our daily lives?!
I took the hybrid class. Legit all you do is show up, get credit for being there; have the freedom to work from other classes. There's two writing assignments, no final, and two group projects. The quizzes are online you can take them twice, so take it once; get the answers and take it again.
Look the class is easy. As a matter of fact you don't really have to try at all. The class quality though and the teacher are no good. The teacher doesn't have to teach; he acts as an assistant to students teaching through group presentations. He seems like he doesn't care to be there. If you want an easy A take him but don't expect anything great.
I'd recommend you to take his music 187 if you need to fulfill your upper division GE requirement! Multiple online unit quizzes and listening quizzes, they're easy! One group project, and one term paper. Overall, very easy class! I passed with an A with very little effort.
VonBerg is an interesting individual. The style of class seems quite pointless, and when writing your two papers, he will definitely be honest about your work in his own eyes. He searches for the tiniest things to mark you down for. Easy class overall, just not a good teacher and style of lecture.
This was a weird class. First of all it is very easy, especially if you have a friend to take the online quizzes with, but he didn't really teach us anything. We'd show up once a week and watch two groups present then have an online quiz for it. Very strange that he never lectured
Two group projects, twelve unit quizzes, and two major writing assignments. All super easy. The only teaching he does is when he comments on your presentations. He does take class attendance for points, but it is only necessary to go on your presentation date. Take this class to fulfill upper GE requirement.
The class is interesting, but he lags with grading. You have to listen to 2 playlists of about 45 songs, write about the components of the songs, and why the song is appealing. You also have to attend and write about a live performance, and he's very specific on what you can attend. All exams are online. Takes attendance every day.
Nice guy. This class meets once a week and the rest of the assignments are due online. You get two shots at taking the Unit Quizzes, very helpful. He has a clear outline of how he wants his assignments done. You will need the book as the quizzes are based off of it. You need to download an app to sign in for proof of attendance.
Only meet once a week for group presentations. 2 group presentations (easy if you get a good group who helps out), 2 papers (super easy), 12 quizzes (2 tries each), and attendance (app needed to check in). If you need to fulfill upper GE and looking for an easy A, this class is for you.
Bad class, doesn't teach at all
Awesome professor! He cares about his students, and the amount of work was reasonable as I took the class over the winter. Highly recommended to fulfill your upper G.E.
He doesn't really teach much but has lots of good information. The test are on the book and lecture but really you can look up all the answers online. Grades pretty easy. Only 4 test, 1 report, and 4 listening journals where you write about the songs. Overall pretty easy class
I really don't recommend taking this class. Extremely rude and he WILL interrupt you while you are presenting if he notices any small mistakes. He will put you/your group on the spot. Doesn't know how to properly do his job as a professor. He does not teach, every class you go to is groups presenting the unit topics for you. Save yourself.
I would not recommend taking Professor VonBerg, unless you want to teach the class for yourself. When you present you are constantly bombared by comments and interruptions made by him that are at times rudes. Don't make the same mistake I made.
Good class to take over winter if you need upper GE. 1 paper (submitted in sections), peer reviews, discussion posts, 6 unit quizzes, 6 listening quizzes, and a group power point. A lot of busy work. He was a fairly easy grader if you put in the effort. Schedule clearly laid out. Always responded to emails. Listening quizzes were challenging.
STAY AWAY! If I could give him a 0 I would. Prof. Vonberg is the rudest man at Fresno State by far. He will interrupt your group presentations to correct your research, pronunciation and try to show his knowledge by making comments on your information. After interrupting, he then gets frustrated that youre taking too long. STAY AWAY!
This class is a LOT for a 3 unit class. As an engineering-based major this is a n insane workload. You will be paired with a group to do a 30 minutes presentation to teach the unit/module. HE WILL NOT TEACH. There will also be ridiculous writing assignments throughout the semester. 1,650 essays. I think 3 essays total, but you're working on them.
More work than I expected but doable. Organized but busy schedule. Papers, quizzes, and group presentations.
Two major papers that are worth alot but it is not that hard. Before the university closed, we had two group projects that we had to present. He talked alot during our presentation; filling in details. But he grades easy as long as you follow instructions. During online transition, he was very understanding. He extended everything: quizzes, etc.
2 major paper, Iclicker quiz, meet once a week although it says class meeting is for 3 days, basically revolves around your assigned groups. With the group you will create 2 presentation and present it to the class. He goes over the papers in class and have clear criteria for them. He, himself is very passionate and very knowledgeable of Jazz.
Overall a very easy class. There are listening quizzes and unit quizzes from the textbook that Vonberg helped write. It should not be a problem to make an A if you do all the work and show up. He is kinda rude when groups present, but he grades really easily
Does not teach. Whole class is basically group presentations. Has a bad habit of interrupting presentations to put his own input in, even if irrelevant. Will interrupt you if you pronounce a word wrong & is very rude about it. A lot of unnecessary papers and quizzes. Relies too heavily on us teaching ourselves EVERYTHING. Dont recommend.
He was very no-nonsense, but the class was easy. I loved the music genres we learned about, so if you hate music of the 20th century then this class may not be your cup of tea. But, it was an easy A. Just make sure to do well on your group presentation, and pay attention to details in your papers.
WE. ARE. NOT. THE. TEACHER. Teach us, don't make us do unit presentations and then every time something is slightly wrong you give your own 5 minute schpeel. Just teach the units instead. This class makes no sense, I strongly advise to avoid it.
way too much work and not clear on assignments. someone needs to remind him this is a 3 unit GE class
Too much group work for my taste, but overall an easily passable class. Seems a bit full of himself, but is helpful and flexible, I enjoyed him very much. Be prepared to read (he wrote the book, and it shows, haha). Overall a good class, I recommend.
The professor gives tons of group projects and has many different directions for one project, it gets confusing very quickly. If you ask for help trying to understand the many different directions he gives out he will just tell you to reread the syllabus or course schedule. I do not recommend this class to anyone.
-Forces you to buy his book cause that's where you have to take the quizzes and tests since it is linked to there and so he makes money on his book -Too many long papers you need to write -Does not teach the class he is not a teacher he is a spectator -Too much work for a 3 unit class -Do not take this GE class pick a better one
Hate the group presentation and he makes you buy his own textbook since the quizzes and tests are there like teachers should not be allowed to do that. There are 2 big papers they were alright since you get to choose your music. Its answer on test are hard since he does not go based on the internet but on his own opinion.
Beware the professor does not teach you guys are the teacher. Also get ready for "constructive criticism" that all I have to say. You will fail if you do not buy the book since that's where you will take test and quizzes since it is linked to his class and his name. Quizzes and test are pretty hard since it is not on canvas.
!!!!!!!!!!!DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS PICK A BETTER GE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For your mental health, NOT THIS CLASS. For your wallet, NO THIS CLASS. For your grade, NOT THIS CLASS. Dislike is too soft of a word for this class, but I cant say something harsher. As an 4.0 student, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. If you see a lot of comments from today date it's because our unit quiz was due and was SO BLEEPING HARD.
DO NOT take this class! The class is based off of group projects, which are presented each week. He does not teach AT ALL; instead, he will sit there and criticize you as you present for not knowing every minute detail. He is so pretentious. Not approachable, will make you feel stupid. HW is all from his textbook. Too much work for a 3 unit class.
Okay so...Professor VonBerg is AWESOME! He is a nice guy and loves what he teaches. But, this class is not easy. You have to READ the textbook if you want to pass and there are two group projects. I was originally gonna take this class with another professor and they were asking the same so this course is just difficult, but VonBerg is great!
VonBerg is definitely not for everyone. He's not a bad guy but his teaching style sucks. Mostly because he doesn't actually teach. Every week the students do research and have a group presentation. So we end up teaching each other the material, he never lectured once. There is also a larger amount of work considering, but the content isnt hard.
Group Project wasn't too bad, just read a chapter and present on it. Don't stress about the groupwork stuff, he chooses your partners for you. You've got several papers to do, but some of them are to be done in chunks, so it's just a little more work to do every other week. Exams are a bit tough considering the reading, i recommend studying online.
This guy is the GOAT. For real. Just do your work, try hard, and he'll have your back. Great teacher, highly recommend him.
Professor VonBerg is a great guy. The work load is a bit large but as long as you do it and try he will give you a good grade. He grades very generously and gives great feedback. He does not lecture, instead you present the material from a chapter in the book with a group. Do the work and get will take care of you.
MUS187 was an easy and enjoyable class. There is one group project and two papers to write, but Professor Vonberg is a generous grader. Put in some effort and you'll pass the class with an A. My one complaint is that Professor Vonberg doesn't actually give lectures in class. Instead, one group presents a chapter to the class every week.
Prepare yourself to be absolutely confused. His canvas setup will have you turning in assignments late because it is so unorganized and confusing. He is very rude and will make you feel dumb when asking questions.
Professor Vonberg has created a model class, that accommodates every kind of student's learning styles. It is literally impossible for you to fail this class, as long as you follow the syllabus' due dates. I learned how to put together multi-media presentations, how to write a perfect term paper. He is a musical encyclopedia and easy to approach.
There was an awful lot of homework in this class. He forces everyone to do public speaking so watch out for that. His comments towards people were hurtful. He forces you to buy his book which seems like a conflict of interest. Lectures were decent when he gave them, but he had students teach the class most of the time (the public speaking).
This class is pretty easy. No lectures. Instead, every day a student presents a music topic. No final and no tests. Little homework, and it's easy. Main things are the presentation (which he is pretty picky about) and two papers. Attendance counts as a grade. If you pay attention you'll actually learn some cool stuff about the history of music!
This dude is pretentious. His course structure dates all the way back to 2020. He hasn't update some things and there is evidence of it. Don't even bother showing up cause he records it anyway, there is no "lecture" it's just us doing presentations so he can sit down and just judge us. He's like a student who does minimal work but he's a professor.
Professor is very picky and judgy about the presentations. Feel like he should just present the material himself because he likes it to be such a specific way. He constantly jumps into the students presentations and does so in a rude condescending way. Assignments and syllabus is old and extremely wordy and confusing. Wouldn't recommend
You only show up to class only to get participation points and watch people's presentations. He's a cool dude, but he doesn't teach, you teach yourself. There are quizzes and tests due on canvas and the online textbook, so make sure to not miss those. Along with two essays and a presentation, stay on top of it all, overall kinda easy.
Will not teach 2/3rds of the class. The majority of the class i dependent on peer lectures (projects). Then proceeds to constantly interrupt the lecturer, just teach the class at that point. The setup of Canvas hurts my head. You have to buy a book he co-authored which is a scummy move.
This guy is the equivalent to that one friend who gatekeeps your favorite band/music by claiming they know all the history, except he has a Masters Degree. Makes demeaning comments to students during their presentations in front of the ENTIRE class. IMO don't go to class. Attendance grade is tiny and saves you from watching students get humiliated
for the sake of your mental health I wouldn't do it. I have never been more confused in my life at what a professor is asking. he wants a million things from you in a 3 week course. Ive stayed up all night redoing assignments cause he's never clear on what he wants and he's not nice about it either.
The most snarkiest professor you will ever take. I emailed him for clarification on something he posted and he immediately assumed I didn't know how to work canvas, however it was the way he has it set up. When he realized he was wrong he never issued me an apology. This course is also just students teaching each other.
Vonberg's class is hit-or-miss - while he's knowledgeable, his teaching style can be confusing. Presentations are crucial, so use unstuck AI for prepping. It's easy to pass if you stay on top of things.
He soo adorable!
This professor is a good example of what we thought professors in college were like when we were in K-12. He is certainly strict, but there is no doubt he's as passionate about the material as it gets. He demands a lot of effort from students, but he does recognize hard work when it's there.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
38%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.27 avg changeRatings by Course
AA
5.0
(1)MUSIC75
3.0
(4)MUSIC187
2.9
(72)MUS187
2.8
(17)Difficulty by Course
AA
4.0
MUSIC187
2.7
MUSIC75
2.5
MUS187
2.4