The Practice Decathlon 10 Music Theory Games Exercises to Try

The Practice Decathlon 10 Music Theory Games Exercises to Try Suzy S. Are you in a practice rut? Mix things up with these ear training exercises and music theory games for kids and beyond, compiled by music teacher Alicia B... Its no secret that professional  athletes have to train rigorously to reach the top of the medal podium. The path of music is similar, and youd be surprised how your training is no different! Learning to play an instrument takes dedicated practice, mental stamina, and an organized plan for success. But dont worry it doesnt have to be just scales and etudes over and over. Music games can be  effective for all ages, and are worth incorporating in your practice time especially if you feel like youre in a rut! So adults, its time to bring out your inner kid. And parents, its time to grab the kids and have some fun as a family! Heres a set of music theory games and ear training exercises that you can play all summer long. Mastering The Staff Age group:  Kids to adults Players needed: 1 One of the first building blocks of music is learning the musical  staff (or staves). You may recall the first mnemonic device in order to learn your lines of the treble clef, “Every Good Boy Does Fine.” For this music theory exercise, lets take this idea one step further with a memory game. To begin, make a set of flashcards with  a certain line or space (e.g. “first line” or “second space”) on the front, and the correct answer (e.g., “E” or “A,” respectively) on the back. Start a timer and see how many correct answers you can get in 30 seconds. Making these cards without drawing an actual staff allows you to visualize it in your head, which jump-starts your recall abilities. Of course, you also have the option of using the staff. These note name flashcards are commonly available for purchase or you can search for printable versions. Musictheory.net has a great online version of this game  where you can set the range of notes, including all your ledger lines above and below the staff. Get Into The Rhythm Age group:  Kids to adults Players needed: 1 We can all clap along to a beat, but how well can you tap it? This series of exercises focuses on separating your instrument from your rhythm reading, so all youre required to do is tap your finger! One way to practice is to take any line from the method book you use. Try to see if you can tap the correct rhythm along with a slow metronome. Can you get it right in one try? There are a few apps that create this as a game where you tap along to a randomly generated notated rhythm. Some apps, like Rhythm Tap, also allow you to adjust the note values (so if you havent seen a triplet or sixteenth note just yet, dont stress, you dont have to include it). The Hot Potato Staff Game Age group:  Kids Players needed: 2+ This is one of the music theory games I use with my own students! Parents, you can easily play it with your kids. Gather players in a circle and start with your “potato” (in my case, its a stuffed frog named Mr. Hoppers). The game begins with you tossing the potato and immediately posing a question (e.g.,“Whats the letter name of the third line in treble clef?” or “Third line treble clef!” for short);  the child who catches the potato responds and tosses it back. This is a great game for students of all levels because it asks you to imagine the staff in your head, bridging a recall gap from just memorizing Every Good Boy Does Fine. Become Your Ears Personal Trainer Age group: Teens  to adults Players needed: 1 Its a common misconception that you either have a good musical ear or you dont;  with the right ear training exercises, you can definitely improve! For this exercise, all you need is a keyboard and some Post-It Notes. Number your keys one through eight and close your eyes. With your left hand on key 1, randomly play a different numbered key with the right hand. Try to figure out what interval you heard. Open your eyes and check if you were right. There are also a few apps for interval training;  heres one I like  from Musictheory.net. Mission Transposition Age group: Teens  to adults Players needed: 1 If youve learned a little bit about your key signatures, a fun way to revisit old material while improving your key signature knowledge is transposition! This music theory exercise is simple: take a song you know well (and have memorized) and start it on a different note. If it sounds funny, correct each note as you go along, and youll notice youre actually following the key change that occurred. A great way to start is with “Twinkle, Twinkle” in the key of C major, then moving it to G major (dont forget your F sharp!), then F major (B flat city). You can also give a twist to a “happy” song in C major by moving it three steps down to the more “sad” A minor. Music Marathon Age group: Kids  to adults Players needed: 1 Its surprising how often new students have actually never heard the different genres of music their instrument can offer. We often hear about binge-watching movies, but have you ever listened to an entire symphony? Sat through an opera or musical? What about a full album start to finish? To be a gold-medal musician, you need to be a gold-medal music appreciator. Take the plunge and dedicate a block of time to listening without distraction. Take notes of what interested you or how it made you feel. These are the doors you open to yourself as you walk down the figurative music hallway. You may find a new genre and re-inspire yourself to pick up your instrument and start practicing! Pitch Detective Age group: Teens  to adults Players needed: 2+ Similar to identifying  intervals, recognizing pitches is a vital part of ear training. For this exercise, pick a major or minor key, and have another person play the root note (first note of the scale), and any other note in the scale. Its your challenge  to name not only the interval that was played, but the name of the note. This game gets particularly difficult when the flats and sharps increase. The more you play this game, the stronger  your  ear will become. Once you master finding the pitch, ask a partner to play four notes in the scale (starting with the root), and see if you can write the notes down on staff paper. Rhythm Jumpers Age group:  Kids Players needed: 2+ These next two music theory games are for kids again. This one takes elements from “Mother, May I?” to create a slow-moving race while jumping to correct rhythms. To play, the “mother” thinks of a note (or rhythm pattern) and asks each player to jump the rhythm (e.g. a single whole note would be one jump and holding four counts, while a half note/quarter/quarter pattern would be a jump lasting two counts followed by two more jumps). Whoever gets to the finish line (first) wins! Kids love to utilize their whole bodies to learn.  Its a great break from sitting, and by the end, everyone will have learned note duration in a fun, physical way! Tempo Light Age group:  Kids Players needed: 2+ All you need for this game is a finish line. Have the child(ren) line up and get ready to listen. To start,  choose four tempos to shout out, all of which mean different speeds (similar to red light, green light). For example, shouting out “andante” means everyone goes at a walking pace, but “allegro” means go fast! See if they match the tempos correctly. If they dont, its back to the starting line. Use your “red light” by shouting, “fermata!” and see how they freeze in their tracks. Performance Time Age group:  All ages Players needed:  1 Last but not least, performing for others is a great way to get out of a practice rut for all ages. Think of it  as similar to the gymnastics floor routine: impressive, creative, stylistic, and acts as the culmination of other events. For kids, a more casual performance, even if its for friends or family in the living room, can take the edge off of more formal performances. And for adults, you may not have the same recital opportunities as kids, so youll have to make your own. It may be nerve-wracking, but performing in front of others and  overcoming stage fright is an important part of learning. Remember, to become a “gold medal” musician, you have to play to win! More Music Theory Games for Kids Beyond Composing Game, via Classics for Kids drag notes and rests to compose your own song Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids interactive games and information on classical music, composers, and instruments Whack-A-Note identify notes as quick as you can to earn points 11 Wonderfully Creative Ways to Teach Children Music Theory Teoria games and exercises to practice intervals, key signatures, chords, and much more Theta Music Trainer   tons of music training games, exercises, and resources Post Author: Alicia B. Alicia B. teaches piano, violin, music theory, and more in Miami, FL. She has 15+ years training in violin technique, and almost 10 years of classical piano experience.  Learn more about Alicia 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

Video Why Are Guitar Scales Important

Video Why Are Guitar Scales Important Suzy S. Practicing scales may not be the most exciting exercise, but it can do wonders for your overall skills on the guitar. Below, Long Beach, CA guitar teacher Glenn S. shows how practicing scales can help your overall skill as youre playing the guitar Like this post? Dont miss out on any of our tips, tricks and advice! Sign up for a free email subscription and receive our updates! You might also like 3 Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners Struggling With Songwriting? Focus On This. Video: Ho Hey Chords and Tutorial Glenn S. teaches bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, music recording, music theory, songwriting, ukulele and banjo lessons to students of all ages in Long Beach, CA. He joined the TakeLessons team in December 2012, with over 20   years of teaching experience. Learn more about Glenn, or search for a teacher near you!

4 Crucial Elements of Singing Every Great Vocalist Knows

4 Crucial Elements of Singing Every Great Vocalist Knows Sign up successful Practice Like the proverbial building constructed on sand, a weak foundation creates an unstable building that won’t stand the test of time. It’s very important for all of us as singers and musicians to have solid practice techniques in order to develop our instrument and make it a stronger one with every performance. A full, strong voice will have the stamina for a full capacity of creative expression when it comes to singing. A complete practice routine should include: Warm Ups Our vocal cords are like any other muscle in our body; they need to be warmed up before we can sing a song, the same way we need to warm up our legs before we can run a marathon. Warming up your voice with lip trills, runs on your middle range, single tone exercises, and breathing exercises are essential before you start any technical vocal work. Your voice will respond better once you give it the proper warm up. Consider your vocal warm up the way you tell your vocal cords that they are going to be doing some weight lifting! When I started taking voice lessons, I used to warm up my voice two to three times a day for about 10-20 minutes, depending on what songs I was working on and the technical work my voice teacher had laid out for me. Nowadays, I warm up my voice every morning, before seeing my students, for at least 30 minutes, then do some technical work, and so on. Technical Work With every lesson I teach, I work on breathing with my students. Strong breath management is the basis for learning how to sing well. You cannot sing the right note if your breathing is not in place. Its just impossible. I recommend dividing your technical work into stages: breathing exercises, flexibility, and range extension, for starters. And if you are tired or straining in any way, STOP! Take a break. Song Performance Start by choosing a couple of songs in a style that you like, and make sure that they are within your singing range. To find that out, look for the lowest and highest notes in the song. Most of the song should be within your middle range, although it is possible that it may have a few low or high notes outside your comfort zone in that case, work on those notes and see if with time they become easier for you. You can always transpose the song to a lower or higher key if that will make it easier for you to sing. Cool Down After all your hard work, spend about 5 to 10 minutes doing some warm up exercises to cool down your voice. To do this effectively, keep the exercises within the middle range of your voice. This will ease the process of your voice going back to your normal everyday vocal use by allowing the tissue temperature to lower. Check out the video below for more details: Patience Learning any instrument especially vocal technique requires patience, especially if there are any bad habits to undo. The payoff of being patient with your instrument while learning how to sing properly is that you will have a well-trained instrument capable of greater expression. Every now and then you may have what I like to call an aha! moment in singing, but most of the time progress comes after a long period of work that peaks and then plateaus for a while. As long as you keep working at it, you will always be growing and learning something new about your instrument. Perseverance You need to always stay focused on your goals as a singer. Something that has helped me with this is to keep a clear picture of where I am going and what it is that I want to accomplish. I always keep track of my short-term goals and how those are helping me reach my long term ones. I always celebrate my accomplishments and learn from my mistakes. If I have a performance that wasnt my best, I allow myself to take a break and see what happened and allow myself to feel what I am feeling, but I do not allow that to discourage me from reaching my goals. It’s a work in progress and its only getting better. Play Music, especially singing, should always be FUN! So don’t ever forget that. You should love and enjoy what you are singing. And you should enjoy it before, during, and after each and every performance! Be proud of yourself and your hard work. Celebrate your singing and every opportunity you get to share your talent! Angel V. teaches singing, guitar, dance, and more in Palm Springs, CA. He received his Voice Performance/Music Business degree, along with minors in Piano and Guitar, from Berklee College of Music.  Learn more about Angel 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  Fire At Will [Photography]

The Stages of a Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Stages of a Japanese Tea Ceremony What Happens in a Japanese Tea Ceremony ChaptersThe Stages of a Japanese Tea CeremonyThe Tools Used During a Tea CeremonyThe Different Types of Tea Ceremony in Japan“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” - Fyodor DostoevskyWhile India is arguably home to the world’s greatest tea lovers, Japan isn’t far behind. The Japanese tea ceremony is very formal and the rules originated with Buddhist monks and samurai.The first tea ceremonies took place in the 8th century and kept evolving until the 16th century according to Sen no Rikyu’s influence.Do you know exactly what happens in a tea ceremony?Here’s everything you need to know. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tuto rs JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Stages of a Japanese Tea CeremonyThe Japanese tea ceremony is a heavily codified part of Japanese culture. Some steps and rules need to followed including aspects of making tea, tea-drinking, the tea caddy, the powdered green tea used, and the ceramics from which the tea is consumed. There are a lot of formalities that have to take place before and after tea ceremonies. (Source: xiehanxin)Preparing for a Japanese Tea CeremonyThe tea master can prepare for the ceremony weeks in advance. Spiritually, they need to prepare their soul and achieve balance and equilibrium within themselves.  Don’t forget that the ceremony originated through Buddhist religious practices with cleansing in mind.On the practical side, the master of tea needs to choose the right equipment according to the season or time of day. They’ll also clean the entire tea room where the ceremony will take place. The utensils will also need to be cleaned and the tatami changed.The ceremony may also include a meal that the host will have to prepare in advance.The Arrival of the GuestsTraditionally, the guests must also prepare themselves spiritually for the ceremony. They need to leave their problems at the door to make the most of the ceremony and ritual out of respect of each person in attendance.W hen they arrive at the tea room, they must wash their hands which also serves as a symbolic gesture to rid themselves of the “dust” from the outside world. The tea room is a sacred and pure place. The tea master will indicate when they may enter.Each guest will enter through a small door, forcing them to bow as a sign of respect for the host and the preparations they’ve made. The tea master will greet their guests by bowing whilst standing.Cleaning the ToolsThe host will clean the tools in front of their guests. There are rules for cleaning to utensils and equipment that will be used. While this may differ from ceremony to ceremony, it’s always very graceful and methodical.During this time, not a single guest nor the host should speak.Preparing the MatchaTraditionally, matcha from gyokuro tea is consumed. It’s an expensive tea that comes from a fine powder from the green gyokuro tea leaves. For the ceremony, the powder is often presented in balls. You don’t need to infus e this tea or put it in a bag; the fine powder will dissolve directly in water.The master of tea will take three scoops of matcha per guest and put it into the bowl. They’ll then add hot water (at around 80 ºC) and whisk the mixture with a whisk and bamboo. A bit more hot water is then added to create a frothy blend.Serving the MatchaGenerally, only a single bowl is passed around. The master will present the bowl to the first guest to admire. They’ll turn the bowl before drinking from it. These bowls often have engravings that are filled with gold powder.The guest takes two and a half sips from the bowl and wipes it off before offering it to the next guest who’ll do the same thing. Once the last guest has drunk from the bowl, they give it back to the host.The host may offer a cup for each guest. In this case, you always need to take two and a half sips before placing your drink down.The End of the Tea CeremonyAt the end of the ceremony, the host will clean the utensils and pre sent them to their guests. They can also present any decorative pieces in the room to the guests.The guests have to examine the utensils out of respect and admiration for their host. This is all done carefully with respect for the tea master.Learn more about attending a Japanese tea ceremony.The Tools Used During a Tea CeremonyThe equipment used in a tea ceremony is known as dogu in Japanese. There’s a lot of equipment used in these ceremonies. This can vary according to the ceremony but there are several utensils common to every type of ritual. The tools and products used are very important. (Source: A_Different_Perspective)The Tea CaddyThe cha’ire, as it’s known in Japanese, is a ceramic or porcelain tea caddy with a sometimes ivory lid. A golden lead is generally drawn onto the inside of the lid.This caddy is used to prepare the matcha. As a sign of respect, the principal guest is asked to admire the cha’ire.The Tea WhiskThe chasen is a whisk made from a single piece of wood and bamboo. It’s used to mix the water and matcha. There are different types of chasen for different consistencies of matcha. The tea in a tea ceremony comes in a powder and is whisked rather than brewed in a bag like in the UK. (Source: dungthuyvunguyen)The SpoonIf the matcha isn’t in balls, the spoon, known as a chashaku, is used to serve the powder. It’s a single piece of bamboo and is hidden from the view of the guests during the ceremony. The shapes and colours depend on their use in the ceremony.The Tea BowlThis replaces the cups commonly used for infusions. Known as a chawan, it’s essential for any tea ceremony. There are different sizes and colours for use in different types of ceremonies and with different thicknesses of matcha. In winter, the bowls are deeper to retain more heat.Bowls with imperfections are considered more valuable than newer ones as they have a long history and are deserving of the guests’ respect.The Silk ClothThis is used for handling hot receptacles. It’s usually a plain silk square. It’s red or orange for women and purple for men.The Iron PotFor a tea ceremony, th ere’s no teapot or kettle, just a kama, an iron pot used for heating water. This is normally a pot that’s been passed down from generation to generation. The name will vary depending on the family that it belongs to.Discover the different types of tea in Japan.The Different Types of Tea Ceremony in JapanThe tea ceremony is often done with matcha and not black tea, white tea, or iced tea. However, the ritual can vary from season to season. Here are the different types of tea ceremony in Japan.Hatsugama: The first boil! This is the first ceremony of the year in January. This is a tea ceremony in which the tea master guides their students.Akatsuki-no-chaji: literally the dawn tea ceremony in winter. It takes part early in the morning at the start of winter to enjoy the first sunlight coming into the tea room.Yuuzari-no-chaji: the early-evening tea ceremony. This tea ceremony takes place at sunset during the warm summer months.Kuchikiri-no-chaji: This takes place in November to cele brate the breaking of the seal on a new jar of tea. Green tea leaves are usually harvested in spring before being reduced to a powder. The tea is then stored in a closed jar. This ceremony is usually accompanied by a meal.Yobanashi: This is a candlelit ceremony that takes place in winter evenings. The best places to attend Japanese tea ceremonies are (unsurprisingly) in Japan. (Source: 12019)Would you like to attend a tea ceremony?Learn more about the history of it.If you'd like to learn the language before you go to Japan or a Japanese tea ceremony, you should get in touch with one of the many talented and experienced private Japanese tutors on Superprof. With three main types of private tutorial available, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, there's a solution for every type of learner and budget.Before you decide upon your tutor, remember that many of the tutors on Superprof offer free tuition for the first hour. Try a few of them out and see who you get along with, who offers the best tuition, and ask them about their teaching approach, rates, and what you'd like to learn.Personally, when you first start learning a language, you might want to start with the cheaper option of group tutorials and move onto online or face-to-face tutorials once you start to get a better idea of what you want to learn. However, at the end of the day, the choice is yours.

The Characteristics of Good Leadership - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Characteristics of Good Leadership - Introvert Whisperer The Characteristics of Good Leadership Leadership is the action of leading a group of people towards achieving a pre-defined target. Hence, the role of a leader is crucial for the success of the team as well as the organization. It is very important to be under the guidance of a good leader because he can motivate the team to get the best out of every team member, provide them confidence and lead by example, look after the team coordination and build a perfect work environment for everyone to thrive. On the other hand, a bad leader will be demotivating for the team members and the goal might take double the expected time for completion, if at all. Who Is A Leader? Any person can be a leader as long as he or she performs the following roles â€" The Initiator The leader is always responsible for initiating works. It could be meeting, planning, and distributing work modules. In the time of crisis, the leader is going to lead by example. The Motivator No work can go smoothly, and no person can perform at his best without motivation. It is the duty of the leader to keep motivating every team member and give confidence booster to bring out his full potential. The Guide The primary role of a leader is to guide the team to reach the goal easily. He will provide the instructions that the team members will follow and finish work modules one by one in the best possible way. The Coordinator One of the very crucial roles of a leader is to keep smooth team coordination and provide a proper working environment where the members enjoy working with each other. The Characteristics Of A Good Leader Thinking Beyond There is always a traditional way to achieve a goal. When a normal leader takes the usual path, a good leader thinks beyond and is focused on utilizing the resources in the best possible way to get the job done quickly without comprising with quality. He thinks quickly and acts quicker when the plan does not work as expected. A good leader always keeps his eyes on long-term goals so that there is an equal progress for the overall project. He can foresee the potholes in the path and guide the team accordingly.   Clear Communication A good leader has to be a good communicator with the clients as well as the team members. It is the unsaid things that create a lot of confusion, and it hampers the mental condition of the members, and the working environment gets spoilt. A good leader should communicate in the language that everyone can understand clearly. He must explain every technical term and aspect of the subject and give time to everyone individually to clarify their doubts before they can begin working as per instructions. Taking Ownership A leader gains the trust and respect of the team members when he starts to lead by example. He should never be afraid of taking ownership on the behalf of the team and face all the criticisms himself without letting the team members getting affected. A good leader needs to show such a character for others to get inspired and bring out the best out of them. Inspiring It is difficult for every team member to be consistent in work throughout the project. When the morale and confidence start decreasing, a good leader makes sure he motivates the entire team to give their best and provides a morale booster. He infuses the confidence in every member and creates an environment where everyone gives their 100% for a common goal. A good leader naturally becomes an inspirational model for others and that is why they have followers. Total Trust The ability of all the team members will never be the same but it is the confidence that the leader shows in every member that can make the team successful and outperform other teams. It is the responsibility of the leader to demonstrate his total trust in the abilities of the team member. A good leader lets the team members shine. If any suggestion is better than what he has suggested before, he accepts the better suggestion without satisfying ego because he is totally professional and willing to make every team member open up and contribute in every way possible. It is this environment of mutual trust that will boost the members to give their best every day. Even though leaders are born, to be a good leader, it requires experience and willingness.         About Author Harrish Sairaman is a well-known motivational teacher in India, helping many to achieve which once seemed unachievable like increase motivation, leadership, Corporate Performance, decrease stress etc. through Leadership training programs Corporate training, Entrepreneur Coaching and Individual Coaching to name a few. His ability to deliver life-changing, scientifically sound, relevant and metaphysical messages in a powerful, humorous and insightful manner integrated with high energy has earned him a reputation of bringing about a difference with a difference! Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

5 English Phrasal Verbs with Look

5 English Phrasal Verbs with Look Learning English phrasal verbs is one of the most difficult, and most important, parts of learning English. Phrasal verbs are verbs made of two or more words, usually a verb and a preposition or a verb and an adverb.Below youll find a video that include 5 common English phrasal verbs that use look. Watch the video, then see if you can answer the questions at the bottom.You can find more of our videos here. Fill the gaps with look for, look forward, look down on, look up, or look after. Use the correct tense. If you write your answers in comments, we will correct them.This weekend I am _____ ____ my 5-year-old nephew.Were really _____ ____ to visiting Brazil someday.Some people ____ ____ on people that have less money than them.My wife has been _____ ___ her keys for an hour.I hope youre _____ ____ to your next Skype English lesson.A lot of people ___ __ to President Obama.Were trying to find someone to ____ ____ our cat while were gone.I try not to ____ ____ on people.Are you ____ __ __ to your next English class?We are ____ __ a new place to live. Thaisa Pedron 1-looking after 2-look forward 3-down on 4-looked for 5-looking forward 6-look up 7-look after 8- look down   9-looking forward 10-looking for SkypeEnglishClasses Very good Thaisa! Number 4 should be looking for, (past continuous) but all the others are correct.   learn english online Nice post I understand many phrases and learn more verbs like this to improve English.Thanks for sharing Giuseppe Perna 1) This week end Im looking after my 5-years-old nephew. 2) We are really looking forward to visit Brazil someday. 3) Some people look down on people that have less money than them. 4) My wife has been looking for her keys for an hour. 5) I hope youre looking forward your next Skype English Lesson. 6) A lot of people look up to president Obama 7) We are trying to find someone to look after our cat while were gone. 8) I try not to look down on people. 9)  Are you looking forward to your next English cla ss? 10)  We are looking for a new place to live. LOIEnglish Giuseppe,Very good! You used all of the phrasal verbs correctly. But you did make some mistakes when you re-wrote the sentences. Can you see how you changed sentences 1, 2 and 5 to include errors that are typical of English learners? LOIEnglish Good work! susana gonzalez This weekend I am LOOKING AFTER my 5-year-old nephew. We’re really LOOKING FORWARD to visiting Brazil someday. Some people LOOK DOWN on people that have less money than them. My wife has been LOOKING FOR her keys for an hour. I hope you’re LOOKING FORWARD to your next Skype English lesson. A lot of people LOOK UP to President Obama. We’re trying to find someone to LOOK AFTER our cat while we’re gone. I try not to LOOK DOWN on people. Are you LOOKING FORWARD to your next English class? We are LOOKING FORWARD a new place to live LOIEnglish You had a problem with the last question: we are looking FOR (to search) a new place to live.

Critical Reasoning Question 13-Architecture Schools - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question 13-Architecture Schools BobbiM Feb 15, 2014 Out architecture schools must be doing something wrong.  Almost monthly we hear of domes and walkways collapsing in public places, causeing great harm to human life.  In their pursuit of some dubious aesthetic, architects design buildings that sway, crumble, and even shed windows into our cities streets.  This kind of incompetence will disappear only when the curricula of our architecture schools devote less time to so-called artistic considerations and more time to the basics of good design. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above? A.  All architecture students are given training in basic physics and mechanics. B.  Most of the problems with modern buildings stem from poor construction rather than poor design. C.  Less than 50% of the curriculum at most architecture schools is devoted to aesthetics. D.  Most buildings manage to stay in place well past their projected life expectancies. E.  Architects study as long and as intensively as most other  professionals. Think you know the answer? The correct answer is B. Since the author concludes from evidence of collapsing buildings that architecture schools should spend more time teaching the basics of good design,  she obviously assumes that the buildings are falling down because of poor design, not poor construction.  (B) destroys the argument by demolishing this assumption. The author claims architecture schools dont focus enough on basic design, not basic physics and mechanics, so (A)s no weakener.  As for (C), the author never spells out how much of the curriculum should be spent on design, so more than half may not be enough for her.  (D) distorts the argument-the author never claimed that most buildings are falling down, so the fact that most of them stay up doesnt matter.  As for (E), other professionals are beyond the scope-the issue is how much architecture schools focus on basic design rather than on more lofty artistic concerns.

High School Tips Recognize a Legitimate Research Source

High School Tips Recognize a Legitimate Research Source 5 ways to help high school students recognize a legitimate research source Every high school student will write a research paper and research class assignments and projects. One of the biggest problems students face in the digital age is determining which sources are legitimate and which are not. In years past, students could visit the library and speak to a librarian who could point them towards the right types of sources for any given topic, but today students conduct most of their research online. The vast majority of legitimate academic sources are available in the digital world. However, there are also some sources with authors who are writing their opinion as fact. This means that students come across articles and books where the author has no specific credentials and doesnt cite the source of their information. Luckily, there are several ways students can recognize a legitimate research source to use in an assignment Our private Orange County high school tutors are here to help you with your next research paper. 1. Look up the author’s credentials The first thing students can do is look up the author’s credentials to see if they’re qualified to write about a particular subject. For instance, if a student is writing about biology and the author is a professor of biology with a Ph.D. in the subject, then they’re likely qualified to discuss their opinions on the subject. However, that same author may not be qualified to write about other topics such as art history or exercise science. An author can be legitimately qualified in one field but not others. 2. Gather a list of trustworthy sources As students begin to research they’re encouraged to maintain a list of legitimate sources. Established newspapers and news reporters might be able to write on some topics, and some newspapers may hire several qualified staff writers who report the news. Some news sources are more legitimate than others or have been around longer and have a better reputation. As students begin to create their list, theyre encouraged to consult an educator who can help them get started. Once students know which sources are almost always legitimate, itll make their research efforts more efficient. 3. Determine whether or not the author has a strong opinion Its OK for an author to write an argumentative piece where they insert their own opinion into the article. However, they should always be upfront that this is their opinion and not a fact. Additionally, if a student is reading an argumentative piece by one author, they’re encouraged to read text by another author who holds the opposite opinion. When neutrality isnt possible, its best for students to read about both sides of an argument. Determining which pieces are argumentative and which are factual is a skill that students will learn over time from their classes or when working with a supplemental educator. 4. What to do when its unclear if the source is legitimate Many students ask if the sources they have found are appropriate but cant quite figure out how to answer the question without guidance. They might be reading a text by a new author or publisher, or they may be unsure if they can confirm the facts in the article. The best way for students to determine legitimacy is to confirm the facts from a second trustworthy source. If students cannot confirm the fax elsewhere, its possible they’re reading somebodys opinion or a personal blog rather than a reliable news or research source (READ: 5 Tips for Success in English Class From an Orange County English Tutor). 5. What happens when a student cant find any good sources? Many students complain that they just cant find any good sources for a research paper. Some topics are more challenging than others, but there are always sources out there to be found. Students may need to work on improving their research skills, in particular, learning how to conduct internet research. Some highly academic papers require a trip to a brick-and-mortar library to find journals that aren’t found online. Many students simply Google a topic hoping to find valuable information (and in many instances they can), but some subjects will require students to know where to look so they may need to speak to their teacher or tutor for guidance before they get too far in the process. Having trouble with your research paper? Our experienced Orange County English tutors are here to help. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.