FAQ

Welcome to our AEM Online FAQ page! From this page you can access general information, but to get to the specific classes for which you registered, you'll need to use the links in the e-mail from Click here to show mail address with the subject line "FESTIVAL CLASS LINKS - SAVE THIS E-MAIL!"

If you navigated here from a class webpage, hit the 'back' button on your browser to return to that page.

Stay healthy, stay cool, and we'll see you soon!

Important links...

I'm new to AEM Online. How do these online classes work?

I'm new to using Zoom. How does it work?

It's time for my class. Where can I find the Zoom Link to sign on?

What if I miss a class?

Will the Festival be in person in 2022?

What if I still have a question?

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Good question! If you’ve never taken an online class before, it can seem impossible compared to an in-person workshop or private lesson. But it works!

Unlike our in-person workshop classes, you will be logged into a website in a virtual classroom with the teacher, the class host, and anywhere from 5 to 50 fellow students - you will be a square on "The Brady Bunch" or "Hollywood Squares"! You can see and hear, just like in an in-person class - except you didn't have to drag your instruments across campus (or the country) to get there! You can ask the teacher a question by typing it into the chat feature, and you can say a quick "hi" to individual friends you see using this same feature before class starts. You can even get the handouts digitally in advance, so you can look them over and practice.

One limitation of this is a slight time delay between participants, very much like a long-distance satellite call from the 70's. It's really just a split second, but it makes it hard to play in rhythm as a group. Therefore, all students will be muted during most of the class, unless the teacher asks for a volunteer or calls for questions. When you are muted, you will hear only the teacher; you can play along with the teacher this way, and the delay won't be a problem. Many people find this incredibly liberating!

We have made up some guides for how to use this website and join the right class, how to mute yourself, and so forth so that you can have the best experience. We all wish we could be together, sweating it out on our way to class in Blaustein or running to catch the right subway for City Recorder - but thankfully, we can be together and make music digitally!

Check out our Get Started with Zoom page for more detailed info! There's also a few more tips here: Tips for Good Class Experience.

Everything you will need for your class is on the Class Site. The links to Class Sites were emailed to you with the email called "CLASS SITES - SAVE THIS EMAIL". On the Class Site you'll find any handouts from the teacher as well as the Zoom link for your class. This link will be updated by the evening before your class. You will NOT receive a direct email with the Zoom link. If you're not sure where your Class Site is, email us at Click here to show mail address!

We know schedules can change or technology doesn't always cooperate. The recording of each class will be available for 7 days after the date of the class. You'll find the link and passcode to the recording on the Class Site. After 7 days, the link and passcode will expire and you will not be able to watch the class. Recording links and passcodes will be updated each evening after a day of classes.

AEM will continue to monitor guidelines for the US as well as Connecticut. We are hoping that the 2022 Festival will be back at Connecticut College and are excited about recent positive developments. Nothing definitive has been decided at this time, but we will certainly let everyone know when we know!

Send us an e-mail at Click here to show mail address!