MUSCLG 35
Introduction to Opera
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour. Exploration of history of opera from its origins in Florentine Camerata in Italy in early 17th century, through ages of Enlightenment and Romanticism, and ending with modern era of early 20th century. History of opera, biography of composers and singers, operatic conventions, dramaturgy, plot, stagings, hermeneutics of opera, and musical style, with focus on learning appreciation of music of opera within rich context of its compelling history. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - I usually don't write reviews on BruinWalk, as it was merely for my own benefit in understanding the courses I want to enroll for my advancing quarter. However, I feel the need to write this review about Professor. Kristi Brown, as she heavily impacted my college and academic experience during my 2025 winter quarter. Firstly, attendance is very mandatory, and she heavily stresses this throughout the quarter, as it weighs 20% of your overall grade. She surveys her students attendance through "iClicker", and uses the data produced to grade the student's attendance and participation, but also to judge her students; if you don't attend her lectures, she will view you as an apathetic, self-centered person. To keep it short, I didn't attend that much lectures, and she took it very personal. One time, I emailed her how many listening questions will be in the midterm, and in her first paragraph she says "I see from the IClicker attendance log that you have missed 3 out of the 4 lectures during this period. I am assuming you missed discussion today as well?" (I attended all of my TA's discussion sections prior to sending the email). I understand that attendance is mandatory, but when your student's are asking for help and you inject your reply with assumptions and judgements, it is absolutely unprofessional and completely irrelevant. In addition, on exam days, she takes the first fifteen minutes of the time ordering each student where to sit in the hall to prevent students from cheating; it was a stressful and seemingly frustrating experience for the students because they just simply want to sit down and prepare for the exam, instead of chaotically obeying her instructions on where to sit. Furthermore, towards Finals Week, the Final Exam was collided with my other Final Exam, so I emailed her 10 days prior asking if she is able to modify my time-slot in taking the Final. She replied with a "yes" and instructed me when and where to go. Unfortunately, this isn't the end. The next day, she emailed me out of the blue and said that "she will withdraw the option of taking the Final at another time" because, "after further research", my other course collides with her lectures in the agenda, ultimately having two finals happening at the same time. I understand that this was my mistake in organizing and correctly enrolling my courses, but it almost felt personal because she didn't simply didn't need to do that; she didn't have to "further research" about why I had to reschedule my final exam, and just switch up like that, even when it was 100% possible for her students to take the Final at that modified time. She emailed me the next day and said that she cannot schedule me a better time to take the Final because I didn't "notify her earlier" (10 days wasn't enough?) and assumed that I was attempting to hide from the conflict, "still hiding why that was so". She also said that "even when a student does communicate the conflict, an instructor is not obligated to accommodate". Because of this, I had to take the two conflicting Final Exams in a span of three hours (average Final Exam time length). Professor. Kristi Brown is an intellect in what she teaches, however, from my personal experience, I feel like she hones her ego in an academic setting and towards her students, making the class very unenjoyable to learn and discouraging to participate. Personally, I don't want my professors to be like Professor. Brown: egotistical, unempathetic, and controlling. From what I learned and experienced, if you want to achieve the highest grade possible, always always obey her. If you have questions about the class logistics, email the TA (please). If you have productive questions about the class content, feel free to email her. In short, don't poke the bear. If you do, she will remember your name and use it to her advantage for grading and accommodation.
Winter 2025 - I usually don't write reviews on BruinWalk, as it was merely for my own benefit in understanding the courses I want to enroll for my advancing quarter. However, I feel the need to write this review about Professor. Kristi Brown, as she heavily impacted my college and academic experience during my 2025 winter quarter. Firstly, attendance is very mandatory, and she heavily stresses this throughout the quarter, as it weighs 20% of your overall grade. She surveys her students attendance through "iClicker", and uses the data produced to grade the student's attendance and participation, but also to judge her students; if you don't attend her lectures, she will view you as an apathetic, self-centered person. To keep it short, I didn't attend that much lectures, and she took it very personal. One time, I emailed her how many listening questions will be in the midterm, and in her first paragraph she says "I see from the IClicker attendance log that you have missed 3 out of the 4 lectures during this period. I am assuming you missed discussion today as well?" (I attended all of my TA's discussion sections prior to sending the email). I understand that attendance is mandatory, but when your student's are asking for help and you inject your reply with assumptions and judgements, it is absolutely unprofessional and completely irrelevant. In addition, on exam days, she takes the first fifteen minutes of the time ordering each student where to sit in the hall to prevent students from cheating; it was a stressful and seemingly frustrating experience for the students because they just simply want to sit down and prepare for the exam, instead of chaotically obeying her instructions on where to sit. Furthermore, towards Finals Week, the Final Exam was collided with my other Final Exam, so I emailed her 10 days prior asking if she is able to modify my time-slot in taking the Final. She replied with a "yes" and instructed me when and where to go. Unfortunately, this isn't the end. The next day, she emailed me out of the blue and said that "she will withdraw the option of taking the Final at another time" because, "after further research", my other course collides with her lectures in the agenda, ultimately having two finals happening at the same time. I understand that this was my mistake in organizing and correctly enrolling my courses, but it almost felt personal because she didn't simply didn't need to do that; she didn't have to "further research" about why I had to reschedule my final exam, and just switch up like that, even when it was 100% possible for her students to take the Final at that modified time. She emailed me the next day and said that she cannot schedule me a better time to take the Final because I didn't "notify her earlier" (10 days wasn't enough?) and assumed that I was attempting to hide from the conflict, "still hiding why that was so". She also said that "even when a student does communicate the conflict, an instructor is not obligated to accommodate". Because of this, I had to take the two conflicting Final Exams in a span of three hours (average Final Exam time length). Professor. Kristi Brown is an intellect in what she teaches, however, from my personal experience, I feel like she hones her ego in an academic setting and towards her students, making the class very unenjoyable to learn and discouraging to participate. Personally, I don't want my professors to be like Professor. Brown: egotistical, unempathetic, and controlling. From what I learned and experienced, if you want to achieve the highest grade possible, always always obey her. If you have questions about the class logistics, email the TA (please). If you have productive questions about the class content, feel free to email her. In short, don't poke the bear. If you do, she will remember your name and use it to her advantage for grading and accommodation.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - This class was pretty okay. Dr. Syer is a really nice, caring person. She is evidently very interested with opera and really loves what she does. The lectures are 2 hours long, and for me it was impossible not to get bored. This class had a fair amount of assignments. We had to write 3 papers on operas. As for testing, the midterm has a listening component where you listen to a piece (which is on a list of about 20 pieces we looked at in class) and we write about the piece and identify the composer and the importance of that piece in the opera, there was also an essay component, which she gave the prompt for a week before the exam. The grading in this class wasn't harsh, and we all loved our TA, Pheaross. There were long and boring reading assignments, which I never did. I think they helped out a lot of people with giving context for this class, but I'm an opera singer so this was unnecessary for me. Dr. Syer conducted lectures on Zoom when she was out of town (she was really ahead of her time lmao), and she was very helpful. She would give us feedback on our essays before submitting them, which was very nice of her. The only problem is that it's often hard to get a hold of her and many emails you send her aren't responded to. I'd say, take this class if you're interested in opera. There isn't too much work, and it isn't too hard. That being said, you will get bored and need to do the long readings if you don't have musical background. Dr. Syer is a sweet lady, who really cares about her students, which made this class a lot better.
Winter 2020 - This class was pretty okay. Dr. Syer is a really nice, caring person. She is evidently very interested with opera and really loves what she does. The lectures are 2 hours long, and for me it was impossible not to get bored. This class had a fair amount of assignments. We had to write 3 papers on operas. As for testing, the midterm has a listening component where you listen to a piece (which is on a list of about 20 pieces we looked at in class) and we write about the piece and identify the composer and the importance of that piece in the opera, there was also an essay component, which she gave the prompt for a week before the exam. The grading in this class wasn't harsh, and we all loved our TA, Pheaross. There were long and boring reading assignments, which I never did. I think they helped out a lot of people with giving context for this class, but I'm an opera singer so this was unnecessary for me. Dr. Syer conducted lectures on Zoom when she was out of town (she was really ahead of her time lmao), and she was very helpful. She would give us feedback on our essays before submitting them, which was very nice of her. The only problem is that it's often hard to get a hold of her and many emails you send her aren't responded to. I'd say, take this class if you're interested in opera. There isn't too much work, and it isn't too hard. That being said, you will get bored and need to do the long readings if you don't have musical background. Dr. Syer is a sweet lady, who really cares about her students, which made this class a lot better.
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