Gretchen Horlacher

7 reviews

Average rating: 3.43

This professor has taught: MSQC604, MUSC140, MUSC150, MUSC151, MUSC448C, MUSC448I, MUSC448J, MUSC670, MUSC671, MUSC699I, MUSC699J, MUSC699O

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Gretchen Horlacher MUSC150 Anonymous 12/04/2025	if you have the opportunity to have Dr. Layton take his class. She is a sweet person but extremely disorganized. Most of the time when I listen to her talk I'm more confused then when I don't listen. She often gets off topic and veers from actually teaching us music theory. I don't even try taking notes cause her drawings on the board are unhelpful. You're mostly teaching yourself from the textbook. Additionally, she takes off so many point for one incorrect answer on the homework. I got 5 points taken off one mistake. But after 150 I feel too unprepared to take 151 with Dr. Layton so I feel stuck with her. I don't feel like I've learned anything in her class. If you want to actually learn music theory take Dr. Layton's course.
Gretchen Horlacher MUSC150 Expecting a B admin 12/04/2025	Do not take her class, if you have the option to study with Dr. Layton, DO IT! Her lectures are very messy and confusing, I find myself more confused when I listen and trying to take notes is even harder. You're basically teaching yourself from the textbook. I feel like I can't take Dr. Layton next semester because I'm way too unprepared. Additionally, she takes off so many points for one wrong answer on a homework. At times I would be getting 5 points off for one mistake. I feel like I haven't actually learned any music theory.
Gretchen Horlacher MUSC150 Expecting an A- admin 05/29/2025	She is a sweet person but her lectures are pretty scattered. She will help you if you ask for help on the homework and will meet with you outside of class if you ask as well. I had her for 150 and chose her for 151 because I felt too unprepared to take Layton and keep up with people who had him last sem. Overall she def not a bad professor but the class can be difficult at times
Gretchen Horlacher MUSC151 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/21/2025	Dr. Horlacher is a good professor. I would say her lecture style is decent, she answers students' questions, and she gets students involved in class activities. She replaces major exams with projects, them being correcting two weekly homeworks each, following her feedback. She breaks work outside of class into smaller chunks compared to other professors, making homework take less time, but having a small, completion grade mini-homework due many classes. The general consensus amongst my classmates is that Dr. Layton is the preferred professor for this class, as some people feel her lectures are unclear. I didn't have this issue, but I am also more interested in theory than your average music student, so keep this in mind.
Gretchen Horlacher MUSC151 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/01/2025	If you can, take Dr. Layton instead. I had him for 150 then Horlacher for 151 and the difference is night and day. She is a nice person but her lectures are so scattered and I find myself more confused when I DO listen to her than when I don't.
Gretchen Horlacher MUSC150 Anonymous 11/19/2021	Dr. Horlacher is an awesome teacher. Her classes are engaging and interesting while still being informative, and she is very kind and understanding of students' needs. If you (like nearly every music student) have to take MUSC150 I would definitely recommend her!
Gretchen Horlacher Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/11/2021 This review was submitted while most classes were online during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may not be indicative of a regular semester.	Professor Horlacher is an excellent teacher. I had her for both MUSC150 and MUSC151. She is genuinely invested in her students’ well being and education.