Pokemon Move Tutor Moon - A Basic Guide

Pokemon Move Tutor Moon - A Basic GuideThe Pokemon Move Tutor Moon by Dylan Fleishman is an eBook program that was recently released to help improve a child's ability to understand the latest episode of Pokemon television series. And it has been doing just that. But it has been quickly turning into a juggernaut of a product as more children have started asking questions about how to improve their own game.Each episode of Pokemon television series consists of a short story that takes place in some new location that the Pokemon characters visit. The episodes usually contain different Pokemon characters appearing in new locations, or other events in the same locations. It is up to the Pokemon trainers to find the mystery characters, unlock the locations, and catch them for the sake of the main character, Ash Ketchum.The thing about this television series is that while it may seem like an easy activity to a child who is already very familiar with computers, it is very difficult for a chi ld who is not really 'on the internet savvy child' level. Kids who are not on the internet savvy level are not going to be able to follow a simple instruction manual. They can't navigate back and forth through pages of instructions, nor will they understand the complex scenarios and such that they are asked to figure out. Luckily, there is the Move Tutor Moon that is going to change all that for children who don't understand how to use the internet yet.As the Move Tutor Moon comes out with each new episode of Pokemon, a child who is not familiar with computers can still take a look at it and follow the step-by-step instruction and work out the game. However, in addition to teaching kids the basic rules of the game, the Move Tutor Moon also includes handy little links and even handy hints for the main character in the game, Ash Ketchum.The Move Tutor Moon does a lot more than that, though. Inaddition to teaching kids how to catch Pokemon for Ash Ketchum, it teaches them a lot of usef ul things about the characters and how they interact. This in turn makes a child much more likely to stick with something if they do learn it, which leads to actually learning something!It also seems that the creators of the Move Tutor Moon did their homework to ensure that their product would be very useful for kids of all ages. Even children who had never heard of the Pokemon games before being able to find the techniques and strategies that were included in the book. It doesn't matter whether they're looking to learn the easiest way to make their Pokemon characters look really cool or the most accurate techniques for catching Pokemon, the Move Tutor Moon contains it all.What makes the Move Tutor Moon so great is that it serves as both a guide and an instruction manual for Pokemon characters. It tells kids what they need to do but also has hints and tips to make the process a lot easier for them.Kids who don't understand how to do something new or complex are going to be a lot bet ter off if they purchase the Move Tutor Moon instead of trying to figure it out for themselves. Even if they're not actually interested in Pokemon, they can still learn a lot of things about it. That is because the book is designed to teach anything and everything.

Computer Tutor in Modesto - How to Get the Best Deal

Computer Tutor in Modesto - How to Get the Best DealHiring a computer tutor in Modesto California can be quite an arduous task, especially if you have never done it before. You probably know the feeling of dread that a child must feel at the thought of having to go through this ordeal. It is worth it though. It's just like trying to find your lost keys.A computer tutor can be instrumental in raising a child's self esteem and gives them an outlet for their creative ability. In fact, it's a great way to bond with your child as well. The key is to find a program that is right for your child. If you know the type of child you have, that's one thing, but if you don't then consult with a personal computer tutor. This could mean asking family members and even asking the Internet.It is easy to see why your kid may get confused when you bring up the idea of hiring a computer tutor. Most parents, though, will give you the run around, and that is understandable. To save time, and to keep you on your toes, here are some things to consider:* * * Be sure that you know the qualifications of the computer tutor you hire. There are several different types of computers, like laptops, desktop, and more. As long as you know your child is competent with computers, they should be able to handle any program you decide to use.* * * When you go online to check out the computer tutor, ask them a couple of questions. Be wary of anyone who seems 'pushy' or who comes off as condescending. With most programs, these are also pitfalls.* * * Keep in mind that it's always best to hire a good computer tutor in Modesto CA. They don't need to be super talented like Google, but they do need to know how to handle the kids and children's computers. When hiring a computer tutor, be sure that the person has been in the business for a while, and they have some good feedback from clients.Now that you know what to look for, you can relax while still taking all of the precautions you need to. Just remember to make sure you set the contract right so that your child gets what they deserve.

Discovering The Basics Of Concrete Chemistry

Discovering The Basics Of Concrete ChemistryIf you've always wondered what concrete chemistry is, you'll be glad to know that it's easy to find out. All you need to do is take a peek at your local libraries or visit your local bookstore. There are plenty of books on this subject too. If you want to know more about concrete chemistry, there are some great ways to get more information.The best way to find out about concrete chemistry is to go to your local library and peruse the books in their chemistry section. There, you can get a pretty comprehensive list of the basic theories on this subject. You may also find that they have a section devoted to the different chemical reactions in the typical building material. These sections will also give you an idea about the source of the material. This could be concrete mix, sand, clay, or even rock!Another way to learn about concrete chemistry is to take a class or to read an expert's class on this subject. If you're interested in getting som e hands-on experience in building, there are plenty of options available to you. Of course, there's nothing like a 'real world' study to really get your mind and body ready for what's ahead.Classes on this subject can be found at a variety of colleges. Usually, though, the better schools will offer the best chance to understand the different processes involved in this building material. It can also help you to learn about the materials that you will use in your own buildings.The next best thing to do if you want to get more information is to visit your local bookstores. You may find the person who sold you the book on this subject! If you are thinking about starting a business, you may also want to look into going to a bricklaying class in your area.Concrete chemistry is something that is often overlooked by many people. It's a great subject to learn about and also to understand why buildings have this substance. Building materials should come with a guarantee that they are safe and fireproof.Even if you have a healthy respect for construction and building in general, it's probably not a good idea to build anything on a regular basis without knowing what materials are used. Whether you're looking to build a home, a commercial building, or just a little office space, knowing what's in the building materials you use is essential. The more knowledge you gain about concrete chemistry, the safer and more effective your projects will be.

French Culture 101

French Culture 101 Everything You Need To Know About France: Culture, Language and Etiquette ChaptersForming French Culture: History of the French LanguageFrench Culture and Philosophy: Understanding the WorldFrench Writers and their Impact on French CultureThe Face of France: French Celebrities You Ought to KnowLoving French Culture: Attaining French CitizenshipNo Faux-Pas Possible: The Etiquette of French CultureWhat do you think about when you think about France? French food? Its art and architecture? The Eiffel Tower, perhaps, and the Arc de Triomphe, the palace of the Louvre or other famous monuments? Or the impact of French artists on European art, the Romantic Delacroix, the impressionists such as Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and Edgar Dégas, or post-impressionists such as Paul Cézanne or Gaugin? Or perhaps its history, with Catherine of Medici’s persecution of the Protestant Huguenots?Or have you considered its languages and their fascinating evolutions, the myth surrounding French celebrities, or its literary heritage? Here is an overview of some fascinating asp ects of French culture you may never have considered.Enlightenment took the intellectual revolution of the Renaissance one step further and paved the way for true scientific research.However, this required a restructuring of how we see the world, and of religion’s place in it.Enlightenment: Baroque PhilosophersThe Age of Enlightenment not only brought us a fairly useless French dictionary (in its quest for Purity, the Académie’s dictionary failed to include perfectly usual colloquial expressions) but one of the great scientific endeavors of all time: the Encyclopédie Universelle. With articles by all the great minds of eighteenth-century France, its editor, Denis Diderot, was himself an intellectual and philosopher. His philosophical musings include The Philosophical Thoughts (1746), an appeal to the reconciliation of reason and feeling, traditionally in opposition, in order to achieve a psychological balance, and The Skeptic’s Walk (1747), a dialogue between a deist, atheis t and pantheist in which each attempts to explain the universe. It was banned for a long time before ever seeing publication (some sources maintain the manuscript was seized by the police as an attack on Christianity), but was finally published posthumously in 1830.The Enlightenment brought about a new way of seeing the world. This was true not only of scientific endeavours, but of politics as well. Two of the great minds of the era wrote treatises on political philosophy: Mirabeau and Montesquieu.The two became acquainted in the army and are notable for their interest in social economy and political anthropology, centuries before such subjects came to be taught at universities.Victor de Riquetis, Marquis de Mirabeau believed that a country’s riches lay in its population, and since that population needed to be fed, a country’s treasure lay in its agriculture rather than trade. His interest in the common man earned him the sobriquet “l’ami des hommes”, the Friend of Man. Hi s treatise on taxation, encouraging direct taxation rather than relying on private “tax famers”, earned him a stint in prison courtesy of the French government and a two-month exile to his estates at Bignon. His views corresponded well with the Physiocratic school of thought founded by Quesnay.Charles Baron de Montesquieu was one of the most famous French philosophers of the Enlightenment. Photo credit: byb64 on Visualhunt.comCharles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu wrote extensively on the philosophy of history, but is best known for his political work The Spirit of the Laws. Montesquieu wanted to do away with the last vestiges of feudal thought as reflected by the États-Généraux, a conclave of representatives from each of the “classes” of society: clergy, aristocracy and commoners. Instead, Montesquieu divided French society into the monarchy, aristocracy and commoners. The kings, as sovereigns, would remain separate from the administrative branch of government, which itself would be divided into the judicial, legislative and executive branches, each tending to its own concerns and keeping an eye on the others by a system of checks and balances - a political system used by many modern democracies. Montesquieu thus influences French politics even today.Turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: Henri Bergson and Paul ValéryHenri Bergson lived between 1859 and 1941. His philosophy was influenced by Kant and Spencer insomuch as a critique of their works allowed him to sketch out his theory on free will, introducing the concept of duration in order to harmonise it with theories of causality and creativity. He also coined the idea of the “élan vital”, or vital impetus, to explain evolution beyond a purely mechanical process. His study of creativity also led him to research what causes laughter.A celebrated poet and mathematician, Paul Valéry wrote a number of musings based on aphorisms or bon mots, some of which he published in articles, others having come from his Cahiers, a diary in which, every day, he put down a thought on any subject, from mathematics to philosophy. His views coincide best with constructive epistomology, but Valéry himself never subscribed to any school.For more influential French philosophers on Superprof, why not take French lessons London?writing his own plays. Mostly satirical, touching on subjects such as religious hypocrisy, hypochondriacs and avarice, his plays were heavily influenced by the Italian commedia dell’arte, and often involved stock characters such as the incompetent doctor, the lover, etc.Through the patronage of Louis-Philippe, brother to Louis XIV, he gained the right to perform at court - to general acclaim, although some of his satire, such as the Tartuffe, caused outrage by hitting the aristocracy just a little too close to home.Jules VerneGenerally considered the father of science fiction, Jules Verne (1828-1905) published fantastical tales that somewhere i ncorporated the most cutting-edge technology of his time, indulging in fantasies of how they might be improved and evolve. Scaphanders, electrical torches, submarines - all found their place in his roaring tales of adventure. From A Thousand Leagues under the Sea and its iconic character, Captain Nemo, to the Journey to the Centre of the Earth to the Mysterious Island, many of the novels from his “Extraordinary Voyages” have been adapted by Hollywood.Only two of his stories were rejected for publication. One, Paris in the 20th Century, paints an eerily accurate picture of a city - in the 1970s, perhaps, before home computers and, of course, smart phones.Jules Verne is a French writer known as the father of science-fiction. Photo credit: sheffieldhammer on VisualhuntHis gift for extrapolating possible technologies based on the possibilities offered by new inventions of his time has influenced a sub-genre of science-fiction, steampunk, in which stories are set Vernesque universes filled with gas lighting, differential engines and dirigeables.Albert CamusBorn of French parents in Algeria, growing up in poverty, Camus studied philosophy and finished his diploma despite suffering from tuberculosis. Though often called an existentialist because of his early friendship with Sartre, he saw himself as an absurdist, seeing the dichotomy between the value of our lives in the grand scheme of things and the value we must give our life to live it to the fullest.He moved to Paris with his second wife in 1940. Having been a member of first the communist, then the anarchist party, he fought in the French Resistance during World War II.Camus worked as a journalist for various magazines and wrote several novels and philosophical treatises; he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957 his best-known work is L’Étranger (The Stranger), which is part of his absurdist cycle. The Stranger is characterised by the protagonist’s indifference to life around him and the very simple language structure the author uses to underline it. For that reason, it’s a good book for a beginner exercise in reading French.The Face of France: French Celebrities You Ought to KnowWhile for most of the 20th century, France was known for its cinema and music, celebrities of French film such as Brigitte Bardot and Luc Besson are now rather overshadowed by France’s politicians.For example, François Mitterand was, together with America’s Reagan, Russia’s Gorbatchov and Germany’s Helmut Kohl, a symbol of post-war prosperity and change. France’s longest-running president (at a time when the mandate was still for eight years), Mitterand led France from 1981 to 1995. He was a strong voice in the European Economic Community and was one of the main architects of the Maastrich Treaty that founded the European Union in 1993.More recently, Nicolas Sarkozy, French president from 2007-2012, has made the headlines both with controversial policies and a stormy private life. He divorced his wife shortly after the election, met Carla Bruni, a singer and former model, a month later and married her in 2008. The couple gave the Elysée its first presidential baby in 2011.His constitutional reforms, modifying some of the checks and balances between Parliament and the Presidency, are among his more controversial acts while in power.Following Sarkozy in 2012 was François Hollande, France’s most unpopular president to date owing to his reforms on labour laws and pensions. During his presidency, Hollande had an affair with actress Julie Gayet, thus ending his relationship with reporter and acting First Lady Valérie Trierweiler, once more bringing the President’s love life into the papers.By the 2017 elections, Hollande’s approval ratings were so low he decided not to run for a second term, but endorsed Emmanuel Macron instead, who won against Marine Le Pen and is now France’s current president.Loving French Culture: Attaining French CitizenshipIs a yea rly trip to France not enough to satisfy your francophilia? Or do you already live in France and tire of applying for work visas? Angsty about Brexit and eager to have an EU passport? You can try and apply for French citizenship.Of course, the easiest way to become a French citizen is to be born French, or at least in France (if you were born on French soil and have lived more than 5 years in France after your 11th birthday, you automatically become a French citizen at 18), but if your family has been living in France for over 25 years, are over 65 and one of your descendants is a French citizen, you qualify. You can also qualify if you are married to a French national, even if you are not currently living in France (though your spouse must be registered as an expatriate at the local French embassy or consulate.)If none of the above apply but you are over 18 and have been living permanently in France for at least five years and have a basic grasp of the French language, you can cont act your local préfecture and see if you qualify. The process takes some time, as your dossier is sent to the ministry in charge of naturalisation and processed there, then your brand-new papers as a citizen of the French Republic sent back to your local préfecture (or embassy).France supports multiple citizenships, so no need to turn in your British passports!No Faux-Pas Possible: The Etiquette of French CultureNow that you are naturalised a French citizen, you need to be able to function in polite French society! What is proper French etiquette?Remember above all that while French street culture is very informal, French business culture is much more formal than in many other parts of the world. Until you find your footing, always opt for more formality rather than less.Please and Thank-YouIf you are simply having a nice holiday in French, there are four things you need to know:Please is s’il vous plaîtThank-you is merciHello, how are you is bonjour, comment allez-vous? (infor mally: Salut, ça va?)You will be kissed.Meet and greetIn the business world, you will be shaking hands; the formal greeting - “bonjour”, or “Ravi de faire votre connaissance” - comes shortly before the handshake, often with a little pause in-between.French business etiquette is very formal. Photo credit: amtec_photos on Visualhunt.comAnywhere else - you will be kissed. An acquaintance meets you on the street?Hop, la bise!They are introducing you to another acquaintance, or one of their family?Hop, la bise!The bise consists of alternate light kisses on each cheek. Most often the lips don’t truly touch your cheek at all, but you will be grasped by the shoulders.The number of kisses varies from region to region - just go with the flow and you will be fine!Remember to address anyone you meet for the first time with “vous”, until they offer the more informal “tu”.French punctualityGenerally speaking, you should always be on time. However, the French do have a more flui d approach to punctuality, so don’t be surprised if your business appointments are a little late. As the newbie, though, it’s better to err on the safe side and arrive early.Unless, that is, you are invited to someone’s house. Then you should consistently be a quarter of an hour late, to allow the host to make any necessary last-minute touches to the house or meal. If you are running later than 15 minutes behind, you should call to let the hosts know.Polite communicationFrench letters are very, very formal, and e-mails have kept more of that formality than in other countries. A letter should start with “Cher Monsieur (Last Name or le + “man’s title or simply”) or “Chère Madame (Last Name or la + “woman’s title”) and end in any one of several formal parting phrases. The most ubiquitous, perhaps is: “Veuillez agréer, Monsieur/Madame le/la (title or name here), à l’expression de mes salutations distinguées”.As formal as their letter-writing is, most Fren ch people simply answer the phone with “Allô?” You are then expected to say “bonjour” and state your name and business.The French in general keep late hours, but you should not call anyone after 10 PM unless it’s an emergency.Ready to dive into French culture? Why not tune into French radio, watch France 24 or subscribe the French news magazin Paris Match? Or improve your French grammar and vocabulary with one of our Superprof tutors.

5 Quick Tips for Writing a College Application Essay

5 Quick Tips for Writing a College Application Essay The following is a guest post written by Anna Carapellotti of Admissionado, a premier college admissions consulting company focused on helping students get into their dream schools. Often, these final college application essays are the toughest essays to tackle, assuming that you already exerted significant effort on essay-writing this winter. So, whats the best way to buckle down and hammer out a great essay when you have little time to do so? Here is a five-step approach to quickly (and effectively!) write a college application essay: 1. Read the prompt This may sound like a painfully obvious first step, but many applicants will write essays that do not consider the prompt. Sometimes this is simply negligence or a misunderstanding. Other times, applicants are set on writing something that they believe will help their candidacy, even if it doesnt really answer the question. Unfortunately, failing to address the prompt in your response will never help your application! [RELATED: 4 Ways to Find Application Essay Writing Inspiration] So, we encourage you to carefully read the promptand then read it again, and consider what the admissions committee is looking for in the answer. (Hint: the prompt is likely not a trick question!) 2. Think about your answer Now that you understand what the prompt is asking of you, its time to think about your answer and organize your thoughts. There are several ways to approach this: you could write an outline, do some freewriting, etc. You should approach this in whichever way allows you to get the best results. Some prompts, such as the ones that ask why you want to attend a particular school, will require doing some extra research. While it may seem more efficient to just dive right into writing the essays themselves, writing an outline and doing some research will, in reality, make the essay-writing process so much easier. Besides, youre applying to these programs because you want to attend them, so this process should be exciting! 3. Write! Dont just sit there staring at the blank page. Start writing and accept that the first draft is not going to be perfect; it never is. However, if you have already written an outline and organized your thoughts, as we suggested above, the first draft should be pretty good! We also suggest that you dont worry about the word limit in early drafts. Give yourself plenty of room to flesh out your ideas. [RELATED: The Importance of Writing Skills] 4. Rewrite! To ensure a completely coherent essay, you may wish to write two to four iterations before submitting. After you have written a solid first draft, set it aside for a couple of days before going back in to edit it. (Of course, how many days you have to set your essay aside will depend largely on how far in advance you started working on your application!) Even if youre running short on time, set your essay aside for at least 24 hours, which will allow you to come back to it with a fresh perspective. You will be more likely to notice what is missing and where your writing is lacking clarity. [RELATED: Top 10 Essay Editing Tips] The rewriting stage is the time to ask for the input of others, as well. Ask a parent, friend, counselor, or someone else whose advice you trust to provide some feedback. They will likely notice leaps in logic or areas lacking clarity in your writing that you failed to see! 5. Trim and polish Once you finally have a draft that youre happy with, one that conveys everything that you want it to say, you should give it a good polish. Remember, you should adhere to any word limits required by the college/university, as failure to follow directions is seen as unsavory by admissions officers. (Often, youll have no choice but to remain within the word count because the online platform will not let you enter more than is allowed.) Also check to make sure that your essays are error- and typo-free! The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Singing Competition Secrets Are They Really Worth It

Singing Competition Secrets Are They Really Worth It Suzy S. Thinking about auditioning for a televised singing competition like  American Idol? Here,  Corona, CA teacher  Milton J.  shares what could be an even better idea For years, we’ve tuned into our favorite singing competitions, voting for our favorites each week, and hoping they win the coveted record deal at the end of the season. We’ve watched as the juggernaut American Idol â€" a derivative of Pop Idol from Europe â€" gave way to others like The Voice and X-Factor. Many other worthy (and not-so-worthy) opponents have aimed to get a slice of the reality singing competition show pie. Yet, one thing many of us aspiring performers and singers dont realize is that local and regional singing competitions are actually a much better start than trying for a television show as your first venture into stardom. It’s First A TV Show I first tried out for American Idol at 17 years old. I was wide-eyed, eager, and willing to do whatever it took to get the smile from Paula, the fist pump from Randy, and the tepid accolade from Simon. What I soon realized over my two-day endeavor was that this was about 85% TV production and faux-reality, and only 15% singing competition and talent search. The Voice and X-Factor are no different. That does nothing for the kid who makes it to the round right before getting on television as their first foray into competition. While that didn’t deter me from the performing life at all, it very well could spell doom and gloom for the less-than-strong yet incredibly talented performer. These shows are perfect launching pads, but serve the seasoned performer with an established fanbase that’s larger than their circle of family and friends much better. Utilize Local and Regional Singing Competitions As a Launching Pad The best launching pad for the novel performer taking lessons and improving every day is local and online singing competitions. Here in Southern California, a great competition to get your start is the SoCal Icon Annual Solo Vocal Competition. Last year I had a student, Autumn Carter, place second in the Riverside competition, and I will have three others compete next year. In fact, Autumn is readying a callback audition for The Voice this December! Additionally,  the Hal Leonard Vocal Competition  and the Singist Vocal Competition are all launching pad-type competitions to help you along the path of becoming a performer. National Television Singing Competitions Are Still Worthwhile With all of that said, it is still a worthwhile endeavor to try out for American Idol and The Voice. These shows have established fanbases, solid-enough ratings to warrant new upcoming seasons, and possibilities for stardom that cannot be slighted. However, the best way to maximize your return on these television shows is to come in seasoned with a fanbase ready to be unleashed to propel you to the top. Are you ready to take the plunge? Find a local TakeLessons instructor today and bring these tips to your first lesson as you and your teacher cultivate your plan to take flight on your dream! Milton J. teaches guitar, piano, singing, music recording, music theory, opera voice, songwriting, speaking voice, and acting lessons in  Corona, CA. He specializes in classical, RB, soul, pop, rock, jazz, and opera styles. Learn more about Milton 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  familymwr

How to Make Legendary New Years Resolutions

How to Make Legendary New Years Resolutions Megan L. Did you celebrate New Years Eve at a big holiday bash or with a quiet evening at home? However you chose to ring in the new year, this is a great time for reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the year to come. With each new year, we have a chance at a new beginning, to change a habit or to try something weve never done before. If youve resolved to spend 2014 learning a new skill or working on a creative endeavor, you may be unsure of how to set goals to help you keep your resolution. Here at TakeLessons, were big believers in using SMART goal setting. But, if youre looking for a little extra new years inspiration, check out these lists of goals from music legends Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie. Even the Man in Black made New Years resolutions. This handwritten list was auctioned in 2011 for $6,400! One of the interesting things about this list is how delightfully simple some of Cashs goals were. Numbers 5 and 6 in particular can be accomplished with ease several times a day. Its a great reminder to all of us that its important to set small goals alongside our larger ones. Achieving our small goals helps us gain the confidence we need to tackle the big ones. Johnny Cash also included piano practice on this list. Cash was famous for singing and playing the guitar, but this list shows that he wasnt satisfied with just those skills. Why not branch out in 2014 and try your hand at something new or unusual for you? The results might just surprise you. For even more goal setting inspiration, check out a few of Woody Guthries 33 new years resolutions from 1942. You may be familiar with his work even if you dont recognize his name. Guthrie wrote many classic American folk songs, including This Land is Your Land. His work has inspired artists from Bob Dylan to Wilco, and his influence continues to be felt in the folk music scene today. Like Cash, many of Guthries goals are simple. However, he also set the very ambitious goal to write a song a day. At first glance, this might seem like a crazy feat to accomplish, but its actually a wonderful goal with a great lesson we can all apply to our own goals. First, notice that he just set out to write a song every day- not a hit song, not a great song, just a song. If you have a creative goal, you can certainly apply this philosophy when making your own resolutions. Find a way to get in the habit of doing creative work without putting pressure on yourself to be an artistic genius. The more time you spend on your craft, whether it is music, acting, or dance, the more improvements you will see in your skills overall, even if you dont see huge gains from one day to the next. What are your New Years resolutions? If you want to learn something new, improve on a skill, or branch out creatively, enrolling in private lessons is a great way to make sure you keep your resolution this year. TakeLessons offers private, one-on-one lessons with qualified instructors in music, performing arts, and academic tutoring. Search for your perfect teacher today! You might also like Videos We Love: Girl Learns to Dance in a Year The Importance of Perseverance, As Told by Hilarious GIFs Don’t Start Lessons Without Asking this Question Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger Photo by hebedesign

5 Benefits of Taking French Lessons on Skype

5 Benefits of Taking French Lessons on Skype Sign up successful 1. They can help you quickly learn  French pronunciation. One common thing that French learners struggle with is learning how to correctly pronounce French words. This is because, in most cases, the final consonant sounds are not pronounced in spoken French. Determining when to pronounce or leave off these sounds can be very challenging for new learners of the language. By working with someone who already knows how to speak French, you can learn correct pronunciation right from the beginning. This prevents you from developing  bad habits that are hard to correct later. When taking French lessons on Skype, be sure  to use headphones to ensure that you hear the teachers pronunciation clearly. 2. They offer more flexibility than traditional lessons. When taking local, in-person lessons, you are at the mercy of what is available in your area. If you live in an area with few French speakers, you will likely  have a limited number of  options of French tutors. When taking French lessons on Skype, you can schedule lessons to fit your busy schedule with teachers anywhere in the world. Whether you prefer morning, afternoon, evening, or even late night classes, you are very likely to find a private tutor who can  accommodate your schedule. 3. You will receive individualized instruction. When taking French lessons on Skype with a private tutor, your sessions will be one-on-one. This means that your teacher can completely customize the lessons to meet your needs. Because youll receive  individualized instruction, you can either slow down when struggling with a concept or skip over topics that youve mastered. 4. They offer increased convenience. Even if your  in-person French lessons only last 30 minutes to an hour, you might  waste a lot of time commuting to and from each session, time that could have been better spent studying new material. When taking French lessons on Skype, all you have to do is turn on your computer a few minutes before the lesson begins. When its over, you can immediately review the material or move on to other things you need to do. Because it is easy to attend your French lessons, you will stay motivated to stick with them. 5. You can try multiple teachers. Every teacher has a different teaching style. Taking French lessons online gives you access to many different teachers, each with his or her  own strength or expertise. When you start taking French lessons on Skype, you should try out a few different teachers to find the one who best  matches your learning style. If youre planning on taking more than one lesson per week, you can  even sign up with multiple teachers. The best way to learn any language is to use it. When you start taking online French lessons with  Skype, you are sure to see a big improvement in your French skills. Ready to start  your online French lessons? Sign up with  an online tutor today! 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  Marco Raaphorst

3 Fun Rhythm Guitar Patterns So You Can Learn to Sing and Play

3 Fun Rhythm Guitar Patterns So You Can Learn to Sing and Play Megan L. Mastering a few basic rhythm guitar patterns is key to learning how to sing and play guitar at the same time. Follow this guide from guitar teacher Andy T.  and youll be strumming like a boss in no time Singing and playing guitar at the same time is one of the most challenging things that  a musician can do. It’s like patting your head and rubbing your stomach, only ten times more  difficult. Today, we are going to look at three easy and hip rhythm guitar patterns that you can use  to get started. For the purposes of this article, we are going to use a guitar as the example instrument.  However, with a little creativity, these rhythmic patterns can be converted to piano, ukulele,  banjo, or any other chordal instrument. Each rhythm guitar pattern is notated using slash notation  and is accompanied by an audio clip. Above each beat, you will see either of these two symbols: a downstroke or an upstroke . These symbols refer to downstrokes and  upstrokes, respectively. Don’t forget to play the rests! In other words, any time you see a rest,  go ahead and move your strumming hand over the strings like you’re strumming, but don’t  actually touch the strings. This will keep your hand in sync so that you are strumming down on  downbeats and up on upbeats. You’ll also notice that each pattern has two versions. The only difference between two  versions of the same pattern is where the change in chord takes place. By altering where the  chord change takes place, you can significantly change the feel of each pattern. Pattern #1 This is one of the most common types of strumming patterns and is a good start to getting a  song under your fingers. The trick to nailing this progression is remembering to start the  second group of notes on an upstroke, so that you can smoothly land the downstroke on the  downbeat of the next measure. Strumming Pattern 1A: document.createElement('audio'); /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern1A.mp3 Strumming Pattern 1B: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern1B1.mp3 Pattern #2 Take note that this pattern is swung by observing this notation: This means that all  upbeats are shifted from perfectly in between each downbeat, to about 2/3 after each  downbeat (or 1/3 before each downbeat, depending on your perspective). While difficult to  explain in words, hearing and feeling a swing rhythm is much easier. Just imagine the sound  of a train clunking along the tracks, or your car’s tires as you drive over a bridge, or a pair of  boots or high heels walking around on a hard surface. You’ll notice this kind of strumming  when listening to artists like Jack Johnson. Strumming Pattern 2A: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern2A.mp3 Strumming Pattern 2B: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern2B.mp3 Pattern #3 This is one of my favorite patterns, especially the second version with the quicker chord  changes. That’s because the chord change happens on the last beat of the second measure,  as opposed to the first beat of the third. It’s that unexpected (and early) change that makes  this so groovy. This pattern and its variations are frequently used by artists like John  Mayer. Strumming Pattern 3A: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern3A.mp3 Strumming Pattern 3B: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/StrummingPattern3B.mp3 Practicing These are three fun, easy strumming patterns to get you started. Before you go, let’s talk a  little bit about the best way to practice these: Slowly. Start by playing much more slowly than  you think you need to. Make sure that you have the pattern looped smoothly before increasing  the tempo. Despite popular logic and opinion, it is much harder to play slow than fast. Which  brings me to my next (and last) point: Use a metronome. A good place to start is typically 60  bpm. See if you can loop a chord progression for at least three minutes (the radio ­standard  length for a song) before increasing the tempo. Good luck, and have fun! Get more guitar guidance by studying with a private music teacher. Guitar teachers are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on location and availability. Search for your guitar teacher now! Andy T. teaches in-person guitar, performance and songwriting lessons in Austin, TX. He has a degree in education from the University of Texas at Austin and has been teaching private guitar lessons for 6 years. Learn more about Andy 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  Mathias Miranda