Took five quarters worth of theory with him and I've learned more about theory than I knew even existed. Granted, it never was an area of interest for me but Lefko made the two-year theory requirement bearable, and as enjoyable as learning about theory can be.

In the past two years I've found the people who complained the most about him are the ones who don't engage themselves in class, don't form opinions when asked, and most detrimentally for themselves, who don't try.

I understand this is a required music class but I appreciated the fact that for once in SMB I actually had to use my brain in class and think. It frustrates me when music majors complain that his classes are too hard- if you're comparing this class to any other south campus course this class would be a joke. Life's hard- get a helmet. His finals/midterms are essentially the same as the practice finals/midterms he goes over in class. There is no "curve," and if he sees effort, care, and/or participation in the student's part, he factors that into grades.

In the end, the 20-some students that took theory with Lefko have learned more about music theory than any other undergraduate student at UCLA, including those in the same year who studied with Kryka (who is still a great, knowledgable, and extremely nice professor- he just didn't go into more depth because of the nature of his class).

He is the best theory professor at UCLA. No one else will give you more knowledge, more understanding, and in the end more appreciation for music at the end of the day. Just suck it up and be willing to put some effort in- it's the closest to a real academic class in the music building.

After having Professor Lefkowitz for nearly two years, I believe it is necessary for me to say a thing or two about his style of teaching. Firstly, it is important to note the fact that he wrote the textbook for the entire class (Music 20ABC/120ABC). The textbook is poorly written with many mistakes and bad explanations of important concepts. But as for the teacher, Professor Lefkowitz is none other than the epitome of a dogmatic personality. He runs his class like a dictatorship. Even so much that for the first few quarters, he made a point in having one student refer to him as venerated master as a joke that he never let go. With this same concept in mind, his textbook is doctrine. So much that whenever someone contradicts something that he or his textbook says, he immediately dismisses it as false. Even going as so far as making personal attacks on people that he does not like! He totally plays favorites. Once you are on his bad side, he will make a point in proving you wrong through use of his own writing in his own textbook. This teacher is truly impossible to get along with unless you resort to bowing down to his wishes. Another big problem with this professor is his insecurity. In order to make himself feel better about himself, he has his constant self-loathing and useless manipulation of large and extraneous words. But really, “there is little to no depth to what he is saying.” This arrogant and sadistic man has greatly antagonized both me and my colleagues and his academic approach towards music has turned this art form into a dispassionate, tedious mess.