What Is The Best Way To Learn Piano?

What Is The Best Way To Learn Piano?When people ask the question what's the best way to learn piano and how does it work, the answer is Upswing Tutoring. This program focuses on teaching students how to play the piano without necessarily having a teacher at hand or having to worry about teaching them anything. A tutor will watch you playing, but you will not be taught.Upswing tutoring is all about giving you a unique opportunity to hone your skills. That is why, there are three ways to learn piano. The first one is called E-Learning and this is what most of us are used to. What is more innovative in Upswing Tutoring is the advanced stage called Educational Recording.In Educational Recording, you are given a CD or DVD of your own doing. You just have to put the CD or DVD into your computer and then you can start to learn from yourself. It is just like being with your teacher.After studying Upswing Tutoring, you can continue it on your own. Then you may decide to continue to use Upswin g tutoring with a student who has chosen to participate in Upswing Tutoring. Also, if you have mastered some piece of music, you can also start to perform it. You can make it a live performance and invite other people to come and listen.To study and work at Upswing tutoring, you need to set aside a period of time every day to work on it. It is also helpful to set aside a place to practice when you are working on it. One good thing is that, there is no limit to how much you want to learn. You may need the whole day or only for an hour every other day.The right type of help is also important. Those who are determined to learn how to play the piano without teachers and the right method, may find Upswing Tutoring the right solution. The right kind of help will make your learning experience more enjoyable and also you will find the discipline to stick to it.Learning to play the piano is a rewarding experience. You will get a lot of enjoyment out of it and you will have fun with yourself while learning how to play the piano.

Reading and Playing Guitar Chords the Easy Way

Reading and Playing Guitar Chords the Easy Way Improve your Guitar Playing with Chord Charts and Tab. ChaptersRemind Me, What's a Chord?Guitar Chord ChartsDifferences between Guitar Tabs and Chord ChartsReading a Chord ChartSome Chords You Really Need to Know.Advice for Playing Guitar ChordsAs a guitarist you can play and compose your own pieces of music. But you’ll probably also want to play pieces by your favorite artists, guitarists, and musicians.Whether you like listening to rock guitar, jazz guitar, funk, blues, hard-rock, classical or even flamenco, there must be pieces that you want to learn to play on your guitar. Otherwise, why is it that you want to play the guitar?To get learning all these different songs and guitar you don't have a lot of options - you’ll simply need to learn your chords to play the song. No discussion.Guitarists that can't play chords are unheard of. And a piece without a chord is really pretty rare too!But how do you read guitar chords, and how do you play them? Can you get help in the form of guitar lessons or tutorials? Do you need to know music theory?In this piece, we'll answer all these questions - and show you some of the easy techniques to get to grips with learning, reading, and playing chords.To transcribe chords properly, musicians use what we call a chord chart or chord diagram. This is a visual representation of a chord on the guitar neck - meaning which fingers we would put where.Thanks to this diagram, it is pretty simple to understand the movements you need to make for a chord.This is what guitar chord charts look like. You probably recognise them!In fact, every chord for guitar can be rewritten on a chord chart - as, with these chord diagrams, you can represent any arrangement of fingers on the neck. It's quite straightforward, meaning that you don't need to know anything about the theory of chord progressions or scales - because all these show is the physical demands of the fingering of the given chord on the fret board. (Although, to know how to play guitar fully, you should engage in a bit of music theory!) Essentially, chord boxes simplify reading chords in the same way that guitar tabs simplify reading music.How’s a Chord Chart Written?To read and play guitar chords, you must learn how to read chord charts and then how to play your guitar chords.On the box, you’ll see three kinds of information - strings, frets, and fingers. With these three factors, you can represent any chord.  A chord box will tell you exactly which finger to place, and where to put it. It'll tell you, say, to put your first finger on the second fret of the first string.To read a chord box you should know that your guitar strings are represented by the vertical lines, and that the frets are represented by the horizontal lines. It's like an inverted tablature.The double horizontal line that you can see (or sometimes a thick black line) represents the nuts on the neck of your guitar. If you see this, your hand needs to be right up there in the open position.A chord box also includes numbers - each finger on your left hand is associated with a number between 1 and 4.  The thumb is often indicated with a ’T’ or a ‘P’.Tabs are a special way of writing music for the guitar. They are a visual representation of your guitar strings. They help you know where to put your fingers during a guitar lesson.On a chord box, you can see three key bits of information:fingersfretsstringsThe combination of these three factors can describe any chord, and therefore charts may seem immediately a bit more complex than guitar tabs.However, this isn't really true. Guitar players use these diagrams just to see the shape of the chord. There is no rhythm, strumming pattern, or anything else shown. It's just merely the shape of your fingers.Reading a Chord ChartOn a chord box, you may see a few unfamiliar symbols.  For example, an ‘X’ means a string should not be played or strummed.  An ‘O’, meanwhile, indicates an open string which should be played without placing your fingers on a fret.The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 correspond to the fingers on your left hand and tell you how the chord should be shaped.1 is your index finger2 is your middle finger3 is your ring fingerand 4 is your pinky.If you see Roman numerals like I, II, III, IV, etc, they tell you the fret boxes on the neck of your guitar.For example, if you see a III on a chord box, you know that the chord starts on the third fret on the neck.If there’s no Roman numeral, but the double line for the nuts is there, that means that the chord should be played at the very top of the neck. This is common for the main major and minor chords on the guitar (the open chords!).This is how chords would look in tab! We use chord charts to simplify this a little.For those learning to play guitar, learning how to read chord charts is a valuable skill that will allow you to play different chords and to appreciate all of the different positions in which the same chord can be played.The note that you generally begin to play your chord with, and the one that you start with when you’re breaking down a chord in arpeggio.It’s also the bass note which gives the chord its name.Some Chords You Really Need to Know.If you want to quickly progress to playing chords and recreating pieces of your favorite music, there are a few key chord charts that you need to study, practice, and learn by heart.The key chords to know are A minor, E minor, C major, D major, and G major.Just by using these five chords you can play many popular pieces of music, especially segments of pop and rock songs.Of course, this list of five chords is not exhaustive (not by any means!), and nothing requires you to limit yourself to them. All five are from the same chord progression, G major.Practice to Improve Your Chords on the GuitarThis exercise isn't necessarily appropriate for beginners, but is more suited to people who’ve already had a few practice sessions with the guitar and are starting to feel comfortable.Place your hand correctly on the neck of the guitar.Position your fingers for a chord as you would normally, but keep your hand hovering over the neck and don’t actually touch the frets.When all of your fingers are hovering in the right place, push them all down onto the neck at the same time and don’t move.Lift your hand and repeatIf the chord sounds right, you can repeat this exercise with other major and minor chords to test your positions.But if the chord sounds wrong, don’t try and check for the right position. Instead look at your hand to see if you can understand where you’ve gone wrong and try to fix your position.Practice your guitar chords regularly - and they'll soon be easy.It’s excellent practice that helps to recreate a real situation. When you’re playing a piece of music on the guitar, you can’t make any mistakes and all of your positions need to be right the first time around. Otherwise your playing will be sloppy and slow and you will lose the rhythm of your guitar playing.Another advantage o f this exercise is that it will help you gain speed - moving all of your fingers at once will help you get into the right position quickly, especially if you’re playing arpeggios. Your dexterity and fluidity will be improved.Advice for Playing Guitar ChordsTo achieve success reading and playing guitar chords, here are a few tips that apply to any guitarist whether you’re a beginner or experienced.Learn to position your fingers correctly on the neck of the guitar. At the beginning, focus on your left hand and make sure that each finger is only touching one string at a time.  Once you feel comfortable with the position of your hand on the neck, begin strumming the strings with your right hand.If one of your fingers is in the wrong position, move it and put it in the right one.  Don't try and move your fingers around too much, or you'll begin to pick up bad habits, make your position uncomfortable, and you won't be able to reproduce the sounds afterwards.Keep it simple, begin each chord and position from the beginning.  Pay attention and think about how each chord should be shaped.Why are you having trouble? Is it because your fingers are touching other strings? Are you not pushing hard enough? Or are you accidentally pushing on other strings with your right hand?When you’ve finally hit all of the strings right to play the chord, then try and play each string separately and keep the fingers of your left hand in the same position. Each note should sound cleanly without any muting or interference.  If there's a lot of interference on the note, it means your finger positions aren't quite right.  Either your fingers are touching other strings, you aren't pushing hard enough, or your palm is muting the sound.Teach yourself to just push on the strings with the tips of your fingers. Work on your positions during every guitar lesson until you can play each chord without any errors. Your playing should be fluid and natural.Practice regularly, at least 10 minutes eve ry other day.  Regular practice will help you build up calluses on your fingers. Your speed of playing will improve and you'll gain muscle memory.Once you've mastered your chords, try playing them in one order and then in another. Do the exercise again, positioning your fingers above the neck without actually touching it. If you want to improve your skill playing guitar, this is the way in which you'll become better. This exercise will improve your precision, sound, and dexterity.Every guitarist learns how to read and play chords, but you can distinguish yourself by making your playing precise and strong.This is why we recommend starting slow, and breaking down each chord to its composite notes. Once you're comfortable, you can begin to increase your speed. This will help you stay motivated during your guitar lessons!And whatever happens, make sure that you learn your chords by heart and then begin to integrate them into your playing.

Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne Paul Cézanne, the Post-Impressionist Master ChaptersBiographyFamous Works of ArtThe Final PeriodAnalysisWhen one thinks of great names in painting, Picasso, Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt easily come to mind. Where does Cézanne fit on that list? For some, he may be an afterthought. For others, he would certainly figure in the top five best painters of all time; those with the most diversity of subjects and styles, whose list of works number over a thousand.Paul Cézanne was indeed a prolific painter; in his roughly 46-year career, he created over 900 oil paintings and more than 400 watercolours. In his time, art critics and connoisseurs alike mostly rejected his work.To wit, after a scathing write-up in a local newspaper, residents of Aix left copies of that edition on his doorstep demanding that he leave because he was giving their lovely town in southern France a bad name. Such revilement did not deter his followers. Up-and-coming artists saw him as innovative; the one to emulate and learn from.Who was Paul Cézanne? What sort of man was he? Why did creating art appeal to him more than the surety of income he would have had if he had followed in his father’s footsteps and gone into banking?That is the story your Superprof explores today. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBiography Cezanne was no slouch at portraiture, including portraits of himself Image by Prawny from PixabayHe was born into a fairly well-to-do family in Aix-en-Provence on the 19th of January, 1839. His father had co-founded a successful bank; an enterprise that afforded them relative comfort while his mother, high-spirited and romantic, coloured his ideas of life and the world from an early age.  Growing up, he and his two sisters wanted for nothing. His formal education was only remarkable in that, when he entered the school now known as College Mignet, he became fast friends with future author Emile Zola and Jean-Baptiste Baille, who later taught at the same institute that cultivated Marie Curie.Together, the boys were known as ‘The Inseperables’. They remained friends their entire lives.Complying with the wishes of his father, Cezanne studied law at the University of Aix but his heart was in a different branch of study.The year before he enrolled at university, he took up drawing at t he Free Municipal School of Drawing. Under the tutelage of a Spanish monk named Joseph Gilbert, he learned the rudiments of drawing and painting. Some say Cezanne was spurred by Emile Zola to move to Paris and become an artist. There may be some truth in that.At the very least, having a friend in that city must have made the decision to leave the his home town, the banking business and his father’s wishes behind easier.So it came that he set up in Paris in 1861, a city he would return to again and again throughout his life.Famous Works of ArtEvery painter in Paris at the time Cezanne lived there had a single aspiration: for their work to be seen at the Paris Salon.  This exhibit showcased the best works of the students enrolled at the Academie des Beaux-Art, the city’s premier art school.Unfortunately for our artist, he was not a student at this Institute Francaise so, even though outside artists could submit work for their annual exhibit â€" the social highpoint of the year, hi s was consistently refused.It wasn’t a personal rejection; the Salon was very selective of the work they displayed: all paintings had to accord with the tastes of Napoleon III â€" and Cezanne’s artwork wasn’t. Instead, it was selected for display at the Salon des Refusés, the officially sanctioned exhibition of works rejected by the official Salon. There, people would crowd in to mock and jeer the works being shown. There, Paul Cezanne was permitted to show his work for the first time, in 1863.  The ignominy plunged him into a deep depression that was reflected in his work at the time.The Dark PeriodAlthough he felt quite in step with the impressionists â€" he related well to their work and even emulated some of their painting techniques, they rejected him for his boorish and angry manner.It may have even been possible that he and French painter Claude Monet had disagreements in spite of their similar subject matter and painting styles.  This led to a period of intense darkne ss in Cezanne’s life; a time when everything was painted in tones of black.From the year he arrived in Paris until 1870, the themes of paintings by Cezanne were quite sinister: The Murder, The Rape, Women Dressing...These were far too erotic and far too violent to be shown anywhere but the reason these works stand out is because of the influence of Gustave Courbet.Starting in 1866, Cezanne painted an entire series of portraits using only a palette knife, as Courbet had done. Intending these crude, ugly works to create an impact, he inadvertently started the expressionist movement.Works from Cezanne’s Dark Period include:Portrait of a ManHead of an Old ManPortrait of Uncle DominicThe Artist’s Father, Reading L’Evenement â€" this painting was the first and only Cezanne work accepted at the Salon.The Impressionist PeriodCezanne’s return to Provence coincided with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War.In 1870, he returned home with his mistress in tow but, afraid of offendin g his father and losing the financial support he provided, the artist hid the true nature of his relationship with the model he had met at Academie Suisse.Marie-Hortense Fiquet would bear him a son and sit for several portraits but, in the end, their relationship fizzled.After the war ended (and he was cleared of the charge of evading military service), the two moved back to Paris, where their son was born. After his birth, they retreated to Auvers.  It was during this period that Cezanne became friendly with Camille Pissarro; the two would trample all over the countryside to paint landscapes together.Through this influence, Cezanne’s paintings became lighter â€" he abandoned his penchant for dark colours and even darker themes.His most famous paintings from this period (1870-79) include: Melting Snow, L’EstaqueBouquet in a Delft VaseSelf-portrait â€" he painted an entire series of self-portraits during this time.The House of Doctor Gachet in Auvers (this is the same Doctor Gach et who would treat Vincent van Gogh some 10 years later) Cezanne was known to execute expressive still life paintings Image by Allanos from PixabayThe Mature Period (1878-90)Mr Cezanne Sr. finally caught on to the nature of his son’s relationship with his paramour and he was furious!Initially threatening to cut off all financial support, Dad later relented, handing over 400 Francs to get the family out of dire financial straits. He also built a studio on the family compound in Provence so that his son would stop migrating to and from Paris. It was there, in the 1880s, that Cezanne stepped away from the Parisian art scene. In 1886, he finally married his longtime companion but, by then, the love had died and the two had little in common besides their son.The year he married was also the year his father died, leaving him the entire estate so, while other artists of the period struggled to exhibit their work and land commissions, Cezanne worked in opulence, totally unconcerned about money matters. Cezanne’s work of that time reflected the tranquillity of his personal life: pleasant landscape art and portraits of his wife and child.He might have especially enjoyed the fraternity of other artists who came there to paint; Auguste Renoir was once a houseguest of his.The Final PeriodThose idyllic days did not last long; soon diabetes ravaged his body. His temper, never very good, also took a turn for the worse.He travelled to Switzerland with his wife and child, possibly to bring the family back together. If that was his aim, it failed: upon their return to France, the artist returned to his enclave in Provence while Hortense went to live in Paris.  Even when she and Paul Jr. returned to live with him out of financial necessity, they resided in separate quarters.His mother’s death signalled several ends, among them the semblance of any relationship with Hortense.In 1895, he climbed St-Victoire Mountain, where he found inspiration in its starkness and geometry. Indeed, the works painted in the cabin he rented there are said to have ushered in Cubism.This period, from 1890 to 1906, saw a regression of sorts into gloomier subjects and darker colours.LegacyLike the work of Dutch painter van Gogh, the works of Cezanne leave us with a feeling of incompleteness â€" as though his time was cut too short. Through his oft-repeated images â€" painting the same portraits and landscapes with but a small difference in perspective or tone, he inspired other artists to produce ever more complex views of the same scenes.That led to Spanish artist Pablo Picasso proclaiming Cezanne ‘the father of us all’.It is widely believed that Paul Cezanne built the bridge between impressionism and cubism.  Furthermore, he laid the foundation for future art movements such as fauvism and paved the way for expressionism to become mainstream.Henri Matisse is one of the foremost fauvists!While his work had been derided for his entire career, the year after his death, the autumn Salon hosted a retrospective of his entire body of work.  Everything on display â€" from still lifes to landscape painting fairly stood the painting world on its ear; it was even remarked that Cezanne was indeed one of the most influential artists of the century.We tend to think of Leonardo da Vinci in those same terms, don’t we? Cezanne painted and repainted Mont St. Victoire Image by orythys from PixabayAnalysisThe typical artist’s life, especially the financial insecurity, did not affect Cezanne as it had Vincent van Gogh. Nor did he have an alcohol problem as did another of his contemporaries, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.Most artists scrambled for recognition to earn commissions and thus a living at painting. Having one’s work selected for show at the Salon, the epitome of refined artistic exposure, was the guaranteed path to earning a living as an artist.Cezanne only cared that the Salon rejected his work because of what that rejection implied â€" that his paintings were not good enough for high society.To be sure, he would have needed money, especially after his son was born but, because he received an allowance from his father, he was not as desperate as some.  Not having to constantly worry about money gave him the freedom to vary his painting technique until he found his signature brushwork: heavy, repetitive and characteristic. Because he had financial freedom, Cezanne created such amazing works of art that he is consistently ranked among the world’s most famous artists. Are you ready to discover more famous painters and paintings?

Spanish Vocabulary When to Use Usted vs. Tú Explained

Spanish Vocabulary When to Use Usted vs. Tú Explained Suzy S. Every language has its own intricacies that take time and practice to master. In this article, well discuss the distinction between the formal and informal use of the word you in Spanish. But first, heres a quick summary of the difference between  tú and usted. Usted  vs.  Tú  Whats the Difference? Tú  in Spanish is ‘you’ in English but what about usted? In English, theres not a great translation for  usted. So what exactly  does it mean? In English, when we want to convey respect to someone, we use formal and polite language, such as ‘sir’ and ‘madam,’ and refer to people in authority positions with their titles, such as ‘doctor,’ or ‘professor,’ followed by their last name (e.g. Dr. Smith). Spanish-speakers adhere to similar parameters when speaking to members of status or authority, but there’s also another common way to convey respect without calling someone by their professional titles. This is what usted  in Spanish is all about. When to Use  Usted Spanish is a language that highly values communicating respect and deferring to authority, therefore it makes a distinction that does not exist in English. Spanish-speakers use another word, usted, instead of tú,  to address people of status or authority, the elderly, sometimes someone older than you, and often someone you just met, in order to convey respect to them. In romantic Spanish movies and novels, lovers will always refer to each other using usted  to convey respect and appreciation. Usted  vs.  Tú  in the Real World As your Spanish improves and you speak to people of all the different 24 Latin American countries, you’ll see that the use of usted  varies considerably, not only from country to country, but from region to region  within  the same country. By tuning in and observing each relationship, you can be more informed about whether to use tú  or usted. As you travel to destinations that speak Spanish, youll see the  practical uses of these formalities yourself.  When I lived in Costa Rica, I was surprised to notice that friends often refer to each other using usted, even if they have a very close and informal relationship. I know many people who always address their parents using usted. This often signifies a more formal relationship between parent and child. That said, this also widely varies. For example, my ex-girlfriend was very close to her mother and spoke to her using tú,  always. In fact, her mother told me that she would be offended if her daughter spoke to her using usted,  because it would make her feel not only old, but also distant to her daughter. On the other hand, many other Spanish-speaking mothers would invariably feel offended by their son or daughter if they did not address them in usted. Another caveat is that in most of Central America and South America, Spanish-speakers use vos  instead of tú, but this doesn’t matter as much, as they will always understand you in tú.  A Spanish tutor can help you learn more about vos  if you are interested. Got it? Heres a handy graphic to reference: Final Note The good news is that Spanish-speakers will be so happy to hear you speak Spanish that they most likely won’t be offended if you fail to use the more appropriate one. The key here is not to worry much about it, as this can interrupt you from practicing. My best tip? Use usted  when you’re in doubt, and tune into how Spanish speakers respond to you! As always, a Spanish tutor can help you if you’re confused! Post Author:  Jason N. Jason N. tutors in English and Spanish in Athens, GA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years where he completed a Master’s degree in Counseling, and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica.  Learn more about Jason here!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Josep Ma. Rosell

Why its Not Okay to Force an Introvert to be Outgoing - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Why it’s Not Okay to Force an Introvert to be Outgoing - Introvert Whisperer Why it’s Not Okay to Force an Introvert to be Outgoing If you are an introvert, it’s likely that you’ve caught yourself using it as an excuse for not doing something. The tends to be a great deal of misunderstanding when it comes to introversion, even among self-proclaimed introverts: many people believe that introverts are not outgoing and like to keep to themselves. And while that may be true of some introverts, a lack of in-your-face personality does not necessarily mean that someone is an introvert. Rather, people who are introverts require time to process, restore energy, and be with their thoughts more than they need to heard externally. So what happens when an introvert is pushed to share externally? Let’s find out. People who derive a great deal of energy and excitement from social gatherings, parties, workplace meetings, and even standing in line at the grocery store are extroverts. These people love to interact with others and draw a great deal of their energy from the people and things around them. Introverts, on the other hand, can be alone with their thoughts for days on end and don’t require much interaction with others to feel good about themselves or restore their own energy levels. So when an extrovert is trying to coax an introvert into doing something they don’t want to do, things can fall apart pretty quickly. Pushing People Creates Anxiety For starters, introverts often become anxious about social situations where they don’t want to be. This doesn’t mean that introverts are more likely to suffer from anxiety, but rather that they don’t feel comfortable in large gatherings or with many people. They tend to thrive in one-on-one situations and are happy to transfer and share energy with one or two other people at a time. By encouraging introverts to go outside of their comfort zone despite the best of intentions you are not actually helping them. And it’s not okay to push your energy-seeking ways on people who prefer their own company or the company of one or two other people at a time. Meaningful Interactions are Personal Next, when you try to force an introvert to be outgoing in a social situation, they are unable to connect with people in a way that is meaningful for them. Many business owners are actually introverts, despite all of the necessary outgoing skills that are required to make a business grow and thrive. And again, that has nothing to do with their inability to be outgoing, but rather the way they interact with information and other people. So if you are trying to get your introvert, business owner friend to share a co-working space, they might sign up, but prefer to work at their own table. Stop Setting Expectations of People Finally, forcing introverts to be outgoing means that you have an expectation of them that is not aligned with their own expectations of themselves. While it’s not an ideal conversation to have, you need to ask yourself and maybe your introvert friend, if your relationship is really what you hoped it would be given that one person is not doing or saying the things you want them to. Introverts don’t need to look outside themselves for validation or excitement, while extroverts are constantly on the hunt for someone to look at them and acknowledge their presence in the world. It’s not true that opposites attract when one person is sucking the life out of another trying to get them to conform to a certain way of being. Learn to Respect How Others Interact in the World It’s not okay to determine how others should act, whether they are introverts or not. As a society, we have to let go of expectations of others and allow them to find their own way in the world. This is one of the hardest things for people to do, though, because we all have a tendency to look at someone, judge them for what they are currently doing, and make unwarranted, uneducated, and unsolicited suggestions about how people are living their lives. It’s dangerous to assume that someone can “turn it off” or “turn it on” because everyone is different. When we can respect the way people go about living and interacting in the world, we become much more harmonious and happy with our own life, not to mention the lives of others. How to Help Introverts While many introverts are quite independent and confident in their interactions in the world, you can be a friend and supporter of someone who is introverted by respecting their wishes to be allowed to be alone from time to time. Rather than try to get them to see how they’ll miss out if they don’t go to the party on Friday night, show your support by acknowledging that they need their personal space and time. That goes a long way between friends, colleagues, and associates who want nothing more than for someone to understand they are not “shy”, they are introverted. Author Bio: Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Should I Go To Georgetown University

Should I Go To Georgetown University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Bryan is a Washington D.C. tutor and 2010 graduate of Georgetown University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and specializes in many subjects including SAT prep tutoring, Algebra tutoring, Grammar and Mechanics tutoring, and more. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Bryan: Georgetown University is a unique setting, which was one of the largest draws toward it when I was making my college decision. It balances an urban environment by being in the heart of Washington, DC, with a closed campus. That means that Georgetowns campus is entirely walkable even if choosing to live in off-campus housing, a 15 minute walk would allow you to reach any other point on campus. In addition, by being located in Georgetown (a neighborhood within Northwest Washington, DC), students have access to the dozens of shops, restaurants, and nightlife options within walking distance. The setup of Georgetowns campus allows students to bump into friends and classmates on a regular basis. As far as transportation, students absolutely do not need a car. Some students choose to bike, but walking is the option that most students choose. DC has excellent public transportation in the form of the Metro, although it requires a 15-20 minute walk, or a very short (free) bus ride, to the closest Metro stop (in Rosslyn, VA). The campus is, in general, very safe, with on-campus security, and off-campus Metro Police in the surrounding area. If choosing to live off-campus (which many upperclassmen do), students should remember that Georgetown is located in a large metropolitan area, and take common-sense safety precautions. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Bryan: The professors are all very available. Of course, it varies from professor to professor, but all professors hold regular office hours, which are made known to students. These are a great time for students to stop by a professors office and have individual discussions. Some larger, discussion classes, are broken into discussion sections, led by teaching assistants. My experience with teaching assistants was largely positive they were all very knowledgeable, helpful, and generally accessible for students. Academic advisors are also accessible, and are useful for students wishing to have conversations about switching majors, or choosing courses to match with a particular course of study. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Bryan: Georgetown students are guaranteed at least two years of on-campus housing (although the majority are granted a third year, as well). On-campus dorms vary from building to building (some have a sink included in the room, some are larger apartment-style, etc.), but freshmen usually tend to feel very strongly positive about their living arrangements. All four freshman dorms are located at different parts of campus, but all are within a 15 minute walk of each other. Off-campus housing is widely available for juniors or seniors, which is an option that many students take advantage of. Dining options are mostly limited to the main dining hall on campus. The food is decent, with a large selection for options. In addition, there are plenty of nearby restaurants and cafs for quick, inexpensive dining. Socializing is very easy upon arriving at Georgetown. Students tend to form friends quickly with other people on their freshman year floor, or with other students from various clubs, activities, and events. A nice feature of Georgetowns dorm life is their inclusion of a program called CHARMS. This program allows students to create a profile, and search through other incoming freshmens profiles to find a potential good fit for a roommate. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Bryan: Georgetown University has four distinct schools the College of Arts and Sciences, the McDonough School of Business, the School of Foreign Service, and the Nursing and Health Studies School. Because of this separation of schools, Georgetown does a great job of supporting majors of many different fields. Within the College, majors like History, Government, or Economics are very popular. Within the MSB, popular majors include Finance, Consulting, Accounting, or Marketing. Within the SFS, majors focus on International Studies. Popular majors within the SFS include International Relations, as well as many foreign languages (the SFS requires demonstrating proficiency in a language as a prerequisite for graduating). The NHS focuses on Health Studies, and includes an excellent Nursing program, as well as majors like International Health. I graduated from the Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, with a BA in History, and minors in Government and Psychology. I chose this course of study because I have always been fascinated with history, and Georgetown has an excellent program for liberal arts. Government is a very strong program at Georgetown, and I decided to minor in Government once I took a few courses and realized the caliber of professors was fantastic. The four schools at Georgetown each have their own area of speciality. Students apply for admission to a particular school, and are able to declare a major by their sophomore year. All of the schools at Georgetown are very reputable and well-established. A student should be aware of the differences between the schools before applying, and have some sort of idea for which area appeals to him/her most. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Bryan: Meeting people at Georgetown was very easy. Everyone bonds extremely quickly freshman year, particularly with fellow students on their floor or in their dorm. I would absolutely recommend getting involved in as many activities, clubs, and events as possible, since this is an excellent way to meet people as well. Georgetown does not technically have Greek life (there are some fraternities that operate independently, but they are not recognized directly by the university, and do no dominate social life at all), which was actually a big draw in my decision to attend Georgetown. Despite the lack of Greek life, Georgetown maintains a very lively social scene, with plenty of events on campus for students, combined with a large supply of nightlife options within walking distance. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Bryan: The Career Center was moderately helpful to me as an undergraduate. They have resum review services, as well as interview practice sessions for students. Within the MSB, plenty of companies recruit on campus, but recruiting events are mostly limited to the business school. For students in the other schools at the university, it is largely up to them to apply to companies or job opportunities that interest them. However, the Career Center is a valuable resource for students to find out more about companies that are hiring, or job opportunities within their field of interest. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Bryan: The common areas are, for the most part, spacious and available. Plenty of students tend to go to the main library to complete their work or to study, but other options include common spaces in the student union (the Leavey Center), and common areas in dorm buildings. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Bryan: Georgetown is a very lively neighborhood within Washington, DC. There are dozens of restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and nightlife options in the immediate walking area for students to enjoy, which they frequent throughout the year. There is never a lack of things to do within Georgetown, but if a student wants to branch out, the entirety of Washington, DC is at the disposal of Georgetown students via the Metro system in DC. Most students tend to stay within the Georgetown area (it often is referred to as the Georgetown bubble,), but I would highly recommend students making efforts to get out to other restaurants, concerts, or sporting events in downtown DC. (The mens basketball team plays off-campus at the Verizon Center, which is a great opportunity for students to get out into the city.) VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Bryan: The undergraduate body is about 6,000 students. Georgetown is a private school, which tends to make for slightly smaller student bodies. However, there were always new people to meet throughout my four years at the school. Alternatively, Georgetowns walkable campus, and relatively moderate student body make it very easy to bump into friends, or meet up with people easily. Finally, class sizes were very reasonable throughout my four years at Georgetown. Some of the larger discussion-based courses were several hundred students, but were then broken up into smaller discussion sections. On the other hand, many of my upper-level History courses were capped at 15 students or fewer, allowing for much more open discussion directly with a professor. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Bryan: I took a Government class (American Electoral Politics) during the second semester of my senior year. It was a lower-level discussion course, with maybe 70 students in it. It was largely lecture-based, but the professor was extremely interesting and every discussion was worthwhile. The downside of the class was that there was very little interaction with the professor, apart from asking occasional questions or visiting him during his office hours. However, on the final class of the semester, the professor asked for all the seniors to raise their hands. He spoke individually to each one, and asked what their plans were for after graduation. It was a good moment to connect with an excellent professor, and he had a chance to understand where many of his students were heading after graduating. Check out Bryanstutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

A Day in the Life at Rice University

A Day in the Life at Rice University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Ankita is a Houston tutor and a junior at Rice University. She is majoring in Cognitive Science and specializes inmany subjects such as Trigonometry tutoring, Biology tutoring, ACT prep tutoringand SAT prep tutoring. Check out her review of Rice: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Ankita: Rice is really special in that it is one of the few universities that has completely balanced a beautiful, spacious campus in the middle of an urban city. Walking beneath the trees that form a canopy above you, it is very easy to forget you are in a city. But one step beyond the hedges you are a two-minute walk from the metro, allowing you to easily get to museums, concerts, and restaurants. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Ankita: It is almost overwhelming the number of resources you have, but in a good way. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Ankita: Rice is set up Hogwarts style, which means we are randomly divided among 11 residential colleges where we will spend our four years at Rice. The result of this is mini representations of the student body, a close-knit community that creates a unique atmosphere at Rice. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Ankita: The Sciences and Engineering are really strong at Rice, with tons and tons of opportunities. Rice is also a great place to be a pre-med student, with the largest medical center in the world literally right outside. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Ankita: Rices Orientation week is one of the most important weeks of the year. Advisors are hand picked to create a team of friendly, knowledgeable people who will gladly devote their time to learn the name of each freshman at the college before they arrive. As a result, the freshmen are quickly integrated into their college, and before O-week is over are convinced their college is the best. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Ankita: Yes, they constantly have fairs with companies coming to visit. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Ankita: Other than finals week, I think it is easy to find space to study and hang out. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Ankita: Houston is great! And with our location, the zoo, museum district, and downtown can be accessed by the metro which, thanks to Rice, we ride for free. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Ankita: I think Rice is a perfect size. Its on the smaller end, but you dont feel lost, and I still walk around campus and see new faces. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Ankita: I took a class on Pediatric Global Health, a seminar series that I do not think I could have taken anywhere else. Every week we had visionaries that advocated for Global Health come from the medical center and around the world to share their work. Check out Ankitas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

English Consonant Pronunciation Exam - with Audio

English Consonant Pronunciation Exam - with Audio How is your English pronunciation? Read the sentences below aloud and answer the questions. Then listen to the audio and decide if you sound the same as the recording. If you dont sound the same, make a note it.  All the sounds  you had difficulties with can be practiced in our intensive pronunciation courses.1. Do you approve of the prices of these apples. They are perhaps a bit steep.Q: Do you say the p in prices, perhaps, and approve with a puff of air?2.  Bobby Brown catches lobster and crab and cooks them on his boat down in the cabin.Q: Is your b in Brown rounded and your b in lobster flattened?3.  Elephants laugh and make friends easily. Offer your friendship to an elephant and shell never forget.Q: Are your upper teeth pressed against your lower lip when you say [f]?4.  Dr. Van saved the gravely ill patient who had a severe case of the flu virus.Q: Are your upper teeth pressed against your lower lip when you say [v]? And do vibrate your vocal cords?5.  Tom is a common America n name. So are Mary, Samantha, and Emily.Q: Do you hold your lips together when you say m in Tom and name?6. The twins quietly did their homework and made drawings of the wheat fields to the west.Q: Do your round your lips when you say w? And, is your w silent in the word drawings?7.  Beth is an athlete and marathon runner. To stay healthy and happy she eats three meals a day and thinks positive thoughts.Q: Do you place the tip of your tongue between your teeth when you say th?8.  My mother and father loathe northern weather. They prefer southern climates.Q: Do your vocal cords vibrate when you say th in these words?9.  When Betty returns in a fortnight, we will read the story A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.Q: Are your t sounds in Betty, returns, fortnight, and story all different?10.  The actor planted fifteen rows of vegetables in his rooftop garden.Q: Do you say the t in fifteen and rooftop with a puff of air?11. The actor planted fifteen rows of vegetables in his roofto p garden.Q: Do you say the t in fifteen and rooftop with a puff of air?12.  Trevor tried to initiate a conversation about 19th century literature.Q: Does your t sound like ch in Trevor, tried, century, and literature?*This is an advanced lesson.13.  Dr. Davis is a dedicated pediatrician from Broward County. His predictions are always true. Q: Is your d in pediatrician a quicker sound than your d in Davis and predictions?14. Andrews dream has been to receive an education in fine art and drawing.Q: Do your ds sound like js?*This is an advanced lesson.15. The United States started with thirteen small states. Today, there are fifty states spread from east to west.Q: Are all of your ss voiceless? (Voiceless means made without vibrating your vocal cords)16.  Is it possible to measure qualities such as pleasure and compassion? Q: Do you pronounce the ss in measure, qualities, and compassion differently?17. Magicians specialize in deceiving their audience. Exceptional ones succeed at it.Q: Do your cs in magicians and specialize sound like sh?18. Dozens of guests gazed at the dazzling performers as they played Brazilian jazz pieces.Q: Do your vibrate your vocal cords when you say z?19. The executive from Oxford plays the xylophone.Q: Do you pronounce each x differently?20.  Charlie Chaplin wore a mustache in his film The Champion.Q: Does your ch in mustache sound like sh?21.  Sharon took a short trip to Washington. She found shells along the shore there.Q: Is your sh a quiet, steady sound?22.  George is going to major in engineering. Hes starting college in June.Q: Do your gs and js sound the same?23.  Now, youre learning to pronounce the consonants. Practice them again and again.Q: Do you touch your gum ridge behind your upper teeth when you say n?24. Caterpillars crawl and later turn into graceful butterflies.Q: Do your round your lips a little and curl your tongue when you say r?25.  Larry is good-looking and loves to laugh. Hes likeable and pleasant to be with.Q: D oes your tongue tip press against your gum ridge or the back of your teeth when you say l?26.  Year after year, millions of people visit the Grand Canyon. Young and old enjoy the brilliant views.Q: Do your raise your tongue to an [i] position for the y and i sounds?27.  Kathy is working at the bank until six oclock. Then, shes making turkey stew for the kids.Q: Do you say the k in Kathy and kids with a puff of air?28. Victor cant come to the card party. He is scuba diving in Tuscany, Italy. Q: Do you say the c in cant, come, and card with a puff of air?29.  The queen is on a quest to find orchids to give to the monarch at Christmas time.Q: Do you say the q or ch in queen, quest, and Christmas with a puff of air?30. The goose laid bigger golden eggs. Soon the farmer got very greedy.Q: Do your vocal cords vibrate when you say g?31.  The strong young men are bringing their running times up. The strongest man is running faster and longer.Q: Do you say a hard g in strongest and longer bu t not in strong or bringing?32.  This fall, we will see beautiful red and golden hues.*Q: Do you not touch your tongue tip to your gum ridge when you say l in will, beautiful, and golden?*This is an advanced lesson.33. The guests saw how happy and healthy the heir to the throne was.Q: Do you gently let out a puff of air when you say h in how, happy and healthy?34.  These stories werent written in Latin and later forgotten.*Q: Do you pronounce the ts in boldface in your throat?*This is an advanced lesson.