PIT vs UCS vs Magnet
- Thread starter Saul
- Start date
At the point at which you'd know to ask these questions, you'd probably be well into 301 or 401 at the UCB or the equivalent somewhere else. By that point you'd probably have ample access to friends, fellow classmates, practice group members, performers, past teachers, and others who could answer your questions. There'd be little to no need to go online at that point, I'd bet.
The best part about this thread is that, so far, the only tag is "bluvband." My bet is that he's promoting his classes.
The best part about this thread is that, so far, the only tag is "bluvband." My bet is that he's promoting his classes.
I don't know, though; it seems to me that using an online rating system to choose your instructor might be slightly self-limiting. When I didn't know anything about UCB, I chose my instructor based on going to a lot of shows and choosing an instructor whose work I really loved. I worry that if I'd read feedback that was subjectively negative, I might have been discouraged from taking the course with someone that I got a lot from.
Rating has its place, of course, and I think it's good for everyone to share their experiences so long as you give concrete reasons for your conclusions (i.e. "I felt like time could have been used better; I wanted to work more on object work and we only did that for a week" or something like that), but I wouldn't use it as a judgment tool towards my own decisions. Then again, that too is subjective.
Rating has its place, of course, and I think it's good for everyone to share their experiences so long as you give concrete reasons for your conclusions (i.e. "I felt like time could have been used better; I wanted to work more on object work and we only did that for a week" or something like that), but I wouldn't use it as a judgment tool towards my own decisions. Then again, that too is subjective.
Are the evaluations mandatory now? Back in the day I had a couple of teachers forget to give them out. And boy was I going to fill one of those out thoroughly.
In my experience, the people who don't get along with demanding teachers are the same people who don't take the notes they get. They complain after class, "how dare that guy give me that note?" They also don't become good improvisers, they never get better, and eventually stop taking classes. But not before dumbing down my class experience! Yay!
Man this thread is making me want to take classes again. I wish there was some magical pass: "Oh, you took your classes before we had a set curriculum? Free retakes!"
In my experience, the people who don't get along with demanding teachers are the same people who don't take the notes they get. They complain after class, "how dare that guy give me that note?" They also don't become good improvisers, they never get better, and eventually stop taking classes. But not before dumbing down my class experience! Yay!
Man this thread is making me want to take classes again. I wish there was some magical pass: "Oh, you took your classes before we had a set curriculum? Free retakes!"
I agree with pretty much everything saintlennybruce said, and I don't see why anyone would be so vehemently against an anonymous online rating system for improv teachers. It's not like the system in place now is awesome... people usually sign up for a class with a very vague or no idea at all of what the teacher is like, especially in the early levels. One "bad" (for want of a better adjective, one as good as "solipsistic") instructor really has the power to turn someone completely off to improv, as we've seen in this thread. CLICHE ALERT!! Knowledge is power... I don't think it would hurt to have a RateMyProfessors type site, given you take it with a grain of salt and realize there's probably a disproportionate number of disgruntled students complaining about someone they didn't like, since that tends to motivate people more than talking about how wonderful someone is... human nature is poop. But overall, as I've found with RMP, after 10+ entries, an overall picture of the instructor emerges and the person reading their profile at least has a better idea of what the teacher is like than just throwing a dart at a wall of headshots of 101 instructors.
That being said, I've been very lucky and have had wonderful (or at least good, but mostly wonderful) instructors for every level so far, from beginning to the present. I can't speak for the other schools but I must admit UCB does an excellent job of screening prospective teachers - you have to be pretty damn good to teach at UCB, especially anything above 101. But I know people who have not been so lucky. It's not that they necessarily get "bad" (I'm going with it again) instructors - it's just they have a negative experience. And I don't think it would hurt for people to be able to get some unfiltered, honest opinions about teachers before dropping dough on taking their class and possibly running into one of those negative experiences.
Yes, I realize UCB (and likely other places) hand out a feedback form at the end of class. But let's be honest, most people fill these out hurriedly, there isn't much time for reflection and perspective, and they don't feel TOTALLY anonymous - your writing style and/or specific comments can make it pretty obvious it's you writing it, even if you don't put your name on it.
Now the question is who has the techincal know-how and time to kill to create such a site? Or here's an idea... can we add UCB to RateMyProfessors?
:loopy::love:
That being said, I've been very lucky and have had wonderful (or at least good, but mostly wonderful) instructors for every level so far, from beginning to the present. I can't speak for the other schools but I must admit UCB does an excellent job of screening prospective teachers - you have to be pretty damn good to teach at UCB, especially anything above 101. But I know people who have not been so lucky. It's not that they necessarily get "bad" (I'm going with it again) instructors - it's just they have a negative experience. And I don't think it would hurt for people to be able to get some unfiltered, honest opinions about teachers before dropping dough on taking their class and possibly running into one of those negative experiences.
Yes, I realize UCB (and likely other places) hand out a feedback form at the end of class. But let's be honest, most people fill these out hurriedly, there isn't much time for reflection and perspective, and they don't feel TOTALLY anonymous - your writing style and/or specific comments can make it pretty obvious it's you writing it, even if you don't put your name on it.
Now the question is who has the techincal know-how and time to kill to create such a site? Or here's an idea... can we add UCB to RateMyProfessors?
:loopy::love:
is it too late to add? should i have an opinion?
never taken a class at UCB but will when my wallet widens. love the Magnet and The PIT. basically just like improv anywhere and anytime.
select some teachers? sure: Rebekka Johnson, Tara Copeland, Ptolemy Slocum. but also every other teacher i've had. i've never had a "bad" experience. except when Kurt made me cry...remember Kurt? REMEMBER??
never taken a class at UCB but will when my wallet widens. love the Magnet and The PIT. basically just like improv anywhere and anytime.
select some teachers? sure: Rebekka Johnson, Tara Copeland, Ptolemy Slocum. but also every other teacher i've had. i've never had a "bad" experience. except when Kurt made me cry...remember Kurt? REMEMBER??
Thank you, Google Alerts, for notifying me of this, and thank you, Connor! I finally have a reason to reply to this thread again! What a great decision Connor made! Connor is a genius now! Because of me!
Also, let me just say the Union of Concerned Scientists is a great non-profit that has helped put the scientific consensus on the legitimacy of man-made global warming into the public eye. They are not partisan about anything except science, and they are badass.
Their classes, though lack focus and an overriding theme, and what you get seems to be totally dependent on which teacher you end up with. I had Don Anair, their senior vehicles analyst, and he was OK on simple scenework stuff and vehicle emissions questions, but when I challenged him about more complex topics like transformational editing and carbon sequestration, he was clearly out of his league. I mean, it was a 101, I know, but still, these guys are supposed to be the best!
And lest we forget, since it was so many pages ago...
WILL HINES WILL ASK YOU TO PUT FINGERS IN HIS BUTTHOLE!
http://www.xtranormal.com/xtranormal/episode.php?aid=45519&mid=20090102151439542
Phew, I'm just happy to be posting in this thread again. What's everyone doing for lunch?
Also, let me just say the Union of Concerned Scientists is a great non-profit that has helped put the scientific consensus on the legitimacy of man-made global warming into the public eye. They are not partisan about anything except science, and they are badass.
Their classes, though lack focus and an overriding theme, and what you get seems to be totally dependent on which teacher you end up with. I had Don Anair, their senior vehicles analyst, and he was OK on simple scenework stuff and vehicle emissions questions, but when I challenged him about more complex topics like transformational editing and carbon sequestration, he was clearly out of his league. I mean, it was a 101, I know, but still, these guys are supposed to be the best!
And lest we forget, since it was so many pages ago...
WILL HINES WILL ASK YOU TO PUT FINGERS IN HIS BUTTHOLE!
http://www.xtranormal.com/xtranormal/episode.php?aid=45519&mid=20090102151439542
Phew, I'm just happy to be posting in this thread again. What's everyone doing for lunch?
For all the information/opinions contained in this thread, at the end of the day, the teacher/student relationship is a VERY individual thing. I've had 9 improv teachers, at 4 different schools, in 3 different cities.
I've had "good" teachers who give fantastic notes, but who I don't feel connected to. I've had "good" teachers who are probably too easy on me, but who I relate with philosophically and feel more comfortable with. Some give me what I want, some give me what I need, some a bit of both. I've met plenty of people who've taken classes with those same teachers and have a completely different analysis of that teacher's style.
All of my past teachers have influenced what my definition of what a "good" teacher is going forward. I took a placement workshop at one school that was run by an overbearing teacher who made an inappropriate comment towards me, and I've stayed the hell away. He's considered an excellent teacher, but I know I wouldn't respond well to him. Had that been my first improv class experience, I might not have been so repelled.
The original question is impossible for a bunch of strangers to answer in a way that will truly benefit the poster. It's like asking y'all what my next tattoo should be.
I've had "good" teachers who give fantastic notes, but who I don't feel connected to. I've had "good" teachers who are probably too easy on me, but who I relate with philosophically and feel more comfortable with. Some give me what I want, some give me what I need, some a bit of both. I've met plenty of people who've taken classes with those same teachers and have a completely different analysis of that teacher's style.
All of my past teachers have influenced what my definition of what a "good" teacher is going forward. I took a placement workshop at one school that was run by an overbearing teacher who made an inappropriate comment towards me, and I've stayed the hell away. He's considered an excellent teacher, but I know I wouldn't respond well to him. Had that been my first improv class experience, I might not have been so repelled.
The original question is impossible for a bunch of strangers to answer in a way that will truly benefit the poster. It's like asking y'all what my next tattoo should be.
I feel what Billy wrote about this was correct. The UCB 1-4 curriculum being a set thing is the main reason there is such an influx of great improvisers recently. It teaches you the essentials, the rules, the ways before you get to find your own way. It is the same way in any subject taught in a school. You learn the basics before you go out and explore the other possibilities. UCB 1-4 is probably the most efficient way for beginners to understand and learn improv. It trims the fat. All that other stuff is necessary, but it doesn't come until after the basics. it introduces you to each thing slowly so you can best comprehend them. That exploration is best saved for when you are ready because if it is given to you too early you will have a tougher time with the basics and ultimately stunt the learning journey. Does that make sense? This is from my student perception. I am not speaking for the theatre. Just from my mind. This is entirely my feelings on the matter. I am just stating my belief without intent to offend.
