2.7
Quality3.2
Difficulty32%
Would Retake107
Reviews32%
Would Retake
107
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
22
4
19
3
15
2
17
1
34
What Students Say
“I wouldn't take this class”
MUI221 - 1.0 rating“If you are a MUI major or minor and have to take this class then I guess good luck, but if you are taking this as an elective wait until you find a different one because it's not even close to an easy A”
MUI221 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
31%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.08 avg changeRatings by Course
MUS221
4.0
(1)MUI229
3.0
(1)MUI221
2.9
(77)MUI324
2.9
(11)MUI
2.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
MUI
4.0
MUAP236
4.0
MUI229
4.0
221
3.7
SEVERAL
3.5
Reviews (107)
This guy shouldn't be teaching!
Very straight forward..everything on the tests are from the book...good lecturer
No Comments
By far the worst professor I've experienced at JMU. He's a joke.
He's the most arrogant person I've ever known!!
teaches by the book. very set in his methods, learn them and you are fine.
No Comments
Boring class, teaches STRAIGHT from the book. Tests aren't always reflective of the stuff you learned, but somehow you should know it anyway. If you get a highlighted book, don't bother going to class ever.
Not a fun class. Teaches from the book. Best bet is to find someone who took the class, borrow their notes, and then you will have the material from the class because he sure doesn't introduce anything new in lecture.
he sucks. Sooo boring & so freakin arrogant for no reason!!
i think the prerequ for this class should be how to be a sound engineer 101....even then Im not sure you would understand the material he puts on the tests. Too bad he teaches two required classes for the music industry major and minor.
Cottrell is the cockiest man I've ever encountered in my life. He definitely does know his stuff though, best advice: BUY A USED BOOK! you'll never have to go to class
reads straight from the textbook. Boring class on what should be a fun subject. Not too hard but not an easy A.
You must be joking!!! This is not a class, this is the Cottrell show!! BORING!!!
This man knows what he's talking about. The class lectures may be boring at times, but the info is vital for MUI majors. If you want to take an "easy A" elective, don't take this and **** about it later. Take this and learn something useful!
Yes, he knows his stuff, but it's no good if it's inaccessable. He doesn't respect opinions that could lead to valuable discussions even from experienced interns from around the industry. His Grammy speaks to his worth as a musician, but not as a prof!
while he doesn't make 221 particularly interesting, MUI 324 (intro to audio devices) is one of my best classes ever here. Very in depth, available during office hours for help, and extremely informative. Do your work and you'll be fine, and study lots.
He is the worst, most arrogant teacher I have ever encountered. And such a boring class, too. Read everything thoroughly and prepare for tricky tests and you might come out alive.
If it was acceptable, the man would just prance around class going, "I'm so popular. I'm so great. Everyone wants to be just like me." I had to force myself to not walk out each class. What a wind-bag!
Really awesome guy, a little conceited maybe, but he knows his stuff. A lot of great speakers come to class. When he lectures though he just reads right from the book what you need to know for the test, really boring. Has an attendence policy too. Not too tough though, you can get through it.
He knows what he's talking about. If you take him with a grain of salt, he's pretty entertaining in class, and really will work hard to help you succeed if you desire.
He really knows what he is talking about and despite what everyone says I don't really see the arrogance. How are you supposed to teach without sounding like you know what you are talking about. I definatly recommend this class with this teacher, there is no other way.
What are all these negative reviews? He's arrogant, boo-hoo. he is also very accomplished, very personable, and very interesting. He literally goes over EXACTLY what info will be on the tests during classes, and brings in a lot of interesting guest speakers. No homework, just tests. Get real people, cottrell is the man and his class is awesome.
Alright guys, dont' be hard on this guy. He really is a good teacher, his methods are just a little unconventional. He's always there to help though. If you have cottrell, speak up in class...go see him during his office hours. Don't give him a hard time, he's 10000000 times better than Dr. D.
he knows what he's talking about, and teaching from experience does not make him conceited. if you realize this then you will be able to spend more time learning than judging him. go to his office hours, he's very helpful! i highly recommend this class and prof!
Very easy class, he teaches from experience which is cool because he knows alot and brings in people he knows from the industry to be guest speakers.
Great class this guy brings in a lot of guest speakers to bring it some unique flavor. He also does his best to impart life lessons on all of us in addition to his lectures. Cottrell is funny and wants us to succeed in whatever we choose to do with our lives.
Great professor! He knows what he is talking about and makes the class interesting by having guest lecturers come in and tell their stories. Always remember to bring your book to class, and anything else he asks you to bring. I'm looking forward to his 324 class next semester.
This guy is pompous, arrogant and oh so full of himself. His class was informative and sometimes almost interesting but I think his music is a total joke. I know people in the biz who say he is not respected much and considered creepy and difficult to work with. At least he needs to work on people skills and get rid of the beauty mark.
AWFUL TEACHER, AWFUL CLASS. it's an easy A, but if you are actually interested in music it is a waste of time. if you are interested in independent music and take this class, you will want to kill yourself (I'd recommend buying the book and reading it on your own so you don't waste your money on tuition for this class).
Great teacher! Don't believe the other reivews, he knows his stuff and the guest lectures are usually amazing. I would take it again in a heartbeat.
CRAPFEST OF MUSICAL CARNAGE! This guy destroys any love for music or humans you may have had before taking his class. P-O-M-P-O-U-S!
Took this class as a bs class to graduate. Overall, he tells you what to highlight and that's on the three tests. The tests aren't hard if you just look over the highlights, and in most cases the book is already highlighted. His lectures were interesting at first but they get really boring. He has some pretty interesting people come in to speak
Not clear on what is required. Subjective in his views of "good recording." No interest or patience for adventurous recording techniques, or artistic expression for that matter. If you like music for its commercial appeal, take this course. If you appreciate art, save money and buy a 4-track.
Great guy, will teach you everything you wanted to know about the music industry, and even more you didnt. Some classes are interesting, others are horrifically boring. Easy Class, Easy A, but mandatory attendance or letter grade drop. He's got an emmy!.!.!
I took this class because I thought it would be a lot of fun. I was completely wrong. He reads straight from the textbook, which you think would be helpful for the tests but it isn't.The questions on the exams have to deal with spelling, and answers that are extremely similar. The hardest and worst class to take. Definitely avoid.
Hes an average teacher. He basically teaches straight from the book. He actually doesn't teach much, he just tells you what to highlight in the book. Tests aren't bad but he is VERY arrogant. A lot of great guest speakers come though. I guess that is the high point.
Really interesting guy, I learned more useful in that class than any other class at JMU. Tests are straight from the textbook and no homework. He brings in really cool guest speakers. Definitely take him if you're interested in the music industry. Easy B or A.
mandatory attendance. no hw. reads straight from the book. but he is a really nice guy and knows a lot he is also really funny- a lot of cool guest speakers! tests are hard though.. STUDY.
This was a great class! I enjoyed going to class and hearing the lectures. I almost considering switching majors but I am too far along in the COB to switch out. Great professor and a great class for music lovers!
Badass prof. He does read straight from the book but since he's actually been in and out of the music industry he knows what he's talking about. Gives very good current examples of the subjects he's teaching and a lot of great guest speakers. He even was a guest speaker one class and he brought his emmy that he won a couple years back. awesome.
Cottrell just wants a paycheck. Yeah, he's been in the music industry but that clearly doesn't mean he can teach you anything about it, or even cares to teach you anything about it. Buy the text and read it and you'll learn everything he'll teach you in class. Everything's straight out of the text and he just reads it to you. and he's very arrogant
Not the best teacher ever. He is soooo full of himself that I couldn't get past the fact that and learn. He has obviously been in the music industry for a while but I'm not too sure he is the best person to be learning this stuff from.
Cottrell is the definition of a Music Industry teacher. If you are trying to get in the music industry you will appreciate him because of his straightforwardness and stubborn demeanor but if you're taking this for the heck of it, you probably won't like him. I find his pessimism rather entertaining.He seems harsh but he's a really helpful guy.
Cottrell knows his stuff. I went in hoping to be interested enough to pick up a minor in MUI and he hooked me. The class is real easy, reads out of the book and if you buy a used copy its already highlighted for you. Not a terribly interesting class and the tests are a little tricky, but the final is soooo easy and the whole class has no work.
Super awesome prof.!!! He does seem like he is a bit of a snob, but there's no way you'll walk out of that class not knowing tons about the Mus. Industry. Definitely worth taking if you are serious about a major/minor in Mus. Industry.
freakin epic! i love this guy he knows exactly what hes talkin about!
Obviously knows his stuff, but his tests were aimed to trick, not test knowledge. Comes off very arrogant and not very helpful outside of class. The most beneficial aspect of the class was the speakers he brought in. If you have to take 229, suck it up. Otherwise, I'd say avoid.
OK seriously this guy might seem a little arrogant or tough but if you have any dream of making it in the industry and you can't handle him then you're weak and need to look at a new profession. sorry but it is what it is. He's a great teacher stop being so sensitive and toughen up. pay attention, go to class, do the work. that's all it takes..
This guy is rad! He knows his stuff and he gives you lecture guides for every single lecture, and there is no textbook. Tests come straight from lecture guides, so if you go over them a few times you'll be sitting pretty for the tests. There is little to no work for this class.
Overall, I enjoyed Cottrell's class. He presents the content well and opens up access to a lot of experienced guest speakers. Down sides are that he can come across as arrogant, and the lecture-heavy nature of the class seems counterproductive in such a hands-on field. I would recommend taking the class with a friend, otherwise you'll be verybored.
Makes "lecture bones" for each class so you know exactly what to take notes on and what will be on the test. Tests are pretty easy too. He makes the lectures interesting and he's really experienced in the field. EXTREMELY helpful and an awesome guy! This was one of the only classes I looked forward to.
Cottrell is an interesting, funny guy. There is just 3 tests and a final for this class that are very straight forward right out of the lecture notes from class. Just go to class, pay half attention and you'll get an A. Good thing is this class is actually pretty interesting.
Dr. Cottrell is awesome. He will not sugar coat anything and expects you to be in class all the time, on time and to do your work. He will call you out for failing to do these things! He is extremely helpful with industry advice and helping you with your resume. He also dresses very well. Long live Cottrell!
One of my favorite professors at JMU! He's very knowledgable on the topic, and has experience in the music industry. I recommend him to anyone thinking about taking this class!
Cottrell is the absolute best! Imagine a Bruce Willis look-a-like who knows the ins and outs of the music industry. If you are interested at all in MUI def. take the class. If not, it's still a great class to take.
This guy is amazing! He really knows his stuff and he's really funny. Some people think he's mean because *GASP* he actually expects you to do what he says and not use your phone during class. But honestly he doesn't ask for too much at all. Definitely recommend him!
Very intelligent and pretty funny too. He can be a bit of a "knowitall" sometimes but he really knows his stuff and is super helpful when it comes to understanding the material, also goofy and fun. No textbook, 3 tests, pretty easy and straightforward.
Cottrell definitely knows what he is talking about, but I have never dreaded going to a class more. The tests are hard, he puts you on the spot, and make sure you don't ask any stupid questions. He makes the class a lot harder than it has to be. However, I did learn a lot (of info on analog devices, when the whole world uses digital).
I have no idea why there are so many good reviews for Cottrell. His lectures are him droning on and it's hard to get all the information. The tests were hard because there is so much specific material he expects you to know. I dreaded going to this lecture and you can only miss twice. This is not an easy A.
Cottrell is the rudest professor I have ever had at JMU. I went into office hours to ask him clarifying questions about his lecture and he told me he refuses to answer questions during office hours. No textbook or readings to refer back to. Incredibly boring lecturer and incredibly rude. DO NOT TAKE.
Great for people interested in the subject matter. If you are looking for an easy A, you might want to turn around. He is very lecture heavy and goes quickly through the notes. The subject is very interesting and can be followed, Cottrell also brings in people who have been through the music industry and understand it.
Professor Cottrell really does know what he is talking about since he has been in and out of the music industry. He gives "lecture bones" to help you figure out what you need to write down during his lectures. Lots of guest speakers who have also been in the music scene, very enjoyable class
I wouldn't take this class. There is nothing but 4 tests in your grade, and they are based on nothing but lectures. He doesn't even use powerpoints with his lectures, so there is nothing to refer back to. He "goes over" each test in class, but gets angry when you ask questions because he goes incredibly fast. He is hard to work with.
If you are a MUI major or minor and have to take this class then I guess good luck, but if you are taking this as an elective wait until you find a different one because it's not even close to an easy A. He acts like this stuff is so easy and gets annoyed when people don't understand (he will audibly 'sigh' at you).
The material for this class was super interesting and led to me becoming an MUI minor, but it's also very dense and overwhelming to learn in a short amount of time. Take good notes. Cottrell speaks very quickly during lecture, but he is very knowledgable about the industry and knows all of the right people to bring in to speak to the class.
Your grade is 3 tests & the final. Even if he explicitly says something won't be on the exam, write it down anyways because it probably will be. Only take this class if you're minoring in MUI. The lectures are very dry for people who aren't really interested in learning about the music industry. The guest speakers make up for dealing with Cottrell.
He lectures the entire period, rarely using PowerPoints. This results in frustrating classes where he loosely defines items out loud while students aimlessly take notes on an outline. Bc he has nothing to reference in terms of the material he covered in class, tests present Q's not discussed. Your success, even w/ studying, is limited as a result.
Intelligent guy and isn't afraid to let you know it. Beware of asking "stupid" questions; he will audibly sigh and refuse to answer. Lectures are alright, sometimes scattered and hard to know what to write down. The tests are moderately hard, bless your soul if you miss a class. Some people say he's awful, but just stay on his good side.
David Cottrell is a very lecture heavy teacher. He does not use powerpoints so you MUST attend lectures if you want to pass the tests. He does not use a textbook so you have to take notes on what he says in class. He is a funny guy with a lot of experience in the music industry, but this is a class in which you MUST pay attention and not dose off.
As a non music major I found this class useless. He gears this class towards performers and not those who want to work in the business side of the music industry. He bases it off of 4 tests and attendance. He gives no practice which would be very helpful for this class. He's very rude to students and makes them feel stupid when they ask questions.
Cottrell is extremely knowledgeable about the music business. If you take any music industry course, take it with him. All classes are lectures either by him or guest speakers or test days. The only grades for the class are your attendances, tests, and final exam grade. If you go to class and take notes, youll pass.
Cottrell is incredible. He has so much experience and knowledge about the music industry that it made not going to class hard. If you're not interested in the subject matter or are trying to get an easy A, tests are entirely based off lecture and studying is a must so I'd suggest not taking. Overall, an INCREDIBLE class and incredible professor
Cottrell is a really specific personality type that I know some students don't vibe with. However, he has a lot of experience and it shows. He is very clear that the tests come directly from his notes so if you print out the note sheets and study them you'll do fine. Definitely don't get caught on your phone because he WILL call you out on it.
David holds his students to the same standards he holds himself to, so any lack of effort in his class will result in poor grades. If you're looking for an easy A definitely don't take any classes with him. However, if you legitimately want to learn about a subject he's the best resource at this university. His office hours are also excellent!!
aggressively unresponsive to questions from students. lectures often dont match the note outlines he shares. frequently uploads tests and grades questions incorrectly.
Avoid him. He is disrespectful to the students. He will also not open assignments until the day they are due (usually a Saturday) and he is extremely picky about negligible things. The material itself is super easy. Also he won't help you with certain things like sight singing during office hours. Theory is an amazing subject but he makes it awful.
his lectures are so disorganized and often don't match the lecture outlines. he is terrible at explaining things and to do well on exams i've had to rewatch all of the lectures before the exam. took this class as an elective and it created so much unnecessary stress
This was one of the hardest classes ive taken at JMU. The only grades are 4 tests which had an average score of around 60% across the class. The tests are ridiculously hard and full of trick questions designed for you to fail.
He was so bad, I wanted to give him a zero. But that's not possible so I give him a one.
Cottrell is not a good professor. His Music Industry lectures were quick paced and incredibly vague. The only grades in the class were 3 or 4 tests of which have content he doesnt even cover in lectures. I strongly recommend you dont use this professor. Hes narcissistic and not good at what he does.
Definitely don't take MUI 221 if you don't have an interest in the Music Industry. Cottrell is definitely very knowledgeable about the industry, but he makes the exams harder than they need to be. Lectures are decent but can be boring sometimes. The class is only graded by the 4 exams and attendance (which he gives everyone a 100% on).
Doouuuchhhe
Had Cottrell for MUI 221 & 230. I really enjoyed his classes and felt that he truly cared for the topic. He's not an easy teacher and you need to put effort in, in order to do well, but he really does give you all the information that you need to do well. Make sure to keep all your notes from this class for future MUI classes.
He said throughout the first 4 lectures that a lot of items he was covering would not be on the exam and then put it on the exam anyway. The only reason I have not withdrawn from this class is that I need to stay a full-time student. Avoid at all costs.
Do not take this class. The tests are extremely difficult, he does not do a good job preparing you for the material that will be covered on them. He frequently goes off on tangents during class. He also refuses to open up previous tests for review. I went back and forth with him multiple times to try and get help, and he was very rude. Had to drop.
He knows the material but teaches it by talking about the material, not by notes. That makes it hard to keep up and pass exams.
Don't pay attention to the negative reviews, Dr. Cottrell is the most knowledgable and inspirational professor I've ever had. If you see this class as an easy elective and nothing more, you probably won't have a great time. However, if you're passionate about the industry and want to learn from someone who has seen it all, you will LOVE this class.
He is very knowledgable about the music industry, but he is not a good professor. His exams are lockdown browser with the camera on, there are mini quizzes before each lecture. His exams are very detailed. He is not accommodating towards students, especially if you're having technological issues.
My advice: avoid this professor. If you have computer problems, his response is "get a better computer" even though his computer shut down zoom and he had to cancel class. His exams are difficult, his lectures are hard to keep up with, and he does not care if you need help in his class.
Up his own a__, incredibly unorganized, doesn't appear to be aware of what is outlined on his own tests, which he will also not let you review after completing. Assigns readings that he claims are unreliable later, never makes an appearance on campus but complains endlessly about your technical problems/attendance and barely responds to emails :)))
Definitely knows a lot about the music industry, but that's also a fault of the course. He gives lecture outlines for each class, but at times tends to go on tangents full of so much information that you don't know what will be on the exam or not. There's quizzes before almost every class and 5 pretty hard exams. Lots of guest speakers tho!
Cottrell was an extreme proponent of online learning, to the point of ignoring its faults. His lectures weren't engaging in the slightest and he often came across as blunt and unforgiving when you'd ask questions. I dropped this class after about 3 weeks. If you are good in online classes, you might do well. If you struggle online,don't even bother
It's on Zoom, which is not conducive to teaching this particular subject. This is a class about AUDIO devices, and, as we all know, Zoom does not always have the greatest audio quality. His lectures are long and not very engaging. It's very hard to get any good notes in this class. Calls on and belittles students for not knowing the answers.
David Cottrell and MUI221 was a very hard class and I ended up withdrawing. He had a 5 question 5 minute quiz in the beginning of every class and 4 exams that were hard. I took very thorough notes every time and they never helped with the quizzes or tests. I emailed him asking for extra help and he straight up told me I could not meet with him.
Cottrell is the only strict professor I had that did not make up for being strict. He was rude and belittling to students, often returning to students that made it clear they did not know the answer. Didn't require attendance in one of his classes and complained in every recorded lecture about how everyone was going to fail (ended with a B+).
honestly the worst professor anyone could ever recommend. He honestly is very passionate, but classes are always confusing, he talks about random "non-testable stuff" which is always on the test, and acts like you should know the info before the lecture. 4 crazy hard tests, 100 question final, hard to reach, and kind of rude. just save yourself!
He is very knowledgeable about music, but he knows it. Although I think he's well intentioned, if you don't get an answer right or don't do an assignment absolutely perfectly, there's a strong chance he will disappointedly pick on you in front of the class. He utterly fails to have empathy, and the only professor I've ever resented.
Cottrell isn't the greatest at public speaking or explaining things, he is very confusing and goes on many tangents all the time. He lacks the self awareness to recognize his response to student questions are rude and demeaning, but deep down he wants to help. Ask questions to get a better grade than I did, but be prepared for his "duh."
Do not take. There are no notes provided so the only usable or study able information comes from the zoom lectures. He often moves through the lectures extremely fast so you have to keep track in order not to fall behind. Rewatching lectures for old information is the only way to look at material you could have missed or not understood.
This man needs to rebuild his entire class. Out of everyone I know who has taken this class, 4/10 have failed it and retaken it. Save yourself the time, if you don't need it don't take it, or get someone with past notes
Cottrell's class is challenging but worthwhile for music industry enthusiasts. The lectures are dense, but his deep knowledge shines through. Engage actively, use study tools like Unstuck study, and you'll learn a ton.
Cottrell is the epitome of the "professor being frustrated with students not understanding a topic they dedicated their whole life to" meme. Look, Cottrell is a very knowledgeable guy. But holy cow, he's an awful professor and just a douche at times. Ego through the roof, passive-aggressive, and not accommodating. Jmu needs to rehire their mui dep.
You are going to have to *work* to get a good grade in this class. Tests/before class quizzes are difficult, but making study guides helps. Moves through lectures fast, but recordings are uploaded. Always available for meetings on anything music related and has cool guest speakers with awesome connections. If you're willing to work, you'll be fine.
One of the rudest professors ive ever had to deal with. Constantly belittles and picks on specific students in class if they do not know the answer. Will randomly call on you, and then berates you when you dont know the answer to his very specific questions. Do not take
He is a radical leftist with an extreme case of TDS.
bro run. this class is so hard makes no sense.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
31%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.08 avg changeRatings by Course
MUS221
4.0
(1)MUI229
3.0
(1)MUI221
2.9
(77)MUI324
2.9
(11)MUI
2.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
MUI
4.0
MUAP236
4.0
MUI229
4.0
221
3.7
SEVERAL
3.5