SongU.com | Songwriting Courses, Community and Connections

Technical
What kind of computer hardware do I need?
What level of computer skills do I need?
Do I need to purchase any special software?
Can I continue to use my free Internet service?
What is a streaming MP3?
What if I use AOL?

Other FAQ's
I'm new to songwriting. Do you have any tips?
What is an online course?
What times are courses offered?
Can I receive college credit for these courses?
How many courses will I be required to take?
How long does it take to complete a course?
Are there tests, grades or homework?
Are the instructors available for questions?
How do I enroll?

What kind of computer hardware do I need to be able to access SongU.com?
We strive to make our entire site easily accessible to most computers. As long as your computer is not severely outdated, you should be able to enjoy the full SongU.com experience. We do recommend a modem speed of 56K or higher, although you can view and access most features of the site with a 28.8 modem. For a complete list of our recommended hardware, see our system requirements.

What level of computer skills do I need for SongU.com?
At SongU.com, you'll be able to easily navigate through our online courses and virtual campus whether you're a computer novice or a computer wizard. In addition, we take great pride in providing excellent and responsive customer service. SongU.com is designed by experienced distance education and e-learning professionals, who also happen to be real teachers and real professional songwriters. They have worked diligently to make this site as user-friendly as possible. Try our sample lesson in the e-Campus tour and see for yourself.

Do I need to purchase any special software to access SongU.com?
No. At SongU.com, we use only common web browser plug-ins like Flash and RealOne that are free, easily downloadable and are typically already installed on your machine. Naturally, you do need a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP) so you can connect to the Internet along with a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. For a specific list of our software requirements and to check to see if you have all the necessary browser plug-ins, see our system requirements.

Can I continue to use my free dial-up Internet Service Provider (e.g., Juno, Netzero)? Will this affect my ability to use SongU.com? It depends. Typically a "free" Internet Service Provider (ISP) runs in a special mode with banner ads that consume a good deal of your bandwidth. You will not get the same fast page loading that a normal 56K modem will get. The best way to know for sure how you will be affected is to try one of our sample lesson.

What is a streaming MP3?
Unlike most sites where MP3's (compressed audio files) need to be fully downloaded before they can be heard, SongU.com uses streaming MP3's wherever possible. This allows you to hear the music faster and limits access to unauthorized downloading of the MP3's.

What if I use AOL?
If you use America Online (AOL) for Internet access, we recommend the AOL version 6.0 or higher along with the Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher browser. Using earlier versions of AOL may cause difficulty in accessing some of SongU.com's features. Note: Popup windows must be enabled on AOL for SongU.com since SongU.com uses pop-up windows extensively throughout its site for e-learning purposes. For more information, see our system requirements.

I'm new to songwriting. Do you have any tips?
Sure. Click here for the top ten most commonly asked songwriting questions and their answers.

What is an online course?
In some ways, an online course is similar to a traditional classroom course in that there is specific material and information to read and activities and exercises to practice your skills. The difference is that you do not attend a traditional classroom. All the courses you take are offered exclusively online over the Internet. SongU.com offers both self-paced and instructor-led courses. In addition, SongU.com offers e-Seminars, e-Workshops and other distance education e-learning methods.

What times are courses offered?
The majority of the courses at SongU.com are in a self-paced format, meaning you can take them whenever you want. They are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also participate in the scheduled chats, discussions, instructor-led courses and e-Workshops.

Can I receive college credit for these courses?
SongU.com is not a traditional degree-oriented program. However, we do offer tracks to work toward SongU Certifications.

How many courses will I be required to take?
There are no minimum course requirements. While we encourage you to take full advantage of all the unique e-learning opportunities at SongU.com, you can take as many or as few courses as you like, learn at your own pace and enjoy yourself in the process.

How long does it take to complete a course?
Each course contains between three and six lessons. A typical lesson may take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to complete, not including the additional exercises at the end of each lesson. You can begin and return to these lessons at anytime and therefore spend as long or as little time as you want. Some instructors may suggest additional activities to help reinforce the course material. These exercises can be done at your own pace. To obtain the greatest benefit from the self-paced courses at SongU.com, we recommend completing at most one to two lessons per week and at least one lesson per month. The best pace is usually one or two lessons per week to give you time to absorb and apply the information (think of it more like your weekly guitar or voice lesson).

Are there tests, grades or homework?
Because SongU.com is not a traditional degree-oriented program, we are not required to track grades or marks to assess your skills. All courses do have short interactive quizzes and exercises designed to help you reinforce course concepts. The "Putting It All Together" activities at the end of each lesson encourage discussions and further exploration of the topics covered.

Are the instructors available for questions and feedback?
During instructor-led courses, your instructors will be available for questions and/or feedback. In addition, every SongU.com course is linked to a discussion board where you can view the instructor solutions to exercises, post your solutions or questions and interact with others taking the course. Many of the SongU.com faculty are available for private consultation as well.

How do I enroll?
Enrollment in SongU.com is easy. Just click on join now. You will be guided through a simple registration process.

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