1. Should he take it?

2. Would u be interested in taking the class?

3. What would be your expectations of the class?

[Edited 4/6/11 6:22am]

1) No.

2) Yes.

3) Him not turning up.

I had a conversation with someone about this. Not so much about Prince being an adjunct, but I think he should use Paisley Park Studios to open up a state of the art music school or summer camp for music. I think that would be so awesome. Make it affordable for young kids of all demographics to learn music.

wonder505 said:

I had a conversation with someone about this. Not so much about Prince being an adjunct, but I think he should use Paisley Park Studios to open up a state of the art music school or summer camp for music. I think that would be so awesome. Make it affordable for young kids of all demographics to learn music.

Agree. I remember other fans mentioning this same thing before. He could get John, Sheila E, Mike Phillips and other musicians he's worked with to participate. Would be a good thing for youth, especially since he's been donating funds to a few programs in support of the arts lately. Also a dance program would be interesting to include as well.

[Edited 4/6/11 6:56am]

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

What could he teach about? The only thing I think he could teach is guitar technique and, honestly, being a monster guitar player he doesn't go too far out in any field because there are LOADS of people much more qualified than him for that job (ever heard of Berkleee School Of Music?).

He might know a thing of two about recording techniques and production. But mostly his lastest productions are far from being a subject to be taught.

vitriol said:

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

What could he teach about? The only thing I think he could teach is guitar technique and, honestly, being a monster guitar player he doesn't go too far out in any field because there are LOADS of people much more qualified than him for that job (ever heard of Berkleee School Of Music?).

He might know a thing of two about recording techniques and production. But mostly his lastest productions are far from being a subject to be taught.

He could teach a course on songwriting.

vitriol said:

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

What could he teach about? The only thing I think he could teach is guitar technique and, honestly, being a monster guitar player he doesn't go too far out in any field because there are LOADS of people much more qualified than him for that job (ever heard of Berkleee School Of Music?).

He might know a thing of two about recording techniques and production. But mostly his lastest productions are far from being a subject to be taught.

I'm curious. What would make someone from Berklee School of Music more qualified?

I think Prince can teach a lot of valuable information that you cannot find in textbooks or by reading notes.

vitriol said:

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

A man who has been in the entertainment business for 33 years, won grammies & Oscar, is a writer, producer, arranger and performer....is NOT qualified?

NM

[Edited 4/6/11 9:05am]

vitriol said:

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

I believe he is over-qualified. The man has talent. And he not only plays the guitar. He plays damn near everything. So he'd be able to teach more than just the guitar.

Graycap23 said:

vitriol said:

I don't think Prince qualifies for that.

A man who has been in the entertainment business for 33 years, won grammies & Oscar, is a writer, producer, arranger and performer....is NOT qualified?

It's possible the vitriol is speaking to qualifications that a university would

require of all their adjunct professors. For example in the United States, while

one doesn't have to have a PhD to be adjunct, they do typically require at

least a Bachelor's Degree...which Prince does not have.

He doesn't even know how to read music, correct? So while it speaks tons to

Prince's creativity and ability to self-learn instruments (and production?), the

fact that he has been successful in the music industry doesn't necessarily

qualify him to teach at the university level.

I agree with wonder505 - it would be great to see him open up Paisley Park and teach the up-and-comers about his experience of the music industry and music production. I doubt he'd do it, though...

wonder505 said:

I'm curious. What would make someone from Berklee School of Music more qualified?

Actual teaching experience. And the ability to discuss music technique without almost immediately changing the subject to God, the government, race, etc.

Oh my god.

jpnyc said:

wonder505 said:

I'm curious. What would make someone from Berklee School of Music more qualified?

Actual teaching experience. And the ability to discuss music technique without almost immediately changing the subject to God, the government, race, etc.

Whatever. I think students will benefit from his overall experience and approach to songwriting, arrangements, techniques, and the business.

I don't believe Prince is qualified to teach anything other than guitar. He could definitely do that because he's a master at it IMO.

jpnyc said:

wonder505 said:

I'm curious. What would make someone from Berklee School of Music more qualified?

Actual teaching experience. And the ability to discuss music technique without almost immediately changing the subject to God, the government, race, etc.

Now that's just silly. If actual teaching experience was a prerequiste for teaching, there would be no teachers.

Prince does seem to think people shouldn't drop out of high school (see "America," "Positivity"), so he's not down on education. But he is about as likely to accept a position as an adjunct professor as Cornel West is likely to sell out a stadium tour.

Paul Simon taught a songwriting class at some point didn't he? I believe it was moderately successful

what's he going to teach? business ethics?

electricberet said:

jpnyc said:

Actual teaching experience. And the ability to discuss music technique without almost immediately changing the subject to God, the government, race, etc.

Now that's just silly. If actual teaching experience was a prerequiste for teaching, there would be no teachers.

that's not true. teachers are required to fulfill some kind of student teaching requirement.

but at the university level? not always. but in my experience, those people are usually brilliant on the topic they're teaching, but really shitty teachers.

1.) I think he probably has the knowledge to be able to pull it off, but he's not really a big talker and I can't see him giving lectures in front of class after class...I keep thinking he's too shy to do it, but I don't know the man so I can't state that for a fact.

2.) I'd be interested in taking it if I were a music major or someone who wanted to be involved with music professionally in some way. I'm not though (I want to go pre-med or pre-veterinary or major in Biology), so I'd have no reason to take his course .

3.) My expectations would be to learn alot about actually playing instruments and performance and the ins and outs of the business side of things as well.

errant said:

electricberet said:

Now that's just silly. If actual teaching experience was a prerequiste for teaching, there would be no teachers.

that's not true. teachers are required to fulfill some kind of student teaching requirement.

but at the university level? not always. but in my experience, those people are usually brilliant on the topic they're teaching, but really shitty teachers.

I like the idea of Prince as a student teacher. Until he gets his M.F.A. from the Berklee College of Music, we'll never know his true potential as a songwriter. I can't listen to any music written or recorded by someone who lacks at least a master's degree.

Just think how a formal education could have improved Prince's songwriting. Take "If I Was Your Girlfriend." First of all, if he had formal training, he would have used the correct subjunctive, "If I Were Your Girlfriend." And he wouldn't end any sentences with prepositions. Thus, instead of:

"Sometimes those are the things that being in love's about."

we might have:

"Sometimes being in love implicates things of the sort I have just described."

And instead of:

"Your body's what I'm all about."

we might have:

"I am completely intrigued by your body."

Wouldn't that be a far superior song? Particularly if it was released by, "Prince Rogers Nelson, Ph.D." instead of just "Prince."

nodramadrummer said:

Whether or not Prince would even consider accepting such a position,many of you seem to think he'd only be able to teach guitar technique?Really?!Hmmm,interesting...

If only he knew how to play other instruments. I don't know if a university would want to hire him just to teach that one course.

Maybe he could teach at a flight school? I heard he has experience as an airline pilot.

Graycap23 said:

A man who has been in the entertainment business for 33 years, won grammies & Oscar, is a writer, producer, arranger and performer....is NOT qualified?

NONE of that does qualify anybody to teach students, whatever the lesson's subject may be, face it.

If you wanna teach people music, you gotta teach them reading music first. Albeit i'm among those who are sure he CAN read music, and knows a lot about hamony theory, etc., i'm sure he's FAR from being able to teach that stuff.

ALL the other things you mentioned... - what would he be teaching then?

"Winning an Oscar 101" ?

Seriously, either you're a teacher in marketing or related subjects, or you're not. And "winning grammies" and "producing music" isn't taught at universities at all, simple as that.

[Edited 4/6/11 13:03pm]

FunkyDissCo said:

Graycap23 said:

A man who has been in the entertainment business for 33 years, won grammies & Oscar, is a writer, producer, arranger and performer....is NOT qualified?

NONE of that does qualify anybody to teach students, whatever the lesson's subject may be, face it.

If you wanna teach people music, you gotta teach them reading music first. Albeit i'm among those who are sure he CAN read music, and knows a lot about hamony theory, etc., i'm sure he's FAR from being able to teach that stuff.

ALL the other things you mentioned... - what would he be teaching then?

"Winning an Oscar 101" ?

Seriously, either you're a teacher in marketing or related subjects, or you're not. And "winning grammies" and "producing music" isn't taught at universities at all, simple as that.

[Edited 4/6/11 13:03pm]

If u can't learn a thing or 2 about music and the making of music from Prince, perhaps u are in the WRONG major.

Like someone mentioned before, Prince is probably over-qualified.

However, I do believe that Prince could teach you more than you could imagine on SEVERAL instruments.

And for those who say Prince can't read music, yeah right. Prince is music, he DEFINATELY can read music.

FunkyDissCo said:

Graycap23 said:

A man who has been in the entertainment business for 33 years, won grammies & Oscar, is a writer, producer, arranger and performer....is NOT qualified?

NONE of that does qualify anybody to teach students, whatever the lesson's subject may be, face it.

If you wanna teach people music, you gotta teach them reading music first. Albeit i'm among those who are sure he CAN read music, and knows a lot about hamony theory, etc., i'm sure he's FAR from being able to teach that stuff.

ALL the other things you mentioned... - what would he be teaching then?

"Winning an Oscar 101" ?

Seriously, either you're a teacher in marketing or related subjects, or you're not. And "winning grammies" and "producing music" isn't taught at universities at all, simple as that.

[Edited 4/6/11 13:03pm]

Is anyone suggesting that Prince be brought in to teach "Guitar for Beginners" or "Songwriting for Beginners?" That would be a total waste of his time. If he taught anything, it would be an advanced class for musicians or composers who are already highly proficient and have enough talent to benefit from his instruction. A university wouldn't hire a former senator to teach Political Science 101. If the point is that music schools don't have any students who are advanced enough to benefit from instruction by a legend like Prince, then I defer to those who have been to music school.

nodramadrummer said:

Whether or not Prince would even consider accepting such a position,many of you seem to think he'd only be able to teach guitar technique?Really?!Hmmm,interesting...

It's always kind of surprised me too how a lot of fans on this site seem to underestimate his intelligence and think he's some kind of musical savant or something .

Prince has never struck me as being a stupid man. He isn't always the most talkative and doesn't always really express himself verbally in a way that we easily understand, but that's not synonymous with stupidity.