How the Violin is Played in the Americas

How the Violin is Played in the Americas Playing the Violin in the Americas ChaptersCommon Violins in the AmericasThe Violin Around the AmericasWhere to Learn to Play the Violin in the AmericasThe Most Famous Violinists from the Americas“Don’t go faster than the violin” - Quebecois ProverbThe violin family of stringed instruments is as popular in North and South America as it is in Europe. 15% of music students in the United States of America play the violin whereas 41% play the guitar.“Ability to think, like the violin or piano, requires daily practice.” - Charlie ChaplinWhile this is quite high in comparison to South America, there’s still local interest in the violin.In this article, we're going to have a look at the countries around the Americas and how they play the violin and similar string instruments.It’s important, from a young age, to attend music schools and higher education institutions and conservatoires if you want to become a great violinist, composer, or performer. In the Americas, there are tonnes of reputable establishments of fering violin tuition. Here are some of the most reputable:Conservatorio Superior de Música “Manuel de Falla”, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaMusical Conservatory Beethoven, Saõ Paulo, BrazilConservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, CanadaHumber College School of Music in Toronto, Canada.Projazz Professional Institute, Providencia, ChileEMMAT, Bogota, ColombiaUniversidad de Costa Rica, Costa RicaConservatorio Amadeo Roldan, Havana, CubaJulliard School, New York, United States of AmericaConservatorio de Música de Occidente “Jesús Castillo”, GuatemalaInstituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura, Mexico City, MexicoFacultad de Bellas Artes, Panama City, PanamaConservatorio Nacional de Música, Lima, PeruConservatory of Music of Puerto RicoEscuela Universitaria de Música, Montevideo, UruguayConservatorio de Música Simón Bolívar, Caracas, VenezuelaDid you know that there are over 350 internationally-recognised establishments in the United States where you can train to be a professional violinist?Speaking of professionals, do you know some of the most famous violinists from the Americas?The Most Famous Violinists from the AmericasSome play in international orchestras and some know every one of Mozart’s symphonies off by heart. Here are some of the most famous American (both North American and South American) violinists:Willy Arteaga. A violinist from Venezuela known for using his violin politically against the current regime in place.Ljerko Spiller. A violinist and conductor whose two children are both on the same musical path.Jean Carignan. One of the greatest Canadian violinists.Ricardo Herz. A Brazilian violin virtuoso.Yilian Cañizares. A Cuban violin maestro.Catalina Escobar. A Chilean violinist who now plays in France.Manuel Arce Sotelo. A violinist and ethnomusicologist from Peru.Enrique Diemecke. A Mexican conductor and violinist.There are a lot of famous violinists from both North and South America. (Source: RoAll)The violin is a passio nate instrument with a variety of influences and ways to be played, especially across the Americas.Would you like to become the next great violinist or one of the best composers of your generation?If you can't make it all the way to the Americas, don't forget there are private tutors available in the UK such as the tutors on Superprof. Since you're a tutor's only student (in that class), they can tailor all the lesson to you.Additionally, a large portion of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free. This is a great opportunity to talk to them about how they teach, what they can teach you, and just to see if you get along. Whether you want to learn the violin for fun, get into a prestigious music school (in North America, South America, or elsewhere), or become a professional violinist, you can find a tutor to help you work towards your goals.For those who live rurally or have a work schedule that doesn't allow them to get regular violin tutorials, there are al ways online private tutorials via webcam. These are often cheaper than face-to-face tutorials as the tutor doesn't have to cover the cost of travelling in their rates.Violin is played differently around the world, learn more about how the violin is played in Africa or how violinists  play in Asia  and the importance of the violin in Europe.

Protecting Your Health from Your Office Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Protecting Your Health from Your Office Job - Introvert Whisperer Protecting Your Health from Your Office Job When you think of injuries in the workplace, your mind may turn to images of construction workers, mechanics, factory workers, or other jobs involving manual labor or heavy machinery. However, office jobs present their own set of health risks, and while they might not seem as obvious, they can have devastating effects over time. Here are a few strategies to help you protect your health from your office job. Prevent Eye Strain Our eyes weren’t designed to stare at screens all day, yet this is how we spend so much of our time, both at work and in our personal time. Many people who spend prolonged amounts of time staring at computer screens and mobile devices develop a condition known as computer vision syndrome (CVS), which can cause eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. While CVS is a temporary condition, the effects can last for hours, even after you’ve stopped working on screens. One of the best ways to prevent eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. With this strategy, for every 20 minutes you spend working on your phone, computer, or tablet, you should take a break, find an object that is at least 20 feet away, and stare at it for at least 20 seconds. This gives the muscles in your eyes a chance to relax from the intense work of staring at screens and allows your vision to reset. It’s also important to remember to blink often. Normally this isn’t something you have to think about, but when you’re working on a computer you may keep your eyes open longer than normal, causing them to dry out more quickly. When taking breaks, it can also be helpful to blink 10 times very slowly in order to ensure your eyes are well lubricated before returning to work. Adjusting the brightness of your screen is another crucial step in preventing eye strain. Aim to keep your display at the same brightness level as the light in your surrounding work area. If your screen is much brighter or dimmer than the surrounding lighting, your eyes will have to work harder to focus, leading to eye fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches. Offset the Damage of Sitting Many office jobs require that you spend hours at a time sitting at a desk. This may seem harmless enough, but our bodies aren’t designed for a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting all day can lead to immediate physical discomfort, long-term pain, obesity, and may even increase your risk of developing serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease. When you’re focused on work, it’s easy to lose track of your posture. Many of us spend our workdays hunched over a keyboard, shrugging our shoulders, and craning our necks at odd angles. Poor posture causes your muscles to work harder and fatigue more quickly, leading to neck, shoulder, and back pain that will only worsen over time. One way to combat this is to ensure your workstation is set up properly. The height of your desk surface should allow you to reach your keyboard, mouse, and other work materials easily when your arms are at your sides with your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. If this isn’t the case, you may need to adjust the height of your desk. As you probably know, typing for long periods of time can lead to symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome such as numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation. To help avoid this, it’s best to keep your wrists at a neutral angle, nearly straight as you type. Setting up your office chair is equally important. First, push your hips back as far as they can go. When adjusting the seat height, your feet should be flat on the floor and your knees should be at the same height or slightly lower than your hips. Although you may have a natural tendency to lean forward, aim to lean against the back of the chair, allowing it to support both your upper and lower back. You may need to use an inflatable cushion in order to fully support your back. Adjusting the position of your computer monitor is also important in avoiding unnatural and painful postures. Your monitor should be directly in front of you, at least an arm’s length away from your face, and the top of the screen should be two to three inches above your eye level when seated. This will ensure you don’t have to tilt your head up or down for hours at a time. Instead, keep your shoulders relaxed and your chin slightly tilted toward your chest. Aside from ensuring your workstation is set up correctly and making a conscious effort to maintain proper posture, it’s important to get up from your desk periodically throughout the day. Spending too long in one position inhibits blood circulation, even with proper posture. If possible, aim to take a short break every hour or so to stand up and get away from your desk. Taking a brief walk around your office building is a great way to engage your muscles and allow your circulatory system to flow more naturally. If this isn’t possible, you might try taking micro-breaks by standing up and marching in place for 30 seconds or walking across your office to refill a water bottle or get a snack. Avoid Nutritional Traps Maintaining a balanced diet can give you the energy you need to do your best work as well as boost your mood throughout the day. However, as you probably know, this is easier said than done, and planning out healthy meals and snacks can seem like a full-time job of its own. This only becomes more difficult in the face of a multitude of less healthy, yet extremely convenient options available. For many people, the greatest barrier to eating a healthy diet is the planning process. In the rush of everything you have to do during the week, planning out what you’ll eat can easily fall by the wayside. This may leave you reaching for fast food options and snacks from the vending machine, or you might end up skipping meals altogether. Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Especially if you’re not experienced with cooking and preparing a lot of different meals, you may need to start small. You can find a nearly endless amount of recipes online, many of which are well suited for beginners. To start meal planning, you might choose one simple recipe you would enjoy for several days in a row. Taking some time on the weekend to make a large batch of some dish and portioning out your meals ahead of time will help ensure you don’t have to call in a take-out order or race to a fast food drive through on your lunch break. Over time, you can learn to make different dishes and introduce a variety of office-friendly lunches into your repertoire, helping you to feel better and save money as well. One of the perks of having your own desk or workstation is the freedom to stock up on snacks to get you through the day. It’s easy to mindlessly munch away the hours, especially if you’re focused on task after task. Rather than keeping a candy bowl on your desk, stock up on healthy alternatives like mixed nuts or granola bars. Refrigerated snacks like fruit, yogurt, fresh veggies, and string cheese are also health alternatives to most snacks you’ll find in the office vending machine. The health risks involved with an office job may seem subtle at first, yet they can have serious impacts on your life. Fortunately, by taking a proactive stance in protecting yourself from eye strain, the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, and the temptations of poor nutritional choices, you can be healthier and happier, at work and beyond. AUTHOR BIO: Frankie Wallace  is a freelance writer from Boise, Idaho and contributes to a wide variety of blogs online. Wallace writes about many different topics, from education to the environment. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

When Should You Take the ACT for the First Time

When Should You Take the ACT for the First Time There are so many things to worry about during your junior and senior years of high schoolyour GPA, your scholarship applications, which college is the best fit for you, and so on. Youve got a lot of decisions to make, including when to take the ACT for the first time. And, while this may seem like it has an obvious answer (typically your junior year), theres a bit more to it. So when should you take the ACT for the first time? Read on! Youve been preparing for months The first, and probably most obvious, sign that youre ready to take the ACT is that youve spent several months studying for the test. Youve developed a study plan, reviewed it time and time again, read aprep book, and taken ACT practice tests that youre doing well on. You feel confident that youre ready for the ACTso take it! If youve done the legwork for the ACT and feel like youve reached the critical mass of studying, youre probably ready to take the ACT for the first time. Youve got a great ACT Aspire score Your performance on the ACT Aspire will give you a pretty good indication of your capabilities for the ACT, so if youre pleased with your score, it may be time to take that next step. Much of the content on the ACT will be similar to that on the ACT Aspire, though question types will be different. While high performance on the ACT Aspire is rarely enough by itself to prepare you for the ACT, it pairs nicely with other forms of preparation and can be a great indicator that its time to move on. Youve taken (and aced) appropriate coursework A clear sign that youre ready to take the ACT for the first time is the completion of relevant coursework. If youre really struggling in a particular class, this can be a good indicator that you need additional preparation for certain sections of the ACT before taking it; you may even wish to look into ACT tutoring. Upon successful completion of your coursework, however, youre probably in a good place for test-taking. For the mathematics, you will need to have knowledge of pre-algebra and elementary algebra, intermediate algebra and coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. For English, you will need to have mastered usage and mechanics (including punctuation, grammar and usage, and sentence structure). Additionally, you should have finely honed rhetorical skills that include knowledge of strategy, organization, and style. In the reading section of the ACT, you will need to be able to comprehend questions covering social studies, natural sciences, literary narrative and prose fiction, and humanities. To go confidently into the science portion of the ACT, youll answer questions on data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints. A base knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space sciences (combined with adequate study time) can help ensure success. Finally, to do well on the writing section of the test, you should be familiar with the set of skills emphasized in high school English classes and entry-level college composition classes. You should also be able to accomplish a complete essay in 40 minutes or less. Youve got time to make a game plan pending your results While you may feel very prepared for the ACT and be ready to take it, theres always a possibility that something can go wrong. Perhaps youre not feeling well on test day or a certain question type messes with your mind. With some careful planning, these are not end-of-the-world problems. Schedule the ACT early enough so that you can retake it if necessary. Schedule the test early enough that you can also make college decisions based on your score. Perhaps you did better than you thought and can be choosier about your college as a result. Maybe youre now in the running for better scholarships. Either way, strategically schedule the test so that theres enough time to make a realistic game plan that depends upon your resultsgood or bad. [RELATED: What is an Average ACT Score?] Youve got the final say Ultimately, you have a lot of say in determining when you take the ACT for the first time. If youre prepared and feel ready, there probably is no harm in taking the test. Many students appreciate the opportunity to retake the exam if necessary, so taking the test a little earlier may be a good option for you. Rest assured knowing that your high school education has prepared you for success on the ACTgood luck!

What To Know About The PSAT

What To Know About The PSAT The PSAT, or the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized exam that provides students with a practice version of the SAT. Most students take the test in their junior year of high school. Exam results are used to determine qualification and eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). So exactly why is the PSAT so important? Besides giving students firsthand exposure to a college entry exam, the PSAT determines entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC), an academic competition for college scholarships and recognition. Each year, of the 1.5 million students who take the PSAT, 50,000 qualify for recognition, two-thirds of whom receive Letters of Commendation, and the other third go on to become Semifinalists. Of these, about 94% become Finalists, over half of who win scholarships. The PSAT measures critical reading skills, writing skills, and the ability of students to solve math problems. You have acquired knowledge in these areas over the years, both in and outside of the classroom. The exam does not require you to remember specific facts, but measures your comprehension and understanding of each area. What does the PSAT look like? The PSAT is composed of five sections: two 25-minute math sections, two 25-minute critical reading sections, and a half-hour writing section. The exam takes two hours and 10 minutes to complete. The critical reading portion consists of 48 questions, the first section (13) which focuses on sentence completions, while the second (35) focuses on critical reading questions. The math portion is made up of 38 questions. The first part has multiple-choice answers, and the second is student-produced responses. Students should be comfortable using operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis, statistics, and probability. A calculator is recommended. The writing skills section includes 39 questions, which focus on identifying sentence errors, and improving sentences and paragraphs. This category measures a students ability to communicate ideas successfully, utilize language with sensitivity to meaning, and to identify errors in structure and usage. What are the reasons to take the PSAT? Besides competing for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program, and taking a practice version of the SAT, the PSAT provides students with feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in skills that are crucial for college. This allows students to more adequately prepare with extra studying. The PSAT helps students evaluate how their final score on an admissions exam compares with that of other students applying to college. The PSAT assists students who plan to take the SAT by familiarizing them with the types of questions and problems seen on the SAT. Finally, the PSAT allows students to receive information from colleges and universities if they say yes to the Student Search Service.

British Actors Sir Anthony Hopkins

British Actors Sir Anthony Hopkins British Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins ChaptersAnthony Hopkins’ Welsh RootsHopkins’ Breakthrough On-ScreenStardom for Anthony Hopkins: A British Actor in HollywoodAnthony Hopkins in The Silence of the LambsAfter the Lambs: Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Late 20th CenturyAnthony Hopkins in the 21st CenturyAnthony Hopkins and the Marvel UniverseAnthony Hopkins’ Current ProjectsAnthony Hopkins: Awards and HonoursAnthony Hopkins is one of the best-known Hollywood actors, but not many know that he was born in Wales. Let’s take a look at the productive life of a famous British actor whose iconic roles have set their stamp on the movie industry.enrol at the Royal Welsh College of Music Drama in Cardiff is unclear. After a stint in the army, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.After he graduated from the Royal Academy he debuted in the Palace Theatre in Swansea in 1960 with Have a Cigarette. Five years later, Laurence Olivier spotted him and brought him over to the Royal National Theatre where he became Olivierâ €™s understudy.Because of his dyslexia, Anthony Hopkins would memorize his lines early and repeat them until they were second nature, preferring not to rehearse too much so his reaction to his fellow actors remained fresh. He fought with alcoholism for a long time but has been clean since 1975.Are you looking for a tutor to take acting classes?Hopkins’ Breakthrough On-ScreenAnthony Hopkins’ on-screen debut was in a short called Changes, in 1964. Four years later he had his breakthrough as Richard I of England the Lionheart in The Lion in Winter.Though he continued in theatre - for example, opposite British actress Judi Dench in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra in 1987 - he concentrated more and more on film; for example in Richard Attenborough’s Young Winston in 1972 and A Bridge Too Far in 1977.Stardom for Anthony Hopkins: A British Actor in HollywoodHis portrayal of Doctor Frederick Treves - opposite John Hurt as Joseph Merrick - in the 1980 screenplay of The Elephant Ma n was critically acclaimed.Further iconic roles in this period include:1984 as Captain William Bligh of the Bounty in the film of the same name (opposite Mel Gibson).1992 as Professor van Helsing in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, based on the book by Bram Stoker, hunting British actor Gary Oldman as the Count.Anthony Hopkins also played the Captain on the remake of Mutiny on the Bounty starring Mel Gibson. Photo credit: Kevin Burkett on Visualhunt.comIn 1993, his performance in The Remains of the Day alongside Emma Thompson granted him a nomination for an Academy Award and he received a BAFTA for Best Actor.In the same year, he starred as C.S.Lewis in the British biography Shadowlands, earning him a second BAFTA nomination.Two of his subsequent films were with the same co-star, an Alaskan Kodiak bear called Bart: Legends of the Fall in 1994 and The Edge in 1997, where a fall into a river resulted in severe hypothermia (for him, not the bear), an experience he has in common with British ac tress Kate Winslet’s stint on the set of Titanic.Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the LambsSir Anthony Hopkin’s most famous role was that of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the thriller The Silence of the Lambs, adapted from the eponymous thriller by Thomas Harris in 1991.This was not the first cinematic adaptation of one of Harris’ novels featuring Lecter; Michael Mann’s Manhunter, an adaptation of the prequel novel Red Dragon (in which Will Graham, an FBI profiler, turns to Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer nicknamed The Tooth Fairy) had already been brought to the screen in 1986.Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster in the lead, Silence of the Lambs follows Clarice Starling, an FBI agent trainee who is pulled from her classes to interview former psychiatrist and serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the hopes that he can help the FBI catch another serial killer named “Buffalo Bill”. Like Lecter, Buffalo Bill has cannibalistic tendencies, skinning his victims after killing them.Dr. Lecter is being held at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Starling’s supervisor, FBI special agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn), encourages her to keep visiting the known cannibal as he is willing to talk to her. He also encourages her to offer him a fake deal to get him transferred to another hospital.Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter with Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling. Photo credit: FatBusinessman on Visualhunt.comThe deceit is uncovered by the director of the hospital, Frederick Chilton (played by Anthony Heald) and Starling loses his trust but manages to recover it enough to put together the final clues to finding the current villain. The skinning was not an act of cannibalism; instead, the murderer was a tailor seeking to make a “woman suit” from the skin cut from his victims. While supervisor Crawford chases down a wrong lead, Clarice finds herself face-to-face with the killer.Shortly thereafter, Hannibal es capes.The name of the book comes from one of the childhood memories Clarice shares with Lecter in exchange for his profiler services - when visiting relatives on their farm, she woke up one night hearing the bleating of the lambs being slaughtered; a sound that still gives her nightmares. Lecter suspects that she wants to save the latest victim so much in the hope the lambs’ cries will be silenced.The sequel to Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, was adapted for the screen in 2001 by Ridley Scott, where Anthony reprised his role, with Julianne Moore as Starling and Gary Oldman as Verger, a former patient of Lecter’s. Jodie Foster refused the role of Starling because of the deconstruction of the character in this film, where she accepts a substitute role for Lecter’s dead sister Mischa and the two end up as lovers.Anthony Hopkins took up the role of Lecter again for the remake of Red Dragon in 2002.The NBC TV series Hannibal takes elements from Red Dragon and Hannibal and features the relationship between Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Hannibal Lecter (portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen) while the latter was still a forensic psychiatrist. It was cancelled after season three.It featured Caroline Dhavernas as Alana Bloom, a profiler for the FBI, Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford and Gilian Anderson of X-Files fame as Bedelia du Maurier, Lecter’s psychotherapist but, alas, no Sir Anthony Hopkins.He did not appear in the 2007 prequel to Red Dragon, Hannibal Rising, either. CarlActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ElifActing Teacher 5.00 (10) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CalumActing Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChristopherActing Teacher 5.00 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielActing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CiaranActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAfter the Lambs: Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Late 20th CenturyIn 1997, Anthony Hopkins starred as Quincy Adams alongside Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey and Nigel Hawthorne in the epic drama Amistad, about a revolt aboard a slave ship.In 1998, he starred as an ageing Zorro in The Mask of Zorro, then as William Parrish in Meet Joe Black opposite Brad Pitt as Joe Black / Death.Anthony Hopkins in the 21st CenturyIn 2003, Hopkins received a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.Anthony Hopkins' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo credit: Thomas Hawk on VisualHunt.comIn 2005 he starred as Burt Munro in The World’s Fastest Indian.A year later, he was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. Demille lifetime achievement award.In 2011 The Rite came to theatres with Hopkins in the role of Father Lucas, an exorcist priest and mentor to the main character.In 2012 he played Alfred H itchcock in the biopic detailing his work on Psycho.Anthony Hopkins and the Marvel UniverseIn the 2011 film Thor about the Marvel comic hero (played by Chris Hemsworth), Anthony Hopkins played the Allfather, Odin, Thor’s father. He reprised his role in both sequels, Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017), along with Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Thor’s half-brother and trickster figure.Anthony Hopkins as Odin, father of the Marvel superhero Thor. Photo credit: The_JIFF on Visualhunt.comAnthony Hopkins’ Current ProjectsAlso in 2017, he played Sir Edmund Burton in the latest Transformers franchise: The Last Knight.As of 2018, his role starring in Westworld, a HBO sci-fi series created by Jonathan Nolan (based on a 1973 film by Michael Crichton), may be at an end. He plays Robert Ford, the founder of the futuristic game park Westworld, where people can have an interactive adventure with “hosts”, automatons programmed to a certain script but autonomous enough to react to outside stimuli from the guests. Rumours say his character is killed off.Anthony Hopkins: Awards and HonoursIn 1987, Anthony Hopkins became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - an honour he shares with British actress Kate Winslet - and was knighted a Knight Bachelor in 1993.Sir Anthony has won two Emmy awards and three BAFTA awards in addition to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, and the BAFTA Fellowship.Find drama classes near me with an acting coach.

5 Eco-Friendly Guitar Songs to Play for Earth Day

5 Eco-Friendly Guitar Songs to Play for Earth Day Sign up successful Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi You might recognize this as sung by a different recording artist or group, but Joni Mitchell was the original composer and singer.  As easy guitar songs go, this one is a cinch. It is played in open tuning, which means lots of barre chords and open strumming. The hardest part of the song is to get the proper strumming pattern and muffling down. Joni actually encourages her fans to transcribe her music, and you can check out the transcription for Big Yellow Taxi at  her website. Pay close attention to the notes at the beginning and end of the page, as there are a few helpful hints as well. John Mayer Waiting On The World To Change In this more modern Earth Day song, John Mayer takes charge with this tune. Mayers sound is fairly unique, and the lesson linked above does a fairly good job of teaching you how to play the song while mimicking his style. Even though John Mayer is an incredibly skilled guitar player, this song can actually be played fairly easily.  The chord progression stays constant, and you just need to adjust to the high fret playing and different chord fingerings than you might be used to. If you want to give yourself a challenge,  the solo  adds a bit more complexity to the piece. Neil Young After the Gold Rush Throughout his career, Neil Young has written a number of songs about the environment and been an advocate for environmental causes. Among his most famous songs, After the Gold Rush looks back at our planets past and ahead to a future when we might have to leave our damaged Earth behind. You can play this song with just a few simple chords, which makes it very appealing to beginning guitarists. If youd like to challenge yourself, the tutorial also includes instructions for accompanying yourself on the harmonica. Kings of Leon Radioactive Normally  when you search for online guitar tutorials, you find a talented guitar player that recorded him or herself in a  basement while playing. In this video lesson, you actually can learn from the two guitar players in Kings of Leon firsthand. While the song can be played on just one guitar, if you can layer two guitars and vocals, youll have a great tune to play for Earth Day. So why not try to encourage a friend or two to learn this song with you, and then the three of you can put on a show! Explore even more guitar songs and techniques by taking lessons with a private guitar teacher. Guitar teachers are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person, depending on locations and availability. Search for your guitar teacher now! 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  MTSOfan

Learn English Idioms for Sickness and English Vocabulary for Illness

Learn English Idioms for Sickness and English Vocabulary for Illness Here you will learn some of the English idioms for Sickness and also expressions and phrases connected with illness.Scroll down to watch Under the Weather idiom meaning. English Idioms for Sickness Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world: Many of my English learning students confuse the use of 2 words  Health  (noun) and Healthy (adjective). This  also got me thinking about the ways of describing how you feel in English when you are unhealthy or not well.  Bad health usually suggests to me a more long term condition that may last several months or years. (He suffered from bad health for a few years before he died). We are going to focus on the more short term English words and phrases.Some of these words and expressions will be more formal and others informal. Some are very specific to the feeling and others are more general in their meaning. English Idioms for Sickness + Sickness Vocabulary I feel a little off colour  today.This usually means you are not quite sure what you have  (what your illness is) but you do not feel yourself (feel generally unwell).I think I must be coming down with something    (the beginning of a cold or flu) or I am a little under the weather  today. When I hear the expression “sorry I must be coming down with something”  I often think it is an excuse to cancel an arrangement, to avoid going to school or to get out of something you just simply do not want to do.There are many phrases and expressions in English that are much more specific about the symptoms and the way you are feeling.  I have a cold or I am getting the flu are very specific.  Note that in English we use “A cold” but “ THE flu”. So different use of the articles.Describing how you feel in English can be difficult because only you know really what you feel like at that time: I feel unwell, I am ill, I feel bad, I don’t feel well are all well used phrases. Sickness Vocabulary - How to Describe Symptoms When you have a cold, the flu or a virus you more often give the following symptoms:I have  aches and painsMy throat is soreI have a stuffy noseMy nose is blockedI have a headacheI have a high temperatureI feel hotI have a feverOften the cause of the illness is due to something you ate or drank. In these situations we often feel like we want “to get or to be sick”.I want to vomit.    I feel like throwing up  or puking (more slang and informal)This can be covered generally by using the phrases:I picked up a bugI caught a bugIt’s just one of those 24 hour bugsIf we are ill and cannot go to work, school or university we usually have to take a sick day  (for work) or inform the school or university that you cannot attend that day.Some people are not really sick but feel like they need an extra days rest so they “pretend”  (tell a little white lie) they are sick and we refer to this in English as pulling a sickie. Other English Idioms about Sickness As sick as a dog   I am very sickI am at deaths door   really very unwellOther English idioms for sickness that we use can also have a theoretical meaning such as:As sick as a parrot   usually means to be very annoyed or angryI am sick to death of   I am really tired of somethingSome examples of using English Idioms for Sickness:Michael had wanted to buy a Harley Davidson bike but really could not afford it. He was as sick as a parrot  when his friend told him that he had just purchased one!The mother was constantly telling the children to stop shouting and fighting. She had had enough. She screamed out I am sick to death of your shouting and fighting you have to stop now!!So enjoy your week, stay healthy but learn English idioms for Sickness and other words to describe your symptoms (just in case!). As I said, English students often confuse HEALTH vs HEALTHY. To help you better understand the difference,   here is a short video lesson for you that I created to explain the difference between English adjectives that confuse everyone. One of the explanations is about the difference between HEALTH and HEALTHY. Watch carefully! One of the most common English idioms about sickness is TO FEEL UNDER THE WEATHER. It doesnt really make any sense to a non-native English speaker, does it? How can you feel under the weather? You can be under the table, under your duvet but under the weather?   My second video lesson is about this common English idiom, watch it and find out FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER meaning. Under the Weather Meaning If you follow this link, you will be able to find out UNDER THE WEATHER meaning origin.

Improve Test Taking Skills With These Proven Strategies

Improve Test Taking Skills With These Proven Strategies It's Never too Early to Learn Test Taking Skills Our children live in a world of high stakes tests and there are specific test taking skills that make any exam easier, regardless of grade level, age, or exam format. Federal and state governments, local school districts, and individual schools all have specific tests that children must take to display proficiency, earn credit, or advance academic studies. All of these exams follow different protocol and assess different skills but there are universal exam strategies that can benefit every test taker.Regardless of age, there are certain things students can do to prepare for a test and develop important exam strategies. These test taking skills are important if your child is 8 or 18:Avoid Test Anxiety A certain amount of anxiety is normal when preparing for a test and can often help students work more efficiently, prepare more effectively, and focus on the importance of the test. However, this anxiety should never be paralyzing. If your child is encountering a heightened level of anxi ety over a test there are certain things you can do to help alleviate the worries. You can reframe how you talk about the test and remove any of your own anxiety from your child's presence. Try coaching your child to focus on the preparation and not the test. If your child is well prepared and confident the anxiety should subside.Develop a study schedule Work with your child to develop a study and practice schedule that allows for careful preparation of all test material. Emphasize that cramming for an exam rarely works. Even the youngest test taker can work within a study schedule when preparing for a test. Consider making a visual schedule on a poster or large calendar that will prominently remind everyone of the practice that needs to be accomplished. The professional tutors at Huntington Learning Centers can be an effective part of your test preparation schedule. When you invest in test preparation sessions with one of our tutors your child will receive customized instruction ba sed on specific needs and assessment data. These tutoring sessions can be integrated into your child's study schedule.Prepare the mind AND body It's not enough to prepare a child's mind for the test, you also need to prepare the body. Focus on your child's sleep and ensure a proper bedtime every night leading up to the test. You should also evaluate what your child is eating for breakfast. Try to avoid sugary breakfast cereals that provide temporary energy but may ultimately lead to a sugar crash. Fix protein based breakfasts such as eggs, breakfast burritos, or smoothies made with Greek yogurt and berries. Emphasize following directions Every test has a specific set of directions that each test taker must follow. Do some research ahead of time to see if you can find the specific directions for your child's test. Use these directions during your study sessions to simulate testing conditions. Make sure your child understands the importance of following the directions. Focus on known questions One tried and true test taking strategy is to answer known questions first. This is a skill that any aged child can practice. Students should skip difficult questions and answer those they know for sure, then come back to grapple with ones that pose particular difficulty. Help your child practice this skill by simulating testing situations with sample questions. If you are concerned about coaching your child on test taking strategies contact the tutoring professionals with Huntington Learning Centers. We can create a customized plan that will provide instruction and practice on these crucial test taking skills. There are many different skills that we integrate into our tutoring sessions. What are some other important skills students should practice before taking a test?