Conservatoire Study for Drums

Conservatoire Study for Drums Why Learn to Play the Drums in a Conservatoire? ChaptersWhat Is a Conservatoire?Learning to Play the Drums in a ConservatoireInformation on Learning to Play the Drums in a Conservatoire“Everything is music for the born musician.” - Romain RollandThe drums are an instrument which we hear a lot but rarely talk about. It’s very common in modern music and brings tempo and rhythm to each song.There are different ways to learn how to play this instrument and in a conservatoire is one of the most recognised ways.  It is, however, worthwhile having a look at the advantages and disadvantages of taking this route to learn to play a musical instrument and become a scholar of music performance.In this article, we'll be looking at what a conservatoire is, who it's for, what you can learn there, and attending one could do for your music career, especially as a drummer.they only accept the best of the best.Your training will take place over several years and, if you work hard, you’ll be granted a recognised music qualification at the end of your studies. There’s no place for improvisation with your education at a place like this!Aspiring musicians will be expected to pay for their education and prove that they’re worthy of the education that they’re getting. This education will also afford them the opportunity to express their creativity and make it as a professional musician and they’ll also get the opportunity to perform live.You'll be surprised at just how much you can learn about the drums at a conservatoire. (Source: tookapic)These are the kinds of places where you can find distinguished lecturers and music professors who’ve been classically-trained and attended similar conservatoires to the one you’ll find yourself in. The teaching staff will deliver some of the best schooling throughout the academic year.We often tend to forget that it’s a music teacher that’ll teach you how to play the drums and you’ll have to follow their advice all the way through your studies.Attending a conservatoire w ill also help you to get involved with the music scene in the town where you’re at. Conservatoire courses will teach you everything you need to know in order to perfect your technique and broaden your understanding of music.You can learn more about music theory and the fundamentals of music whether you play drums, saxophone, cello, flute, etc. This is the kind of education you can only get in a conservatoire.Information on Learning to Play the Drums in a Conservatoire“Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.” - Alphonse de LamartineDo you need your own drum kit? Can you attend a conversatoire aged 35?Who exactly will be professors be?You’ll probably ask yourself a lot of questions before you attend a conservatoire.  It’s easier to attend a conservatoire when you’re younger. After all, there will be a lot of students leaving sixth form or college and looking for places on their degree courses.Most successful musicians have extensively studied their instruments. (Source: ktphotography)You can spend anywhere between a year and 8 years in a conservatoire, depending on the route you take. You’ll have to commit a lot of time and have a passion for music and play the drums from the moment you attend your audition until the day you’re granted your undergraduate degree or master’s degree.Whether you’ve just started or are reaching the end of your studies, there is no time to let your passion dwindle or take your foot off the gas. The same is true if you’re learning to sing or play the tuba, these are the kind of teaching establishments that won't let lazy or unmotivated students progress.Check out our beginners guide to drum lesson!While it’s not a competition, it sort of it. A lot of students have dreams of being the best and progressing and they’ll be very driven as a result.  Young musicians, who’ll be taught by qualified professors, will have to get used to the teaching style. Of course, a good teacher will a lso work out the best way for you to progress. This is true for any conservatoire in the country.The teachers are at the core of any conservatoire and will be very important in your studies. They’ll help you improve your drumming technique, master time signatures, tempo, and rhythm, and give you a better understanding of the underlying music theory.A music course at a conservatoire will bring all this together and more. They’ll be more technically demanding and professional than what you’ll get at a general music school but you’ll also get the joy of learning with other driven students, which you won't get with private tutorials.There are a lot of good reasons for learning to play the drums at a conservatoire as well as plenty of good reasons to just learn how to play the drums. The drums require rhythm and timing and can add something to many different styles of music.When you learn to play the drums at a conservatoire, you’ll be getting a well-rounded education that may help you become a professional drummer in the future. Of course, don't forget that you can also learn how to play the drums at a university.While we've mentioned conservatoires throughout this article, there are also plenty of universities up and down the country that offer the same undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for those wanting to learn more about music or drumming.The reason we've focused on conservatoires is that they are the pinnacle of music education in the UK and are the option for anyone who's talented, driven, and certain that they want to make a career out of their druming at the highest level.If a conservatoire isn't for you or you just don't have the budget for it, you should consider getting private tutorials in order to learn the drums. On Superprof, for example, you can find private drum tutors all over the country who'll be happy to work with you to create your own learning plan in order to meet your learning goals.Additionally, if you can't meet up with a private tutor in person, you can always look for online private tutors who can teach you from anywhere in the world thanks to the internet and video conferencing software such as Skype. This is especially good for those who work shifts or during the night. Just make sure you don't schedule your drum tutorials for 3 in the morning and wake all your neighbours up!

3 Ways to Incorporate the Arts Into Your College Experience

3 Ways to Incorporate the Arts Into Your College Experience Courses in the arts can enrich and revitalize your college experience. Even if you are an engineering, psychology, or business major, taking a class in the arts or design disciplines can be enjoyable, stress-relieving, and enlightening. Many majors are cross-disciplinary, and you may be able to tie what you learn in your arts courses back to your major. So, how does a student in an unrelated major incorporate arts into his or her college experience? Read on to learn three ways to incorporate the arts into your college experience: 1. Fulfill general studies requirements with arts courses Nearly all majors require students to complete general education or general studies courses. This ensures that students have a well-rounded experience and are exposed to a multitude of ideas. So the next time you meet with your advisor, find out what general studies you have remaining and which might be fulfilled through an art course. Many history and theory courses in art, dance, theatre, film, music, and design offer historical or humanities credits, and might be more enjoyable than some of your other course options to fulfill the same requirements. Also, these courses might provide a bit of a break from your typical finance or electrical engineering courses, while also providing inspiration and even a new intellectual challenge. 2. Incorporate arts practice courses into your schedule Maybe you are a nursing major, but always loved drawing or ceramics. Or, maybe you are studying sustainability but miss filmmaking. Check your college catalog or speak with your academic advisor about arts practice courses that are open to non-majors. Many colleges and universities set aside seats in their introductory arts practice courses for non-majors to explore disciplines. Most majors allow a few electives. Taking a course in arts practice will help fulfill elective credits while nurturing your creative pursuits. If you dont have room for an elective or if youve already used your electives, consider taking on an extra course in the summerto fit in an art course. If you take a few courses and really love it, see an advisor in the creative discipline of your interest to find out about adding a minor. Minors might include theatre, film, dance, music, digital media, design, or art. 3. Enhance your major with a relevant arts course Majors and their corresponding careers are typically not independent of every other major or career. Instead, they are trans-, multi- or cross-disciplinary. You can use courses in the arts to enhance your major, and eventually acquire skills and knowledge for your career. For example, a computer science major may love programming, but he or she may also wish to learn elements of graphic and web design. Although computer science will have classes in programming and graphics, it may not delve as deeply into the artistic principles that make certain designs visually appealing. Similarly, a psychology major may not think the arts applies to his or her major, but there are several courses in music and art therapy that can help psychology majors understand the different methods of counseling to help people with emotional or behavioral disorders. As an additional example, a marketing major will learn all about targeting consumer markets and influencing consumer behavior, but he or she will rarely learn the creative and design side of marketing through his or her business program. Marketing students can benefit from taking a media design course to gain skills in graphic design, film editing, sound editing, and basic web programming. These skills will make them much more marketable when applying for jobs post-graduation. The arts is such a broad area that interests students of all backgrounds. Your college experience can be varied and include the arts despite your major. If you are interested in incorporating the arts into your college degree, dont hesitate to do so. Speak with an advisor and ask for help identifying how you can best fit these courses into your program of study.

Tips for Writing an Essay

Tips for Writing an Essay Throughout your many years of school, you will never avoid the essay assignment. This will be thrown at you over and over and over so many times that youll eventually look back and find yourself in disbelief that youve actually written that many essays. Whether youre analyzing literature for an English class, writing personal statements for college applications, or taking a stance on an issue for an ACT writing task, you are going to need the same set of fierce writing skills to compose a well-structured and logical essay. Some people have a better knack for writing than others and those natural inclinations cannot be taught but there are certain mechanics that if taken seriously, can allow anybody to put together a solid piece of writing. Identify the point of each paragraph. No matter how well-written an essay is, the greatness will be completely lost if the piece is dangerously unorganized. No one likes to read through an essay that sounds like a persons rambling inner thoughts with no clear direction. So prior to beginning each paragraph, ask yourself exactly what point you are trying to get across and then spend the duration of that paragraph covering that specific topic and only that specific topic. This will make your reasoning for the overall essay ten times easier to understand because the reader will be able to digest each part of it separately, one section at a time. You are eliminating the chances of a reader getting lost and not being able to process the ideas smoothly. Organize those points effectively. If your paragraphs are not placed in a logical order, that confusion you were hoping to get rid of will, in fact, arise. English teachers have been training you how to do this since elementary school, however, so it is likely you wont have an issue with it. But just incase, heres a reminder of the simple 5-paragraph essay a structure you can almost always count on to work for your essays purpose. Begin with an introductory paragraph that gives some brief context for what overall topic you will be addressing and then wrap it up with a thesis statement summarizing the points you will be making in your body paragraphs and how they will prove your main claim on the big subject. Follow up with these three separate body paragraphs, each addressing a point you identified previously; just make sure they are following each other in a subsequent order so each paragraph supports information from the one before it. Finally, end with your conclusion paragraph, re-stating your thesis and summing up what was said in your body paragraphs. Describing the elements of this well-known essay structure may seem silly, but its actually beneficial to be thoroughly reminded of its aspects since you may naturally want to breeze through it and unintentionally end up forgetting some of its key steps. Have a Thesaurus open and handy (a book or the website). Especially when youve been writing for hours on end and are getting tired and bored, youll be more likely to repeat words too frequently. As you are writing each individual sentence, it may not seem like a bad idea to describe things as intriguing, but when you look back and read through every sentence at a normal pace and see that word over and over, it will just be awkward and hurt the smooth flow you want your essay to have. So if you find yourself wanting to describe your points with the same handful of adjectives, go to your helpful resource for synonyms and save your essay from mediocrity. Read your words aloud. You will get such a better grasp of how your essay sounds and comes across if you speak your words out loud. It will give you a great idea of how the essay sounds off paper and in the mind of a person reading it. While youre at it, do your best to put yourself in the shoes of the teacher or proctor who will be grading it so you can keep their mindset prominent as you digest these words. After all, what matters is that it sounds good to them since theyre the ones judging it. Another tip to successful writing think about your audience. Proofread and edit. It is perfectly understandable that youll be extremely anxious to dot and cross those last is and ts and turn this essay in the moment you have finished. But little grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes are bound to happen along the way and youll never catch them if you dont dedicate a final read-through to simply searching for these errors. It may be the last thing youll want to do at that moment, but it could turn your essay from good to great. Youll be very happy later on that you put forth this extra effort. By focusing on these steps as you write, you will create an interesting essay that flows well and truly makes sense. Treat your essay as something you are building that you want to look fantastic these are your tools for successful construction.

Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation - Introvert Whisperer Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation Conflicts can arise from a lot of factors. The usual ways to resolve conflict cannot be done by the untrained individual. This part is where the professionals come in to help save the relationship. Workplace conflicts cannot be prevented. This one is primarily because of conflicting theories that come up at every point, different points of view that come up during meetings, and different beliefs in handling workplace issues. As a manager or as an employee, If you are looking at the best ways to do workplace conflict resolution, you should keep the information shared here in mind. The Things to Prevent in Case of Workplace Conflict For managers and supervisors, there are a few things that they cannot do during a time of conflict and they are listed below: First, you should not avoid the conflict. A common mistake that individual managers do is avoid the conflict as if it is not an issue. As a leader, you need to face the problem head-on because a conflict that you try to put under the bridge would just increase your level of stress and disagreements between employees. Whenever you allow a disagreement to go unresolved, you feed your employees with the belief that you they should survive despite feeling like they are walking on eggshells all the time. This fact would not lead to a good working environment, not for you nor for your employees. Second, you should not meet with the people in conflict separately. If you allow everyone to meet with you personally, you take the risk of polarizing their positions. It makes no possible sense for you to convince yourself of each side, you need to nip the problem at the root cause and hear both sides at the same time as it prevents partiality as well. You should remove the belief that the only people affected by the conflict are the participants. Everyone in the office would have to survive everyday knowing that a fight may erupt at any time. It is not going to be good for you nor for your employees to make them feel like this. By preventing the problem, you make it even bigger because you are pushing people to pick sides. The Right Way to Resolve the Conflicts There is a right way to resolve any kind of work conflict. The following are the steps that you can take in case of a conflict: Recognize that a problem exists The first thing that you should do is to recognize that a problem exists in your workplace or organization. Keep in mind that you should first accept the problem for you to be able to resolve it. Make sure that you do research first Keep in mind that before meeting with the people in conflict you should research and ask around. Ask people who are affected by the problem first and third-party individuals who may know anything about the issue. Clearing the problem is a good step to take as it allows you to make sure that you know all the facts before you meet the individuals Meet with the antagonists together You should meet them together. Let them summarize their points in front of the other while preventing the other from commenting or interrupting the other party. It should be a short discussion of the issues with all parties listening. During the meeting, make sure that the following are followed: The parties should not interrupt the other when the other is still talking. There should be no attack from either one of the parties. Both parties should be calm and collected. At the end of the meeting, you should ask each participant to discuss their expectations with the problem. Ask them to make a report that encompasses the following: The resolution that they expect to have; The compromise that they are willing to follow; and Their commitment that such problems would no longer be an issue in the future. By the time that the conflict has been resolved, you should get both parties to make a commitment on the changes that they will do to address the problem. What If the Problem Is Not Fixed? If the problem persists despite your conflict resolution methods, you should get a workplace mediator to help you. You may even decide to get one during your initial meeting with the parties so that you would have that foundation and assistance that you need to resolve the conflict. Conflicts Should Be Addressed As Soon As Possible Conflicts that go on for too long end up getting bigger and even more complicated. Stories give birth to more stories and misunderstandings lead to more misunderstandings. The right way to resolve conflicts is to address the problem as soon as you possibly can and that is close to its occurrence. Author’s Bio: Khaled Soufi CEO MediatorSelect https://mediatorselect.com/ My Goal: “Even though mediation becomes a more popular option every year, most people still jump to litigation when they experience a conflict. I want to help change that!” Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors

Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors Suzy S. The long-hyped premiere of NBCs new show Smash aired on Monday night, and 11.5 million viewers reportedly tuned in.   Critics have been giving it mostly positive reviews, despite a few flaws (The Atlantic called it messy, cheesy and a bit of a letdown).   Readers, what do you think?   Will the show be the next smashing hit?   At the very least, we cant wait to hear more of Katharine McPhees powerful voice. For the uninitiated, singing may look easy you either can sing on pitch, or you cant, right?   Not so fast.   Without proper training, its common for beginners to make simple errors, and if those turn into habits, they may make or break your future as a singer. Here are a few common singing mistakes, as written by Teresa Radomski, an operatic soloist and professor at Wake Forest University: 1.   Poor posture The efficient alignment of the body is of primary importance to voice production.   Problems in posture range from the collapse of the chest and rib cage with corresponding downward fall of the head and neck, to the hyper-extended, stiff posture of some singers that results in tension throughout the entire body. 2. Poor breathing and inappropriate breath support Some beginning voice students gasp for air and exhibit clavicular (shoulder) or shallow breathing patterns.   Trained singers, on the other hand, use primarily diaphragmatic breath support.   The muscles of the lower back and abdomen are engaged, in conjunction with lowering the diaphragm.   As the breath stream is utilized for phonation, there should be little tension in the larynx itself. 3. Limited pitch range, and difficulty in register transition All singing voices exhibit an optimal pitch range.   The term register is used to describe a series of tones that are produced by similar mechanical gestures of vocal fold vibration, glottal and pharyngeal shape, and related air pressure.   Some common designations of registers are the head register, chest register, falsetto, etc.   Singing requires transitions from one register to another.   Lack of coordination of the laryngeal musculature with the breath support may result in register break, or obvious shift from one tone quality to another.   Regardless of the style of singing, a blend, or smooth transition between registers, is desirable. 4. Poor articulation Pronunciation with excessive tension in the jaw, lips, palate, etc., adversely affects the tonal production of the voice. The longer duration of vowel sounds in singing necessitates modification of pronunciation.   Retroflex and velar consonants (such as American r and i) need careful modification to allow sufficient pharyngeal opening for the best resonance, and the over-anticipation of nasal consonants (m, n, ng) may result in a stiff soft palate and unpleasant tone. Of course, the best way to fix these errors is to work with a professional relying on YouTube videos alone will give you some tips, but wont give you the one-on-one feedback necessary to really improve.   Were here to help find a music teacher near you, and start working toward your goals! 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 ataelw.

The Ideal Length of Time to Spend in Lisbon

The Ideal Length of Time to Spend in Lisbon How Long Should You Spend in Lisbon? A Mini-Guide ChaptersWhy Fly to Lisbon?A Week in Lisbon to Visit All the Unmissable SightsOur Plans for Visiting LisbonHow long should you stay in the Portuguese capital to really get the most out of it?This is a question that most people planning a trip to Lisbon will be thinking about.In 2015, tourism brought €8.4bn to the city of Lisbon with an annual growth of 10%.Lisbon is a popular destination with its beautiful surroundings, the historic city centre with unmissable cultural heritage, beautiful beaches, a nice climate, and a low cost of living.In this article, Superprof is looking at how long you should spend in Lisbon. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Fly to Lisbon?It’s usually your holiday allocation from work that will define how long you can go on holiday for and it’s unlikely that a job will let you use all your holidays in one go.You can get some really cheap flights to Portugal if you go at the right time. (Source: fak1911)Those working full-time probably won’t have the freedom to go as long as they want to Lisbon. However, if you’re retired, a job seeker, a freelancer, or a student, you’ll probably have more freedom when it comes to the length of your holidays.Interested in discovering more about Portuguese culture in Lisbon but not sure how long to go for?Before you compare flights, you should consider a few things.What do you want to do in Lisbon? Visit museums? Party all night? Go to the beach? Head of the beaten path or do a road trip down to the Algarve? Thinking about staying a bit longer and learning to speak Portuguese?It might seem obvious that you’ll need a flat and a job if you want to stay in Portugal for a few months.  On the other hand, if you’re heading just to get away, a weekend or a few days should be enough to enjoy the best monuments and attractions Lisbon has to offer.Of course, you’ll need to have the holiday allowance for this. The cost of flights might also dictate how long you can go for.Portugal is a great destination to take in some sun without spending too much money once you get there. However, you’ll still need to know what you’re going to do there.Make a list of what you want to visit: the Bairro Alto, the Alfama, the Castelo São Jorge, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Tower of Belém, etc. This will help you know how many days you’ll need and how long your trip should be.You should also keep in mind that n ot everything will happen exactly as planned.If you’re staying for a short amount of time, you might have to skip some of the things you’ve planned as you can’t do everything in just a couple of days. You’re going to have to make some tough choices.Find out the best time to visit Lisbon.A Week in Lisbon to Visit All the Unmissable SightsA week in Lisbon will give you enough time to see all the tourist attractions and also spend some time further afield.If you go to the Belém neighbourhood, you'll probably visit this. (Source: fxxu)We recommend getting the Lisboa Card.  This is a pass valid for one, two, or three days that allows access to different tourist attractions and use of the city’s public transport.The price is:24 hours: €2048 hours: €3472 hours: €42This works out at €20 per day, €17 per day, and €14 per day respectively.Given that a metro ticket for an hour costs €1.45 and a day-pass costs €6.15, you can see how cost-effective the Lisboa Card is s ince it also includes certain attractions.A week in Lisbon is enough time to see the famous neighbourhoods (Alfama, Bairro Alto, Chiado, etc.), visit the museums, relax in the Botanic Gardens, go to the beach (depending on the season), have a relaxing day where you try the pasteis de nata and other local pastries, and have a romantic night out.If you want to visit outside of the city, we recommend renting a vehicle and maybe adding a few days to your trip.Find out more about accommodation in Lisbon.Our Plans for Visiting LisbonHave you booked some last-minute flights to Lisbon and don’t want to miss the best the city has to offer?Don’t worry!Whether you stay two days or a month, you should take the tram! (Source: essuera)Here are some ideas on how to spend your time in Lisbon.3 Days in LisbonFresh off the plane at Lisbon airport, you’ll need to get to the city centre. You can take the shuttle bus, metro, or a taxi.You can take the red line to the centre of the city in just 20 minutes costing €1.50 (or free with a Lisboa Card).Day 1: Arrive at hotel, Tower of Belém, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Jerónimos Monastery, the city centre, São Jorge Castle, Praça do Comércio.Day 2: Bairro Alto, Chiado, Alfama and its Moorish architecture, take the Line 28 tram, Lisbon Cathedral, bars in Bairro Alto, Parque Eduardo VII and the viewpoint.Day 3: Ocreanário (Europe’s second largest aquarium with 8,000 different species and 7 million litres of seawater), enjoy some local pastries, Sintra National Palace, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Museum of the Azulejo, Museum of the Orient, Carmo Convent.A Week in LisbonWhat can you do in a week?This would be your chance to see more sites and museums or take a day trip to the places to visit outside of the city.You can enjoy the Archeology Museum, the Gallery of Coaches, and the Roman Theatre.Don’t forget to enjoy the Amoreiras 360 ° Panoramic View 174 metres over the river Tage and the city.For the last two or t hree days of your visit, consider renting a car and going to the beaches, visiting the coast from Sintra to Nazaré, the Parque Natural da Arrábida near Setúbal in the south.You can also visit Lisbon for its nightlife and festivities between June and September.A Long Stay in Lisbon to Learn PortugueseIf you want to really learn about the Portuguese language and culture, you’ll need a few days.  We’re thinking about language immersion, for example.There are some beautiful gardens in Lisbon. (Source: Freesally)You could stay with a host family and learn more about the culture and everyday life.  If you’re planning on doing something like this, you might want to spend at least 6 months to a year in Portugal.Portuguese evolved from the Vulgar Latin used by the Romans present in the Iberian Peninsula, Gaul (France), Dacia (Romania), and Italy.  Portuguese, theoretically, should be easier to learn for anyone with a knowledge of other Romance languages.If you can’t live in the ce ntre of Lisbon because it’s too expensive, you should consider sharing a flat. If you’re young, you may want to stay near Bairro Alto.There are a number of companies and organisations offering language stays in Portugal.  During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to learn Portuguese vocabulary, grammar, the history of Portugal, etc.During your free time, you can explore the Park and National Palace of Pena in Sintra, the Castelo dos Mouros, and the coastal resort town of Cascais.On the weekends, you can head to the south of Portugal and visit the Benagil caves.Are these experiences too expensive?Don’t panic!Have you thought about travelling on your own?You can head to Portugal for a few weeks with World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, HelpX, or Work Away.Looking to learn some Portuguese before you go?Get help from one of the many talented tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. There are pros and cons to each and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available. If shyness has been getting in the way of your language learning, this is probably the best option. Additionally, the tutor can tailor each lesson to exactly what you need to learn or what you've been struggling with.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you and you're more likely to find native Portuguese speakers as you can broaden your search to anywhere in the world!Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials. However, you will get plenty of opportunities to practise your language skills with the other students in the class.

7 Ways to Improve Your English Writing

7 Ways to Improve Your English Writing Were getting more and more interest in English writing classes from our students, which is why weve added them as a special class now (learn more here). I think the reasons are clear. Most of our students really need to use their English to communicate important information. Our students are doctors, lawyers, engineers and executives. They need to be understood clearly, and they need to project a good image when they communicate. No matter how great your idea is, if it arrives in an email that is impossible to read and understand, its not going to be very effective.So, besides taking our English writing classes, what can you do to improve? The first thing Ill say is, if you want to learn to play the piano, you dont spend weeks and weeks reading books about playing the piano. You sit down at the piano and start playing, even if its not very good. Same goes for improving your English writing. Above all, to improve, you need to write.How can you improve your English writing?1. Quora Can Help You Improve Your English Writing.Have you heard of Quora? Its sort of like a social network. I know, youre probably tired of new social networks, but this one is quite different. People post questions or answer questions, and others vote on the best answers. That probably still doesnt sound like much fun, but check out the answers to this question, How Can I Learn As Much As Possible In My Life? Cool answers from interesting people, right?So, why is this a good place for you to learn English? Well, one feature of Quora is that anyone can edit anyone elses writing. So you can do your best to write a question or answer in English, and other users will edit your answer. You will get to see the answers. My experience is that people love editing on Quora, and do a really good job of it. You can find me on Quora here.2. Write, Revise, Repeat is the key to improving your English writing.Not ready to share your writing with the public? Then just write anyway. Start with a short paragr aph. Write it down, then read it back to yourself out loud. Make changes. Come back to it over and over, until you dont think you can make any more improvements. Then, if youre ready, see if you can get someone else to read it and offer improvements. I recommend using Google Docs for this, because you can track all the changes easily, and share it with others who can make comments for you.3. Copy other Writers to learn English writing style and structure.The late great American writer Hunter S. Thompson did something very interesting when he was learning how to write. He retyped entire novels, including The Great Gatsby and A Farewell to Arms. Most of us probably dont have time to do this indeed, Thompson was fired from the magazine where he spent his time doing this. But you probably do have the time to retype a short article in English. Try it. Its a great way to closely examine how the language is written.4. Write and ImproveWrite and Improve is a web application by Cambridge En glish that allows you to submit writing and get automated, near instant feedback about how you can improve, and level ratings on your writing.  It is still in beta mode, and I dont think its a substitute for having a real person read you writing, but its certainly a good way to get free practice. Check it out here.5. Get help from Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway is considered  one of the greatest, if not the greatest, writer to come from the United States. He was known for an efficient and clear writing style writing that conveyed big ideas with few words, and was easy to understand. Unfortunately, hes not alive to help you write better, and even if he was, he wouldnt have the time to help you. But the Hemingway App is here. Its a web and mobile app similar  to Write and Improve, that evaluates your writing and tries to help you write in the efficient and clear style of Hemingway. Its been badly criticized, but I think its still a fun tool that will get you writing.6. Read, Read, ReadOk, to learn piano, you dont want to read about it. But you will want to listen to others play the piano. I always wrote well in school, despite not paying any attention in my English grammar classes. I believe this was because I loved to read, and did a lot of it. And Im not the only one who thinks reading improves writing. Novelist Steven King once said, If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.  Simple as that.” Numerous studies support what  Steven King and I both know.7. Make some CommentsWe offer free English listening exercises on our website. The exercises usually have a writing  component, and if you do the exercise in comments, one of our teachers will make corrections for you. Here!8. Bonus!I had to add this one after a Quora user suggested it. Daily Themes is a site that allows you to complete short, simple writing exercises, and have them evaluated by others online. It is similar to Quora in  the way that you build poin ts for participating. I tested it out, and it seems like a fun way to improve your writing, and probably more useful than the Hemingway App.Ok, thats all for now. Want to work with us to improve your English writing? Click here.

Expanded SAT and ACT practice test schedule for February 2013

Expanded SAT and ACT practice test schedule for February 2013 Now that preparation for spring 2013 SAT and ACT tests is in full swing, AJ Tutoring is offering an expanded practice test schedule at our Palo Alto and San Jose offices.   Starting Saturday February 9, practice SAT and ACT exams will be offered at both offices in the morning and afternoon.   The morning exam begins at 8:30 am and ends at 12:30 pm, and the afternoon exam begins at 1 pm and ends at 5 pm.Starting Sunday February 10, AJ Tutorings Palo Alto office will also be offering Sunday morning SAT and ACT practice exams.   Sunday exams begin at 8:30 am and end at 12:30 pm.   For students who have been granted extended time on the SAT by the College Board, exams on Sunday February 10 and Sunday February 24 at Palo Alto can be taken with extended time.For AJ Tutorings full practice SAT and ACT testing schedule, please consult our website.   Sitting for a practice SAT or ACT at our office is always free of charge for AJ Tutorings current and prospective students, and is highly correl ated with success on the actual test day.   If youd like to sign up for a practice SAT or ACT test, please email info@ajtutoring.com, or call (650) 331-3251.   We cant wait to see you there!