6 Valuable Things to Know About Learning Guitar

6 Valuable Things to Know About Learning Guitar Megan L. Before you start taking guitar lessons, there are a few things you should know! Guitar teacher  Ryan B.  shares six things everyone should know about learning guitar It really is a magical moment when you first pick up a guitar. The feel of the wood, the tension on the strings, the way the curve of the body fits just right on your lap. Youre filled with visions of yourself on stage playing for thousands who worship your every note. The problem is the next moment isnt quite so magical. You try to play a chord, but the only sounds are dull thuds and ceaseless buzzing. Your clumsy fingers just cant figure out how to coax music out of this cursed piece of wood. For so many, frustration is where their experience learning guitar begins and ends. But going into it with the right mindset can make all the difference and lead to a nice payoff. Here are a few things to keep in mind as youre starting on the guitar: 1. Your hands need some exercise There are 35 muscles that control your fingers! And youre going to need each one of those to make your guitar strings hum just how you hear them in your head. So when you practice, especially in the beginning, remember to warm up and stretch (heres a great video) so you dont hurt yourself. And keep in mind that after a long session you might have sore hands and forearms. 2. Practice is really boring sometimes Just like anything else, practicing your guitar can get extremely monotonous. After a hundred times practicing that new scale or picking pattern and still needing more work, its really easy to give up and play something easier. But to get better you really have to hunker down and put in the hours necessary (in fact they say you need to practice something for 10,000 hours before you master it!). 3. Take good care of your instrument Youve been practicing every day and really making progress towards your goals, but one day during a particularly intense session you break a string (or input jack, or neck). The problem is you dont know how to fix it, and so your guitar sits and collects dust and all your skills melt away. Its a common story, one that happens far too often. Learning some simple maintenance like changing strings, cleaning the neck and a bit of basic wiring can go a long way towards preventing lapses in your practice because of something as simple as a busted string. 4. The fastest way to learn is to slow down Everyone wants to play their favorite lick right when they pick up the guitar. When you try to do this, though, youre either going to fail miserably and inevitably give up or learn it very very poorly. Before you get to killer solos you have to master your scales. And in order to master your scales you have to learn to do your scales very slowly In order to really shred through those suckers, youve gotta get them perfect going at a snails pace and then slowly pick up the tempo. And then once youve mastered that, then you move on up to the next step. And so on and so forth 5. Ditch the phone Ill be the first to admit that Im addicted to my phone. If Im away from it for just a few minutes I start to get jittery and extremely curious about my friends Facebook walls. But too many distractions will keep you from getting productive practice time in. This might mean getting a dedicated guitar tuner instead of an app so you dont even need your phone in the room with you. Hopefully you can spend the next hour learning guitar and not looking at cute cat videos. 6. Take a break Now youve been doing scales for hours, and despite getting rid of obvious distractions, youre still having trouble focusing. Maybe you need a break. You need to be able to put the work in, but if youre getting too stressed it will also hurt your practice (and make your fingers too tense- which is not a good thing). Every once in a while, take a few minutes to play a fun easy song or watch that silly cat video youve been putting off. Maybe even a quick power nap. Theres a lot more to learning guitar than just these, but I hope that these tips can help you along your musical journey. Happy pickin! Get personalized tips and tricks for learning guitar by taking private lessons with a guitar teacher. Guitar teachers are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability. Search for your guitar teacher now!  Ryan B. teaches guitar, banjo, and mandolin in Chicago, IL.  A graduate of the University of Illinois, he can teach his students music theory, and as a member of a traveling local band, he can also help with songwriting!  Learn more about Ryan 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  afunkydamsel

Find a Private Tutor in Glasgow

Find a Private Tutor in Glasgow Home Tutoring Private Tuition In Glasgow ChaptersHome Tutoring Organisations in GlasgowMaths and Language Tutors in GlasgowTutoring Announcements in GlasgowSchool Support ProgramsVolunteer Tutoring in GlasgowIt may not be Scotland's capital city, but it is certainly its largest. Glasgow and its surrounding urban area , known as Greater Glasgow, has a combined population of 2.3 million people. Indeed, it is the UK's third most populous city. Situated on the River Clyde, in the country's West Central Lowlands, Glasgow became to be known for its shipbuilding and marine engineering and was one of Great Britain's main hubs of transatlantic trade with the Americas and Caribbean during the Victorian era.Nowadays, Glasgow is more famous for is architecture, its football and its nightlife.  But with four Universities within ten miles of the city centre, three further education colleges in the city and a student population of over 50,000, that is little wonder! The city council operates 29 secondary schools, 149 primary schools and 3 specialist schools.With so many students, it is relatively easy to find a tutor in Glasgow!  Start home tutoring in Glasgow. (Photo credit: Neillwphoto via VisualHunt.com)Increasing competition for entry into good universitiesGovernment plans to increase the number of grammar schools (this means tests like the 11+ may become commonplace once again)Parents who wish to send their children to private schoolTheir child has dropped sets in schoolOr maybe it is you who wishes to have private tutoring. Perhaps you have always dreamed of speaking Spanish or improving your English. It doesn't matter what, with such a large student population, there are no shortage of private tutors out there!Primary Tutors Glasgow, Tel;  0131 463 0001Scholar Tutoring,  Tel; 0141 280 2521Orchard Tutorials, Tel;  0141 571 2751Glasgow Tutors, Tel; 0141 244 0039Home Tuition Scotland, Tel;  0131 463 0001Glasgow Premier Tutors, Tel;  079808 37004Southside Tutors, Tel; 0781 3989 63There are also national agencies offering on-line and private home tutoring. These agencies do all the background checks and it is they who pay the tutor after the lessons. Lessons are often sold in blocks, there may or may not be a choice of tutor.Other tutoring platforms like Superprof,  offer tutors, both for on-line study and home tutoring in over 1000 subjects! It offers much more than just academic support, you can learn how to play the clarinet, for example, or improve your crafting skills.  Using a secure, online easy to use platform, the tutor and pupil work together. This dynamic set up has completely revolutionized private tutoring. In Glasgow, there are 117 registered Superprof tutors. Your child needs help with physics? A quick search on the Superprof website and you have 22 physics tutors to choose from!With online tutoring you can find a tutor anywhere in the UK. Why not find maths tutor in Manchester or an English tutor in Leeds.Maths and Language Tutors in GlasgowMaths is traditionally a rather dif ficult subject and many students either need or could benefit from extra tuition to fully grasp the concepts taught in class. A maths tutor is, therefore, an excellent idea. Not only will your child's grades improve, but their confidence will as well, once they realize that they can do the work. Or maybe you, as a parent, feel your maths leaves a lot to be desired, and you would like to help your children out with their homework.Whatever the case, there are many maths tutors in Glasgow;Maths Doctor, Tel;  020 3476 4853Mathminds, email:  enquiries@mathminds.co.ukGlasgow Maths Tutor, Tel;  0800 043 1984Higher Maths Tutor, Tel;  07981036088AA Tutoring, Tel; 0141 628 2145Find private tutors in Edinburgh and private tuition in Cardiff!Maths tutors can explain all! (Photo via Visual Hunt)To speak a foreign language like a native is a dream many people have, a sadly unfulfilled one. Language learning is best done with a native of the country whose language is being learnt, to get the accen t and pronunciation 100% correct. To find a tutor who is of required nationality therefore is a great find! Or to find a tutor who is french, but also tutors in maths would be fantastic!Language schools are also an excellent way of learning a language, especially for adult learners, who mostly want conversation, as opposed to grammar. Here you can meet up with other adult learners of roughly the same level as you, and help each other learn through speaking together.Another good way to learn a language for adults is through enrolling in an evening class. Language evening classes are very informal and can be great fun. Evening classes will be cheaper than having a private tutor although less intensive, so you may feel as if you are not learning much very quickly. Or you could do both! Take an evening class and then have private tuition sometimes too, to compliment it. The person running the evening class may also tutor privately or may know of somebody who does.Some language tutors in Glasgow;Live Language, Tel;  0141 221 0793GLS Language Services, Tel;  0141 357 6611Language Trainers, Tel;  0870 760 73 73St Andrews College Language Schools Ltd, Tel; 0141 229 0963Aliance Francaise  Tel; 0141 331 4080Internet agencies also offer maths and language tutoring, for example Superprof.Find a private tutor in Belfast.Net mumsGumtreeScholar Tutoring GlasgowCare.comA+ TutorsVisit Superprof to know more about online tutoring.School Support ProgramsThere are often school support programs which run after school, week ends or during the school holidays. These can be an excellent educational resource for pupils, especially during the school holidays, when knowledge is often forgotten a little. A school support program may also be less intensive and less expensive as the emphasis is often more on fun learning things as opposed to sitting at a desk which is often the way with private tutors.Many schools run homework clubs and after school clubs and high schools and colleges also offer revision classes in the run up to the exam period. These can prove invaluable to students preparing to sit exams.Some private clubs are also available for outside of school learning, for example, Articulate French, who run both after school clubs and holiday clubs for younger learners. Scholar Tutoring Glasgow  are an excellent resource, listing all the exam revision classes offered and also details of study groups. To study and revise with other pupils is a very good experience; it can help pupils learn from each other and also teach and explain things to each other, which also reiterates their learning.Are moving to a new city? Superprof is a UK wide tutoring platform and can help you find tutors no mater where you are. Search for a Guitar teacher in Birmingham or a German tutor in London.Volunteer Tutoring in GlasgowThere are some volunteer tutor organisations who help young people who are experiencing difficulties with their school work and who are economically and or soc ially disadvantaged. One such organisation is VTO; (Volunteer Tutors Organisation).It is a small, but growing charity based in Glasgow and its aim is to provide free one-to-one tutoring to the disadvantaged (socially and economically) primary and secondary school children of the Greater Glasgow Area. These are pupils who need help with literacy, maths, study skills and specialist subjects.Learning is fun with a private tutor. (Photo credit: horizontal.integration via Visual hunt)Pupils are referred, usually by their school and are then paired with a tutor. The tutor then tailors activities to help them meet their needs and objectives. These are pupils whose parents cannot afford private tuition, so these volunteer tutors really do help improve these pupil's educational achievement, understanding and confidence.A confident child is a happy one!If I'm searching for tutors near me, I always use Superprof. With over 1000 subjects and 10,000 tutors, you can learn anything you want.

Teaching Your Child to Embrace a Positive Attitude About School

Teaching Your Child to Embrace a Positive Attitude About School If your child has experienced any difficulty in school, then you likely know well the challenge of keeping things positive amid poor grades and dwindling self-esteem. School has any number of anxieties, even for the student who sails through classes seemingly with ease. However, for the student who frequently comes upon academic road blocks, the school experience can instigate negativity, fear and other problems. The power of positive thinking is undeniable, and learning to embrace optimism can have an enormous impact on your childs emotional and physical well-being. Here are several ways parents can encourage their child to adopt a positive attitude about school, even when it isnt all easy. Take notice of your childs achievements and strengths. If your child is struggling in one subject, he or she may feel badly about school overalland that negativity can quickly build upon itself. Make sure you take note of the small successes, such as an improved grade or a sincere effort on studying for a test. Point out traits that you admire or respect in your child, not just those you wish he or she would change. Teach your child that failure is a part of learning. Your child needs to know that everyone messes up sometimes, and doing so yields valuable lessons. Let your child know that you support him or her no matter what, and that you are there to help him or her when things are difficult. Also remind your child that mistakes are an opportunity to learn and apply that new knowledge in future situations. Help your child keep things in perspective. It is easy for a child who is struggling with one or more subjects to feel badly about him or herself. However, dont let your child blow problems out of proportion. An issue he or she is dealing with today may be solved a year from now. A poor test scoreor even a slew of them in a rowis not going to ruin your childs life, and together, you can stop small problems from growing into big ones. Look forward, not backward. If your child brings home a poor report card or grade, its natural for you to want to dissect what happenedand even to point the finger at your childs failures. Did your child not study enough? Is he or she not paying attention in class? While reflection is productive, dwelling on mistakes is not. In such a situation, have an open conversation with your child about how to move forward and develop an action plan to overcome problems. Teach your child to problem solve. Nobody lives a problem-free life. Your child will be happier and more independent if he or she knows how to address and solve problems effectively. Give your child the opportunity to make decisions at home. Encourage him or her to ask questions and be curious, as thinking critically is one of the components of good problem-solving ability. Teach him or her that sometimes, ones first attempt at solving a problem isnt successful. Good problem-solvers keep trying new solutions until they find one that works. Optimistic thinking can make all the difference in a childs school experience, giving him or her the energy and courage to face school problems head on. Have a positive attitude about school problems, and encourage your child to do the same. With confidence and a can-do demeanor, your child will be able to overcome any issue he or she encounters in schooland life.

College Essay Writing Tips

College Essay Writing Tips ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Perhaps the most intimidating part of the College Admissions process is composing your personal statement. But, it doesn’t have to be that way, here are some tips to help you out. Brainstorm: Take some time to think about what you will write before you get started. Make a list of details about your life; things you’ve experienced, places you’ve visited, people who’ve influenced you, things you love, things you hate, etc… Once you have a listed at least 20, look it over, do you see a pattern or common theme? If so, this may be a good theme for your essay. Start early: Like any other academic pursuit, procrastination doesn’t pay when writing your college admissions essay. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write an outline, compose drafts, and to revise and polish your essay. You should also take this tip literally, carve out time each morning to focus on writing, before you are distracted by other activities. Be you: This essay is a time to be unapologetically you. This essay is the one chance you have for the admissions committee to hear your voice. Your GPA and test scores paint a picture of your intellect and ability to tackle rigorous coursework. But, that is only an outline of who you are as a person, use your essay to fill in that picture, adding depth and detail. Be honest and vulnerable in your writing. This is not the time to claim to be something you are not, or even worse to commit plagiarism. Don’t be lazy, give this essay the time and respect it is due as part of your application. There is no need to embellish your accolades, who you are is enough! Universities are interested in admitting intelligent and hard working students, but they are also interested in a diverse student body. We all bring different experiences and perspectives to the table ultimately lending to a richer university experience. Be concise, oftentimes people think when writing an important essay, they need to use flowery language and advanced vocabulary to come across as intelligent and creative. In this case, writing direct, clearly and concisely is more important. Save the creativity for your subject matter, strive to write actively and to the point. This makes your essay easier to follow and comprehend. Being concise will also aid you in staying within the constrains of the word count. Be focused. Once you have chosen your theme, stick to it throughout your essay. Make sure you stay on topic. The best ways to remain focused is to write an outline. This is your roadmap, ensuring you don’t leave out any key details while simultaneously keeping you on track. Write and Rewrite: The difference between a good essay and an exceptional essay is utilizing drafts to polish your writing. Once you have written your first draft, put it aside and come back to it in a few days with “new eyes.” Take some time to rewrite it and seek out someone to edit it, preferably an English teacher, tutor or family member who is an experienced writer. Proofread: This time, you are looking for spelling and grammar errors. The best way to catch mistakes is by reading your essay aloud. If you feel out of breath reading a sentence, you need some punctuation â€" perhaps a comma or you may need to break it up into two sentences. If the prose or tone does not sound like your, change the language to be more reflective of you.

Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis

Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Maryland Heights From an early age, Scott knew he was destined for a future in education. As a child, he enjoyed helping his younger sister with her homework and studying for exams. Scott followed his dreams and earned a bachelor’s degree in History for Secondary Education. Upon graduating, he learned about Kumon through a friend and it immediately sparked his interest. “I loved the impact that the program had on students,” said Scott. “The fact that I was able to help develop a student over continuous years really intrigued me.” Next year, Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon of Maryland Heights, will be celebrating his fifth anniversary with Kumon. Through the years, Scott has made an impact on the young minds in this St. Louis suburb. Kumon has ignited the dreams of this young educator and he continues to be inspired by his students. “I am proud of the reputation that we have in our community,” said Scott. “As someone who always wanted to be an educator, I feel like Kumon is the place where I can make the biggest impact on the lives of students.” What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Patience! It’s easy to understand that patience is needed when working with students, but it takes time and practice to be patient. Students learn in different ways and at different speeds. Each student needs time to think, and as an Instructor you must be willing to adjust your approach for each individual. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? This may sound weird, but it’s when a parent comes in for a parent orientation and they are visibly upset about where their child is academically. This is my favorite part, because I know I can help and bring relief and joy to the student because learning will become so much easier for them. One parent actually comes to mind when I think of this. A mother began crying when I asked her why she came to Kumon. She explained to me that her first grader was not able to read. I assured her we could help and explained how. After six months, the same mother greeted me in the waiting room with a big smile holding her child’s improved report card. She said his teacher was so amazed by the progression of his reading skills. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student who may have been struggling? I had a student who was in the third grade and was struggling with subtraction. I encouraged him to use his strong addition skills to quickly solve the problems. He had an “aha!” moment and subtraction came easily to him after that. It felt good to be able to help a student with something that he had been struggling with for years. It wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t develop strong addition skills initially from a comfortable starting point. What do you like to do in your spare time? These days I spend most of my free time with my wife and two-year-old son. Watching him grow and experience new things is the best way to spend my free time now. As a family, we also enjoy traveling to new places as often as possible. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I really enjoy working on and restoring classic cars. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Laisa Mathissen Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Maryland Heights From an early age, Scott knew he was destined for a future in education. As a child, he enjoyed helping his younger sister with her homework and studying for exams. Scott followed his dreams and earned a bachelor’s degree in History for Secondary Education. Upon graduating, he learned about Kumon through a friend and it immediately sparked his interest. “I loved the impact that the program had on students,” said Scott. “The fact that I was able to help develop a student over continuous years really intrigued me.” Next year, Scott Manis, Instructor of Kumon of Maryland Heights, will be celebrating his fifth anniversary with Kumon. Through the years, Scott has made an impact on the young minds in this St. Louis suburb. Kumon has ignited the dreams of this young educator and he continues to be inspired by his students. “I am proud of the reputation that we have in our community,” said Scott. “As someone who always wanted to be an educator, I feel like Kumon is the place where I can make the biggest impact on the lives of students.” What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Patience! It’s easy to understand that patience is needed when working with students, but it takes time and practice to be patient. Students learn in different ways and at different speeds. Each student needs time to think, and as an Instructor you must be willing to adjust your approach for each individual. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? This may sound weird, but it’s when a parent comes in for a parent orientation and they are visibly upset about where their child is academically. This is my favorite part, because I know I can help and bring relief and joy to the student because learning will become so much easier for them. One parent actually comes to mind when I think of this. A mother began crying when I asked her why she came to Kumon. She explained to me that her first grader was not able to read. I assured her we could help and explained how. After six months, the same mother greeted me in the waiting room with a big smile holding her child’s improved report card. She said his teacher was so amazed by the progression of his reading skills. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student who may have been struggling? I had a student who was in the third grade and was struggling with subtraction. I encouraged him to use his strong addition skills to quickly solve the problems. He had an “aha!” moment and subtraction came easily to him after that. It felt good to be able to help a student with something that he had been struggling with for years. It wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t develop strong addition skills initially from a comfortable starting point. What do you like to do in your spare time? These days I spend most of my free time with my wife and two-year-old son. Watching him grow and experience new things is the best way to spend my free time now. As a family, we also enjoy traveling to new places as often as possible. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I really enjoy working on and restoring classic cars. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Laisa Mathissen Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju

How important is it for kids to participate in extracurricular activities - ALOHA Mind Math

How important is it for kids to participate in extracurricular activities While the ongoing outcry in neighboring Canada seems to be having a detrimental impact on extracurricular activities for kids, with teachers announcing a pullout from them in protest, have all of us given a thought to how important these are proving to be for young children? This article gives a very realistic view of how children should be allowed to choose the activities they like to do, and not forced into something just because we as parents think they should do it. Here are some great reasons why extra curricular activities are important for your child: Understanding their strengths: It is only when a child tries out extracurricular activities such as music, theatre or sports, that they may begin to start understanding what their strengths are. It is a good idea to try out different activities when children are younger, so that as they grow, they can figure out for themselves that these are the ones they really want to stick to and explore further. Improves confidence:Doing well at something new can be a big confidence booster, and you might see even usually quiet kids develop bigger personalities when this happens. Especially when a child tries a new sport, or a new instrument, it is easy for parents to assess the joy of really liking what they are doing. Kids playing soccer:Image Courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turku_Junior_football.jpg Widens their interests: You will be happy to find your child spending less time in front of the TV or playing games on their favorite gadget, once they find some interesting extracurricular activities to pursue. If one of these can be a physical activity, this also takes care of exercise for your kids. When looking for after school activities, you can also look around for something involving arts and crafts for kids. Especially in younger children, this is a great way to improve motor skills and coordination. Parents are the best judges of how many and how often children should participate in extracurricular activities, while deferring to children’s likes and their interest in a particular activity. After school programs can also be a point of interest when looking for extracurricular activities in high school children. Our Math and English programs at Aloha USA can also be a great addition to your child’s schedule. Please see our website for more details: http://www.aloha-usa.co m

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn. Phil Collins Philip David Charles Phil Collins, (born on January 30, 1951) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and novelist, best known both as drummer and vocalist for English rock group Genesis and as a solo artist. Collinss total worldwide sales as a solo artist are 150 million. Collins has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awardsâ€"winning Best British Male three times, three American Music Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend Award in 2002 for his solo work. He was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. Collins is one of only three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal member of a band. In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn. Phil Collins Philip David Charles Phil Collins, (born on January 30, 1951) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and novelist, best known both as drummer and vocalist for English rock group Genesis and as a solo artist. Collinss total worldwide sales as a solo artist are 150 million. Collins has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awardsâ€"winning Best British Male three times, three American Music Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend Award in 2002 for his solo work. He was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. Collins is one of only three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal member of a band.