I've been trying to keep up with the course and lessons but was surprised to find how often I was missing deadlines due to the intrusion of simple day to day living.

Having written songs for years as a hobby, I was anxious to learn the "correct" way to do it and was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of "technical information" involved.

I would equate it, in my case, to playing by ear vs having to learn music theory and to sight read music in 6 weeks.

Then my video's were stopping mid way thorough until I found I could switch to Flash Player in the Course Preferences.
Things were not looking good.

Then I came to the realization that my frustration was because I was taking the course too seriously.
My old brain cells don't work the same as my young ones did, but they still work, for now ...just takes longer for some things and requires more repetition.

I noticed that even Pat (the instructor) agreed that there was some confusion by other students over a certain question on one of the quizzes.

Pat's analogy in the beginning of the course of each concept being a tool that can be added to our song writing tool belt is a great one.

It means we can choose to use all, some or none of them in any particular song.
So if I cant get a handle on one of the tools right now, no big deal, there are others in the belt to choose from and maybe someday I'll add the other...or not.

The bottom line is, since it's a free course, the lectures are often very humorously entertaining, and having the video format allows at least 6 weeks of unlimited reviewing (haven't tried to download them), then regardless of how much I'm able to absorb, at least I'm adding a few more tools to my songwriting tool belt....for free!

As in everything in life, all we can do is our best and try to enjoy the ride.
It's better than the alternative:)

Hang in there and have fun,
Carkins