50 Awesome Summer Guitar Goals

50 Awesome Summer Guitar Goals Megan L. Summers here, so grab your guitar and set a new goal with the help of guitar teacher  Jerry W. Summer has officially arrived, which means the sun is out, the days are long, and you have plenty of opportunities  to pick up and practice your guitar! Now is the time to go after those dreams youve had of mastering the tricky aspects of learning guitar that have been a roadblock in  your practice throughout the year. To help you get started, weve compiled 50 guitar goals that you can focus on when practicing your guitar this summer. Some are easy fixes, while others take more work, but altogether, they will improve your skills as a guitarist and get you back on track to reaching your guitar goals. So get out your guitar and sunglasses, head  out to the beach, and start practicing. Theres no better  place  to learn the guitar than in the summer breeze! 1. Take lessons. The quickest way to improve is to take guitar lessons. A good guitar teacher will be able to tell you what you need to work on and help you achieve your goals. 2. Teach someone else how to play the guitar. Teaching what youve learned to someone else has been proven to improve your memory  as well. Plus, now youll have a new jam buddy. Its a win/win! 3. Learn a new song. Use your summertime to add a few new songs to your repertoire. Consider learning a new song that forces you to become a better player. 4. Memorize a new song. Memorizing a song will help you master both the music and the techniques and allows you to play it anytime you have a guitar. If you struggle with memorization, these tips from Easy Ear Training might help you look at memorizing music in a whole new way! 5. Learn a new music style. Do you always play one style of music? Learn to play a different style. The challenge will give you a reason to practice. 6. Restring your guitar. How long has it been since you put new strings on your guitar? The beautiful sound of new strings will make your practice time more enjoyable. 7. Get your guitar set up. Setting up your guitar involves adjusting the parts of the guitar to get the best action and intonation possible. Having your guitar set up will make it easier to play and better in tune throughout its range. 8. Upgrade to a new instrument. Is now the time to upgrade to a better quality guitar? Better quality guitars can not only sound better, many  are also easier to play. And, as every guitarist knows, having an instrument youre proud of is great motivation to play every day. 9. Learn how to play classical guitar. Are you looking for a different challenge? Learn to play classical guitar. It will help develop your music reading and fingerpicking skills. 10. Learn how to play electric guitar. Do you only play acoustic guitar? Stretch yourself a little by learning how to play electric. 11. Learn how to bend the pitch. Bending the pitch is one of the classic soloing techniques for guitar. Add this to your skill set to become a better lead guitar player. 12. Learn how to pull off. The pull off is another standard guitar technique that works well for solos, strumming, and picking. 13. Learn how to hammer on. Like the pull off, this technique will help you for solos, strumming, and picking. This lesson from Ultimate Guitar will help you learn the basics of both hammer ons and pull offs. 14. Learn how to use a capo. Learning how to use a  capo is easy and can really increase the number of keys you can play comfortably. 15. Learn how to palm mute. The palm mute is great technique to add to your strumming patterns. 16. Learn how to left-hand mute. The left-hand mute can add a lot of spice to your strumming. 17. Increase your practice time. There is no other way to get better  at the guitar  than to practice. As a general rule, the more you practice, the better you will become. 18. Improve your technique. Work on improving your  technique on the guitar. Remove string buzzing from poorly fingered  chords, make sure you are hitting the right strings with your pick or fingers, learn to use the tip of your fingers to reach fret notes, etc. 19. Learn to read music. Set yourself apart from the crowd of guitar players by learning how to read sheet music for the guitar. 20. Learn to read TAB. If you learn to read tablature, you will find you have a much larger repertoire of music to play. 21. Learn to read Nashville Number charts. Nashville Number charts are one more method musicians use to share music. If youre not already familiar with them, summer is a great time to learn. 22. Learn a new strumming pattern. Dont be stuck with using only a couple strumming patterns. There are so many possibilities. 23. Learn to fingerpick. To make your playing even more interesting, learn to fingerpick. It will make the guitar sound smoother, and you will be able to play more complex patterns. 24. Learn a new picking pattern. The number of fingerpicking patterns is nearly infinite. Add some new ones to your bag of tools. 25. Learn to keep a steady tempo. No one wants to play with a musician who cant  keep a steady beat. Try practicing with a metronome. 26. Join a band. Playing with others will always make you a better player. Just steer clear of  these band practice mistakes! 27. Start a band. Have you always wanted to have your own band? Summer is a great time to start! Try these tips from Music Industry How To to get the ball rolling. 28. Find someone to play duets with. Playing duets is easier to do than putting together a band, but you still gain the benefits of making music with someone else. 29. Learn a new tuning. Using an alternate tuning, or “scordatura,” can make playing certain types of music or certain songs easier to play. 30. Learn how to improvise a solo. Do you only play chords on your guitar? Use the extra time you have during the  summer to learn how to solo. 31. Learn some new guitar licks. A great way to get started with soloing is to learn how to play some common guitar licks. As you get comfortable playing licks, work your way up to solos. 32. Learn the pentatonic scales. The pentatonic scale is one of the most common solo scales. 33. Learn the blues scale. The blues scale is also very common for playing solos, but a little more colorful than the pentatonic scales. 34. Learn major scales. Most songs are in major keys, so knowing these scales will make it easier to feel the key when playing a solo. 35. Learn minor scales. This scale is essential for mastering those minor keys. 36. Learn the modes. Modes are alternative scales that are generated by starting the major scale on a different tone.  The modes are most common for jazz improvisation. 37. Learn arpeggios. Arpeggio is an Italian word that means, broken chord. Essentially, when you play an arpeggio you are playing the notes of the chord individually instead of strumming them.  Arpeggios are great for picking an accompaniment or for solos. 38. Increase your speed. Take any technique, arpeggio, or scale, and learn to play it faster. Use a metronome, and gradually increase the speed. 39. Experiment with new tones. Whether youre playing an electric guitar and using new amp, pedal, and tone settings, or youre learning to change the tone of your acoustic by picking or strumming in a different place on the guitar (closer to the fretboard will sound mellower and closer to the bridge will sound brighter), learning to change your tone will make your music much more interesting for you to play  and for your listeners. 40. Learn chords in a different range. Are you still only playing chords in the first few frets? Expand your range by learning how to play chords in the higher frets. 41. Learn barre chords. One of the best ways to play chords in the higher frets is to learn to play moveable barre chords. 42. Learn Dominant 7th chords. Add some color to your playing by learning to add the 7th to your dominant chords. 43. Learn Major 7th chords. Give your music a little jazz flavor by learning the Major 7th chords. 44. Learn 6th chords. Another simple way to add color to your music is by learning the 6th chords. 45. Learn added 9th chords. The added 9th chords and 2nd chords can make a major chord sound much more interesting. 46. Learn how to play power chords. Power chords are the foundation of much pop music and essential for making distortion sound good. 47. Learn basic music theory. Maybe you dont even know what a 7th chord is or what chord is the dominant. Learning basic music theory will make you a better musician and make it easier for you communicate with other musicians. 48. Learn basic song forms. It is easier to memorize songs and play with a band if you understand the basic song forms. 49. Write a song for the guitar. Take your musical creativity to the next level by writing your own song. 50. Become more musical. Musicality is an intangible skill that is hard to describe but will set you apart from the average guitarist.  Learn to use dynamics, tone, and variety to express your  music rather than just blandly playing the notes. Feeling inspired? Time to start practicing! As youre trying to establish your guitar goals for the summer, be sure to seek help from your guitar teacher, who can point you in the right direction.  Best of luck! Post Author:  Jerry W. Jerry W. teaches classical guitar, composition, trombone and  trumpet  in Grosse Pointe, MI. He received his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from  Cornerstone University and went on to receive both his Masters and PhD in Music Composition from  Michigan State University.  Jerry has been making music and teaching students for over thirty years. 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

What to Know About the U.S. History SAT Subject Test

What to Know About the U.S. History SAT Subject Test Are you deciding whether to take the U.S. History SAT Subject Test? You may have prior experience with SAT Subject Tests, or perhaps this is your first one. Either way, what should you know about preparing for the U.S. History SAT Subject Test? You should aim to understand the structure of the exam, complete practice tests, and find a particular study method that works best for you. Read on to learn more about what to know about the U.S. History SAT Subject Test: U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #1: Review your past history work The College Board recommends that you take a college preparatory U.S. History class before you sit for the SAT Subject Test. If youve taken that course, then youre in a great position to potentially excel on the exam. To review for the test, locate your class notes and old exams. Make sure you go over concepts that were challenging for you, as well as any answers you got wrong on the tests. There is no need to practice writing tasks, since this exam is entirely multiple-choice. U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #2: Know whats going to be on the test The U.S. History SAT Subject Test is one hour in length, with 90 multiple-choice questions. The largest topic is political history, which composes 31-35% of the exam. Next is social history at 20-24%. Economic history, foreign policy, and intellectual and cultural history each make up 13-17% of the test. Remember too that Pre-Columbian history (up until 1789) is only 20% of the test, while 1790-1898 and 1899 to the present make up 40% of the exam each. You can use these numbers to be strategic about studying. [RELATED: How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests] U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #3: Decide which study tools work for you As you approach your test date, increase the intensity of your review. Experiment with different study tools to decide which ones you enjoy most. Maybe youre a fan of flashcards. This technique is especially useful for memorizing key terms from your textbook. On the other hand, you might enjoy working with several trusted classmates who will keep you on task and raise concepts that you may have missed. Breaking the material into periods might be useful, especially for this exam. Whatever tool or tools you choose, practice often. U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #4: Know your cause and effect Memorizing facts is useful to a point, but this test is particularly interested in the connection between events. When studying a particular time period, notice trends and factors that may have led to the events immediately after that period. Working with a timeline can be helpful in tracking cause and effect. For example, the pre-World War I years are full of political, social, and economic factors that led to the war. Quiz yourself constantly on the connections between moments in history. In short, know why certain political developments occurred. U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #5: Take practice tests U.S. History practice tests are a great resource. Why? It is always helpful to know what to expect on the exam given time constraints. You will learn about your pacing, and about the areas where you may want to concentrate further. Remember to keep an eye on the time, and to find your watch for test day. U.S. History SAT Subject Test Tip #6: Finesse your multiple-choice strategy Since this exam is multiple-choice, brush up on your multiple-choice strategies. For instance, crossing out wrong responses might be useful. Its also worthwhile to be on the lookout for anything that would eliminate an answer choice. Sometimes, the test creators will include a small detail that will render the answer incorrect. [RELATED: Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?] Rememberyouve got this Youve done the work. This is your chance to show off that knowledge to colleges. As the College Board reminds you, there might be questions that youre not familiar with. Thats okay! You dont have to answer every question correctly to receive an 800 (the highest score). Rest the night before, and wake up ready to rock the exam! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Learn to Write Chinese Characters

Learn to Write Chinese Characters How Do You Write Chinese Hanzi Characters? Chapters Learn to Write Your Name in Chinese How to Write “Happy New Year” in Chinese Writing in Chinese Using Word Where Can You Learn to Write Chinese Characters? Which is the Best Way to Learn to Write Chinese Characters?Learning Chinese is probably one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. It doesn't help that it has one of the most complex writing systems you'll ever see (we're not even going to mention tones yet!).  Even the most motivated students can start to waver when they come face-to-face with thousands of characters to memorize just to read basic documents and your everyday Chinese text.By taking things slowly, it can be much easier to learn the most important simplified Chinese characters without losing your motivation.While learning Chinese might seem difficult at first, you needn’t walk the length of the Great Wall of China or move to Mainland China, Taiwan, or Singapore in order to decipher the Chinese writing system or pick up a few basic Mandarin Chi nese words.If you've decided to learn Mandarin Chinese online and are looking for somewhere to start, you should just follow our quick guide on how to write Chinese characters!Look up for the best Mandarin courses London.Hong Kong is a great destination for spending the Chinese New Year. However, they tend to speak Cantonese rather than Mandarin there. (Source: Jerome)In the West, we tend to associate the new year with resolutions, new opportunities, and our ambitions. In China and nearby cultures, the focus is on prosperity. The new year is synonymous with prosperity.  This is why wishing someone a happy new year usually focuses on wishing someone financial prosperity or expressing similar sentiments.Generally speaking, you can wish people a happy new year as follows:???? (xin nián kuài lè)??? (xin nián hao)As a bonus, the Superprof team has brought you a few other important ways to congratulate people, wish them well, and express happiness on special occasions:Happy birthday?? ??sheng rì kuài lèHappy holidays????jié rì kuài lèHappy father’s day?????fuqin jié kuài lèHappy mother’s day?????muqin jié kuài lèHappy Valentine’s day?????qíng rén jié kuài lèMerry Christmas?????shèng dàn jié kuài lèHappy new year???xin nián haoHappy new year?????xin nián kuài lè xiHappiness, prosperity, longevity???fú lù shòuMay all your wishes come true????xin xiang shì chéngBe happy and????gong xi fa cáiWhy not take a deeper look at the Chinese writing system? 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 tutor s ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Writing in Chinese Using WordSince the creation of Microsoft Word and word processing programs, this question comes up again and again in Chinese language groups and forums.  Whether you use Windows, Linux, or iOS, there are Chinese students, Chinese immigrants, and aspiring Chinese speakers all wondering how their Qwerty keyboard can be used to write the characters used in the Chinese language.For beginners, writing Chinese characters in Microsoft Words is really complicated. (Source: Shy Sol)This is really important if you’re trying to put together a resume or cover letter in Chinese or working on a visa application for the People’s Republic of China. You don’t need to be a technical genius in order to write Chinese characters in Microsoft Word.If your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you’ll need to use your installation CD in order to configure your versions of Windows and Word to be able to u se the Chinese language.  You can also install a patch known as the “Chinese Global IME” for free.You can also change the input language on your computer by using the “Desktop Language Bar” on your Windows operating system. In this case, you’ll want to change “ENG” to “CH”. Where Can You Learn to Write Chinese Characters?In addition to the Confucius Institute, the Chinese educational organization found in a number of cities in colleges, there are plenty of different places where you can learn the Chinese hanzi characters.No matter your age, level, or schedule, these organizations are ready to respond to the growing demand for Chinese education and can help you learn this important language.Don’t forget that there are also plenty of resources on the Internet and mobile apps you can download to learn Chinese characters for free. However, it’s highly recommended that you enlist a professional teacher or tutor to help you master this complicated aspect of the langu age.While California probably makes you think more of Spanish than it does Chinese, there are 5 different Confucius Institutes in the state. However, New York has more centers than any other state with 9 in total.Here are some of the Confucius Institutes in the US:Confucius Institute at San Francisco State UniversityConfucius Institute at BostonConfucius Institute at the University of California, Los AngelesConfucius Institute at Miami UniversityConfucius Institute at Houston Independent School DistrictConfucius Institute at the University of Texas at DallasConfucius Institute at the University of South FloridaConfucius Institute at the University at Albany, State University of New YorkConfucius Institute at Miami Dade CollegeConfucius Institute at State College of Optometry, State University of New YorkConfucius Institute in ChicagoConfucius Institute for Business at State University of New YorkConfucius Institute at Columbia UniversityConfucius Institute at California State Univer sity, Long BeachConfucius Institute at Temple UniversityConfucius Institute at the University of California, Santa BarbaraIf you can't find a Confucius Institute in this list, we recommend checking out the Institute's website. Which is the Best Way to Learn to Write Chinese Characters?The Chinese writing system follows a specific hierarchy of 3 main aspects. Learning Chinese hanzi characters is built upon progressively learning these elements.When learning a new foreign language, it's important that you also understand the history and culture of where the language is spoken. (Source: Fancycrave)The Graphic Aspect of the Chinese CharactersWhen you first start learning about Chinese characters, your attention will be brought to the “radicals”. These are simple recurring graphical elements. Once you can easily recognize and find these within a text, after a lot of practice, it’ll be much easier to memorize a character and be able to write it yourself.Furthermore, once you can ass ociate certain pictographs to one another, you’ll be able to create even more Chinese characters. There are around 200 key radicals including those representing man, water, or fire, for example.Each Chinese character is consists of between 1 and 20 of these radicals. These need to be written in a very specific and ordered manner as they have been for centuries.  Their order and direction defines the balance of the character. It’s also a great way to help you learn the characters if you’re a kinesthetic learner.It’s essential that you know the traits that make up any given character if you want to be able to look them up in a dictionary (and you will!).  This is also the foundation of Chinese calligraphy.Learn more about writing hanzi...Strokes in Writing Chinese CharactersFirstly, you’ll notice that Chinese characters need to be written within an invisible square whose limits must always be respected as if you were coloring and trying to stay within the lines.Secondly, it should be noted that all Chinese characters can be written using only 8 strokes and the stroke order is massively important.These are known as the Eight Principles of Yong.They are the fundamentals of Chinese writing:DotHorizontalErectHookRaiseBendThrow awayPressing forcefullyIt should be noted that while Chinese Pinyin system of romanization was created in order to make Chinese learning easier for Westerners, it won't help your written Chinese at all! If you want to learn how the Chinese pronunciation of words, you can always listen to Chinese people rather than constantly referring to the Chinese dictionary. If you can't find any native Chinese speakers, consider using online dictionaries and guides to learn how to pronounce the words.Discover also how to write in Chinese using calligraphy...

Chemistry Revision Resources

Chemistry Revision Resources What Resources to Call On for Chemistry Revision ChaptersGeneral Resources for Reviewing ChemistryResources From Across the PondChemistry Review Materials for GCSE-Level StudentsA-Levels Review ResourcesT’is that time of year again, when students start buckling down and really focusing on their upcoming exams... even though they will sit them months from now.As you well know, these exams, whether A-Levels or GCSEs, are life-changing.At the very least, they represent your chance at higher education. At most, they make the difference between satisfying career opportunities and forever being stuck at the low end of the pay scale.Your Superprof is well aware of the significance of your upcoming ordeal and wants to do everything to help you succeed. In that spirit, we present the best review materials for a subject some say is their most difficult: Chemistry.From apps and podcasts to websites and reference materials you can find at your local library, we’ve searched far and wide to bring you the best chemistry revision materials so that you don’t have to scurry from site to site, hoping you’ve found the Holy Grail of exam review.Off we pop now, on a virtual tour of everything you might need to ace your exams.GCSE science review.And their collection of literature is unrivaled!RSC maintains a database of chemistry books, abstracts and journals that are free to all.You may read about catalysts and chemical reaction or simply peruse their blog, which consists of a variety of topics published by members of the Society themselves.We’d be tempted to say that the Royal Society of Chemistry should be your one-stop shop but there is so much more out there!One more feature offered on this site: a link to ChemSpider, a professional chemists’ database that details everything you could ever want to know about any chemical, including its different names and isotope count.Resources From Across the PondGranted, the American school science curriculum is vastly different from ours.Still, chemistry remains the same no mat ter which side of the Atlantic you are and, just because the accent is different, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t explore what resources are available to you that originate over there.The Khan Academy has compiled a generous video library, broken down into Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, General Chemistry and AP Chemistry â€" those topics being most similar to our A-Levels subject matter.Through these videos that explain chemistry concepts step by step, you may brush up on:The electronic structure of atomsChemical bonding, including covalent bondingAcids, bases and chemical equilibriumStoichiometry and molecular compositionRedox reactions and electrochemistryAfter watching the video, you may complete the included exercises related to that subject and, afterward, take a quiz to assess your degree of mastery of the topic.This entire collection is free for anyone to partake of, as are the videos on Crash Course Chemistry.Some of them are elementary, such as the ones about lab safet y and the basic explanation of the electron but others are more on target with your studies, such as enthalpy, entropy and calorimetry.Just remember that only the accent is different on these resources; the science is solid... and helpful!Your local library may have science books you could study from Source: Pixabay Credit: Workingham LibrariesChemistry Review Materials for GCSE-Level StudentsNow we get to the meat of the matter: what are the best apps, games, websites, and books that will give you the greatest chance at acing your exam?While most of the ones mentioned so far require you to sift through tons of information for that specific nugget you are looking for, these address topics you can count on seeing, come test time.Here are our favourite Chemistry revision books.The Best Chemistry Review AppsAfter the Royal Society of Chemistry’s super-functional periodic table app, your next-best pick would be Complete Chemistry for Android (it is not yet available for iOS).The basic chemistry topics can help reinforce your knowledge of chemistry fundamentals while the advanced dictionary will give you a handy reference for chemistry nomenclature.The periodic table is built-in, as is a notepad and a quiz bank.You should note that there is a book by the same name, meant for the IGCSE candidate, that might prove helpful to you, as well.The international version of your exam is not so different than the one you anticipate sitting and, in any case, the science stays the same from one exam to the next!You may want to download your free copy of this best-regarded revision manual...Find more chemistry revision apps to hel you study.The Best Chemistry GamesWhile we would never accuse anyone of putting off their studies in favour of fun in the digital realm, we agree with all of the science that says taking a multi-pronged approach to your studies is beneficial.To that end, let Superprof steer you to a couple of award-winning, chemistry-related games.SpaceChem: your mis sion as a Reactor Engineer is to build molecules and place them within a quadrant, building a circuit through which atoms and electrons may flow.Touted as the best Indie game the year of its release, today it is also used as a teaching tool at the college level, in the chemistry department as well as the computer programming department.ChemCaper  is the world’s first chemistry role-play game in which you, as the character Roub, must save your world by collecting elements, brewing potions and overseeing bonding processes.Targeted to teenagers, the chemistry principles are woven into the story in such a way that students internalise them and remember them, even if they’ve not played for a while.Get the best chemistry tuition on Superprof now.The adventure is available for download for both iOS and Android systems.A-Levels Review ResourcesMost likely, your beaker runneth over with review materials and, should that be the case, we’re very happy for your bounty... but is it enough? More specifically: is there enough variety in your study materials that you don’t feel that chemistry revision is the most dreadful facet of your life so far?Let Superprof help you mix things up a little by suggesting a few chemistry websites you might check out if only to assert you have a firm grasp on your subject material.ThoughtCo is a thought-provoking website that comprises of bite-sized information on any given topic, including chemistry.What we love about it is that it is not targeted to any particular group - students or professionals. Every concept is presented in terms that are easy to grasp and easy to build on.Their series of chemistry articles cover everything from chemical laws to chemistry in everyday life.I find this website sometimes hard to turn away from for its sheer wealth of fascinating, well-presented topics!By contrast, ChemSpider is all business.A chemical structures database used by industry and endorsed by the Royal Society of Chemistry, you may tap in to this page’s vast information stores to refresh your memory on any chemical’s properties.If you are looking for resources more in line with the focus of your studies, Study Wise is the page for you.Whether you will sit AQA, OCR or Edexcel, their review materials are organised in such a way that you may concern yourself with only the specifics of the exam you will sit.Past papers and marking schemes, revision notes for inorganic, organic and physical chemistry; videos, mindmaps, quizzes and more...Were it not for the firm belief that students should avail themselves to a wide spectrum of study materials, we might proclaim this site to be the only one you need!That would mean you would miss out on these great blogs, though.Today’s educational philosophy advocates for exposure to multiple sources of information so that students may draw their own conclusions based on their individual learning styles.By reading articles that are more closely aligned with the function of chemistr y in everyday applications, you may get a clearer picture of chemistry fundamentals and how they apply outside of the lab.Compound Interest is a blog that reflects on the history of chemistry and how chemistry impacts our lives today.The Chronicle Flask’s mission is to dispel junk science by presenting factual research pertinent to our daily life.Scholarly Kitchen features guest posts by scientists active in academic research. Their site also hosts a podcast for you to partake of while you’re on the go!Between these review materials and the resources your school or tutor may have presented you with, chances are your diligence in studying chemistry will yield desired results!

Learning Italian The Language of Music

Learning Italian The Language of Music Learn to Speak Italian, the Official Language of Music ChaptersWhy is Italian the Language of Music?Italian Musical TerminologyThe Great Classical Italian ComposersThe Italian Language and OperaItalian in Modern-Day MusicThere are many different ways you can learn Italian. For instance, you may enjoy Italian cinema or have a passion for Italian gastronomy.You may also learn Italian through Italian tutoring.There are thousands of Italian teachers around the world who can help you with your homework, grammar exercises, listening comprehension and your Italian pronunciation regardless of where you live.Superprof is an online platform that helps each learner find their ideal in-home or online tutor for all kinds of subjects and budgets.Another option is taking an  Italian language course at a language school in your spare time.And what about if you’re interested in music?As we’re going to see, the Italian language and music share a long history which spans several centuries.The first traces of the Italian language being used in a musical context are from the Middle Ages:Guido d’Arezzo (992 â€" 1033), inventor of modern musical notationPetrarch (1304 â€" 1374), an Italian poet and initiator of the 14th century renaissanceBut it was during the Renaissance period (from the 14th to the 18th century), which began in Italy and the city of Florence, that the music came anchored to this beautiful country shaped like a boot.This was an exciting period for Italy and the world of music alike, as modern Europe began to develop and make its mark on the rest of the world.Italian Musical TerminologyIt was during the Baroque period in particular that Italy, its composers and its musical language began to spread throughout the rest of Europe.The Baroque period spanned the 17th and 18th centuries and heavily featured the harpsichord, a keyboard instrument from the period.As the decades and centuries passed, Italian continued to dominate the language around music, as it still does in the classical music of today.Everyone is capable of taking part in this musical-linguistic heritage, even without being a native speaker of Italian!Here are a few examples of the Italian vocabulary you would be expected to learn as a classical musician, regardless of your level:A cappella: Without instrumentsAdagio: SlowAllegro: LivelyAndante: At a walking paceConcerto: Solo instrument accompanied by orchestraCrescendo: Increasing in volumeDiminuendo: Becoming softerForte: LoudMezzo forte: Moderately loudPianissimo: Very quietPiano: QuietPoco a poco: Bit by bitPresto: FastTempo: TimingThese are just a few key examples, but the amount of vocabulary used in English music is incredibly extensive.For those learning a musical instrument today or are hoping to take it up, learning music theory does count as knowing some Italian - even if it seems you don't know anything 'useful' such as greetings, the Italian alphabet, days of the week in Italian or common Italian phrases and expressions.If you’d like to take your Italian learning fu rther, why not call on the help of a teacher to help you in your language learning as well as your fluency in Italian as a foreign language?Hiring an Italian teacher or private Italian tutor as you learn about Italian grammar rules, verb conjugation, how to use adjectives, and common Italian words and phrases to use in Italian conversation will mean that you can ditch the phrasebook and get to know Italia for yourself. You find an Italian tutor near you or learn Italian online via Skype or other means of communication.You’ll also be able to go from speaking basic Italian to being fluent in your conversational Italian speaking, working on the melodic Italian pronunciation that makes the language so beautiful along the way. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1 st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Great Classical Italian ComposersThe Italian language is known around the world for its beauty.It’s hard to find a more beautiful language than the one that is spoken on the other side of the Alps. Portuguese and French often grace our ears with their romantic phonetics, but there’s something about Italian…It’s no wonder then that the search for beauty in music usually finishes with Italian composers!You'll probably realise Vivaldi's Four Seasons or Verdi's Dies Irae from the very first chord ¦ source: Visualhunt - ancasta1901Without needing to be a big fan of classical music and opera, we all know at least one composer of Italian origin who has made their mark on music as well as the history of art.Among these great composers and musicians from history are:Gregorio Allegri,Giovanni Gabrieli,Claudio Monteverdi,Antonio Vivaldi,Antonio Salieri,Francesco Cavalli,Giuseppe Verdi,Cesare NegriVincenzo Bellini,Domenico Scarlatti,Gioachino Rossini,Giacomo Puccini,Bruno Maderma,Gaetano Donizetti,These great names represent the centuries of scores, transpositions, crotchets, and minims which have not only allowed the Italian language to last as a musical language but which have also made Italian the language we most heavily associate with music.There are many ways you can learn about the Italian language and its music. You could go to a music school or even learn at university.During your higher education, you may have the opportunity to take optional classes alongside your degree. Why not choose a module in the history of art or even study Italian for beginners?You could take a trip to Italy for Italian langua ge lessons as part of a language exchange in an Italian city â€" there really is no better way to learn a new language and learn to speak Italian fluently than by immersing yourself in Italian culture.So, knowing how to speak Italian could lead you to a career in music among many other possibilities â€" did you know that speaking Italian is a real asset in the fashion industry?The Italian Language and OperaSo, we know that Italy’s musical history is a force to be reckoned with, but what about its modern music?The incredible talents of the Italians didn’t stop once the composers of the Renaissance died.Italian contemporary music has also been blessed with the emergence of genius composers such as the world famous Ennio Morricone, Luciano Berio and Sylvano Bussotti.Particularly at the time of the so-called ‘democratisation of opera’, which took place all over the world in the 1990’s, Italian opera singers flew the flag for Italian music once again.The Sydney Opera House is a symbol of opera's modern-day success ¦ source: Visualhunt - Alex wongNames such as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Roberto Alagna or even older ones such as Enrico Caruso, Mario Del Monaco and Carlo Bergonzi are all very familiar to us.Every one of these singers spoke Italian, the language of music, and this is a perfect example of how language and culture are often a match made in heaven.Italian in Modern-Day MusicAs you now know, Italian is the official language of music.Of course, being a musician and speaking Italian are two very different things, and Italian musical terminology is used as a part of English vocabulary, for example: ‘singing a capella’, ‘da capo’, ‘going to the opera’, ‘play those notes staccato’.But the influence of the Italian language on music doesn’t stop at classical and opera.Contemporary music is also influenced by modern Italian singers, whose songs are famous around the world:MinaLaura PausiniEros RamazzottiSo, Italian is definitel y a musical language in its sing-song intonation as well as its history and influence.Find a private tutor on Superprof to help you master the Italian language:Italian lessons GlasgowItalian lessons LondonOnline Italian lessonsItalian classes near me

What Are the Principles of Hatha Yoga

What Are the Principles of Hatha Yoga What Is Hatha Yoga? ChaptersThe Origins of Hatha YogaThe Specificities of Hatha YogaThe Effects of Hatha Yoga“Hatha yoga is spirituality of the body; it is the most perfect union of corporeal and incorporeal.” - Terri GuillemetsYoga is an ancient discipline which has become a veritable sporting activity that’s popular all over the world, including in the UK. There are different branches and disciplines of yoga including the popular ashtanga yoga, prenatal yoga, Kundalini yoga, Iyengar yoga, even Vinyasa yoga and Hatha yoga.Today we’ll be focusing on the latter for the simple reason that you could consider it the most “traditional” of the different forms of yoga. For this reason, it’s one of the most common forms of yoga found in the UK.So why is Hatha yoga so popular, what are the common poses, and how can a hatha yoga class help me to strengthen and tone muscles?You’ll find the answers to these questions and more throughout this article. everyone can achieve this and progress in Hatha y oga.Of course, benefits such as inner peace might be good enough to convince some people, but what are the concrete benefits?What about the benefits for the body and mind?You’ll find the answers to these questions as you read on.The Effects of Hatha YogaThere are plenty of benefits to Hatha yoga! The various exercises during a dynamic yoga session can help you get into shape and improve your health in general, which is always worth working on. Yoga doesn’t just focus on one part of your body but your entire wellbeing, which is why you chain together several different poses.Whether you do classes in a group or on your own, Hatha yoga will improve your fitness. (Source: janeb13)Firstly, you can manage stress by carefully controlling your breathing. Breathing is hugely important in Hatha yoga because you need it to hold the different poses as long as you can.Hatha yoga can also make you more aware of yourself because each position will quickly tell you if there are any problems, th erefore making you more familiar with each part of your body, breathing, and any problems you may have.How can we talk about Hatha yoga without mentioning muscle definition and tone?Since you have to hold each pose for a while, you’ll be giving different groups of muscles a good workout. In fact, traditional yoga is great for toning muscles while also taking care of your spirit and mind. It’s good for everything!While this might seem obvious, Hatha yoga is also a great way to become far more flexible. Again, this is thanks to the poses you have to adopt. In fact, in addition to being great for your mind, you’ll also work on various parts of your body while stretching and improving your flexibility.Finally, Hatha yoga can work wonders for your spirit and mind, especially in terms of relaxation. With visualisation and meditative relaxation, beginners will quickly learn to manage their emotions and their actions, improve their concentration, as well as better boost our morale and mood.Hatha yoga is a complete discipline that is halfway between a workout and meditation and you’ll very quickly start to see some progress over the course of a few weeks. The only thing left to do now is to try it for yourself.Let’s all head to our nearest gym or sports centre!Don't forget that if the Hatha yoga practice doesn't take your fancy, you can also get power yoga or Ashtanga yoga classes, do Bikram yoga (or hot yoga) or Vinyasa yoga. While all of these yoga styles are different, they all tend to include breathing techniques (pranayama) and adopting certain yoga postures (asanas). Even if you're not sold on aligning your chakras, the physical benefits of yoga are a good reason to take it up.If you don't feel comfortable attending group classes, don't forget that you can look for a yogi or yoga teacher on sites like Superprof. You can be taught yoga poses and enjoy the restorative benefits of yoga practices with your own personal instructor all while gaining a deeper spiritual understanding of the yoga philosophy.Don't forget to ask your doctor if yoga is right for you if you have pre-existing conditions or have had any injuries that may cause you problems. You don't want to get injured in your first every session!

Reasons to Play the Guitar

Reasons to Play the Guitar How Do You Become a Guitarist? ChaptersDevelop Your Creativity with Your GuitarLearning Guitar by Joining a BandFinding Your Rhythm by Playing the GuitarWhat Are the Psychological Benefits of Being a Guitarist?“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening.” - Aretha FranklinA lot of Brits play a music instrument.Would you like to become one of them or become a famous guitar player?You can learn guitar for fun, learn two or three songs, and impress your friends at a party. However, learning the guitar takes a lot of effort. It gives you an opportunity to let your imagination run wild, improve your ear, and even relieve stress. Whether you're looking for a free guitar lesson, online guitar lessons for beginners, or just want to learn how to play the guitar for fun, learning how to play guitar comes with a lot of benefits. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDevelop Your Creativity with Your GuitarYou can’t really call yourself a guitarist after learning a few basic barre chords and buying a chord dictionary. You also need to be able to create a riff, improvise in a variety of different musical styles, and compose your own music.The guitar is a great way to improve your creativity. (Source: Pexels)You can work on your creativity from the second you pick up an acoustic g uitar, electric guitar, or bass guitar.  The same is true for most artistic activities, you need to improvise a bit in order to learn and develop your own style.  Whether you’re doing music, art, or dance, you should be encouraged to express your creativity and develop your own styles.In a guitar class, your guitar tutor or teacher might ask you to improvise in front of the other students using a certain arpeggio, pentatonic scale, or a specific guitar chord.If you’re teaching yourself, then you’re going to have to force yourself to do this kind of learning activity and improve several aspects of your guitar playing:Your earYour breathingYour playingCoordinating your right hand and left handYour techniqueYour creativityIf you become more creative with the guitar, you can even start creating your own songs and compositions for it.  The more you practise improvisation, the more comfortable you’ll feel with it. Soon you’ll start being able to play solos during your performanc es!Struggling to find your creativity?You can always start with a bassline, a drumbeat, or a chord progression from a famous song to get you started.Learning Guitar by Joining a BandTeaching yourself how to play guitar can be good in the beginning when you learn to read tablature, tune your guitar, and use a plectrum or pick. However, this can become quite boring very quickly.Joining a band is a great way to share your passion for music. (Source: Free-Photos)You can find yourself doing the same exercises again and again, not knowing how to play or how to progress. You can very quickly start becoming demotivated and consider giving up playing guitar.  Of course, if you get guitar lessons with a guitar teacher or private tutor, this can still happen. However, you can always talk to them about it if you feel unchallenged or need a new approach like a group class so that you can learn alongside other guitarists.Why not look for bands?Music is there to be shared, whether with other music ians or an audience. It conveys emotions, allows us to forget about our problems, and gets us dancing...Whether you want to play blues guitar, rock guitar, jazz strumming patterns, or a few power chords in a punk band, playing in a band will give you the chance to play concerts. However, you first need to put the work in. In fact, every member of a band needs to put in a lot of work.As a novice guitarist, the simplest thing to do is join a band that already exists. This means you won’t need to organise recitals, practise sessions, the band’s calendar, or scheduling concerts, they should already have all of this sorted.The problem when you first start is that it can be difficult to find a band that already exists and is looking for members. Guitarists are hardly rare and most bands will be able to choose from several different ones. You will, therefore, need to give it your all in the audition and make sure you're prepared before you go.Before an audition, you should probably pra ctise a couple of the songs that the band regularly plays. You’ll be less stressed and you’ll be able to show off all your skills as a guitarist.You should also know that your level mightn’t necessarily be a drawback. You may find a group of beginners or intermediates who can help you progress at a lightning pace, as long as you also practise outside of the scheduled practise sessions.Additionally, make sure you get a good feeling from the group of musicians you’re joining! Just like when choosing your guitar teacher or tutor, you need to feel comfortable with them, get along with them, and create an amicable environment between all members of the band.Finding Your Rhythm by Playing the GuitarBeing a member of a band is a great way to work on your rhythm and timekeeping.A drummer can help you develop a sense of rhythm. (Source: Free-Photos)If you’re playing on your own, you can also use a metronome to keep time. In a band, you can also learn to keep time and the drummer wi ll usually act as your metronome. Every instrument needs to keep time with the drummer.  While you can practise keeping time on your own, you still have to follow the drummer when they’re playing. Not everyone has a natural rhythm, after all.Someone who grew up with musicians or dancers will be more familiar with rhythm and will probably learn to play guitar more quickly than someone who didn’t. Someone with no musical experience will probably have to work on their rhythm, music theory, and scales.Unfortunately, working on your rhythm isn’t as simple as playing a chord. While it’s more complicated, it’s not impossible!You should work on your listening, listening to the tempo, the beats, and the time signature of each song you hear on the radio, TV, the supermarket, and even in lifts!Here’s some advice for working on your rhythm:Tap your feetCount the beatsMove your right hand in timeWork with a metronomePlay along to a songPlay in a bandThis can take some time, but you†™ll eventually be as good at playing in time as Hendrix or Clapton!What Are the Psychological Benefits of Being a Guitarist?There are a lot of benefits to playing the guitar online, learning as a beginner, or playing with other musicians. Don't forget there are free guitar lessons and beginner guitar lessons online.Playing the guitar is a great way to unwind. (Source: andreas160578)Playing the guitar can loosen up your fingers as well as provide the following benefits:Develop your memory: to learn a chord, play tabs, or practise new songs, you’re going to need to use some of that grey matter. You will learn to concentrate for longer periods of time and work on your memory while keeping your brain alert.Get rid of stress: practising an instrument is a good way to relax. You’ll need to be focused on learning to play the guitar to worry about work or your personal life. Stress is the cause of a lot of everyday problems: weight gain, loss of appetite, sleeping poorly, and even cardi ovascular problems. Imagine being able to alleviate some of this by simply playing the guitar!Self-improvement: When you play the piano, you just have to press the key in order to play a note whereas when you play the guitar, you have to press down correctly on the string in order to play a note. This can take a lot of work. While not everyone learns at the same speed, everyone will come to a stage where they feel like they’re not progressing or they’re stagnating. You need to have a steely resolve in order to get over this.Enjoyment: just like with sport, playing the guitar can help release dopamine and endorphins, two hormones responsible for pleasure.Expressing your emotions: music is first and foremost an expression of our emotions, be them joy, melancholy, anger, or love. If you’re fed up, pick up your instrument and start strumming away, playing a riff, a chord progression, and you’ll start feeling better. Don’t think about it, just let loose.Meeting people: playing the guitar is also a great way to meet other musicians who share the same passion for music as you. Joining a band can help you make new friends and share a common interest.So are you ready to start playing the guitar?

Pay Back - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Pay Back - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Pay BackInfinitive form: Pay BackPresent Tense: Pay Back/ Pays Backing form: Paying BackPast tense: Paid BackPast Participle: Paid BackPay Back is an inseparable English phrasal verb. It can be used in two different ways:When you give back the money that you owe from someone1. Can you pay me back the $1,000 you owe? I need to it to pay someone back as well.2. If you let her borrow some money from you, you might as well consider it a charity since she never pays back. Believe me, I learn from experience; she never paid me back once.When you do something back to people because of what they did to you whether directly or indirectly1.  James planted a bomb at Jakes house to pay him back for ruining his life through social media.2. Susan slipped on a banana peel in her workplace. She wants the janitor to pay her back and it just so happened that she is the boss, so she fired the janitor.iframe width=560 height=315 src=//www.youtube.com/embed/vpV9eIXbVlU ?rel=0 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen/iframeExercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.I have a problem. Theres a man in my office with a gun who says that hes going to kill me if we dont ___ him ___.How much do they owe Porter (Mel Gibson)?What will Porter do if he doesnt get paid back?How much is the mans (white) suit worth? (Provide an estimate)Fill in the gaps from the video above:Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Pay Back.1. Ill lend you some money, as long as you promise to ___ me ___ on the day you said you will.2. Its a good thing that the Smiths didnt make us ____ them ____ for breaking their window.3. Dad got ___ ____ today. Now, it would be a great time to ask him for our allowance.4. Can you at least ____ me ____ half of what you owe? If not, Ill make you ____ ____ in some other way!5. Tess is a vengeful woman and wants her ex husband to ____ her ____ for cheating on her.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences ( or positive, at if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.