Every web page should link to at least one other web page. Use color and a few, small images to keep your pages interesting. Longer pages are often easier for you, the developer, to maintain but are obnoxious to the viewer unless the viewer has some idea of the page's content and there are navigational aids available. Let the viewer choose whether or not to download a large image or sound file. Create a link to the sound or image or use a thumbnail copy of the image file.
Students working on campus generally have a fast connection to the Internet.
Students working from home generally do not and will not appreciate being forced to download a large back ground music file each time they load your course's home page to read course notes. Put a dates on your pages so both you and your viewers know the age of the content. A style or format that works beautifully for one page, may be awkward or even ridiculous for another. They are never 'done'. You do not need to put 'under construction' notices on a page because that is assumed.