A Guide to Different Percussion Instruments.

A Guide to Different Percussion Instruments. Percussion is Not Just the Drumkit. Here’s a Beginner’s Guide to Some Other Percussion Instruments. ChaptersWhat You Need to Know Before You Play the Tambourine.A Guide to the Xylophone.All You Need to Know about the Marimba.Why You Should Learn the Triangle.Thinking about Learning the Steel Hang? Here are the Basics.Maybe by now you’ve cracked the drums. You can nail some pretty rhythms on the snare drum and love to make a racket with the cymbals.If that’s the extent of your ambitions, then read no further: keep doing what you are doing. However, if you want to be a proper percussionist, you have some different musical instruments to master too.Because percussion music isn’t all about the drum kit, no. There’s a lot more to it than that. From the castanets to the cajon, from the orchestral timpani to the djembe, there’s a much wider world out there that deserves the attention of your talents.That’s why we’re taking a look at some of the more important varieties of percussion instruments that exist in the world. We’ll take you through their histories, some different playing techniques, and some of the most impressive percussion performances ever recorded.So, put your drum sticks down for the moment â€" they’ll be right there when you get back. Let’s instead turn to some instruments that inspire percussionists around the world.Here are five different percussion instruments with which you can extend your personal percussion section. He's playing the tambourine with his foot! LowriMusic Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellMusic Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeighMusic Teacher 5.00 (3) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KonstancijaMusic Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtMusic Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat You Need to Know Before You Play the Tambourine.A frame in which ‘zills’ or jingles are suspended, the tambourine is one of the more well-known hand percussion instruments. It comes either with a drum head or without one â€" something that gives it a more, or less, percussive effect.Given the two basic variations of the tambourine, t hey can be played in two different ways â€" either by striking or by shaking. In either case, playing the instrument engages the resonance of the zills, making it either a good accompaniment to a pop song or else a specific percussion instrument in an orchestra.A Brief History of the Tambourine.Tambourines, like many percussion instruments, have a long history, spreading pretty much the length of the world.It is thought that this musical instrument developed in ancient Mesopotamia, from where it spread as far as Indonesia, in the form of the rebana, and eastern Europe, in what is known as the buben. It is thought to have entered western Europe through northern African and the Middle East to France, where it picked up the name tambourine. Since this point, the tambourine has been one of the favourite instruments of Christian iconography, often appearing as being played by angels.Some Important Tambourine Performances.For some inspiration, let’s see what the tambourine can do. Here are two examples of tracks in which the tambourine makes a huge difference.And if you want to know more about this instrument, check out our article on playing the tambourine.Prince â€" Tamborine.We all know that Prince is awesome. However, this song features a pretty spectacular tambourine performance that will be an inspiration to everyone.Tchaikovsky â€" The NutcrackerTchaikovsky made a lot of use of the tambourine â€" and in the ‘Russian Dance’ of the Nutcracker it stars almost centre stage.A Guide to the Xylophone.If the tambourine is an instrument generally seen wielded contemptuously by the likes of Noel Gallagher, the xylophone is put to a wide variety of uses.You’ll play it â€" or a glockenspiel maybe â€" at school to bash out tunes like ‘Twinkle Twinkle’, and you’ll see virtuosos playing xylophones in classical orchestras. As percussion instruments go, the xylophone seems to stand with both the most novice and the most accomplished musicians around.Yet, these p articular idiophones â€" a type of instrument whose whole parts resonate when struck â€" is neither the basic instrument nor the niche one you might think. Rather, it should be played by so many more people than those who enjoy it now.So, why not give it a go? Want to learn the tambourine?The Development of the Xylophone.Varieties of xylophone exist all over the world â€" and are often confused with other instruments including the marimba (below), the glock, the vibraphone and tuned percussion instruments in general.And whilst the xylophone has come to be the word that stands for all of these instruments that you strike with a mallet or beater, their histories are all pretty different too. From the gamelan in south-east Asia to the balafon in west Africa, xylophone-like instruments are ubiquitous.Sixteenth-century Germany was the first place a xylophone was heard of in Europe, but it didn’t even receive that name until much later. And the first time the instrument went ‘mainstream’ was in the late nineteenth century.Some Famous Xylophone Players.So, which xylophone players might you actually have heard of? And in what pieces of music would it have appeared?Here are two places you might have heard the xylophone. And you can find out m ore about the instrument in our article on playing the xylophone.Evelyn Glennie.These days more accurately known as Dame Evelyn Glennie, this percussionist became known to the general public at the 2012 Olympics. Her xylophone performances are astounding.Pink Floyd.Fans of Pink Floyd will know that they are fans of less conventional instruments. This includes the xylophone, which can be heard on tracks like ‘See-Saw’ and ‘Time’. LowriMusic Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellMusic Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeighMusic Teacher 5.00 (3) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KonstancijaMusic Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMusic Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtMusic Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAll You Need to Know about the Marimba.The marimba is one of the instruments most commonly confused with the xylophone. However, there are important differences.The marimba has resonators, or pipes that descend vertically from the bars â€" to increase volume and change the tone. Meanwhile, the bars themselves are larger and deeper in pitch than a xylophone. In the language of a proper percussion ensemble, this difference is quite crucial.However, if you manage as a xylophone soloist, the chances are that you’ll be able to play a pretty tune on the marimba too.A History of the Marimba.We said that marimbas and xylophones have fairly similar â€" or at least indistinguishable â€" histories. The difference is that where xylophones entered reasonably early into classical instrumentation, marimbas took quite a different route.Instead, marimbas headed to Latin America with the transportation of west African people in the slave trade. When there, they became quite popular instruments and, ultimately, became â€" for example â€" the national instrument of Guatemala.It was there â€" and across the length of Central America â€" that they gained their popularity and developed into their modern form.Where You Can Hear the Marimba.Like the xylophone, the marimba became popular in pop music and classical as an unconventional instrument to add different effects to pieces. There are a lot of examples of the marimba being used â€" but here are two.You can find out more about this instrument in our article on playing the marimba.The Rolling Stones â€" Under My Thumb.Throughout the Stones’s famous track, a marimba plays probably the most interesting rhythmic line. Listen carefully and you can’t miss it.Steve Reich â€" Six Marimbas.In the later twentieth century, the marimba entered classical music hard. One of the most famous pieces featuring the marimba is Steve Reich’s minimalist piece, where there is only the rhythm section. The triangle is actually a really important instrument!Why You Should Learn the Triangle.The triangle is seen by many as something of a joke instrument, one that requires no skill and that contributes fairly little to the world of music.This isn’t exactly fair and people who hold this view have a big wall of history to contend with â€" as the instrument has been played for nearly a thousand years.It’s the instrument that consists of a metal rod that is bent into a triangle with one open corner. Yet, despite its modest appearance, it is actually quite important.You can see this percussion instrument in all manner of places throughout history: in religious iconography, on medieval manuscripts, in Turkish travelling bands. And its importance comes from its strange ethereal sound: designed so as not to produce a defined pitch, its ring is completely distinctive.Crucial Triangle Performances.The triangle has been used in classical music since the eighteenth century. You can hear it in action in such famous pieces as Brahms’s Fourth Symphony, where it features heavily in the third movement.You can learn more about this instrument in our article on playing the triangle!Thinking about Learning the Steel Hang? Here are the Basics.Where all the other instruments mentioned here have long, illustrious histories behind them, the steel hang is something of a more recent invention. We’re talking less than twenty years old.Invented by a pair of Swiss musicians, the ‘hang’ is an idiophone that sits on your lap. Made from two bowl-shaped pieces of metal, it is struck by hand in different places to produce different tones. The effect is wonderful, with a sort of resonant hypnotic tone produced.‘Hang’ in Swiss German means both ‘hand’ and ‘hill’ â€" senses that encapsulate this completely different instrument. You can learn more about the instrument in our article on playing the steel hang.The Steel Hang Artists You Should Know.There aren’t many artists w ho are famous for their hang playing. There are probably only a couple who are worth mentioning.One of these is Manu Delago, an Austrian experimental musician who puts the instrument to really extraordinary ends.

How to be vocal when its necessary - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to be vocal when its necessary - Introvert Whisperer How to be vocal when its necessary Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

5 Ways to Find New Networking Contacts (Without Feeling Sleazy) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Ways to Find New Networking Contacts (Without Feeling Sleazy) - Introvert Whisperer 5 Ways to Find New Networking Contacts (Without Feeling Sleazy) Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Career Development, Communication, Networking No responses Go to top We all know we need to network. After all, it’s how we move forward in today’s world, both personally and professionally. However, the term “networking” doesn’t exactly bring a pleasant picture to mind. Images of polite, forced conversation in black-tie tuxedos or awkward conversations with prior bosses leap to the forefront of most people’s minds. However, networking doesn’t have to involve those scenarios. Networking, just like sales, got a bad rap for being a sneaky and underhanded way to get what you want. In reality, you get much more from your network by being genuine and actively working to foster and build connections. Using your network shouldn’t make you feel like you’re using your friends. You’re not you’re simply asking for a little nudge in the right direction, and most of your contacts will be more than happy to lend you a hand. After all, they might be wondering if you’d return the favor in a month or so. Here are some great ways to build your network that won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth: 1. Use College Many people just coming out of college don’t understand networking. It’s not exactly something you can take a course in, and I was no exception to the rule. Luckily, I got an invaluable piece of advice from one of my professors to use each and every contact I had and not to be afraid of asking them for help. After all, that’s part of the reason you went to college it gives you a university name and an entire faculty that’s usually more than happy to help you grow your connections. The people you graduated with are all in the same boat you are, and they’re all trying to figure out this whole networking process. Make them the offer that for every contact they give you, you’ll give someone to them. College staff also have a great deal of experience in the market (they are teaching you about it, after all). Use that knowledge to your advantage. Most people are thrilled and flattered to be asked for help, and you’ll always have the opportunity to return the favor. 2. Make Friends With Professionals If you have an idea of where you might like to work or what you might want to do, well, you’re already ahead of 90% of us. Even if you aren’t exactly sure, finding a mentor in a profession you’re curious about can help to clear that up. Most people are honored to be so well thought of by anyone else that they won’t even think twice about talking your ear off. They’ll tell you what mistakes they made, what triumphs they had and they’ll probably want to introduce you to some of their friends in the industry. This is a huge bonus for you, since it gives you the opportunity to extend your network. Whatever you do, don’t forget about your mentor. Everyone knows something you don’t, and their network extends far beyond a few handshake introductions. After all, they might be doing the hiring one day, and you’d like to be at the top of the list for that. 3. Get Online You simply can’t network as effectively as your competition if you don’t utilize social media. Social media allows you access to people you’d never find anywhere else. Some people are getting concerned about the privacy issues facing companies such as Facebook, but the benefits still outweigh the risks (check out a full infographic on this here). Many small communities have meetings for professionals that utilize Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. In fact, some job positions actually require a certain number of followers on a blog or Twitter feed which means they’re looking closely at your online presence. If you don’t have one, get one. You don’t have to use it personally, but logging in two or three times a week to keep things updated shows that you care about your presence, and when it comes to employers, that means you’ll stay at the top of people’s minds when a potential position pops up. Keeping your information up to date is vital to ensure  you’re “in the know” for new positions, especially those that go unadvertised. 4. Consider Family Here’s a tip: don’t ask friends and family for a job. Instead, ask them for an interview. Not only does this tactic make you look professional, but you suddenly have an amazing “in” with the company. Even if you don’t get the job, the fact that you asked them for an interview has opened the door to start a conversation. It may be that your brother’s particular department isn’t hiring, but someone in another department mentioned they were looking for some fresh ideas over lunch the other day. It’s far from a guarantee, but you certainly can’t lose anything by asking about it. 5. Volunteer Volunteer work is a great place to find new contacts. It’s something you may be doing already, and it’s something you’re passionate about. It might have absolutely nothing to do with what you went to school for, but the right contact can eliminate that requirement. If you did go to school for your dream job and are having some trouble finding it, consider offering your expertise up in a different way. Get together some hand-outs and offer to explain to people what it is that you do (or want to do). Meet at a school, a church basement or the local bowling alley depending on where crowds tend to gather. Everyone who listens suddenly becomes a contact, and you’ve already started the conversation with them. Parting Words Probably the most important aspect of using your contacts and making new ones is to not be afraid of doing it. Most people are happy to help, and if someone is less than thrilled with your request, well, at least now you know. Remember in Glengarry Glen Ross, the slogan was to “Always Be Closing”? Well, that’s changed a bit. Now, always keep an eye out for networking. Everyone you meet knows more people, so get out and meet someone! What are some of the easiest ways you’ve found to network? Share your thoughts in the comments! This post originally appeared on Career Attraction. Image: Photobucket 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 Reasons Why Its Important To Hire People With A Positive Attitude - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Reasons Why Its Important To Hire People With A Positive Attitude - Introvert Whisperer 5 Reasons Why Its Important To Hire People With A Positive Attitude Positivity breeds positivity. As a matter of fact, it wouldnt be wrong to say that positivity also breeds success. The success of any business or company depends largely on the attitude its employees display in the workplace. Therefore, a positive attitude should be the first and foremost trait an employer should look for in a candidate when hiring. Many people might argue that an individuals skill set should be the deciding factor; however, its important to understand that skills can be taught and honed but attitude and temperament cannot be changed. A person may have an excellent resume, complete with row after row of credentials and skills. But, if he or she does not have the right attitude, they can prove to be a setback, instead of being an asset for your organization. Thus, hiring an employee with a positive ‘can do’ attitude is crucial because that determines how they will work together  with their colleagues, communicate with your customers and contribute to the overall work environment. Here are a few more reasons why its important to hire people with a positive attitude: 1. They believe in unity People with positive attitudes have a beneficial effect on the culture of their work environments. They are supportive and reliable and are able to mesh well with their colleagues. The presence of such people strengthens unity and enhances teamwork. People with such optimistic attitudes also possess excellent leadership qualities due to their ability to communicate their ideas and opinions clearly while being able to successfully solicit constructive suggestions from their teammates. Instead of making personal benefit their top priority, they try to bring everyone together to work towards mutual success that benefits the company as a whole. They tackle challenges head on and work together to find solutions to overcome those challenges. Furthermore, teamwork implies that everyones input goes into each project and this promotes equity, enthusiasm, and camaraderie, which is imperative for maintaining a motivated workforce.   2. They get things done Another reason you would want to hire employees with a ‘can do’ attitude is that they are driven by ambition and are natural problem solvers. No challenge or obstacle can wane their spirits. They are always ready to tackle challenges and their flexible approach gets them around the roadblocks in their way. They are eager to learn new things, and readily accept the various developments in their field. This way, they not only expand their own skillset but also apply their knowledge for improvements in the company’s products or try to improve the systems. Moreover, they take initiatives that stretch beyond their core roles and boost productivity within their departments to augment their company’s progress.   3. They lift team spirits A positive attitude is infectious and causes others to also want to emulate the same positivity. An employee with a flexible attitude will keep an open mind and would be more accepting of everyone elses opinions. Moreover, such people are also capable of offering a well-rounded perspective regarding work related challenges and make it easier to take complicated decisions. This, in turn, enhances productivity which can go a long way in lifting team spirits, hence, assisting in the overall betterment of the workplace. 4. They appreciate small victories People who sport a positive attitude tend to appreciate the journey that takes them or their companies to the peak of the proverbial ladder of success. They understand that no matter how lofty their ambitions or how enormous the goals are, they cannot be attained without facing hurdles. This requires consistency and motivation; therefore, employees with positive attitudes  embrace the hardships along the way and appreciate the small accomplishments. They take these small wins and use them as incentives to work even harder and reach new heights. This, consequently, inspires the rest of the workers to put in extra effort as well and strive to achieve the end goal together.   5. They steer clear of negativity The biggest reason for preferring an optimistic attitude over a fancy resume is that such employees are habitual of steering clear of negativity. These people avoid rumors and gossip, and try to keep to themselves, because they know that such things cause inefficiency, decrease productivity levels and result in an overall loss of focus. They understand that such controversial occurrences deteriorate office environment and also have a negative impact on the relationships between the co-workers. This, in turn, reduces productivity and makes the overall atmosphere toxic. A positive attitude improves teamwork and that in itself promotes productivity. Hiring people who can work well with others is essential to building a good, coherent office clock in which all the cogs work together to make magic happen. Therefore, every organization’s main goal should be to build a team that comprises positive and pragmatic individuals who are committed to excellence, can work hard, drive decisions into results and create tangible outcomes. So, the next time you are hiring, remind yourself of the benefits of hiring for the right attitude over the right skill, and you won’t be disappointed! AUTHOR BIO

Enhance Your Writing Way Through Writing Help Available Through E-Learning Courses

Enhance Your Writing Way Through Writing Help Available Through E-Learning Courses For me writing is a great job. It releases lot of tension from your life and helps you to rejuvenate yourself. It can be said as the best way to decrease your stress. You can pen down anything you like. I love to write. Writing is one kind of attaining meditation. When you write for yourself then you can write anything and everything. But when you write for any company which is not about your own views then you have to be very cautious. You just cannot write anything there. If writing is your job then it is necessary that you should keep in mind certain rules and regulations that are set for every writer. When you are a professional writer then it is essential that some of the ways of writing should be followed. Some good tricks make your write up much more interesting and also appealing to the ones who are reading it. Good write ups always take time to get composed. If you have a strong English language base and a nest of good thoughts then you can easily grow up writing some good write ups. If you do not have all these then it becomes a problem as every people cannot take out money for each and every coaching classes. Writing Help- To know better way to write If you want to make your writing perfect and flawless then you have to get into some tuition classes that will help you to enhance your writing skill. There are no such writing classes that are available here, but you will get some e-learning courses where you will get support for writing purpose. Writing Help brings to you nearer to better and improved way of writing. Writing starts off with the small paragraph writings from the school days. Then it changed into essay writing and then report, précis writing and so on. From school level only if you want to increase your writing style then you can come for any of the online learning platform. Online learning is a good and less time consuming way in the recent time. Students can easily enroll themselves and get the most benefit out of the box. Writing can be fun if you get accustomed with the right tactics of it. It can also be easy when you have a good guide by your site. It helps you to grow internally and also helps you to know more about how to write well. Online Writing Tutor- Available at your click away for good write ups Online Writing Tutor is the best way through which you can internally grow and make writing an easy and most loved profession that will help you to earn your living as well. A good teacher will provide you with all the necessary details about how to enhance yourself in the writing job. There are various tricks through which it can be increased. There are various types of writing which a student in his entire span of learning goes through. Some kind of writing is for the academic work. When we are in school we work for increasing the vocabulary so that the essay or letter that we write down is good and gives us good marks for better stand. After school some choose it to be a way of earning and some out of passion write. Book authors mainly start of being the passion and then it turns into their way of learning. Each writing is different from the other. Online teachers make it a point to make the student differentiate between every style of writing and sometimes they introduce them with different styles of writing which they do not know. Teachers have a good grip over the subject that makes any student to attain the most out of these online teaching facilities. The time limit is unlimited making the student to avail the facility of learning all round the clock. The student sitting at their home can avail the facility of learning without moving here and there and what can be better than this. It decreases your work load and also your expense of moving out here and there. With utmost comfort any student will make the most out of it. Writing Tutoring Online- To support you with your vocabulary and many more There are many institutes who help you with such services. They even charge very less and provide good service as well. Parents have to get less charged and thus it becomes easy for any parent also to deal with the charges that are charged. Reputed institutes charge high and some other institutes that are not to reputed provide you with the same service and same facility but charge you with some less bucks. But do not think those institutes to be of cheap quality or the teachers, their teaching to be average level. Everything is same and of good quality, just for middle class convenience the charges are low. TutorPace is one of the good institutes that is slowly gaining recognition and also becoming popular. People involved in this institute are very smart and efficient. The teachers are of good quality and provide you with best services. They detect the weakness of a student and make it a point to work on it to change it into one’s strength. Writing tutoring online is a part of the facilities that the institute provides. Writing was never a fun job until you enrolled yourself in TutorPace. It brings you nearer to success and also it helps you to know how to write well, differentiate between different writing styles and increase your count of vocabulary with very less time. You can enroll yourself and know what are the services and facilities it provides you. For more information you can go and check in their site and this will give you thorough idea about what the institute is and how does it deal with the particular students.

How Graduate Schools Analyze Applications

How Graduate Schools Analyze Applications Graduate schools receive more applications than you could ever imagine. Thats no secret to anyone. So, grad school admissions committees (comprised of counselors, professors and sometimes even students) use a systematic process for filtering applications. When admissions committees see your application, they are trying to answer one question: will this student be successful here and in his/her career? This is the filter most grad schools drag applications through: 1. GPA/GRE screening: Typically, grad schools place a stronger emphasis on research and practical experience than test scores, assuming they are a better predictor of future success. But, to streamline the admissions process, many set minimum GPA/GRE requirements. Some schools may be flexible on their requirements. But, for GPA, top schools may place cutoffs at 3.0+, and at some elite schools, the cutoff may be as high 3.5+. If you dont have those grades, you may not even be considered. Grad schools will analyze GREscores similarly. Top programs will require you to score at least at the 50 percentile mark, meaning you will need a 150+ on The Quantitative Reasoning Section and a 151+ on the Verbal Reasoning Section. Some elite schools may require applicants to score in the top 75th percentile, meaning you will need a 157+ on each section to be considered. Most grad schools will post their average scores online, but remember, those scores are not requirements and students will be accepted with scores below the average. 2. First pass: After you pass through initial screening, admissions committees will glance at your application to quickly determine if you have promise. Here, they want to see practical experience and knowledge outside of GPA/GRE credentials. If you meet the screening credentials but have not had any internships, practical experience or research experience, you may be rejected. 3. In-depth review: This is where committees start comparing students, and it may be the strictest phase. Depending on the school, this could be the last time your application is looked at on paper. In this stage, applicants are evaluated based on everything: GRE, GPA/transcripts, letters of recommendation, essay, research, practical experience, etc. Here, committees are comparing students holistically, trying to determine who has the most motivation and promise and ultimately who will be the most successful at their school. If you are more well-rounded than other students in the applicant pool, you will pass this section. 4. Interview: Not all schools conduct interviews. Some may accept or reject students after the In-depth review phase. You may interview over-the-phone or in-person, either with a group of admissions counselors, faculty members or students or individually with any of those. At this point, you have proven yourself on paper and your school is ready to admit you. Now, schools want to see if you are articulate and motivated. They want to see if you are genuinely interested and enthusiastic about your career, and youre not just cranking out research and experience to make your application look better. They already know youre a well-rounded student, but you need to prove you are a well-rounded individual. 5. Decision: There are a lot of people involved in the admissions process, and they all regroup in this phase to make final decisions. Here, your application and interview session will be compared to all other students. Committees will discuss whether you should be admitted or other students over you. Final decisions will be made as a group and may even be voted on. Again, admissions committees are looking for the students who will be the most successful at their school and during their career. Varsity Tutors's top tier test prep tutorscan help you gain admittance into top schools.

5 English Pronunciation Resources

5 English Pronunciation Resources English pronunciation can be challenging for students so weve created this list of English pronunciation resources. Partially English pronunciation is difficult because spelling has little to do with the way words are pronounced, making it hard to know how to say some words.But of course the bigger problem is that English will have sounds that dont exist in your native language, that your mouth doesnt know how to make and maybe even your cant hear yet.So here are some great resources weve found to help with your English pronunciation.Practice Your English Pronunciation With PoetryThe first English pronunciation resource is  The Poetry Foundation is one of my favorites. Not only do you get to practice your English reading skills with some of the best English language poems, but many of the poems come with free audio recordings of the author reading the poem. So you can read along and listen carefully to how the words should be pronounced. Heres Robert Frosts classic Mending Wall.Impro ve Your Pronunciation With A Mirror!2. The second English pronunciation resource, a mirror! Seriously, if you have done research into linguistics and language learning you will learn that children watch peoples mouths. So if you have YouTube and a mirror you can practice watching the mouths of English speakers and then watching yourself say things in the mirror. Different language speakers hold their mouths differently. You can learn more about that in our intensive pronunciation series. One of the best English teachers I have ever known was a colleague from Argentina, her accent and pronunciation was nearly perfect. When I asked her how she did she said she used a mirror to help her create the sounds and practiced with a mirror a lot. Our Intensive pronunciation course can help you improve a great deal.Resources Online To Help With Your English Pronunciation3. The University of Iowa in the U.S. has an excellent resource for English pronunciation on their website. Phonetics: The sou nds of American English is an interactive webpage that lets you pick out specific sounds in the English language, and then gives you an animated example of how the inside of the mouth moves to make the sound, and a recording of the mouth of the person making the sound, as well as a recording of the sound itself. Its an ambitious project, totally free, and probably the most useful Ive found online. Check it out here.Listening To Help Improve Your English Pronunciation4. Santa Barbara College has produced a corpus of audio clips from real conversations. This is an excellent way to practice both your listening skills as well as your pronunciation skills. The audio is 2 minutes to 5 minutes in length and covers several topics. LOI English uses some of the audios for lessons weve created. You can also practice your pronunciation and listening skills by taking a look at our Listening Lessons Series here.Improve Your Pronunciation With Tongue Twisters.5. The last piece of advice to improve your pronunciation skills is to do tongue twisters. When practicing rolling my r in Spanish I used several tongue twisters that helped. English has the many tongue twisters that will help you train your mouth, lips, and tongue in order to improve your pronunciation. Click here for some useful tongue twisters and our final English pronunciation resource.Extra: You should decide if you are trying to do accent reduction and pronunciation help whether you want to focus on American English (Canada/US) or British English. There are differences and it is best to choose which youd like to use and work on that pronunciation to avoid confusion. Just look at how we pronounce: Ana Excelent. This advice will be excelent for me. satyavan Dear friends today am telling you best way to learn English online absolutely free install the skype in your phone computer then visit the following website to find English Speaking partner to your practicehttp://www.englishuncle.comOn this website you can fi nd people who want to learn English, you will have to fill your information in our given user description after filling details you will be online among the people After this, you will start getting calls from the people and you can also call them by the using Skype, yahoo msg!See the video how to make call onhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHn20RLi55U English Classes In Shanghai Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didnt show up. Grrrr well Im not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog! SCR888 Wow, this piece of writing is good, myy younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, thys I am going to inform her.

Less Stuff = More Happiness English Listening Exercise with TED

Less Stuff = More Happiness English Listening Exercise with TED I think that Ive always tried to be a minimalist. I dont like to collect a lot of stuff. It makes me feel materialistic and tied down (unable to move quickly or easily change my plans). This the TED talk for this English listening exercise is about this subject, and I think Graham Hill explains very well the benefits of simplifying your life.Below youll find more info about Hill, his TED video, and after that, some listening questions. Enjoy!Why you should listen to Hill:Graham Hill (@GHill) founded the eco-blog and vlog TreeHugger.com, to help, as he says, push sustainability into the mainstream, with a design-forward style and an international, wide-ranging team committed to transforming complex issues into everyday concepts. Its been called the Green CNN. The TreeHugger team was even asked to join the Discovery Communications network as a part of their Planet Green initiative, and Hill now makes appearances on the green-oriented cable channel.Before Treehugger, Hill studied archit ecture and design (his side business is making those cool ceramic Greek cups). His other company, ExceptionLab, is devoted to creating sustainable prototypes think lamps made from recycled blinds and ultra-mod planters that are also air filters.Contact us to take an English conversation class on this TED video. Whats in the ___? ________ it is must be pretty important.Why do you think the crowd laughs at his first sentenceTheres a new industry in ____.What is the new industry?What is the result of having all this new stuff?What did he do with is apartment?Immediately I saved ____ _____.What does that mean? How did he save it?Weve ____ cut the extraneous from our lives, and weve _____ learn to ____ the inflow.How many people can eat in his home?What is his response to his own question, Whats in the box?Less ________equal ____________.Do you believe the above statement? Why or why not?