The Benefits of Trying Another Instrument

The Benefits of Trying Another Instrument Suzy S. Mastering one instrument is hard enough but playing around with a few, even just for fun, can be surprisingly beneficial to your overall knowledge and skillset. Check out Baltimore teacher Laudon S.s story here Having been a student of music for most of my life, I have become well-acquainted with the hardships of mastering an instrument. I dont think these hardships would be foreign to any musician out there. The struggles of learning to read musical notation, the endless technical drills that are supposed to make the music easier, and the frustration of just not being able to attain your goals in the time that you have set for yourself all stand in the way of enjoying music-making. Each accomplishment, while satisfying, leads to a new challenge, and a new horizon for you to push toward. Half of loving music is accepting that it is a work in progress.there is room for improvement, even among the highest echelons of musicians. If this is true and there are no limits to progress on an instrument, how can anyone be asked to play a second instrument, let alone several instruments? The answer lies in the fact that while we may want to be really great on our instrument, we need to be great musicians first, and that means experiencing music and learning from as many sources as we can. A few years ago, I hit a wall in my guitar playing. I was practicing about six hours a day, and while I was certainly improving technically, my playing seemed flat to me and I just couldnt figure out how to instill more emotion into the music. Frustrated, I decided to take the summer off from guitar. No more than a few days into my musical vacation, a friend of mine asked me if he could practice teaching me the viola. I thought, “Why not?” I certainly didnt care if I was any good at it and I had plenty of free time. The first few lessons didnt do much to change my interest in the viola, but over the course of the summer I came to realize something that would change my playing entirely. Every instrument has strengths and weaknesses. For example, the guitar is great at chords, arpeggios, strumming, etc., but you cant crescendo on a single note like a trumpet or a viola can (I mean, unless you are an electric guitarist with a volume pedal!). Learning to shape long notes on the viola taught me that the guitar can shape just as well, but it needs more than one note to do it. I realized what all those crazy runs and scales on the guitar are for. They are just written out crescendos and decrescendos! The point is, learning other instruments helps us to fill the gaps in our musical knowledge and see our preferred instrument in new ways. Today I divide my time between the guitar, the lute (a relative of the guitar), and the theorbo (a giant lute), but I have also dabbled in piano, harpsichord, saxophone, and I hope to take voice lessons soon because being a better musician makes you better at any instrument. Laudon S. teaches music theory, music performance, lute, theorbo, and guitar lessons in Baltimore, MD. He joined the TakeLessons team in September 2012, with over 9 years of teaching experience, and a Masters degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music. Learn more about Laudon, or search for a teacher near you? Photo by dorena-wm.

Choosing A Research University

Choosing A Research University The tips below will provide students with insights from an article in The US News World Report regarding the pros and cons of small/large colleges. Typically research colleges are much larger, and their professors focus highly on research, opposed to teaching. Here are 10 benefits of attending a research university: 1. The best researchers can be the best teachers: There is a common held belief that professors who focus mainly on research are not committed to the classroom and are therefore poor teachers. However, that is not always the case. Top researchers can be more knowledgeable about the field they teach because they are constantly engaged in that field. They can share more expert advice than most other professors could. 2. Professors are more current: Research professors will always be looking for new trends and opportunities in the classes they teach. They will be more up-to-date with breaking discoveries that may not have even hit textbooks yet. They will use these findings as material for their classes. It is very unlikely for them to teach out-dated, obsolete information. 3. Professors are more self-confident: Professors at research universities are always seeking new discoveries, awards, salary raises/bonuses and other accolades. Most of them are very successful in achieving these or else they probably would not be teaching. Therefore, they have more enthusiasm for the subjects they study and teach. They feel better about themselves, which can motivate them to work harder with both their research and their teaching. Professors will bring their honest excitement into the classroom. 4. Collaborative research with professors: There are still plenty of opportunities for students to collaborate in research findings with professors at smaller colleges. However, there is always a continual high amount of research that is channeling through research universities. Students will have great opportunities to work with professors and even coauthor or present findings with professors. Figures show that students learn more effectively outside of the classroom in hands-on, real-world scenarios rather than inside a classroom. 5. More majors to choose from: Some students go into college knowing exactly what they want to study and where they want to work. Others have no idea, and some think they know what the want to do, but then later think twice about it. Unless youre the first student, a research university will benefit here. Research universities offer many more majors, which allow students to completely change their course of study without having to transfer colleges. At some larger, research colleges, students can choose from over 300 majors. However, at smaller schools they may only have 25-30 options. Students may not have as much flexibility with seemingly creating their own majors. However, their majors can be more specific and specialized. 6. New, updated facilities: Science professors at top universities have access to some of the best labs in the country. Where do you think they teach from? Also, top research universities consistently find ways to glean more government funds, which allows these colleges to build larger libraries, labs and facilities. This gives their professors access to more information and technology. Professors will be continuously learning and sharing that information with their students. 7. Interaction with graduate students: Some believe that graduate students can distract professors attention and efforts away from undergrads. Also, others believe that many grad students are not qualified to teach undergraduates, as many of them do. This can be true in some cases. However, graduate students can serve as great mentors for undergrads. Most of them are very current and up-to-date in their fields of interest. They can offer valuable advice to undergrads regarding internships, jobs and grad schools. 8. Students can take graduate-level classes: This is college students version of taking Advanced Placement classes while in high school. Motivated students who are up to the challenge of graduate-level classes will be pushed much harder than what they are used to. This can be very beneficial to students who are interested in attending grad school. Also, graduate-level classes demand more research papers and real-world scenarios. With graduate-level classes, students can be further engaged in what their fields will demand after college. 9. You will be more recognized: Your first job interview could begin with your prospective employer mentioning that your college is a great school. At a smaller college, however, your employer might be stuck asking where that school is or what its all about. Larger, research universities are much more recognized than smaller colleges. Therefore, it is sometimes believed that their students are of a higher caliber. This may not always be true, but it could help you earn a great job/internship, or help you get accepted into a prestigious grad school. 10. Greater networking opportunities: Get used to hearing this term over-and-over again. Professors and alumni from all colleges preach tirelessly about the benefits of networking. Many will tell stories about how networking helped them get their first job or internship. Its true, but we wont harp on it. Professors at research universities because of the quality of their research are very well-connected in their respective industries. They are more than willing to help their best students find jobs and internships. Most professors will even bring students on company tours and introduce them to their industry peers.

Interacting With Professors - Private Tutoring

Interacting With Professors BobbiM Apr 17, 2014 Some general tips about interacting with professors. First impressions are important, and its important to make a good impression on your professor right from day one. -Sit up front in class. When you are up front, you are more likely to stay alert and focused on the lecture, especially if you are in a class with lots of other students. If you cant get a seat up front, at least try to sit in the professors line of vision. -Ask questions. Professors may begin or end each class with a question and answer period. Others will tell students to raise their hands at any time during the lecture if they have a question. Ask well thought out questions. -Ask for help sooner rather than later. Nothing makes a worse impression than waiting until the day before the test, or worst yet, five minutes before the test, to ask a question about course material that was presented a week earlier. As soon as you realize that you are having trouble, make an appointment to see your professor, a tutor, or some other person designated to provide assistance. -Read the syllabus. The syllabus contains a wealth of information and should always be your first source when you have questions about grading, course pacing, or expectations. Therefore, its important not to waste time by asking questions whose answers are outlined on the syllabus. -Know and follow the class rules. Most professors have pet peeves about something. Its important for students to know what rules are in place and to follow them. Dont be the student in the class that the professor uses as an example of inappropriate behavior. -Talk with your professors via email. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

The importance of sharing resources!

The importance of sharing resources! We've had an amazing 2015 here at Tutorfair thanks to our fantastic community of tutors and students!  We asked a few of our favourites to share their adventures with us.  Here, James  tells us about  the importance of sharing tutoring resources! James M Tutor gathering can be a tricky business. We are, by nature, solitary creatures. But one wind swept morning in November, 11 plus specialists travelled from far and wide to converge on the Tutorfair offices. For those that hibernate during the day this was to be an especially gruelling affair. Fuelled by coffee and inspired by Edd’s roundtable room arrangement, cleverly focussing our creative synergy into a focal point, we began to probe the deepest mysteries of the 11 plus universe. After finding out each other’s names and where we all live, of course. The 11 plus can be a tricky beast. Tutors and parents alike are swamped by literally tons of exam guides, websites and ‘motivational’ tips. How to discern the truly useful from the mere padding? Unhealthy amounts of coffee aren’t essential for solving this conundrum, but it helps. Another issue is the sheer diversity of tests. Many a tutor, expecting all entrance exams to be similar, has been quickly humbled by a nifty Google search. This reveals that exam papers from one school often have no resemblance to another. Moreover, the likes of Westminster and St Paul’s have entrance exams so fiendish they may as well be scribed in Egyptian hieroglyphs. And even if you could read Egyptian, you still couldn’t do them.   However, help was at hand. Drawing on the expertise of all those gathered, we managed to distil a nifty set of tricks, tactics and resources. Rob L surely deserves a prize for understatement of the year. He said he had ‘some’ tutoring tips to offer, before whipping out his fantastically written and newly published guide to English 11 plus comprehension. Not to be outdone, others drew on role playing and fancy dress techniques to elicit calm and composure from their students. Although this sounds like an excuse to inappropriately channel misplaced thespian energies of our youth, it can work wonders for reassuring a nervous pupil. The dreaded 11 plus interview is a ticking time bomb for many a pupil. However this was rapidly defused when we found out that between us, the tutors in the room have records of hundreds of past interview questions across all the top schools. Many a desperate parent has cajoled me with demands for such information, assuring me that ‘no price is too high to pay’. So it was amazing to find it here, just floating around in the collective ether at Tutorfair HQ. If there was agreement on anything, it’s that there is no ‘magic bullet’ for successful 11 plus tutoring. If there were, the Tutorfair offices would boast diamond studded coffee mugs and platinum door handles. Instead there are a myriad of approaches that can and should be used, depending on the student’s needs. And putting the student first should always be at the heart of successful tutoring.   If you’re a tutor and want to get involved in an upcoming meeting to share insights, please get in touch. We really can work together to make tutoring better for everyone.   I for one would like the diamond studded coffee mug to be the standard drinking implement at Tutorfair HQ.   After all, what’s wrong with a bit of bling?   Want to  book James  for 11+ admissions tutoring?  Or perhaps  you want to share your own resources? There's something for everyone at Tutorfair!

The Top Five Video Games for College Students

The Top Five Video Games for College Students Super Smash Bros. Brawl photo via Flickr user J from the UK. 1) Super Smash Bros. Nintendos all-out brawler for the Wii lets up to four people duke it out in a cartoony way that seems deceivingly simple. A strategic fighter game that many college students have played at some point or another before college, Super Smash Bros. is one of the best video games to play with roommates, floormates, new friends, and even your RA (speaking as an RA, I can attest to going a few rounds with residents). Anyone can pick up and button-mash, but those with more practice can really go at it, making this the perfect video game to grace a college dorm room. 2) Halo This Xbox-exclusive series which may very well be the Xbox Ones last vestige of hope (oops, sorry not sorry) is widely popular as a somewhat more casual first-person shooter. You play as a Spartan, a super-soldier sent to fight against aliens from the Covenant using all manner of futuristic guns, grenades, and laser swords. Whether through a pick-up cooperative game with a friend or two either online or in person, or a fast-paced multiplayer versus game online, Halo effectively entertains the easily-distracted college student. The Sims box photo via Flickr user joshwept 3) The Sims 3 The Sims have been around for-flipping-ever and are still, believe it or not, successful enough to still be coming out with new expansion packs for their latest installment, The Sims 3. I mentioned in a previous article about the best PC games for non-gamers  that The Sims 3 is a god game. You control your Sims every move (*cue Every Breath You Take*) and have endless possibilities at your disposal to micro-manage your Sims lives. What makes The Sims super appealing towards college students, perhaps, is that feeling of being in control while in the real world, we are learning to take control of  our  lives. Just a theory. 4) Left for Dead 2 Havent you heard? Zombie is the new vampire craze. Or maybe its always been about zombies. Left for Dead 2, an oldie but goodie, is a cooperative first-person shooter game for PC and Mac that pits you and three other survivors against zombie hordes. Almost anyone can play since its for both PC and Mac and its usually pretty cheap during Steam sales. Since it relies on online play, you can team up with friends sitting right next to you or across the country. Ive played Left for Dead 2 in my dorm and at home with my college friends, making it an easy, great way to game with friends no matter where you are. Animal Crossing New Leaf box art, via Amazon.com 5) Animal Crossing: New Leaf Animal Crossing launched way back when on the trusty Gamecube.  Animal Crossing has a simple premise you play a villager who comes to a town populated by animal inhabitants and work to repay your mortgage while making friends, collecting bugs and fish, pulling weeds to maintain the town, and the like.  The latest installment, Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS has been making rippling waves in the gaming community, placing you as the mayor of your  new town and as such have many more responsibilities and privileges.. While I havent yet played New Leaf, I am a huge fan of the series and many of my college friends have been waxing poetically about the game. What makes Animal Crossing: New Leaf great for college students is firstly, the ability to share friend codes with others and visit each others town and secondly, the ability to close and open your 3DS anywhere and play for just a few minutes or a few hours. With the mobility of a college students life, Animal Crossing is a gre at game to consider, one that I hope to get my paws on soon. Do you have favorite video games for college students? Let us know in the comments!

The Beginners Guide to Going Paleo

The Beginner's Guide to Going Paleo Image via cdn.running.competitor.com The best way to describe the goal of the paleo diet would be in the words of paleo super chef Mchelle Tam. “In a nutshell, the Paleo diet (or, as I like to think of it, the Paleo template the word “diet” tends to mislead folks into thinking this is nothing more than a temporary weight-loss program) is based on the notion that for optimal health, modern humans should go back to eating real, whole unprocessed foods that are more healthful than harmful to our bodies.” While many people choose to embark on the paleo journey as a method of weight loss, this diet offers a plethora of health benefits that go far beyond simply shedding a few pounds. You should be advised that eating paleo isn’t a diet, but more so a way of life. You can transition to a semi-paleo diet, but you will see more enduring results by sticking to this plan holistically. While slip-ups are totally acceptable, eating paleo requires you to be cognizant of your entire food intake, including (and most of the time, especially) food additives such as salad dressings, condiments and beverages. So if you’ve thought about giving into the paleo fad, why don’t you educate yourself on what it is all about and see if it is something that would align with your dietary needs or goals? There are essentially seven fundamental characteristics that should be followed when transitioning to a paleo diet. 1. Higher Protein Intake Lean protein comprises 15 percent of the calories consumed in a paleo diet. Lean proteins support strong muscles, healthy bones and optimal immune function. Protein also makes you feel satisfied between meals. In order to consume lots of healthy lean proteins, stick to foods such as grass fed meats, chicken (not fried), eggs, shrimp, lamb, and turkey for your main course. 2. Lower Carb Intake The paleo diet places an emphasis on reducing the consumption of carbohydrates and banning any simple or refined carbs. Reducing carb intake goes hand in hand with a lower glycemic index. In order to achieve this, non-starchy fruits and vegetables provide 35-45 percent of daily calories. Be sure to steer clear of foods such as bread, rice and potatoes. 3. Increased Fiber Intake Increasing your consumption of fibrous foods is an important aspect of the paleo diet because not only do they provide essential vitamins and minerals, foods high in fiber keep you fuller longer and aid in digestive processes. The paleo diet emphasizes adding fiber through non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots and brussel sprouts. These foods provide eight times more fiber than whole grains and a whopping 31 times more fiber than refined grains (such as bread and white rice). Fruits can also provide loads of fiber, as much as seven times more than refined grains. Try fibrous fruits such as apples and bananas for breakfast and berries later in the day (berries have lower sugar content than apples and bananas therefore they are better to consume closer to bed time). stocksnap.io 4. Increase Intake of Polyunsaturated Fats Many people think that eating foods high in fats will result in weight gain. This is completely untrue. Foods high in healthy fats actually play a major role in helping shed those unwanted pounds of belly pooch. The paleo diet includes raising the consumption of healthy fats, primarily polyunsaturated fats and balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Scientific research shows that diets rich in Monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats dramatically reduce the instances of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline. 5. Higher Potassium and Lower Sodium Intake Higher potassium benefits the heart, kidneys, and other organs and aids them in functioning properly. Reducing sodium intake also helps to mitigate heart problems including high blood pressure or the possibility of stroke or cardiac arrest. 6. Net Dietary Alkaline Load The basic idea is that the human body is designed to function at a certain balance between acidic and non-acidic (also called basic or alkaline) foods, and that upsetting this balance is a major contributor to chronic disease. All foods upon digestion must report to the kidney as either acid or base. When the diet yields a net acid load, the acid must be buffered by the alkaline stores of base in the body. Calcium salts in the bones represent the largest store of alkaline base in the body and are eliminated in the urine when the diet produces a net acid load. The highest acid-producing foods are hard cheeses, cereal grains, salted foods, meats, and legumes, whereas the only alkaline, base-producing foods are fruits and vegetables. Because the average American diet is overloaded with grains, cheeses, salted processed foods, and fatty meats at the expense of fruits and vegetables, it produces a net acid load and promotes bone de-mineralization. The Paleo Diet recommends an appropriate balance of acidic and basic (alkaline) foods (i.e., grass-produced or free ranging meats, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables). 7. Increased Intake Of Vitamins A natural result of embarking on the paleo diet is an increased intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant phytochemicals. However, you should also consider taking added supplements such as a high quality fish oil, magnesium, or probiotics to help keep your gut healthy and happy.

4 Steps To Stay Organized and Focused Throughout the School Year

4 Steps To Stay Organized and Focused Throughout the School Year 4 Steps To Stay Organized and Focused Throughout the School Year One thing that many students struggle with is organization and keeping track of all of their assignments. “Where did I put my math homework? Whenis the history test? When is my English project due? How am I going to find time to complete all of this by tomorrow?!” There’s no need to fret! With these simple tricks and tips, you will find yourself becoming a much more organized, prepared, and focused student in school! In this post I will go over 4 ways to help you gain study skills, stay organized and on-task throughout the school year. Step 1: KEEP A PLANNERSome people may think that planners are a waste of time or money, but trust me, planners are a great way to keep up with your crazy school schedule! Using an academic planner has helped me to keep track of all of my assignments, extra curricular activities, and even my friend’s upcoming birthdays! I even like to use fun colored pens to make it look colorful and neat! A helpful tip is to use a different colored pen or marker for each subject. For example, write all of your history assignments in blue, and all of your English assignments in pink, etc.! I think that by keeping a planner it helps students to have a less cluttered mind and not worry about forgetting when that next exam is! Planners are overall a great way for students to stay on top of their assignments and events throughout the school year! Step 2: Use A Different Folder For Each Subject!I think we are all guilty of misplacing a homework assignment or important paper at some point in our lives. Something that can really help with this is to use a different folder or file for each of your subjects! By doing so, you can make sure and place each paper pertaining to a subject in one place! There’s no need for everything to get mixed up together into a big jumbled up mess! Make it easier on yourself and try this simple tip out! I found it extremely helpful to be able to have a folder for each subject. This is also a great way to make sure your backpack doesn’t become a black hole full of loose-leaf papers that are probably important! Try buying different colors pertaining to each subject! This will help you keep track of all of your papers, and keep your brain and backpack clutter-free! Step 3: Keep a Tidy Workspace! How are you supposed to work on that 10 page paper when your desk if full of random junk? I find it so much easier to stay on task and stay motivated when my workspace is clean, and free of clutter. Try cleaning out your desk or desk top every once in a while. It is almost guaranteed that you will feel as if a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders! It’s difficult to stay focused when there are so many distracting things surrounding you! Throw out those empty gum wrappers, receipts, old sticky notes, and half empty water bottles! Make your workspace neat and inviting! This tip will help you to stay on task and help you to think more clearly! Step 4: Work On Your Time Management Skills! “Are you saying that I have 3 papers, 1 speech, and 2 exams all within the next week?!” No one wants this nightmare to approach him or her without being prepared way a head of time! It’s super important, especially throughout high school and college, to stay one step ahead of your studies! Do not procrastinate!! We all know it is extremely easy to put things off until the last minute, but it will always sneak up on you in the end! Things like Netflix, social media, hanging out with friends, or really anything can distract us from studying or working on homework! But in order to steer clear of becoming overwhelmed with an insane amount of work, you must manage your time wisely. *Create a to-do list so that you can clearly look over all of your upcoming due dates * Create a strict schedule/timeline of when you need to work on your studies, and STICK TO IT! Try your hardest not to deviate from your schedule by watching that one more episode of Grey’s Anatomy. *Give yourself breaks! It’s okay to take a study break every once in awhile! But don’t let a 10-minute break turn into a 3 hour Netflix marathon. You will thank yourself for being ahead of the game; instead of stressing to complete everything at the last minute. I hope that these 4 tips will help you to become more organized and less stressed when it comes to staying on top of your busy student schedule full of school work and extra curricular activities!