Learn Music Theory Online

Learn Music Theory Online How Can You Take Music Theory Lessons on the Internet? ChaptersSites for When You Start Learning About Music TheoryOther Sites for Learning Music Theory“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” - Plato.Music has had a profound effect on human history. You'll agree that it's almost impossible to find somebody on this planet who doesn't like music and even harder to find someone who never listens to music!Humans just love music because there's music for every occasion. Whether you're happy or sad, you can always put a song on.But what about playing music? It turns out that we love that, too! There are so many people who play musical instruments or like to sing.It’s also well known that being able to play a musical instrument can make you happier and more creative. Learning to play an instrument and sing can make you more relaxed, too.As Louise Vertigo, a singing teacher and vocal workshop presenter, says “It’s excellent star ting the day by singing.”Some people are gifted with a perfect ear and have an innate singing ability. Others have to learn to sing either by attending a music school, by getting private music tutorials at home, or by taking online singing lessons.  Every private music tutor will say that learning music has to start by studying music theory.You can’t learn to play piano or become a jazz singer without studying music theory. Most musicians need to know how to read music for sight reading. In music, if you don't know the difference between the bass clef and the treble clef, you'll never play the right notes.In music, the pauses are as important as the notes you play. (Source: pixabay.com)Have you ever tried singing lessons? Even the most gifted self-taught musicians need to work, learn, practice and perfect their gifts.  There’s just one problem: Learning to sing with a private music tutor can be expensive!However, aspiring singers who don’t have the means can learn to read mu sic and music theory online at their own pace. That's why we’re going to look at the best sites offering music theory lessons for every level and all ages in this article. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSites for When You Start Learning About Music TheoryLearning music from a young age can positively affect a child’s brain in the long term and it's been shown that neuroplasticity is greater in children who learn to read music or play the piano.  With that in mind (no pun intended), here are some great sites for teaching children about reading music.Your child could become a musical genius with music theory tutorials. (Source: pixabay.com)Music Learning CommunityThis is a website aimed at teaching children classical music theory in a fun and interesting way.There are plenty of games for younger learners to discover music theory while they have fun. It’s also a useful resource for teachers looking for something fun to do with their students.  While this site isn’t free, you can get a family subscription for as little as $7.95 per month (around £6).If you opt for a yearly subscription, you’ll only end up paying for the equivalent of 10 months.However, before you open your wallet, there are some free games and activities to try before you start paying your subscription. There’s also a free trial available if you’re still unsure.It’s a great way for kids to learn about the breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, and quaver. This will also help them to sing better as they’ll better understand the written music in front of them.Living in South England, check out  singing lessons Brighton.Hello KidsThis is a site dedicated to children and learning. It includes fun music lessons for younger learners.  Furthermore, children can learn about the value of music notes as well as the names of the notes: DO, RÉ, MI, FA, SOL, LA, SI.We recommend that you sing the notes you see on the sheet music. This is a great way to practise music theory since it can train your ear and help you later on when you start improvising or creating your own music.Learning to read music is done by establishing the relationship between each of the seven notes and the corresponding names of them.MetronimoMetronimo is a site with a number of educational apps for learning music theory, learning to play the piano, and learning about musical instruments and classical composers.Your children won't sing perfect ly in the beginning. Give them some time. (Source: pixabay.com)While the site is aimed at children, it’s useful for any beginner regardless of their age.  You can download the music theory programmes for free, too.  They’ll help you to learn how to read musical notes in a range of different keys as well as the names of the different note: breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, etc.Check out singing lessons all over the UK.To learn keys, for example, the notes are represented by the ghosts from Pacman with four different levels of difficulty.  This can help you to remember the different notes while stimulating your visual memory before they’re eaten by Pacman!Are these music theory games too easy?  You can make things more difficult by singing the notes on the page or by playing them and testing your ear.Other Sites for Learning Music TheoryAre you bored of karaoke videos? Are karaoke apps just not cutting it? Would you like to start learning to sing seriously?Singing makes use of an instrument unlike any other, one that requires impeccable technique and a good knowledge of music theory.If you want to be able to sing, play the guitar, piano, violin, etc. you need to be able to read sheet music, understand the notes, chords, harmonies, and work on your voice to make sure you don’t hit any wrong notes.Do you dream of singing in a band? (Source: Thibault Trillet)Learning to read sheet music requires that you have a good understanding of music theory, can keep time, and reproduce the written music on your instrument of choice, including your voice. The sheet music tells you explicitly how to play the music.It’s almost impossible to become a singer or musician if you’ve never learnt anything about music theory or about the different scales: majors, minors, etc.Fortunately, thanks to the internet, there are plenty of resources on music theory.MusicTheory.netWhile music theory isn’t obligatory, it’s highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn an instrument or how to sing.Thus, the site MusicTheory.net is somewhere you should consider visiting.With plenty of different useful resources, the site also has accompanying apps if you’d like to take your lessons everywhere with you. Lessons include:The names of the notes and their position on a pianoIntervalsThe duration of notes (whole note, half note, quarter note, etc.)All manner of musical notationRanges of voices: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass.How to read sheet music.How to read different keys.Finally, the main advantage of this site is the huge variety of different resources available and the crisp and clean presentation of the information on it.If you want to become a professional musician, you need to read sheet music like you'd read a book. (Source: pixabay.com)ToneSavvyThis site (which was formerly known as eMusicTheory) includes a plethora of music theory resources for both students and teachers.  It has tonnes of resources on music theory includ ing note names, interval identification, chord building, key signatures, etc.It also includes resources for those learning to play the piano or the guitar as well as exercises for training you ear. There’s a 30 day free trial if you’re not sure. Since the site focuses on teaching music theory, it’s a little pricey for individual students.The subscriptions are as follows:$19 per month (up to 25 students)$39 per month (up to 75 students)$59 per month (up to 150 students)One Minute Music LessonThis is one of the best resources for learning more about music theory. There are lessons on:Musical notationRhythm and TempoDifferent keysTraining your earMusic quizzesThe exercises on One Minute Music Lesson are perfect for absolute beginners wanting to start learning more about music theory and all the different notes, keys, etc.  As the name obviously suggests, these lessons are short. However, that doesn’t mean they’re limited.Music theory can help bring together all the methods an d techniques you've learnt in order to compose beautiful music. (Source: www.pexels.com)TeoríaThis site includes varied resources on music theory and tutorials.  You can’t start singing an opera like Pavarotti if the word “sharp” makes you think of knives rather than semitones.This site includes plenty of tutorials, exercises, and articles on music theory and how to better understand it. There are also plenty of tutorials on reading sheet music, the different elements of music notation, and lessons on elements of music theory such as:Beat and measuresTime signatureNote valueKey signaturesHarmonic functionsTransposing instrumentsGood luck! While music theory is sometimes a bit off-putting, in a few months, you’ll know everything you need to know in order to compose your own music.You should also check out the best tools for recording your voice.

The Different Types of Musicals

The Different Types of Musicals Musicals Come in All Different Types ChaptersBook MusicalsRevue MusicalsJukebox MusicalsFilm MusicalsConcept MusicalsPop/Rock MusicalsFor a time, musicals were all the rage.Done up with lavish sets and showcasing artists’ precisely executed dance steps and powerful vocals, people couldn’t wait until the next big hit… from Singin’ in the Rain to Saturday Night Fever, these shows (and later, films) played to packed houses around the world.In fact, musicals continue to be a big box office draw whether they play out in London’s West End or on Broadway in New York City.But is every musical the same?To some extent, yes: most involve singing and they all require staging and acting. Some incorporate choreography while others rely strictly on narrative flow. Some are funny and others, like Billy Elliot, are uplifting.Tragedies and romance; drama and satire: is that all there is to musicals?Your Superprof now puts this beloved genre onstage. CarlActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Nata shaActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ElifActing Teacher 5.00 (10) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CalumActing Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChristopherActing Teacher 5.00 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielActing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CiaranActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBook Musicals Maria, from the Broadway debut of West Side Story, sings I Feel Pretty Photo by Fred Fehl, on WikipediaTo the uninitiated, a book musical must be a theatre musical that is based on a book. In a sense, they are not far from the truth; some musicals’ genesis is indeed a book.The Broadway musical Hamilton is an example of such; according to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s writer/composer, he read a biography of that American president while on holiday and designed an entire show around it.The definition of a book musical is a stage show whose production is guided by a script (the book), and accompanying music and lyrics.Theatre trivia: a show’s script is often called a libretto, Italian for ‘small book’This type of musical has several defining characteristics, one of them being that they make the audience feel something other than glee â€" that is the purpose of the comedy musical.A second important characteristic is that, generally, such a musical will contain only a few songs , usually all performed during the first act and reprised in the second act, sometimes with different phrasing and sometimes only in part.Think about The Sound of Music: do you remember the group of nuns singing about Maria in the first act? Later, during the second act, they reprised their song, albeit with less gusto and at a slower tempo.In fact, that musical is the quintessential book musical; to discover more such works, please refer to our companion article.Revue MusicalsMusical theatre trivia: this type of musical was called ‘review’ until it made its way to the US, where such performances were given the French word equivalent, ostensibly to lend them more class.Indeed, in the early days of revue musicals, they were bawdy, borderline-burlesque affairs that incorporated talent acts such as juggling, visual gags such as slapstick or mutual interference, a skit and singing.You may liken these early revue musicals to variety shows.In their heyday, their so-called Golden Age â €" the period between the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, these revues were not unlike operettas: comedic, satirical and amusing.Sadly, they faded from prominence… right when the nation needed a laugh, you might say, but they returned in the early days of television.Meanwhile, across the pond, the revue had turned into something different: a showcase of a single composer or songwriting team’ work. There is generally no storyline and no acting involved; these shows often have a narrator to give each song or song set an introduction.Production company InSeries recently staged a Gershwin Revue, consisting of brothers George and Ira’s best compositions from the stage and screen.  But that’s across the pond.The UK, the place renown for its satirical humour, has retained the essence of the revue musical. Every year, there are competitions to determine the best shows; prizes are awarded and winning troupes go on to perform at Fringe festivals around the country.Performer s for these competitions come from the most unlikely of sources… now, you’ll surely want to read our in-depth report on revue musicals! Queen's We Will Rock You premiered in London's West end to rave reviews Source: Wikipedia Credit: Carl Lendera plaintive ballad or the latest rock’n’roll hit.It was only logical that, out of such random compilations of music, an entire genre of stage musical would follow.Early jukebox musicals revolved around single artists and their body of work. Others spanned an entire musical era, say the music of the 50s or the Motown Sound.Perhaps the most renowned jukebox musical is Mamma Mia! - an entire story crafted around the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA.To an extent, ABBA owned the disco era; indeed, they remain one of the most commercially successful quartets of all time.In spite of the varying themes of their music â€" from young and carefree to more introspective, or maybe because of it, playwright Catherine Johnson crafted an engaging narrative around ABBA’s music. Choreographed by Anthony van Laast, Mamma Mia became THE hit musical of the 1990s.It also opened up the floodga tes for more such musicals.Starting in the new millennium, shows featuring music from big names in popular music started playing on Broadway stages and in London’s West End.We Will Rock You, a show featuring the music of Queen, was choreographed by Arlene Phillips with Christopher Renshaw as artistic director.Picture a time in the distant future. Everyone dresses the same, acts the same, thinks the same. Music is expressly forbidden: no guitars, no drums and no brass instruments. Rock music is unheard (of).Enter a band of Bohemians who endeavour to restore free thought and freedom of expression…WWRY, as it is known, is the 15th longest-running show in London’s West End theatre district, playing for a whopping 12 years. It has swept awards ceremonies in the UK and abroad.Like Mamma Mia, the musical that started it all, WWRY has been playing around the globe. On any given day, you can buy tickets for either of these most popular slices of musical theater.Footnote: some people in theatre circles consider the term ‘jukebox musical’ to be derogatory - incapable of being a true musical because the music is pre-existing, not written expressly for the show.Film MusicalsWhen contemplating this genre of musical, you should distinguish between the long list of Broadway shows that were made into film without all of the singing, films such as Rent that are recordings of a Broadway performance and actual film musicals.Unlike concept musicals, the next type of musical we focus on, these films weave songs into the storyline rather than make them a counterpoint to the story.Hairspray is an excellent example of a film musical.For one, music is an integral part of the storyline: Tracy Turnblad’s greatest ambition is to dance on the Corny Collins show. For all of its machinations, that show is essential to the story’s plot.Other film musicals of this millennium include:Chicago: starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, this lively show is a return to Ms Zet a-Jones’ theatre rootsLa La Land: a tribute to Old Hollywood, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone light up the screen in this Damien Chazelle productionDreamgirls: Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson show off their vocal prowess and acting chops in this film a clef by Bill CondonLes Misérables: Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe thrill as Javerre and Valjean respectivelyHugh Jackman also starred in another film musical titled The Greatest ShowmanOddly enough, while British cinema made respectable contributions to the film musical genre in the 90s â€" with titles such as Evita, Absolute Beginners and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, so far in this millennium, we’ve only seen collaborations with American studios.Naturally, not every musical film comes out of Hollywood; you may be interested in exploring Indian musical films -  Bollywood’s history of musical film is almost as long as Hollywood’s!Still, you will never believe who the greatest purveyor of musical films is…Concept MusicalsThis type of musical might seem like a bit of a misnomer; after all, aren’t all musicals born of a concept?In fact, the concept musical is a breed apart from, say, musical comedy. While the latter, as well as most musicals, seeks mainly to entertain, a concept musical intends to showcase a theme or deliver a message.West Side Story is an excellent example of a concept musical.It features music by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, and gets its inspiration from, of all places, Romeo and Juliet.While superficially, our focus is on the lovers of different backgrounds, the overall message, driven home by songs such as Somewhere and A Boy Like That, is a need to span the racial divide.By contrast, in Hair, the message is the chasm dividing social classes.Written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, with music by Galt MacDermott, this explosive story depicts a group of rebellious young adults’ antics and their much more conservative parents’ reactions.Hair was si gnificant in many ways, the main one being that it brought the hippie counterculture into the rarefied stratus of polite society, giving theatre-goers a front-row seat to the sexual revolution and the wartime demonstrations the US was undergoing at that time.Profanity-laced and much ado about drugs and promiscuity, it nevertheless garnered rave reviews and, while nominated for a Tony Award, it won a Grammy Award for its music score.It also gave birth to our next genre of musical… This cast of Hair are reviving one of the most revolutionary Broadway musicals Photo by Anthony D'Amato on WikipediaPop/Rock MusicalsHair dragged musical theatre, kicking and screaming, into the 20th century. It breached the veneer of polite society, paving the way for other not-so-genteel productions.While Hair was still riding its wave of popularity, Andrew Lloyd Webber brought Jesus Christ Superstar to the stage. This rock opera (loosely) details the life of Christ according to the Gospels. It was often labelled blasphemous by the religious right for its alleged irreverence.This show has little to no dialogue; the entire story is told through song â€" that is what distinguishes it as a rock opera rather than a musical. Nevertheless, its success, along with Hair, conclusively proved that there is room for rock’n’roll on the musical stage.Once audiences’ hunger for rock musicals was firmly declared, a creative fever descended on playwrights, musicians and lyricists alike to co me up with the next big hit.A standout among mid-80s pop/rock musical was a comedy-horror show titled Little Shop of Horrors.Inspiration for this fun show came from the low-budget 1960 film of the same name. Howard Ashman wrote the script and the song lyrics while Alan Menken tackled the score.You may be familiar with this duo’s work from Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast…Imagine a small plant, alone on a table in a forlorn flower shop. Life is hard for the shopkeeper, especially because his new plant is hungry for his blood!Add to that the blond Audrey with a disastrous fashion sense and an even worse choice of boyfriends; she doesn’t know that Seymour, the bumbling florist, would love nothing more than to take her away from their horrible life.But first, he has to deal with Audrey II…The show premiered off-Broadway in 1982 but moved to a larger venue because of the high demand for tickets.It then ran on American stages for the next five years before going on an internationa l tour, including a stopover in London’s West End.As time went on, this show’s popularity hasn’t waned; in fact, the performing troupe toured the UK as recently as 2016.Ashman won a Drama Desk Award for this show’s song lyrics while the writing duo shared many other awards and nominations â€" for this show and for many others.However, because Little Shop never ran on Broadway, it did not qualify to win a Tony Award… what a shame!As you can see, there is a musical genre for everyone, whether your tastes run to the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein or the modern composers like Lin-Manuel Miranda, who brought us Hamilton.Have you seen Hamilton yet?You don’t have to settle for one type of musical; you may feel like rock one day but prefer a classic, such as Phantom of the Opera the next.There is nothing at all wrong with that and we are very happy to provide you with a bit of background on the different types of musical theatre.Feel free to buy tickets for all the shows!

Are You Opting for Online Tutoring Some Tips that Might Help You

Are You Opting for Online Tutoring Some Tips that Might Help You 0SHARESShare Online tutoring, though convenient, can be challenging at times if students do not take it up seriously and with a disciplined mindset. Tutor Pace, however, gives you a reason to cheer up! Here are some tips for students pursuing online tutoring. These tips are surely going to help you in your endeavor: Manage your time well. Without proper time management even thirty six hours in a day won’t sound enough. Check for the timings of your online tutoring sessions and accordingly devise your day. Make a proper timed schedule and follow it strictly. Maintain balance in your life. While both school and tutoring online  sessions are important, it is wise to take out some time for relaxation. A little me-time is very essential to keep you going. Keep in touch. Communication is a very important aspect of online education. It is imperative that you constantly keep in touch with your online tutor. This will help you in getting timely assistance and you will never face any fixes. Apply these tips to your study life and witness wonders happening. [starbox id=admin]

The Most Important Discoveries in Chemistry and the Scientists that Made them

The Most Important Discoveries in Chemistry â€" and the Scientists that Made them Do you know who Discovered the Most Significant Things in Chemistry? ChaptersDiscoveries in Medicinal ChemistryChemical Inventions in Farming and FoodChemical Technologies that Changed Our LivesRadiation - A Great Scientific DiscoveryDiscoveries in chemistry have changed the way we live. The subject’s contribution to biology, medicine, engineering, and agriculture â€" amongst many other disciplines â€" has provided us with new technologies that have transformed the way we eat, communicate, and fight disease and injury. The achievements of some famous chemists cannot be overstated, as the modern world would not be recognisable without them.We have a lot to thank our scientists for. Here are a few reasons why.Fear a world without phones? You have the discoveries of chemistry to thank.Radiation - A Great Scientific DiscoveryMarie Curie is the scientist most famously associated with the discovery of radioactivity. Yet, she was part of a team of chemists and physicists who were working on x-rays, radiation, and radioactive chemicals like uranium and radi um.Radioactivity was actually discovered by Henri Becquerel, who was examining why certain materials glow in the dark. He noticed that uranium â€" something we now know to be highly radioactive â€" changed the colour of light-sensitive sheets, even when there was a paper layer between the sheet and the element. He realised that this material must have been emitting something that he could not see with his eyes.Curie’s particular contribution was to discover polonium and radium, and to give the process the name ‘radioactivity’, something that was caused by the breakdown of particular atoms. Her legacy was to put to use Becquerel’s discovery to the purpose of fighting cancer. As a chemist and physicist, she became the first â€" and she still is the only â€" person to win the Nobel Prize in two sciences.For those who want to learn more about chemistry, check out our pieces on essential chemistry equipment or basic chemistry concepts. Or, check out our guide to all things chemis try!

The Importance of Writing Skills

The Importance of Writing Skills Once the sentence-diagramming and short-essay days of grade school and high school are behind you, it can be easy to think you have all the writing foundation you need and no further perfecting is necessary especially if you choose a major in college that doesn't require extensive writing. Once you reach college, however, you may be surprised at how many non-English programs do require a great deal of writing (communications, history, and political science, to name a few). This writing may come in the form of lengthy essays, research papers, exams, projects, and proposals. Below, you will discover the key reasons writing skills are vital and just how you can enhance those skills: Proper writing skills can carry you through a variety of tasks Believe it or not, no matter what major you choose, you will at some point be required to write something. Every major will have testing in its courses some of which will be short answer or essay exams, which require well-rounded responses. This is where skills you learned in middle school come into play; the importance of structuring your essays, having a beginning, middle, and end, and utilizing proper transitions are all important. These are all elements that, whether you like it or not, follow you into your college courses, and having proper writing skills can help you make a great impression on any professor or class. [RELATED: 4 Confusing Grammar Rules Cleared Up] With confidence in your writing skills, you won't have to rely on others Hypothetical situation: The dreaded group project of the semester rolls around and youre dividing up the tasks. You see the perfect opportunity to let another student in the group take on the task of writing the paper or proposal involved. However, that person doesn't turn in what they were supposed to on time and your group is docked points. In situations like these, having confidence in your own writing can come in handy. You shouldnt compose the entire project yourself, but you will have more freedom to take a leadership role in the group to ensure everything is packaged and turned in on time. Your confidence can also allow you to provide helpful feedback to your group members as you work together to achieve your goals (after all, you shouldnt be doing the entire project yourself!). Dont forget to also openly be receptive to feedback, too another group member may feel just as confident in his or her writing and be able to exchange valuable notes with you. Less revisions = more productivity As we have established, writing some form of content will be inevitable in your college career. This means that the less you work toward building confidence in your writing, the more time you will inevitably spend editing and revising your work. If you can learn from the critiques, you will eventually be able to spend less time fixing your work and more time being productive in other aspects of your life and education. This isnt to say that revising will never be necessary, because even the strongest writers go through a few proofreads! The idea is simply to minimize the need for extra rewrites. The more you refine your skills, the closer youll be to your final product with your initial writing drafts. [RELATED: Top 10 Essay Editing Tips] Writing is a lifelong skill The skill of writing doesn't end when you graduate college. Most job fields will require some type of writing, even if that is simply your resume and cover letter to apply for the job. Whatever it may be, writing skills can make you a more well-rounded job applicant. Dont forget about the ever-so-frequent art of writing emails, as well! This comes up every day in most jobs, and being able to compose well-written emails on a whim will only help you (whereas poorly-written emails could taint your reputation). Bonus Tip: Take advantage of resources! As long as youre on campus, you might as well take advantage of the many campus resources available to you (youll miss them when you graduate!). Check out the writing center on campus or meet with your professors during their office hours. Taking initiative in either of these capacities can help you figure out where you are going wrong and steer you in the right direction. Also note that many TAs may accept rough drafts of papers (if they are delivered far enough in advance) to look over and give you guidance on, which can help you get an idea for what your final draft should look like. It is easy to simply say writing is not your skill and feel sufficient leaving it at that. The ability to properly transition paragraphs and organize thoughts on paper is something that will follow you throughout your life, not only in schooling, but in the job field as well. The good news is there are always resources, such as writing tutoring, and other ways to practice this skill so you can feel more confident in your abilities. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

GMAT Interviews Improving on GMAT Quant

GMAT Interviews Improving on GMAT Quant GMAT MBA Admissions Blog We conducted a phone interview with Holly, who worked with one of our most senior GMAT tutors, Jim, to improve her quantitative score on the GMAT. --- Return to Main Interviews Page The Student: Holly A young professional working long hours, Holly was looking to break the 700 barrier on her GMAT, with a particular focus on improving her GMAT Quant score. After doing a significant amount of research on GMAT tutors in Chicago, she settled on MyGuru due to the quality of our tutors and our boutique, customized feel (her words). The Tutor: Jim Jim has undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Physics from Cornell University and a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago. He's been a physics and math tutor in Chicago for over 15 years, and regularly does ACT, SAT, GRE, and GMAT test prep as well. His specialty is Quant, but he helps students with all sections of these tests. Results Not only did Holly break the 700 barrier, she scored a 760 - an excellent score that sets her up well for admission into the top MBA programs in the U.S. Listen to the Interview

Understanding the Common Core Standards for Math

Understanding the Common Core Standards for Math Putting the Common Core State Standards to Work The Common Core State Standards for math established a singular set of standards for kindergarten to 12th grade mathematical education in the United States. Teachers and other educational professionals across the country are working diligently to integrate these standards into their assessments, curriculum, and instruction. The ultimate goal of the standards is to ensure that when students graduate from high school they are prepared to begin a two or four year college program or enter the workforce with sound mathematical skills. The staffs at Huntington Learning Centers across the United States have also been hard at work ensuring that the Common Core State Standards for math are integrated into students' personalized tutoring plans. We understand the importance of linking mathematical tutoring to what is occurring in a student's classroom and adhering to established instructional standards. You can be assured that each tutoring plan is aligned with these educational standards and d esigned to meet your child's specific needs.There are eight standards for mathematical practice that students are expected to understand during their educational career:1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving themStudents are expected to explain the meaning of a mathematical problem and then search for ways it can be solved. The standards encourage students to critically analyze the problem, determine the form and meaning to the solution, and then devise a plan to solve the problem.2. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of othersStudents should use theorems, definitions, and established outcomes when constructing mathematical arguments. Their conclusions should be justified by using logical claims and citing examples.3. Reason abstractly and quantitativelyStudents must make sense of quantities and how they relate to one another when solving mathematical problems. Creating coherent arguments, using appropriate mathematical symbols, and utilizing operation al properties are all essential reasoning skills students should possess.4. Model with mathematicsStudents should understand math's relevance to life outside the classroom. As students get older, and mathematical skills become more complex, this standard evolves. Students need the ability to connect their in-class learning to everyday encounters and situations.5. Attend to precisionStudents are expected to communicate what they have learned effectively and concisely. Mathematical definitions and units of measure should be used to accurately and clearly explain their reasoning and problem solving.6. Use appropriate tools strategicallyThere a variety of mathematical tools available to students including math software, a protractor, a calculator, and paper and pencil. Students must be able to identify which tool will be the most helpful and then use it appropriately.7. Look for and make use of structureStudents should be able to identify patterns and mathematical structures depending o n ability and grade level standards. These mathematical structures include the commutative property of addition (3+4 is the same as 4+3) and the steps necessary to expand an algebraic equation.8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoningAs students progress through mathematical courses and acquire more knowledge and skills, they should be able to identify repeated calculations and when shortcuts can be utilized. They should always be evaluating their reasoning to determine whether they are on the right track or if an error has occurred.The professional tutors at Huntington Learning Center are adept at using these Common Core State Standards for math to create personalized and relevant instruction. As students undertake the learning presented in their math tutoring sessions they will be expected to meet the standards outlined above. These standards were designed to help students achieve at a higher level and to deeply understand mathematical practice. You can be confident that your child will be challenged to not only answer a question correctly but also to understand the reasoning behind the solution and the evidence that proves its accuracy.

How to avoid cold feet The teach abroad edition

How to avoid cold feet The teach abroad edition Feeling anxious about teaching abroad for the first time? I know the feeling, trust me. When I first made the decision to move to Australia to teach and throughout the entire application, interview and offer process, it never occurred to me to feel afraid or nervous. It wasn’t until I broke the news to friends and family, and started making concrete plans for departing, like booking flights and organizing packing, that I started to feel those first stirrings of unease. And as the day of my flight loomed closer and closer, I realized that I had officially developedcold feet. I’d traveled around to different countries before, but this felt like a whole different ball game. It struck me that I would be moving abroad - totally alone - for a significant period of time. To say I started feeling just a little nervous, right before it was time to depart, is a bit of an understatement. It’s important to remember that fear is a completely normal, human reaction to the prospect the great unknown. While it’s impossible to totally shake away all those nerves, here are a few ways to ease yourself into your new journey teaching abroad and start getting excited about your new life adventure again! Do your research The scariest part about moving abroad is facing the unfamiliar. Based on my experienceteaching English abroad on three separate occasions, one thing I’ve realized is that it’s always a good idea to plan ahead as much as possible. Google is probably going to be your main source of information, like it was for me. From informative articles (the Teach Away blog is a great starting point), to blogs written by teachers who also teaching abroad (check our blog roundup of some of our favorite bloggers teaching abroad), there’s no shortage of helpful information on what it’s like living and teaching abroad for the very first time out there. Learn about the culture There will, of course, be some social norms that are completely unfamiliar to you right off the plane. That’s why it’s worth reading up on these in advance. The more you know about your new country when you arrive, the better your transition will be. Finding out more about the customs and cultural norms of your new home will not only make you feel like less of a tourist. It will also help ease your mind and make you feel like a part of the local community. Learning a few common phrases will go a long in making you feel a little more prepared when you first arrive, too! Talk to other teachers who’ve been in your place Maybe a friend of a friend has taught abroad before and can offer some advice to help put your mind at ease. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other teachers on teach abroad forums about anything that’s worrying you, either - they’ll be more than willing to share tons of practical advice to help relieve your worries! Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Don’t let a fear of failure (or FOMO!) hold you back Moving abroad is a big decision and it’s easy to anticipate all the ways that things can go wrong. Maybe you’re worried about finances, homesickness, missing out on important occasions back home...the list goes on! It’s totally normal to start doubting yourself. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself this early on. There will be hiccups along the way, especially right at the beginning while you’re still finding your feet. Just remember, moving abroad to live is an experience and you need to treat it like one. Be open to change and ready to try new things. Turn that nervous energy into productivity You’re moving to a brand-new country with your job already organized - you won’t need to scrimp and save as much as if you were job hunting on arrival. Exciting times are coming, so it’s time to channel those nerves into planning all the fun things you want to do once you arrive at your new teaching destination. Make a list and start planning out your free time. What are your favorite hobbies? If you’re a yoga buff, a book lover or sports fanatic, for example, start researching yoga classes in the area you’ll be living or look up book clubs or sports teams you could potentially join. Moving abroad is also a great way to shake things up a little. You can even start afresh and pick up a brand-new pastime - try a cooking class or trampoline lesson - even ultimate frisbee! Finally, remember all the reasons why you wanted to start this big new life adventure in the first place. You’ve put in a lot of time and hard work to get this far, so give yourself a pat on the back and allow yourself to feel that sense of excitement and accomplishment all over again. Take it from someone who ended up going abroad to teach on three different occasions - you won’t regret it! What’s your biggest fear about teaching abroad for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!