Motivation and Attitudes Towards Learning English

Motivation and Attitudes Towards Learning EnglishMotivation and Attitudes Towards Learning English can play a huge role in your overall success as an ESL student. By examining the situation at your school, you will be able to learn how to build the necessary attitudes towards learning English. In many cases, your school's culture may have some sort of negative attitude towards the use of English in the classroom.If you feel like your school has a lot of obstacles to learning English, you should definitely seek out ways of being better prepared for the experience. You will be surprised at the number of students who have turned to learning other languages in order to succeed.As well, if you feel like your classroom is too old fashioned, you should definitely start exploring other possibilities. You might want to find out how easy it would be to transfer to a traditional classroom environment and attend the same classes you are used to attending.One of the greatest advantages of learnin g in these other cultural environments is that you can get a great deal of mentoring. There are many ESL teachers and language experts who are willing to help you with your classwork. This is especially important if you find yourself at a loss on the subject material you are required to learn in the classroom.When you compare these two major alternatives, you may be surprised to find that you can take your studies to an entirely new level by using the Internet. Simply put, you will be able to gain everything you need without leaving the comfort of your home.The only downside to these programs is that they can cost quite a bit of money, but there are many people who have managed to obtain some of the best Lernab products at no cost at all. Just because they do cost quite a bit, however, does not mean that you cannot benefit from them.The biggest reason why these programs can be so valuable is that they provide strong instructional support. For most people, a strong instructor is cruc ial when they are learning English.In addition, when you are learning English, you should not be afraid to get creative with your courses. Remember, even with a strong instructor to back you up, you should never forget that the only way to truly learn anything is to apply it.

Civil Engineering Tutor - Finding A Qualified Civil Engineer Tutor

Civil Engineering Tutor - Finding A Qualified Civil Engineer TutorIf you're planning to be a civil engineer and want to get a job as an engineering tutor then you need to ensure that you make the best of your chances in finding one. For this purpose, you need to conduct extensive research. You have to focus on what people find important when looking for a civil engineering tutor.One of the most common factors that people think is important is how long you have been employed by any engineering firm or any construction site. Your past experience should be clearly laid out. You should also state whether you've ever been employed as a tutor, but never with a profession where you teach young engineers. Finally, you need to assess your teaching qualifications, so that you can assess whether your education has progressed to the point where you can handle a difficult job and are confident about it.Of course, you can also check your educational qualification, depending on the field you decide to pursue with civil engineering. Many students who opt for the teaching profession have good academic qualifications but may not be up to date on their civil engineering studies.Look for practice firms that have satisfied clients who want to get into civil engineering tutoring and have rated them highly. Such testimonials are important because it will let you know whether the firm is the right one for you. You can also ask around for recommendations from those people who have recently had dealings with the firm and also from colleagues who have been impressed with its services. As you are getting a civil engineering job, so you may want to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.Finally, you should think about your past experiences with teachers. You should have thought about how you would be able to impart the right knowledge about the profession and what problems people face when they start out. Moreover, you should also think about the actual skills that you bri ng to the table.Of course, you might come across some possible options that don't seem to suit you at all. If you have done an undergraduate degree, then think about whether you could continue your education. This would make things a lot easier, because it would save time as well as money that you can put into other areas of your life. It also gives you an opportunity to refine your skills and learn more about the profession and its surroundings.As you develop, you will come to realize that learning the trade of civil engineering will be an exciting and fulfilling journey. Your primary focus should be your own development and if you keep this in mind, then you will be prepared to face whatever challenges you may come across along the way.

A Review Of The Black Butler Sebastian Tutor Program

A Review Of The Black Butler Sebastian Tutor ProgramThe Black Butler Sebastian tutor website is one of the top rated tutoring websites in the world. It offers all the latest and up to date resources for all levels of students.The Black Butler Sebastian tutor program is a comprehensive curriculum that covers every subject from the basics to advanced levels. The entire Sebastian program is based on interactive reading, speaking, writing, and the understanding of certain themes. The Black Butler Sebastian tutor website is used to give an introduction to the tutoring program.Tutors are provided with different tools that help them in their tasks. These include the full version video and audio tutorial courses, worksheets, test packages, bibliography and glossary of terms, and more. Students will enjoy the fact that their interaction with the tutor is facilitated by the use of software applications.The tutors will interact with the student's progress and will see how he or she is progressi ng in their learning process. It also provides valuable information that will be beneficial to the student's self-esteem.Tutoring services are available to people at all levels of experience, from first-time tutors to senior tutors. It helps both advanced and intermediate level students with their levels of learning.The tutoring service is extremely popular in countries such as India, Philippines, Indonesia, China, and Korea. The tutoring program has the ability to increase the learning rate for students through effective communication skills.Black Butler Sebastian tutoring programs have numerous benefits for both the tutor and the student. The student can explore his or her learning potentials and acquire valuable knowledge which will enable him or her to start a rewarding career. The tutor will be able to expand his or her horizons through the use of such informative materials.

Your Perfect Guitar Practice Routine in 10 Easy Steps

Your Perfect Guitar Practice Routine in 10 Easy Steps Maile Proctor Whether youre a beginner or an experienced guitarist,  you know the key to progress is practice! While there are several ways you can trick yourself into practicing guitar, developing a consistent guitar practice routine can help you be successful. In this guest post, David Hart, a  guitarist and the creator of the G4 Guitar Method, shares 10 easy ways to develop an effective guitar practice routine We all know that to reach our goals on guitar we need to practice. As Tai Lopez says, the difference between successful people is they do what everyone knows they should do but don’t. So if a solid guitar practice routine is the key to success, the real question is how do we get ourselves to actually practice? Here are my top 10 suggestions Ill start with what I believe to be the most powerful strategy. A routine works because we are creatures of habit. Establishing a guitar practice routine is hard, but once established, its generally easy to maintain. Schedule a time you will begin practice each day and absolutely stick to it. Don’t worry about the duration at first. Just start and see where it goes. A common mistake is to decide you are going to be the next Hendrix and practice 8 hours a day. The main problem with starting big  is its  much easier to put it off. 10 mins a day is much easier to commit to than even an hour a day. Very few people I know have empty schedules. The idea is to slowly squeeze out the other less important items on your busy schedule. The hardest part is often starting, and what you’ll generally find is the 10-minute sessions will soon morph into 20-minute, 30-minute, or even 2-hour sessions. Attaching a reward to practice conditions your brain. Our brains are hardwired to seek out rewards. We see ourselves as sophisticated, rational beings, but the truth is, we are no different than any other animal. We have instincts and responses that are mostly the result of evolution. Think of sugar for instance. Most people love sugar despite the fact that we all consume too much. This is because sugar is a source of energy in short supply through most of our evolution. Our brains get a boost after a sugar hit and this is why we seek it out. I am not suggesting using sugar as a reward here, but if you reward yourself whenever you practice, your brain will become wired to want to practice. Planning your practice makes it more likely to happen. This has been shown in several studies. As a guitar teacher, I know that when I ask a student to practice something in a general way, its far less likely to be done compared to being specific. For example, I might say I want you to practice your scales this week. If I were to say I want you to practice the C scale in the first position at 70 beats per minute, the odds of practice go up. Apply this same idea to yourself by deciding ahead of time exactly what you are going to work on. Tracking practice minutes will often ignite your natural desire to improve your score. When I was a teen, video games like Space Invaders were all the rage. Kids would spend hours, and all of their pocket money, trying to beat their high score. There is just something about trying to out do ourselves that pushes us to practice more when we track our practice minutes. When I made practice logs compulsory for all my students, the amount of practice and progress tripled. I was actually blown away by the results. Many of the students resisted at first, but after the first month or two, they were in the game and hooked. Close your eyes and think about where you’ll be in 5 or 10 years. Imagine your guitar playing being awesomely amazing. Feel how it feels to have fingers that just fly all over the fretboard with ease. Imagine people watching you in disbelief. Paint whatever picture works for you. Now, reverse engineer that picture; see yourself practicing for hours every day. When we see our future selves in this way, it motivates us in the present. Seeing a bright, optimistic future pushes us to work harder in the now. If we don’t have that positive imagine in our minds we are far more likely to quit or not even try. When Jimi Hendrix was a kid before ever picking up a guitar he would pretend with a broom. He already saw his future. Imagining our future becomes easier when we read about our heroes. When you read their biographies, you get a sense of where they came from. I was watching a video of Steve Vai (check him out on YouTube) and he mentioned how as a teen, he never thought he was any good on guitar. This was very humbling to hear. Such a successful, confident guitarist giving us a peek into his past. Even after 35 years of guitar playing I was still motivated by Steve’s comments. I will also say Even after 35 years of guitar playing, I was still motivated by Steve’s comments. I will also say its not just guitar players. It can be anyone who you regard as successful. The road to success at almost anything is the same. There is a lot of work and commitment, and knowing the great achievers just worked harder for longer is motivational. Learning with a friend increases the chances you will practice more often. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded people naturally motivates us. This is because we are inherently social. The people you surround yourself with will influence you sometimes without you even realizing. One study showed that if your closest friends are obese, your chances of being obese are much higher than average. Having friends who play guitar inspires you to keep up. You can even practice together. Set a time each week where you come together and practice. Again, be specific. Perhaps work on a song together. Theres nothing like a good concert to charge your practice batteries. It doesn’t have to be some big star where you pay $100 or more for a ticket. Seek out some talented, local guitar players and bands who motivate you and try and see one of them at least once a month. When a big name act comes to town you can splurge, but work within your budget. In between that, watch some YouTube concerts. There are so many great videos today, that there is simply no excuse. Concerts are highly motivating so build it into your guitar practice routine to go to a concert or local performance or watch a video every week, and watch your motivation to practice go way up. In my mind, a performance is game day. If there is no game day, whats the point in all the practice? Performance makes practice meaningful. When you know you have a performance coming up, the pressure to practice goes up. This is a good thing and is one of the reasons I always encourage students to aim to perform once a month. I would say the motivation to practice is in direct proportion to the number of people who will see you perform. When we look at the biggest acts today, their motivation is huge. They can have millions of people watching them so their practice schedules are intense, especially leading up to a big performance. In your case, start small: perform for family and friends, and then progress to an open mic venue. As you improve, you can hit larger audiences. Guest Post Author:  David Hart David Hart began learning guitar in the early 1980s studying under various teachers, most notably Mark Bergman as well as studying jazz fundamentals at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn more about David and the G4 Guitar Method here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

5 Must-Read Tips if You Want to Get Signed as a Singer

5 Must-Read Tips if You Want to Get Signed as a Singer Suzy S. Do you dream of getting a record deal? Here, Santa Monica, CA singing teacher  Lauren C.  shares her tips for breaking into the industry and getting your voice heard I coach a lot of young singers who aspire to secure record label deals and establish successful music careers. Some of my students have secured contracts with labels like Motown Records, and I myself have recorded with Grammy-award winning producers in Los Angeles and recorded tracks with chart-topping artists. So, what are the labels looking for today? What tips can you employ to get ahead in the cutthroat, competitive world of recording music? Heres my best advice on  how to get a record deal and make it in the industry. Do invest in voice lessons. We live in the era of The Voice, after all, and there is a taste for truly good vocalists in the entertainment industry as much as ever before perhaps more than ever before. We are in a golden age of vocal acrobats and technique. It’s hard to compete in this saturated market if you do not have real chops. There are always unique and untrained voices in the world of pop and rock, but its important to learn to sing in a healthy way to preserve your voice for many years. You will also more easily and quickly expand your range, and diversify the tones and vocal colors at your disposal. A good teacher will never hinder your style or your unique tone he or she will help you sing with healthy technique and increase your vocal potential. And gone are the days that voice teachers only teach classical technique. Many of us are still grounded in this technique; I am. But these days, many teachers teach all styles (I do) or are particularly suited to a particular singing style or genre. Find a teacher you gel with, and commit to years of study and regular vocal exercise. The Internet is your friend. Use it. We are all familiar with artists who have broken on the Internet. If you want to gain exposure, you don’t need to wait to get signed; in fact you  need  to start gaining exposure and attracting fans before a label is going to look at you these days. Create a YouTube channel, join SoundCloud and post your tracks, join TuneCore and distribute your own music via iTunes and Spotify, and check out ReverbNation. Utilize all social media platforms to cross-publicize your work. Post your latest SoundCloud release on Twitter, on your Facebook fan page, etc. Comment on and follow other artists to expand your network and get their comments and likes back. But don’t forget the Internet is not everything. Sing locally. Sing at your school, church, find a local open mic, get a permit to busk if there is an area in your city this is popular (like the 3rd Street Promenade here in California). Also, network make human contact and collaborate with other local musicians. Try co-writing most songs are NOT written by just one person. Check out Musicnotes.com  and download your favorite pop song. Chances are you will see at least two co-writing credits. Try to connect with people who may have more experience or knowledge than you, and see if they are interested in collaborating. Also, take constructive criticism along the way the only way to get better is to take notes, and improve what you need to improve. Opinions are subjective, but take it on board and see if it resonates with you. Always strive to improve. Note the difference between recording in the studio and performing live. Both are important, but they are two different animals. In the recording studio, the microphone is like a camera it captures everything. So never feel bad if you need a little auto-tune. Auto-tune is like Photoshop. A skilfull producer will auto-tune your tracks so that they sound tuned to the natural ear. You may sing very close to perfect tuning live, but in the studio, a fraction off is picked up and we hear it. Do find producers or a studio you can record some demos with. In the long run, you really want to produce commercial-quality tracks to be taken seriously by labels. And note that long before you have a label, you can get licensing deals on your own and get your songs into a film, commercial, or video games if the recordings are professional enough. Sometimes this is what brings more attention from labels and managers. On the other hand, working with producers can be expensive. If you are just starting out, see if you can find a less-experienced producer, and try to negotiate an affordable fee to start learning the ropes of singing in the studio. It can be nerve-wracking. Here are some additional tips for singing in a studio: Always warm up thoroughly before you begin. Do a full take through of the song, then go back to repeat sections or lines until you are in love with the delivery. When a take is the one, you always know! Unlike singing live, most recordings are takes spliced together. Remember that everyone is unique. What you do may not be what Rihanna does. Be kind to yourself and just focus on getting a great result. Finally, just as you would for singing live, stay hydrated with water, and use lozenges like Ricola. Split up a session over a few days if you need to. Determine what makes you unique. As a recording artist, you are a brand. This is different from someone working in musical theatre, for example that performer is pursuing auditions, getting hired, playing a role already written, and has probably performed dozens of times. You are more or less fitting a mold and doing a job for hire. But when you are a recording artist, you have the opportunity to be your own boss, write your own material, and create your own opportunities. To get ahead, you will need to define what is unique about your music, your voice, and your brand. So take some time to develop this, and think about all aspects of your brand. What do people see when you walk in the room? Is your look working for or against you? Think about clothes, artwork for albums, production styles, instruments, and vocal delivery and tone. Are you a power rock belter? Are you a subdued singer-songwriter? What about your voice is helping or hurting you when you try to convey your style?   If youre wondering how to get a record deal, these tips will help your brand stand out to reps. And that will lead you down the path to a successful music career.  Lauren C. is a singing teacher in Santa Monica, CA. Shes a classically trained soprano with  a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches students  of all ages and in all styles ranging from opera to pop to rock.  Learn more about Lauren here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Jared Polin

Fine-Tune the Way You Learn Music

Fine-Tune the Way You Learn Music Suzy S. Earlier this week, in honor of Presidents Day, we mentioned a few of our nations past leaders who had musical chops and now, President Obama caught the medias attention after singing a verse from Sweet Home Chicago at a White House event to celebrate blues and Black History Month.   PBS will air the event on Monday, February 27th, but you can also check out a video of the performance here. Not bad for a spur of the moment spotlight! As most musicians know, truly learning a piece of music requires more than just recognizing the notes and lyrics on the page.   As a singer, your job is to know the phrasing and structure of the song inside and out, and also communicate the emotions to the audience using your attitude, expressions and movements.   This may be easy for a well-versed singer, but if youre a beginner still learning proper breathing and posture, it can seem a bit overwhelming.   Dont worry heres a great list of the 6 steps to learning a song, as originally posted on Performance-High.net: 1) Learning lyrics, melody, phrasing and structure This means just knowing when to sing and what to sing to get through the song start to finish successfully, even if you have to think about it. 2) Internalizing lyrics, melody, phrasing and structure Know how it all goes without even thinking about it. 3) Fine-tuning:  pitch, when to take a breath, enunciation, etc. Most songs offer some kind of new challenge.  Even when you know how it goes, depending on where you are as a singer you may still need to fine-tune pitch entrances, runs, fast passages, enunciation, or where to take a breath. 4) Interpretation Dynamics.  Attitude.  Vocal texture.  Emotional expression.  What are you going to do to make this song interesting and expressive? 5) Performance Does the song merit movement?  Interaction with band members?  Emphasis of hits or breaks?  Is there a solo where youll step back as lead singer and let the focus be elsewhere? 6) Ownership After youve performed a song live for a certain amount of time, it finally gels.  You figure out how to sing all of it in your style, you get inside of it, you relax into it, it becomes yours.  That takes time, and also requires the previous steps. What other tips can you think of that have helped you master a song?   Leave a comment below and share with the community! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like: A Quick Way to Improve Your Next Vocal Performance Can Yoga Help You Sing Better? Simple Steps for Perfect Pitch Photo by Acererak.

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese Which Chinese Language Learning Apps are Best? ChaptersHellotalk Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as Possible Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoSkritter Hello HSKWhile going to the country where the language is spoken is almost always the best way to learn Chinese, your language-learning desire can sometimes be trumped by simply lacking the funds or means to travel and learn through immersion.  However, a problem that often gets overlooked by both students and professionals is finding the time to actually study. It doesn't matter how interested you are in learning a language if you can never actually find the time to learn it!Whether you’re on the bus on the way to work or university, in a doctors waiting room surrounded by old magazines, stuck in traffic while listening to the same 3 pop songs, or just doing some house work or chores, did you know that you could use your free time to learn a language?You've probably already tried typing things like “learn Chinese” into Google. As you'll have seen, there are plenty of resources for those who want to learn Chinese online. Finding them is easy. Choosing the right ones is hard.While technology doesn’t perform the miracles it often promises to, smartphones can be used effectively to learn languages from distant lands like Chinese.Let’s have a look at the apps and resources that can help you to learn Chinese outside of Chinese language courses. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHellotalkWhether you’re an absolute beginner, inter mediate, or advanced student, this e-learning mobile app, which puts you in contact with native Chinese speakers, is a great addition to your Chinese private tutorials and is incredibly useful if you're hoping to become conversational or steadily working towards fluency.Is there a Swiss Army knife app for teaching Chinese? (Source: Adrianna Calvo)The app is available on both Android and iTunes and requires that its users create a profile including where they live.Whether the user prefers to keep their location hidden or not, they can use the app to find Chinese people near them in order to practise the language they want to learn with them.Once the user’s decided whether or not they want to show that they’re learning Chinese, the app will help them get in contact with native Chinese speakers so that they can get better at the language by.Conveniently, these Chinese native speakers happen to be looking for someone who speaks English natively so that they can practise their Englis h.Once the two have been put in contact with one another, each user can correct their partner’s mistakes in the foreign language in real-time through chat in order to mutually help one another improve their foreign languages. You can also turn text into audio in order to hear the Chinese pronunciation.If you're speaking to a Chinese native speaker who makes a mistake in English, you can immediately correct them in the conversation and they can do the same if you make a mistake in Chinese.This isn’t like other chat clients such as Wechat, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger. The functions of this app are geared towards language learningThe goal of this app, which has 4 out of 5 stars on Google Play and has been downloaded 40,000 times, is to improve language skills through conversation, correction, and everyday conversation with native speakers of Mandarin Chinese.Some key points about this app:There are no smileys or emojis in this app since the goal is to express yourself through w riting and speaking rather than “text speak”.This app is “freemium”. This means that although it is free, some functions can only be accessed by paying for them.It features a “feed” like on Facebook where you can keep up to date with your linguistic adventure.If you're an exchange student who's just moved to Beijing, it's a great way to find someone who teaches Chinese or would just like to learn to speak English.You should also check out our books for learning Chinese! Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as PossibleAnki is the flashcard app par excellence for those taking private Chinese classes!Which apps should you be using to learn Chinese characters, tones, and vocabulary? (Source: kaboompics.com)Highly recommended by almost every Chinese language learner, this app can be installed on both Android and iPhone. Users can use this free app to read, learn, and remember Chinese words and characters.Let me explain how it works: The user can create or import a Chinese vocabulary list and test themselves using text, audio, images, speech synthesis, and spaced repetition in order to improve their Chinese.With an interface that blends simplicity and flexibility, this app is made particularly special by the dedicated community around it.  Thanks to the community, there are so many different vocabulary packets available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers of Chinese.Additionally, since the app is “open source”, there are a huge range of tools and extras being developed for it. This also means that it can’t go bust due to a lack of funding.Did you know you could also learn Chinese by watching videos? NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Di scover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoThe Pleco app, which is available on Android and iPhone, is essential for anyone wanting to learn Mandarin Chinese.Some apps can use certain vocabulary, words, and expressions in order gauge a student's level. (Source: pixabay.com)Recommended by Chinese bloggers and professors, this comprehensive app has a number of features that will help Chinese students improve in their foreign language.Chinese-English DictionaryThe really special thing about this mobile dictionary is that you can draw the characters directly into it using your finger or write them out using the Pinyin phonetic transcription system.Optical Character Recognition (OCR)Optical character recognition allows the app to effectively “read” Chinese characters using your phones camera and subsequently give you a translation of these characters in English.Another great feature of the app is that you can save the characters you’ve scanned using the OCR into a deck so that you can go back over them at a later point.This is really useful for students learning to read in Chinese or intermediate students looking to expand their Chinese vocabulary.  Unfortunately, this tool isn’t available unless you pay for the full version and the character recognition works better using the photo function than the live recognition.Flashcard FunctionThis function allows you to practise memorising Chinese characters as well as revising characters that you’ve previously seen like those from your Chinese tutorials, for example.These flashcards, which are quite easy to manage, can be used to create tests. This is particularly useful if you’re studying for a Mandarin Chinese exam, for example.One by one, these Chinese characters will appear before you and you’l l have to prove whether or not you know them. Your final score will tell you whether or not you need to keep studying in order to improve.  This feature, which is available in the free version, is really useful for students that are studying for the official HSK exams since you can choose the word lists for the level you’re studying for.SkritterLearning how to speak a new language is tough and if you're desperate to learn the Chinese language, you're going to need to know more than just a few phrases . Even if you can speak Chinese perfectly and have a fantastic understanding of Chinese grammar, you still need to be able to read it!Learning Mandarin Chinese without being able to read it will leave literature (which is a huge part of Chinese culture) beyond your grasp. Don't worry though! If you're taking Mandarin lessons (where you should be getting a lot of Chinese speaking practice), you should be using the Skritter app in your free time, to help you learn Chinese characters.Thi s app uses Spaced Repetition, a method that can help you learn a Chinese character with a 90% retention rate. While speaking Chinese is only half of your mission, if you want to become fluent, you need to be able to read, write, and speak! You can take Mandarin lessons London, Manchester or anywhere in the World!You might also want to know about the best websites for learning Chinese... Hello HSKThe HSK exam has its own official apps for students wanting to pass the exam with flying colours!The HSK exam uses simplified Chinese characters so you won't need to study traditional characters. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Since the apps are divided into levels, there are 6 of them and all of them are available on both Android and iPhone. They’re particularly useful for students who need to go back over something they might have missed during their tutorials.The app, which has 4 out of 5 stars, features the following from the exams:ListeningReadingWriting Chinese charactersIt includes a g ood mix of Mandarin Chinese lessons and exercises, making it essential for anyone who’s signed up for the exam. Additionally, it focuses on the key points of Mandarin, vocabulary, and expressions that you’ll see in the exam.It also has HSK practice papers for students to get ready for the big day when they finally sit the most popular official exam amongst those learning Chinese.To get ready for your HSK exam, you can also check out some of the best videos online for learning Chinese or find a tutor for lessons by webcam or in person, including Chinese lessons London.Discover also the best tools for learning Chinese...

Where do you start with an electric piano

Where do you start with an electric piano Learn how to play the electric piano ChaptersDifferent learning methods for the electric pianoWhat’s the best electric piano for performing?Looking forward: learning to play the electric pianoJust as prestigious in the world of music as boxing is in the sporting world, the piano is the preferred instrument for musicians and composers around the world.It’s the 2nd most popular instrument in France - just after the guitar, and far ahead of the violin and saxophone - and also boasts the largest number of players of any instrument, when you combine together everyone playing acoustic uprights, keyboards, electric, and digital pianos.Piano music also seems to have a much longer shelf life than the average pop song - Beethoven was the most played artist in the world in 2016. To general surprise, it also turns out that Vladimir Putin is a pianist and can bust out some old Soviet songs when sat on a piano bench.While we’re still finding hidden treasures in old acoustic pianos across the pond, it’s generally electric pian os on which piano students are discovering chords and octaves for the first time today.In this article we’ll walk you through what you need to do to learn to play an electric piano, list the best electric pianos to buy now, and talk about the future of this popular (and fairly high tech!) instrument. LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDifferent learning methods for the electric pianoThe famous guitarist Jimmy Hendrix never learned to read music!There are many ways to lear n to play the piano - you can find free online classes, sign up for evening lessons, or enroll in a summer program.The traditional way to learnLearning the traditional way often includes learning some music theory, and a bit about the history of the piano. This is a common curriculum for those learning how to play the piano, and is generally the way courses at music schools and conservatories are taught. Music teachers at these schools generally have a degree in music.Alternative ways to learnAlternative learning methods usually still include a mix of theory and practical exercises, but the teaching is more hands on during piano lessons, with the goal of progressing the student quickly.When you're beginning piano, you can find paid and free online piano lessons for the budding musician that focus on:the keys and learning the notes by namesimple pieces of music to learn and breaking down piano scales and chords one key at a timethe correct posture and hand position to adopt when faci ng a pianoThe height of the keyboard - learning to position yourself properly and find the right keys - and work on your fingeringLearning your first chords and how to play multiple notes at one time, especially using your left handAn introduction to piano history - from the first acoustic pianos, right up to today’s digital pianosLearning how to use the piano pedals, especially the the soft pedal (or una corda), the sostenuto pedal, and the sustaining pedal (or damper pedal)Learn the different variations on the notes including sharps and flats, how to recognize a wrong note, and learning to play by ear.A method based on inspirationIn contrast to all the other ways to learn the piano this method is often used to free its players of stress and depression via music or piano therapy.It allows the player to express their feelings through music, and to share what's on their mind (and in their hearts) without first taking a class in music theory.This method can be summarized in 3 words: PlayChangeAnd play againThis innovative method places the creativity of the student as paramount and helps them compose their own pieces of music. Without any constraints, the players are freed to let their imagination and hands run free on the keys and work on their improvisation.However, its worth noting that this method would not be appropriate for anyone who’s hoping to become a virtuoso or study classical music. You won't really be learning about reading music, major scale progressions, notation or octaves, so it’s more a way to learn piano for people open to any style of music.Would you like to learn how to play the grand piano?What’s the best electric piano for performing?Can you start playing piano without knowing how to read music?Once you’ve been introduced to the electric piano, your level of playing can quickly progress from beginner to professional, and you'll usually start to want to share your music with others, now that you're a proper piano player.It’s wor th keeping these future performances, concerts, or even jam sessions in mind when you’re considering what kind of piano to buy.Just like with acoustic pianos, there are good and bad electric pianos. Some are perfectly good for playing the piano and practicing in the house, but play poorly in large spaces when their acoustics are complicated by the noise of an audience.Besides the sound, it’s worth considering how easy an electric piano will be to move and cart around to live performances.Discover how to choose the right piano for your playing style...The electric piano Clavia Nord Stage 2 EXConsidered one of the best portable digital pianos for performances, the Nord Stage 2 EX is made by the Clavia brand. And it takes up much less space than a grand piano.This model includes a range of different piano recordings, as well as an additional gigabyte of storage. The factory bank includes:5 grand pianos7 upright pianos11 electric pianosClavinetHarpsichordOrganand a bank of recording s including choral, folk, and string instruments.Looking forward: learning to play the electric pianoMusic teachers must always keep the pleasure and joy of music as their top priority.Whether it’s sports, administration, or journalism, computers have changed and continue to change the way people communicate and work, and improve productivity.Music, and more specifically, pianos, have also been touched by this sea of change, and whether you’re taking music classes at a music school, conservatory, or with a private teacher you’re sure to run into some of the new technology as you begin to learn to play piano.Like any form of teaching and learning, music and piano are now in version 2.0, with some traditional methods being tossed aside for the new and exciting. Before you get too excited though, it's worth pointing out that no new technology can eliminate the need for regular practicing until you can play with your left hand and right hand seamlessly in tune, running across the white and black keys.These technologies include:More interactive - with all the new touch screens now filling our bags, it’s easy to download a piano app for your tablet or cell phone.More analysis - thanks to all the data that’s been accumulated by digital instruments and digitized music.More freedom - which makes it easier to teach yourself. Thanks to online classes, it’s much easier today than it used to be to teach yourself how to play piano.More immersive - all these new technologies help you immerse yourself in the music, whether it’s artificial intelligence, augmented reality, or virtual reality.In order to really understand the sea change that’s taken place, check out some of the new innovations and apps that are reinventing the way we approach music and the electric piano.Would you like to learn how to play the digital piano?SpeechiTouchSpeechi makes those giant interactive learning screens you often see in classrooms, similar to Smart Boards, and they’ve made h elping to teach music one of their key goals. Using their tools a musician can learn:how to read noteswork on their ear for musiclearn about the keybed and keys of a piano.By using their One Smart Piano, which is a physical ‘smart’ piano, learning to play the piano becomes fun, easy, and interactive. One of the One Smart Piano's novel points is that you can connect it to an app on your smart phone or tablet to access even more features while you play, and help you really learn all about octaves, basic chords, and identifying middle C.Teomirn - when augmented reality can immerse you in learning the electric piano.Learning music theory will give you a wider scope of music to choose fromIt’s still in the development phase, but the Teomirn project has the possibility of changing everything about the way we learn and play the electric piano today…It’s the kind of thing that would make Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin turn in their graves!It’s also probably not something for techn ophobes, as it’s the first project which has ever used augmented reality to teach music.It’s being made by a Japanese team, and the electric piano and its associated app offers two different ways to layer 3D elements over your piano keyboard.A ‘watch’ mode, where you can learn how to play the piano through observation. You watch a short piece that you’ve chosen be played by a pianist, and the different keys on the piano are highlighted using different colorsA dynamic mode, in which a virtual keyboard and pair of hands appear on the screen. The Teomirn technology, helps you shadow the hands of the professional, and work through the notes of the piece of music you’ve chosen.It’s important to keep in mind that while Teomirn is focused on making it easier to learn instruments, and specifically how to play the piano, the team behind the app doesn’t have any plan to also include the traditional theoretical part that normally accompanies the practical study of piano, so pia no players will still need to learn how to read sheet music and sight reading on their own.This method may please beginning pianists, but it does fly in the face of the traditional emphasis placed on music theory by music teachers.This project has received considerable attention from budding pianists of any age - adult or child, as well as music fans and technology enthusiasts. It was recently demoed in a YouTube video - learn to play the piano - using Microsoft Hololens.However, the project isn’t yet commercialized and the head of the project Ayato Fujii, is currently searching for investors and partners. So for most of us, it’ll be months and probably even years before we can start learning to play the piano through augmented reality, so it might be a good idea to find a piano teacher in the meantime.Now find out which model piano you should buy for your youngest players...

Essential Equipment for Tutoring Singing Lessons

Essential Equipment for Tutoring Singing Lessons What Equipment do I Need to Become a Tutor and Start Teaching Singing ? ChaptersDo You Have to Play an Instrument to Teach Singing?Why a Good Collection of Parts is Essential to Vocal CoachingWhat Equipment do I Need to Teach Singing?Useful Software for Singing LessonsAs a singing teacher, you will know that singing is about far more than making music. Singing is a means of expression and communication that brings joy to many.For many music students, singing lessons offer a stress-busting session where they can come out of their shells and work on their own personal singing style.This is why it is essential that singing teachers recognise the individuality of each of their students and use their personal traits to help create their unique singing style.However, in order to be successful in doing this, there are some pieces of equipment that singing teachers cannot do without. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5 .00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo You Have to Play an Instrument to Teach Singing?The likelihood that you have asked yourself this question as a new voice teacher is quite high.Even though playing an instrument such as the piano or the guitar is not a strict requirement for voice coaches, there is no doubt that it helps.Traditionally, singing teachers accompany their students on the piano, but it is becoming more common for singers to be accompanied on the guitar instead.But why are accompaniments important?As the teacher, before the student attempts a full song, it is incredibly important to get a feel for their tone so you can think about which musical styles will best suit them (e.g. classical, opera, jazz, musical theater, etc.). If you can accompany your student, the process of identifying their tone qu ality and musical ability is significantly easier.Providing an accompaniment can make all the difference ¦ source: Pixabay - Free-PhotosLearning to sing with a musician playing the piano puts the student into a performance environment and helps to prepare them for performances and auditions in the future as they can gradually overcome any stage fright or nervousness. Creating an atmosphere that is optimised for progress in vocal lessons is key to achieving singing success.Being accompanied by an instrumental helps each vocalist to situate themselves and better understand their role within a piece. Accompaniments also help with training the singer’s musical ear as they get used to chord sequences and cadences.Some singers also play an instrument themselves, so practicing their pieces with an accompaniment may help them to overcome the challenge of singing with an instrumental accompaniment before they attempt to play it themselves.If you’re an aspiring singing teacher but you do n’t play an instrument, don’t worry! Playing an instrument isn’t essential to your success as an instructor and you can always download accompaniments from the internet instead.Why a Good Collection of Parts is Essential to Vocal CoachingWhen you’re delivering vocal coaching, having a good stock of pieces and songs for your students is essential.Ideally, you should have pieces for all musical genres, styles and vocal ranges so that there is something for everyone.If you’re leading a choir, you should be paying particular attention to the way you plan your rehearsals and make sure that you always have plenty of parts for your singers!Thanks to the internet, getting hold of parts isn’t as difficult as it used to be, and you can download music as your choir grows.Knowing how to read music makes learning pieces significantly easier for students, as they can attempt to sing through songs that are totally new to them and begin to work on the performance sooner.However, as a si nging teacher, you’re certain to encounter singing students who have never learnt to read music.In this case, there are two possibilities:Introduce them to musical notation and basic music theory during singing lessonsAdopt an alternative working method which is based on listening and musical ear trainingIdeally, you should offer each student pieces which suit their vocal style and personal tastes which they will be able to perfect more easily.What Equipment do I Need to Teach Singing?So, now you have a good selection of pieces and maybe a piano to work with, you’re almost ready to get going!The humble metronome is the backbone of singing rehearsals ¦ source: Pixabay - swooshedEvery teacher has their favourite gadgets for their voice lessons which complement their teaching style, but there are some tools which really are essential.The Essentials for Voice CoachesIf you teach in your own home, you will probably have the most professional tools at your disposal.These will most li kely include:A metronome  to keep the rhythmA music stand  to keep your hands free of music and maintain a good postureScores to use in rehearsalsA digital audio recorder so that students can listen to themselves singingThese four simple things are fundamental to a successful singing lesson. Once you have acquired these items you can start to think about other equipment you think could be of use to your students.For example, you may wish to invest in a good-quality microphone and recording system to create a sort-of mini studio in your home. This will give your students a good opportunity to learn to sing as if they are performing and get used to the equipment.Using Computers in Singing LessonsIt seems there is nothing modern technology can’t help us with. Laptop computers can be useful for singing teachers offering online tutoring jobs in a variety of ways.Not only are laptops easy to transport, but they can also:provide an accompaniment to their performance from musical download s or by playing a CD recordingrecord the student singing to show them their progress over timefilm students while they perform to help them work on their posturehold software for organising teaching schedulesOf course, the way in which you choose to use your equipment will vary according to the needs of each of your students, however, it is always a good idea to have tools available, even if you don’t always use them.For example, a student who is aiming to master their own voice and develop their talent will not have the same needs as a student whose goal is to become a professional performer.It’s up to you as the teacher to adapt your lessons to the individual needs of each student, whether they need to work on their self-confidence, tone quality, vocal exercises, breath control, vibrato and other vocal techniques.Discover what qualifications you need to become a singing teacher.Useful Software for Singing LessonsThe advantage of using a laptop is that you can connect a microph one and headphones as well as downloading software, however, smartphone applications can be just as useful to singing teachers.Use software to help students understand their singing ¦ source: Pixabay - florantevaldezAn additional advantage to using a mobile phone application for recording students is the increased portability, which is useful for teachers who teach outside of their homes.There is a wide range of music software available to download. Two of the most widely-known include:Vocevista: to analyse the voice in detail by viewing pitch as a frequency for exampleAudacity: this software is very useful for removing the vocals from a recorded song and editing recordingsThere is a multitude of software which is simple to use and relevant to specific aspects of learning how to sing.If you want to give your students something to work on between classes, there are plenty of singing applications available which can help them explore their talents.Sometimes it can be difficult to be motivated to sing outside of lessons, so a mobile application can be a lifeline for any lonely singers who need a virtual duet partner to make practicing fun.Here are two examples of useful phone apps:Sing Sharp: This app has pretty much everything when it comes to learning to sing. Aside from learning the fundamentals, Sing Sharp can teach you all you need to know about vocal warm ups and supporting your notes with your diaphragm.Swiftscales: This is probably the most professional app, however, it’s not always easy for beginners to use. Nevertheless, Swiftscales encourages students to accentuate their good qualities to become a well-rounded performer.As a voice coach, it’s up to you to use your equipment effectively for the benefit of your students as well as giving them the means to explore their own talents by themselves so that they can blossom into confident performers.  Learn how to set your rates for Singing lessons  or find singing tutor positions around the UK including tutoring jobs London, Manchester and Birmingham.