Feedback Session Guide

Overview

Feedback Sessions occur on Wednesday of even weeks (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15). These sessions provide opportunities to share your work, receive constructive feedback, and learn from your peers.

Purpose

Share work in progress
Receive constructive feedback from peers and instructor
Learn from peers’ approaches

Session Format (80 minutes)

Every Feedback Session follows the same structure:

Sec 04	Sec 05	Activity
2:00-2:05	3:30-3:35	Setup & announcements
2:05-3:10	3:35-4:40	Student presentations + feedback (5-7 min per student)
3:10-3:20	4:40-4:50	Wrap-up & takeaways

What to Present

Bring anything you’re working on:

Habit practice evidence
Personal projects
Experiments and sketches
Questions about techniques
Works in progress at any stage

Presentation Format

2-3 minutes to share your work
2-3 minutes for feedback
Be specific about what feedback you want

The Feedback Framework

When giving feedback, use this structure:

What’s Working — Start with genuine positives
Observations — Describe what you notice (not judgments)
Suggestions — Offer specific, actionable ideas
Questions — Ask clarifying questions if needed

Good Feedback Examples

Type	Example
Positive	”The chord progression in the verse creates a great sense of tension.”
Observation	”I notice the snare seems quieter in the second half of the track.”
Suggestion	”You might try automating the reverb send to create more space in the breakdown.”
Question	”Were you going for that lo-fi quality in the high end, or is that something you’re working on?”

Feedback to Avoid

Vague praise: “It’s good” (instead: “The sound design on the lead synth is really unique”)
Harsh criticism: “The drums are terrible” (instead: “The drums might benefit from more velocity variation”)
Off-topic suggestions: Suggesting complete stylistic changes when not asked

Receiving Feedback

Mindset

Listen to understand, not to defend
Take notes during feedback
Ask clarifying questions if something is unclear
Thank the person for their input
You don’t have to use every suggestion—it’s your work

After the Session

Review your notes while they’re fresh
Identify 2-3 actionable items
Try the suggestions that resonate with you

Participation Requirements

As a Presenter

Present regularly throughout the semester
Come prepared with something to share
Be receptive to feedback

As an Audience Member

Give feedback to multiple presenters per session
Use the feedback framework
Be engaged and respectful

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t have anything ready to present? Bring something anyway—a rough sketch, a sound design experiment, or even just your habit practice from the week. Progress over perfection.

Can I show the same project multiple times? Yes! Showing iteration based on previous feedback is valuable.

What if I disagree with feedback I receive? That’s okay. Not all feedback will fit your vision. Listen respectfully, consider it, and then decide what serves your work.

Resources

Giving Feedback