What is Flamenco Guitar Terms and Techniques You Need to Know

What is Flamenco Guitar Terms and Techniques You Need to Know Sign up successful Understanding Flamenco Guitar Want to learn flamenco guitar? As you may know, it’s traditionally played on a nylon-string (classical) style guitar, using not a pick but the fingers and nails of the right hand to drive the sound. The left hand is used much the same as in other styles, with some tonal and positional particularities. The right hand is related to classical technique in some regards, but as we’ll see there are some big differences. First, an analogy: Imagine that the guitar is a car, driving you down some Andalusian country road. Your right hand works the gas and brakes, and the left hand is the steering wheel. There are foundational rhythms that you can play with the right hand that can be applied to any chord or melody, given the technique you are using. What are these right hand techniques? We will cover each of the foundational right hand techniques for flamenco guitar later on in this article. But let’s start with some basic terminology relating to the art. Spanish Terminology for Classical and Flamenco Guitar Terminology is important to learning flamenco guitar, partly because flamenco comes from Spain. Here we’ll cover terms used to describe musical elements, parts of the guitar, guitar technique in general, as well as those particular to flamenco guitar. These words are easy to learn and will enrich your life by connecting you to a colorful and unique artform. Flamenco Music Here are a few basic terms describing some of the fundamental parts of a flamenco performance: palo = song style (eg.  Solea, Tangos, Bulerias, Alegrias, etc.) cante = flamenco singing toque = flamenco guitar playing baile = flamenco dance palmas = rhythmic hand claps that accompany a performance falseta = a prepared or improvised guitar-focused interlude between sung verses or dance  sections, or as a compositional development in its own right Flamenco Guitar Terms This terminology relates to the guitar itself and accessories used in flamenco: guitarra = guitar cejilla = capo golpeador = tap plate cuerdas = strings acordes = chords Terms for Fingers on Flamenco Guitar When notating the music played on classical and flamenco guitar, we use the following terms and abbreviations for right hand technique: pulgar = thumb (notated as “p”) indice = index finger (notated as “i”) medio = middle finger (notated as “m”) anular = ring finger (notated as “a”) rosado = pinky (not used as a term, notated as “x”) Flamenco Guitar Technique These are the techniques used in flamenco guitar. With the exception of arpeggio, they are more specific to flamenco than to classical music: arpeggio = plucking individual notes of a chord, e.g: p, i, m, a, m, i. picado = playing single note melodies using i, m. rasgueo = raking across the strings using x, a, m, i, and sometimes including p. abanico = a sub-category of rasgueo, using either p, i, and m, or p and ma. alzapua = using the thumb (p) to articulate a combination of single notes and parts of chords. arrastre = raking backwards (high to low) over the strings using the ring (anular, a) finger. golpe = tapping the body of the guitar, on the tap plate (golpeador) using ma (middle and ring  fingers together), or just the ring finger (a). Right Hand Flamenco Guitar Techniques These techniques can be dizzying to watch up close and in person, but we will demystify them a bit here. The Arpeggio and Picado As mentioned earlier, right hand technique for flamenco guitar is to a degree built on classical technique, with some additions. The classical component consists of arpeggios, and the use of alternating index and middle (i, m) for melodies. The arpeggiated figures in flamenco are particular, but you can use exercises from classical repertoire to build the needed dexterity. Picado is one technique used to play single note melodies in flamenco, and is played with a short, percussive stroke that is muted immediately after playing each note. To build your picado, just apply an alternating i, m sequence to any of the scales that you’ve learned while keeping the guitar notes short and “punchy”. Pulgar (the Thumb): Melody and Alzapua The right hand thumb warrants special study, as it is used in arpeggio and alzapua, as well as in melodies. A major difference with classical technique is that the thumb is almost exclusively played with a rest-stroke (apoyando). This means that when you strike the string, your thumb pushes down through the active string, coming to a brief resting position on the adjacent string below. This gives a more penetrating action that is louder, more percussive and also unique in tone. Alzapua is a highly specialized technique that gives a unique effect. The thumb performs up and down strokes through both single and multiple strings, striking both through parts of chords and single notes on the bass strings. The thumb is used also used in an approach alternating with the index finger, for a unique effect. Start with the following sequence on the open E strings (index on high E, and thumb on low E): p i, p i, p i, p i. Then, begin changing the notes of the bass using the left hand, one for every 2 or 4 thumb strokes. You’ll find that the open high E string provides a nice pedal-like accompaniment to your bass melody. Alternately, leave the low E open and change notes on the high E string (right hand is still playing with the index finger), for a brighter sound accompanied by the droning low E played with the thumb. Rasgueo/Rasgueado Perhaps the most renowned of flamenco guitar techniques is the rasgueo (aka “rasgueado”). This technique is unique to flamenco guitar, and doesn’t find a truly comparable counterpart in classical guitar technique. If you’ve played some rasgueo in a classical piece, it was likely borrowed from flamenco in some fashion. The first one you should try is just stroking up and down through all strings with the index finger, while making a chord with the left hand: up i, down i. If you’re using fingers and no thumb, the only finger that makes an up stroke is the index. All others (middle, ring and pinky; m, a, x) only make down strokes. Try these basic right hand sequences to get yourself started: down x, down a, down m, down i, up i. -up i, down m, down i. Repeat these patterns to increase your sense of relaxed control, changing chords as you’re  comfortable. These flamenco guitar exercises really do take some time to develop so that they sound authentic and feel natural, so don’t give up. Spending a little time (5-20 minutes) every day is better than sitting for an hour or more at a time once a week or less. Of course, flamenco guitar lessons do help! If you can find a guitar teacher in your area, or one that is available through skype, do so to help you start off on the right track. In general, try alternating between loud and soft dynamics. This way, you give your muscles a bit of a break, as well as build relaxed control, which is both sustainable and will sound better than playing with too much tension. The payoff is immense when you can play flamenco guitar music, even a little bit! And getting the basics down opens up the potential to play with others, which propels you even further on your musical journey. Good luck and happy strumming. Post Author: David W. is a guitar teacher in Berkeley, CA. An instructor for more than fifteen years, David can also help students focus on classical, flamenco, or bass guitar.  Learn more about David 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 waferboard

ESOL Learners Improve your Comprehension Through Film

ESOL Learners Improve your Comprehension Through Film Watching Films in English is like Taking Free English Lessons or ESOL Courses ChaptersWhich Films Should I Watch to Learn English?Historical Dramas: Learn Traditional EnglishLearn English by Watching ComediesLearn Different English AccentsTips for Learning English through FilmLearn English with Free FilmsDo you like watching films?  Who doesn’t?Here’s something that you’ll like: You can learn English as a second language by watching a film.You can watch films in the English language while following along with the subtitles.Why Use Films to Improve Your English?It’s a great tool for getting better at English, especially when it comes to training your ear and your listening comprehension. If you practise listening to spoken English, you'll improve your own speaking skills.If you’re tired of learning English with books and studying English grammar and vocabulary, take a break from your studies and put on some ESOL courses courtesy of Hollywood.You can also improve your English at the same time.Take online English tutorials. (Source: Commerce Master)Letâ €™s go back to our question: Why should you watch films to learn English?English films aren’t made for language learners. They’re made for native English speakers. This means that characters usually speak like real native speakers.The films use English as a native language. This means it’s great for hearing English vocabulary, expressions, and slang.Films are fun: you can learn English while having fun. It’s like an enjoyable English language workout. You’ll learn without realising it.Watching films in English also can give you a better understanding of English-speaking cultures. You’ll find out a lot more about historic places.Finally, by listening to English, you’ll be able to improve your pronunciation in English.Still not convinced? Here are some of the advantage of learning English by watching films..

Tips for your Personal Training Sessions

Tips for your Personal Training Sessions How to Get the Most Out of Your Personal Training Sessions ChaptersThe Right Music for Your Personal Training SessionsDo You Really Need To Stretch Before or After a Workout Session?How To Evaluate Your Performance and Progress with Your Personal Trainer10 Tips for a Successful Training Session with Your Personal CoachWhen you first start doing sports, you want to give your most because your fitness goals include instant results:You want to lose twenty pounds in one weekLook like Schwarzenegger after only two workoutsHave the body of a supermodel  four days after revamping your nutritionHave Ronaldo’s abs and Kim Kardashian’s buttocks…But as the weeks pass and you don’t notice any change… Your motivation goes down and you lose any interest in going to the gym.But rather than drag yourself over to a fitness studio, why not engage a personal trainer instead? An exercise program supervised by a certified personal trainer can make a difference. Your personal fitness coach will be there to give you the keys you will need to attain your goals and make sure you stay motivated.A gym personal trainer may help get you motivated, but you still have to go to the fitness centre every day. So why not look up the trainers here on Superprof instead? They will come to your home, reschedule after a cancellation so you don’t lose a session, and get you ready to start losing weight, tackle interval training, and leave you enjoying your new sports so much you look forward to your next training session.Pricing varies according to the region, but many of our fitness trainers offer savings for more than 10 sessions or offer the first session for free.Once you’ve decided to start a training program with a fitness trainer, you will soon feel your body change and notice real progress toward your fitness goals.Your muscles will be better toned, more firm and you will have adopted healthy nutritional habits, making you feel better about your body.During your one on one sessions, you will be able to ask your coach questions. He will h elp you identify your strong and weak points and better help you understand your progression. Many personal trainers are therapists, too, as your mental health will affect your physical performance. Sometimes just having someone to chat with does wonders in focusing your energies and helping you achieve a more confident outlook - thus increasing your performance.This article can help you with a few tips to make the most out of your work out with your personal fitness specialist.1991 study, two American scientists proved that slower, more lyrical music helped improve performance in endurance sports.Americans Anshel and Marisi did another test on bikes that proved that music synchronised to their pedalling helped their endurance better than unsynchronised music.So don’t hesitate to put on some music during your personal training sessions!What's the best music to workout to? Find our Superprof's best suggestions here.On the lookout for the perfect playlist for your workout routine?He re is a list of some tunes you might want to have playing through your earphones or on your stereo while you get fit with your in-home workout plan:“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor“Dirty Diana” by Michael Jackson“Intro” by The XX“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC“Lose Yourself” by Eminem“Been Through the Storm” by Busta Rhymes“Family Affair” by Mary J. Blige“Starships” by Nicki Minaj“Where are Ãœ Now” by Krillex and Diplo (feat. Justin Bieber)“The Final Countdown” by EuropeDo You Really Need To Stretch Before or After a Workout Session?It is imperative that you stretch after each training session.But should you stretch during a workout? This question has long been debated in the world of sports!But first, let’s look at the reasons for stretching and why it is part of working out.Stretching is meant to:Stretch out the muscle and lengthen itHelp you recuperateHelp preserve your physical health by preventing injuries and stiffnessBut several studies have s hown that it’s preferable to wait about a quarter of an hour after your fitness routine to stretch.During this period of recuperation, your trainer can show you the stretches you will be doing:Back stretches. For example, the Yoga pose called the Seated Forward Bend, or Paschimottansana: you are seated with your legs stretched out before you and try to touch your toes while keeping your legs straight. Your personal trainer can exercise slight pressure on your back to help you stretch as far as you can go.Biceps stretch: bend your right arm back next to your ear so your hand is resting between your shoulder blades. Push on your right elbow with your left hand.Calf stretch: facing a wall, put your left leg forward while bending your knee. You can brace against the wall with your hands. You should feel the back of your right calf stretching.A biceps stretch to help relax your arm muscles. Photo credit: ?ason on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-NDThese stretches will be done after your personal ized fitness program with your instructor.However, many studies show that it’s best not to do short, intensive stretches (only a few seconds) before a sports sessions, whether it be resistance training, circuit training, or even group fitness events.Whether you are trying to burn fat, gain muscle mass or prepare for a sports competition, the rule is simple: stretching should be done slowly and carefully and at the end of a workout session.You can warm up with your personal training assistant at the beginning of your session. But don’t try to mobilize your muscles too rapidly.“The studies are unanimous: you shouldn’t stretch before doing sports. Why? First, because it doesn’t reduce the risk of muscle injury; on the contrary, it increases it,” Stéphane Demorand, physiotherapist, explained to the French paper Le Point.Thus: you warm up slowly and thoroughly before training, and stretch afterwards! Learn more about  how to stretch before a workout.How To Evaluate Your Perf ormance and Progress with Your Personal TrainerA regular fitness assessment is one of the many perks of working with a personal trainer.But knowing how to evaluate yourself will help you to progress even more in the long run!Evaluating your performance will let you see what gains you have achieved, how much you have to do and help you look forward to your next training session.Measure your progressOne way to stay in touch with your body is to measure yourself every month: around your arms, buttocks, hips… It’s often hard to see weight loss (or muscle gain) with the naked eye, but the numbers never lie!Your fitness specialist can help you measure your muscles. He or she can help you find out if your fat loss or mass gain goals are being met and adjust the intensity of your customized personal training program to compensate. Measuring your progress is part of his job description!You can also take pictures of yourself. It’s difficult to judge your appearance in a mirror. You will not be able to see your back or your buttocks properly. Instead, ask your coach to take pics of you from every angle at regular intervals.One on one fitness evaluation with your trainerYou can also trust in your personal trainer’s fitness evaluation. Your fitness coach has an expert eye and enough experience to be a good judge of your body weight and level of fitness. He’ll know if you’ve reached a plateau you simply need to push past or if you should go into full bootcamp mode to get that body fat burning.If you like, he or she can set up a little consultation every two weeks with a weigh-in, measuring and a little conditioning test… He can keep track of your progress in a notebook and adjust your custom tailored training schedule and give you tips on nutrition and lifestyle.Switch it upIn fact, consider changing your training program regularly to help you progress. You might, for example, switch from boxing to Pilates for a few weeks, or try out interval training before g oing back to normal aerobics or Yoga. Surprising your body regularly and challenging it in new ways will help you burn fat and build muscle more effectively.Get connectedTo progress, why not enjoy a free consultation with your phone or other connected devices? There are fitness watches, intelligent shoes or fitness apps that will teach you to be confident in your abilities to reach your goals.Use modern technology such as fitness apps to track your progress. Photo on VisualhuntTechnology has well and truly found its place in the health and fitness branch.Connected devices will be able to:Calculate your heart rateTell you how many calories you burnCalculate how many steps you take or how many kilometres you have walked, run or cycledShow you various different exercises for muscle building, body sculpting or yogaPlan your meals so can eat healthily without going on one of those fad diets of two carrot sticks and a shake a dayYou can (and should) share the information from your electro nic devices with your personal trainer. He or she has the certification to help you interpret their data and use it to adjust his own coaching sessions to your needs: for example, add more cardio exercises to get your pulse up or tone down your training sessions to prevent over-exhaustion.Find out how to stretch after a workout  with our guide to stretching here.10 Tips for a Successful Training Session with Your Personal CoachYour weekly training sessions with your fitness trainer should be fun, even if your body and muscles are suffering during the exercises.Here are 10 tips for a successful training session with your coach:Keep your relationship with your personal trainer one of mutual trust: you must be honest with him or he won’t be able to help, but you also need to trust him to help you progress.Listen attentively and don’t hesitate to discuss: you need to ask questions if you are not sure you understand the goal of a session or a specific exercise.Don’t forget to warm up properly: you need to bring your body up to operating speed with warm-ups adapted to your sports that your coach will show you.Plug in your electronic devices: whether your MP3 player, your smartwatch or even a meditation app, don’t hesitate to use technology to help you on your path to wellness and understanding your body.Don’t forget to breathe: your personal trainer will teach you how to breathe in with your diaphragm and breathe out through your mouth.Stay hydrated: don’t forget your water bottle during your training sessions.Choose the right music: choose a rhythm adapted to your sport to keep you motivated.Don’t forget to take stock of your progress: measure yourself so you look forward to the next exercise session and the next milestone towards your goals.Stretch: after each workout, stretch your whole body.  Don’t forget to smile and chat with your personal trainer!Build a good relationship with your trainer to maximize your time with him or her. Photo on Visual hunt.comBook now to set up your first session with a Superprof personal trainer!

GCSE English Exam Timetables Grading Schemes

GCSE English Exam Timetables Grading Schemes Double Check your English GCSE Exam Schedule and Marking Criteria ChaptersWhen Will My GCSE Exam Timetable Be Released?Could My Exam Date Change?What If I Am Away On The Day An Exam Is Set?How Can Knowing My Timetable In Advance Help Me?How Are GCSEs Graded?GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education, and this certification is awarded at the end of a two-year study programme after exams and any coursework have been marked. Traditionally taken by those aged around sixteen years-old, this course is compulsory for students in the UK.The way in which pupils are assessed as part of the UK’s education system has been a hot topic in recent years. As it stands, British students are tested across each subject undertaken at GCSE level, a test which generally makes up more than half of their overall grade.Yet, with children and young adults in our country allegedly being among the most tested on the planet, surely they should be accustomed to performing under pressure? It seems, however, that the recurrent need to test performance and improve ment during schooling is something that still causes a lot of distress for pupils.What about adults sitting GCSE? Find out how they manage here!Britons are among the world's most tested students. Photo credit: CollegeDegrees360 via Visualhunt.comGetting Your Head Around Your Upcoming ExamsIt is probably hard to get to grips with the fact that you will be participating in nationwide exams along with your peers across the country, especially if you have never been tested in this way before.  Nevertheless, your exams are going to happen and will make up a great deal of your final grade, so it is time to start thinking seriously about them.A good way to get your head around them is by reviewing past exams!Having access to a timetable, even if only a provisional one, can really help to prepare you psychologically for the culmination of your course, because having a specific goal to work towards can be very motivating.Using a calendar or a countdown app might make it even easier to remain focused on the exam period and might, on some level, build up a bit of anticipation for the day of the first exam to finally come.Attempt to keep your spirits up by translating your nervous energy into positivity. Just think, once you have completed your last exam you will have an entirely carefree summer ahead of you!Select a reputable skype English teacher here. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhen Will My GCSE Exam Timetable Be Released?Timetables for compulsory exams like GCSEs and A Levels are usually released a couple of years in advance, but do remember that these are only there for guidance and should not be taken as certa in.Although exams will usually take place across roughly the same 2-3 week period of each academic year, you should never attempt to predict when your exams will be based on information from previous years.A number of factors come into play when large-scale events are planned, and exams are no different.For instance, the exam boards need to consider things like bank holidays and the availability of staff and resources. As such, you should always wait until your exam dates are set in stone before making any plans that could affect your ability to attend an exam.Bank holidays could give you extra time to review GCSE English study materials!To be on the safe side, however, we would recommend that you do not make any arrangements for holidays or social events around the time of your exams unless completely necessary, as doing so could allow you to get distracted from your revision, cause unwanted stress due to losing precious revision time, or leave you feeling tired and less alert.Your education does not last forever but you will have plenty of opportunities to go on trips or nights out in the future.Could My Exam Date Change?As previously mentioned, exam boards will try their best to commit to provisional exam dates, however this is not always possible for a number of reasons.Take, for example, an event that could not be predicted like the sudden introduction of a new national holiday or, on the contrary, adverse weather that affects an entire region of the UK. Although these situations are rare, you should be aware that unexpected things can happen which can cause exam boards to have to rethink their timetables.Meanwhile, some timetables might result in exam clashes for students taking a particular combination of subjects and will therefore need to be amended accordingly.Such instances could give you extra time to find revision materials online!What you must bear in mind is that an exam for a specific specification needs to bet set on the same morning or aftern oon for all students taking that assessment. This is to ensure that exam questions are kept completely confidential until the day of the exam, allowing a fair test for each pupil taking it. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discov er all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat If I Am Away On The Day An Exam Is Set?You should make sure that you do not accidentally make any plans which cause you to be away on the date of any of your exams.Failing to sit an exam could result in you failing the entire course and putting two years of study to waste.If your family are looking to book a holiday which crosses over with the exam period, then every effort should be made for the trip to be b ooked for a later date, or rebooked for another year. Even a once in a lifetime trip will not sway the examiners, as the rules cannot be twisted for just one pupil.Family holidays should not interfere with your revision or exams. Photo via VisualHuntIf, however, you have a valid reason for missing an exam, such as being unable to make an exam due to the death of a loved one or as a result of having a funeral to attend, you should consult your school or exam board at the earliest opportunity.In such emergencies, the officials will work together to do all that they can to help you, whether that be awarding you a mark based on other assessed performances or using comparable units of a completed exam to predict how you would probably have been graded. This is called special consideration and applies to all GCSE students so long as they have completed 25% or more of the total assessment for the subject.Similarly, special consideration can be applied to those who made it to the exam but w ere affected by circumstances out of their control, like sickness, a bereavement, or being in the midst of a court case, for example. In situations like these, exam boards will give an allowance (usually up to 5% of the raw mark) dependent on the severity of the circumstances.Do you want to learn more about the  English GCSE syllabus? Read our great guide to studying English at GCSE.Prepare your GCSE with an English tutor London, in Manchester, in Glasgow, or anywhere else in the UK, with our nationwide network.How Can Knowing My Timetable In Advance Help Me?For some students, knowing exactly what will be happening on a certain day or week in the future can really help them to visualise their movements on a given day and aid in putting their mind at rest. For those who are particularly susceptible to feeling stress on a severe level, being able to organise yourself far in advance can be quite satisfying.Use this information to plan educational activities, like pencilling in revision sessions with friends or setting aside time to complete independent study prior to a certain exam. You may even wish to ask your parents to take younger siblings out of the house for a day or weekend to give you some quiet time during which you can focus.If you and your fellow students want to go and visit a landmark or museum that has significance to your course, be sure to get this booked in before the exam comes around. There are no second chances when it comes to exam-taking so do not let yourself have any regrets.You could schedule intensive GCSE literature studies  based on the exam's timetable!As touched upon above, using a calendar or diary to effectively countdown to the date of an exam or the start of the exam period can be a great way of making what is a nerve-racking experience more positive.As soon as you are given your final timetable, which will most likely be 1-2 terms in advance, be sure to give a copy to your parent or guardian.Having a member of the family fully aware of your exam timetable can be really beneficial in improving your preparation for the assessments. They can encourage you with your revision, make plans in advance to drop you off prior to exams and offer you emotional support.Get a private English tutor and get your grades up.How Are GCSEs Graded?Most GCSE pupils will be familiar with the historical grading system, which awarded marks ranging from ‘A*’-‘G’, with ‘A*’ being the highest attainable and ‘G’ being the lowest. However, a new grade system is being phased in to the UK education system whereby pupils are marked against a ‘9’-‘1’ system instead.The traditional GCSE grading system is to be replaced by a numbering system. Photo via VisualhuntThis new grading method will have been applied for the first time on this year’s Year 11 students who studied English Language, English Literature and Mathematics, with the remaining subjects being changed over the course of the next couple of years.Although it sounds reasonably straightforward, the letters do not translate seamlessly into the scale of numbers. Ofqual, the exams watchdog, has advised educators not to make direct comparisons between the two because the boundaries do differ.While there is still a ‘U’, or ungraded, mark, grades ‘9’, ‘8’ and ‘7’ are roughly equivalent to ‘A*’ and ‘A’. Grades ‘6’, ‘5’ and ‘4’ can be likened to a 'B’-‘C’, meanwhile a ‘3’ is said to be similar to a current ‘D’. Finally, ‘2’ and ‘1’ are close to ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ grades.

Tips for Parents How to Help Your Child Prepare for an Audition

Tips for Parents How to Help Your Child Prepare for an Audition Suzy S. Parents, are your kids heading off to an audition? You play a big role in their success! Youve probably offered tons of support along the way, but how else can you help your child learn how to prepare for an audition? Read on for some helpful advice from Nashville online voice teacher  Heather E.: Whether it’s for their elementary school or for a college scholarship, your kid is going to be nervous. There aren’t many other times in life when we are as totally and completely vulnerable as during an audition. If you aren’t sure how to support your kids through it, here are some tips for how to prepare for an audition: Consider All Possibilities One of the scariest parts of an audition for me is the fact that I don’t know what to expect. Will it be one judge, or five? Will there be an accompanist? Will we be in a classroom-type room or an auditorium? Will they ask me any questions, or will I just sing and leave?. and so on. You can see how out of control this could become. So, talk about it with your child. Ask them how they will adapt to different situations, and talk through different possibilities. This will help them feel more confident, no matter what gets thrown at them. Have a Routine They should do the same thing every time before they go on stage for an audition. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with nervousness, or start to have the wrong attitude (like, ‘lets just get this over with!’) and then regret it once you finish the audition. If your child has a routine to get them focused and in the right mindset as they prepare for an audition, I’m certain it will be better. I have a phrase that I say to myself (in my head!) right before I start to sing at an audition. It helps calm me and remind me that this is my shot and I need to be in the moment, doing my best. Practice Together! It seems obvious to say it, but I’ll say it anyway: practice with your kid whenever you can. They may get annoyed with you, but when they get to that audition and they know their piece backwards and forwards, they will be grateful. A teacher or judge can always tell if you’ve been singing the song for weeks, or if you tried to cram it in the last few days or hours. Kids have a natural confidence when they are sure they know what they are doing, and the judges will see it for sure. Be Overprepared Your accompanist lost the music? No problem, you’ve got an extra. Your accompanist forgot her piano? No problem, you have a pitchpipe. Your son decided to use his shirt as a napkin for his Cheeto fingers? No problem, you have a change of clothes for him. You get my drift, be prepared. And one more thing, parents. Sometimes it gets overlooked in the moment, but your kid needs to know that you love them, no matter what. I have seen way too many parents berating their kids after a concert where their child made a mistake. You are their cheerleader! Your kids desperately want to please you, and fear is not a good motivator. Even if they forget the words, or come in at the wrong time, or even barf all over the stage. You love them, and your love isn’t based on their performance. It’s unconditional. Heather teaches voice lessons Nashville, TN, as well as online. She has a BA in Music from Winthrop University and specializes in classical voice and audition prep. Learn more about Heather 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 Fort Rucker

In-School Training for Volunteer Tutors

In-School Training for Volunteer Tutors This week saw the first volunteer training of the year take place at the Tutorfair Office in Moorgate. With more training events scheduled in the coming weeks, we asked our Foundation Director, Joss, to tell us more about what’s involved. This is the first time I’ve been involved in a volunteer training since joining the Foundation in September. I’m absolutely delighted to have been involved and really pleased with the energy and engagement we got from attendees. The training programme was initially developed with Teach First in 2013, but it’s taken on a life of its own in the six years to now. This time, we trained seven tutors who have applied to volunteer as part of our in-school project at Oaklands School in Bethnal Green. I found the tutors brimming over with questions; eager to lead discussions and share their ideas and experience for the benefit of everyone - including me! The group was made up of variously experienced tutors specialising in languages, maths, sciences and SEN support. We started with a discussion of the Foundation’s ethos and aims followed by tutors explaining their own reasons for wanting to volunteer. Most of the attendees had never worked in a school before, so we knew there would be a lot to learn and a lot to talk about! Working in schools From my own experience and others’ I know that one of the most challenging elements of tutoring in school is adapting to school life within the first few visits. We find that tutors tend to flourish after they get used to the pace of things. For that reason, we spent some time at the start of the session openly discussing expectations and exploring the ways in which tutors might struggle to adapt in the early stages of their placement. This included a fascinating discussion about the balance that tutors must strike between ‘approachable’ and ‘professional’. We also cover how to maximise engagement and build relationships with students , including how to  set and maintain standards of behaviour in your sessions.   Safeguarding Next comes the supreme ruler of all training sessions - safeguarding! I find that most people already know something about safeguarding, but I know from experience that there are lots of rules that can be easy to break if you’re not adequately prepared. Fortunately, the Foundation team has thousands of hours’ experience working and training in and around schools, so we can always add significant value and get our volunteers ready for their roles. I saw lots of note-taking in this session, particularly around recognising the impact of smartphones and social media on safeguarding practices. The session closed with a workshop on tutoring in classrooms. This can be a subtle art, often requiring tutors to use techniques they’re not used to. How can you use your physical position and presence in the room to manage students non-verbally so as to not distract from teaching? How do you make sure you’re not just supporting the students who know how to ask for help? How do you know your presence is enhancing the teacher’s effectiveness, not inhibiting it? Having put lots of tutors into lots of schools, I think it’s this area that I see them struggle to master most often, so it’s something I’m passionate about teaching - and teaching well! Overall, I was extremely pleased with the session. Thank you to all of the attendees, whose energy and contributions made the morning very informative and enjoyable. I look forward to continuing to improve on the training programme and welcoming our next group of applicants soon. The next Tutorfair Foundation training is   next week on October 30th. If you want to be involved, apply to an opportunity on your profile or visit the foundation’s website here  to register your interest.

Two Routes - Private Tutoring

Two Routes BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Ever heard two roads diverged in a yellow wood?  We have too.  Well schooling is like that, life in general is.  You have two choices when it comes to attitude. Its perhaps sad but true-there will be courses you dont like, a professor with whom you fail to connect. Even if you have a wide range of interests and you can get along well with almost everyone, at some point youll have to make it through and rough class. You can take one of two routes when this happens. Route A: you can think of every excuse imagine able not to do the work or go to class. You can blame your attitude on the professor or the boring material that you are expected to learn. Consequences of route A: a poor course grade, feeling bad about yourself, and having to work doubly hard in another course to bring up your overall grade point average. Route B: acknowledge that you really dont care much for the course or the professor. Its one course, however, and you can make it through. Study with someone who seems to like the course. Try to motivate yourself with small rewards. Tell yourself that this is temporary and the course will soon be over. Consequences of route B: perhaps you will not earn an A in the class but you will emerge with your ego and your grade point average intact. Excerpt from College Success Strategies by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

4 Online Course Struggles To Be Aware Of

4 Online Course Struggles To Be Aware Of Image via Pexels.com Time management Having a flexible schedule is definitely a benefit of taking an online course, but this requires much more  time management skills  than some people may realize. You need to give yourself enough time to complete short-term coursework like textbook practice pages on top of long-term assignments like term papers. Rememberâ€"in a traditional course, your professor sets class meeting times two or three days a week. You’ll probably get some work done during class time. In an online setting, this is not always the case. You must designate appropriate times for “classwork” and “homework.” Procrastination is your worst enemy! Avoiding the struggle:  Your planner is your best friend. It’s a good idea to invest in a planner with monthly calendars as well as daily to-do logs. Write down important due dates in the monthly calendars, and then divide work into your daily logs. While you should plan out your week ahead instead of taking it day-by-day, it can get a bit overwhelming. To avoid this, only plan out one week at a time if you can. Keep a schedule and stick to it. You should pick one, two, or three days a weekâ€"however many days the coursework will demandâ€"and a timeframe to complete lessons. This will act as your “class time.” Show up to your online course as you would an actual class! Communication via technology In an online course, it’s possible you may never see your professor or classmates in person. This can make communication a bit difficult. You may need to rely on e-mail or online course forums to ask your professor questions, which doesn’t always guarantee a quick response. You should keep this in mind when doing assignmentsâ€"if you have a question, ask it as soon as possible for a better chance that you’ll have an answer before the work is due. If you feel that your professor is being unreasonable with their response times, be clear about your concerns so that it doesn’t have a negative impact on your grade. Likewise, however, you need to be prompt with your responses, too. A conversation will only go smoothly if both sides are efficient. If you work better with face-to-face communication, you may be better off in a traditional course. Avoiding the struggle: Use virtual communication to your advantage! If you know any of your classmates, see if they would be interested in studying on a Skype call, or even meeting up in person if everyone is nearby. You should also try to download an email app on your phone if you don’t have one already. This way, you can read emails as soon as you receive them and reply on-the-go. If you really need to see your professor in person, you can always ask if they have on-campus office hours. Self-discipline You are responsible for how well you do in an online course. It can sometimes be difficult to find the motivation to sit through lessons and participate in classwork when there’s no professor watching over you. Catching up in an online course may seem easy enough when you’re swamped with traditional coursework, but you’ll regret procrastinating later. Don’t fall into the habit of putting your online course last! It is just as valuable as any traditional course you’re enrolled in and should be treated as such. Image via Pexels.com Avoiding the struggle: An online course will require you to  stay organized in  every  sense of the word. Keep your notes in order, stay on top of due dates, and keep up with the textbook readings. If you primarily use your laptop for these things, you should have a neat folder for your online course. It may help to have subfolders as well for homework, notes, term papers, and anything else you can think of. Stay in contact with your professors and classmates. Knowing that you aren’t alone in the course may help you maintain your motivation. If your professor has time limits for completing lessons, stick to them and set reminders for yourself to do the work. Computer issues You’ll need to know your way around a computer if you want to succeed in an online course. Contrary to popular belief, not every student is technologically savvy. The class may simply entail logging into a course website like Moodle or Blackboard, but you might come across some technical difficulties. Wi-Fi is another common problem. If your laptop is holding on for dear life, you may want to have a back-up plan, such as using a library desktop for coursework. Avoiding the struggle: Don’t get frustrated if you do run into problems. Contact your school I.T. department or the support team for your class website as soon as possible to get the issue resolved. You can also look at some troubleshooting guides online for quick fixes. Sometimes, solving the problem is not as hard as it seems! Now, taking an online course isn’t all badâ€"here is the value of taking an online course.