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1. Why is the laptop computer lease required for music majors?
2. Which laptop is required for music students?
3. What additional software and hardware are music majors required to purchase, what does it cost, and how do they get it?
4. How does the laptop program work?
5. Can I buy my own computer instead of leasing from APU?
6. Is financial aid available to mitigate the laptop program charges?
7. When and how will I get my laptop computer and music software and keyboard?
8. Why was Logic selected for the music program at APU?

The School of Music is committed to the integration of technology into the music teaching/learning process so that students learn music more effectively and also become competent with practical music technology.

The School of Music has chosen a single laptop because we need to be able to give adequate support and training. MIDI and digital audio software systems (at the professional level we use and teach) are complex and require the right combination of hardware, operating system, application software and configuration to work smoothly. Music students will receive their laptops with the music software, as well as appropriate tutorials and help files, preinstalled and preconfigured.

Azusa Pacific University's lease program includes a two year service contract that is not available to students who are not enrolled in the program. Aside from providing on-campus technical support and assistance, this service contract enables an enrolled student to swap their laptop for another if theirs is not working properly and cannot be repaired quickly. The laptop package required for music students also includes an integrated wireless network card; a CD-RW/DVD-R combination drive (allows for the writing of recordable and rewritable CDs as well as the reading of DVDs); a 128MB USB memory key; a security device to prevent laptop theft; a durable, high-quality, backpack-style carrying case; and a complete software package which includes Microsoft Office and a variety of other utilities. When all is considered, it's a very good deal.

Music students are required to lease an Apple MacBook Pro through the laptop program. Three MacBook Pro models are offered by the university; music students are required to lease a Tier 2 or Tier 3 package. Specifications for both of these models are available at the laptop program website at http://laptop.apu.edu/. APU has chosen the Apple PowerBook for music majors for two reasons: (a) Apple computers are the "professional standard" in the music world and (b) Apple computers run the three software packages we teach: Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Finale.

Students are required to purchase a "music accessories package," which includes Logic Pro software (by eMagic) and a M-Audio 49e Keystation.

Logic Pro is professional MIDI sequencing, notation, synthesis, sampling, and digital audio multi-track recording/editing software for Apple computers. It is used in many music courses, including Introduction to Music Technology and Music Theory I, II, III and IV, all of which are required for all music majors. For more information on why Logic is used at APU, please click here.

The M-Audio 49e Keystation has 49 full size keys (four octaves), a pitch-bend wheel, a modulation wheel, a port for a sustain pedal, and MIDI In and Out and connects to the computer via USB.

The anticipated cost for these items for fall 2008 is $475. (The accessories package is purchased via this one-time fee; it is not leased through the laptop program.) This amount will be added to the financial account payable by students who have declared a music major.

The laptop program entails a two-year commitment; however, after this two-year period-at the beginning of the student's junior year-the student has the option to renew their lease contract for two additional years and receive a new laptop package. If students lease for four years, the second laptop is theirs to keep upon graduation. Music majors are expected to continue with the laptop lease program for all four years of full-time study.

It is very important that students planning to be music majors identify themselves to APU as such; incoming music students need to fill out a laptop program reservation form and denote that they need the music accessories package. (The reservation form is available from the laptop program website at http://laptop.apu.edu/.)

After signing the laptop lease agreement, the cost of the lease will automatically be added to the student's bill each semester. More details about the laptop program at APU are available at http://laptop.apu.edu/.

Except in exceptional cases, students should lease their PowerBook laptop computer from APU.

When students use their own computers, it is difficult, if not impossible, for APU to provide installation, configuration, maintenance, and support for the complex music software systems involved. The installation process for these music software systems can take hours and must be done by a knowledgeable person. When music students lease through APU, their laptops arrive with all of the necessary software installed, configured, and working correctly. Since the laptops are identical in hardware and software when they are given to students, support and troubleshooting is greatly simplified. This also helps to assure that the experience each student has is similar and significantly reduces student frustration that is commonplace when one's computer works differently than what is shown in classroom presentations.

Family members or friends may wish to give a computer as a gift to a student who will be a freshman music major at APU. Instead, the School of Music suggests that it would be better for the student if the same gift is given towards the cost of the laptop lease.

Students who believe they have an exceptional situation regarding the laptop lease policy should contact the School of Music at extension 3848

Yes. The cost of the laptop program is included in the determination of total financial need for financial aid purposes. If you applied for financial aid through APU (by filling out the FAFSA and the Institutional Aid Application) and identified yourself as a music major, this has already happened.

If you have been accepted and identified yourself to APU as a music major, you should be contacted to sign the laptop lease in early summer.

If you are an incoming freshman music major and are not contacted by APU to sign the laptop lease by June 15, please contact the School of Music at extension 3848 Identify yourself as a freshman music major for the fall term and give your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.

Laptops with the music software already installed and configured, along with the USB-MIDI keyboard and standard laptop program accessories, will be distributed to new students as part of new student orientation activities in early September.