Basics of Guitar What Should I Expect at My First Lesson

Basics of Guitar What Should I Expect at My First Lesson Suzy S. Excited about your first guitar lesson? Not sure what to expect? Read on as Goodyear, AZ teacher David A.  offers his advice on how to prepare, the basics of guitar you can expect to learn, and more!   By the time I turned nine years old, I had spent six months begging my mom and dad to get me an electric guitar. When I finally had one, I was extremely eager to play it. The problem was, I didn’t know how. However, that was all about to change, because… I was about to have my very first guitar lesson! The Big Day: The First Lesson So today’s the day… Lesson number one with a TakeLessons guitar teacher! Perhaps you are feeling both excited and a little bit nervous? First, let’s talk about what you need to bring to your lesson. In addition to bringing a positive attitude and desire to learn guitar (after all, you have been looking forward to this day, right?), it would be a good idea to bring your guitar, if you have one. If you have an electric guitar, you will generally not have to bring an amplifier (“amp” in guitar-speak) or a guitar cord, as most teachers have these available at their studios. While no two guitar studios look exactly alike, it’s a pretty safe bet that you will probably see a guitar (or perhaps 10!), amps, assorted guitar effects pedals, music stands, and other guitar-related paraphernalia. In my case, I vividly remember walking down a flight of basement stairs and entering the strange-looking yet fascinating lair of my amazing guitar teacher. Although I had seen pictures of rooms like these in music magazines, I had never seen one in person, and this was definitely a magical thrill that, to this day, I still remember with joy. What You Can Expect to Learn At your first guitar lesson, be sure to let your teacher know which guitar styles interest you. This is important, as it could ultimately affect the method in which you learn guitar. Do you want to burn up the fretboard as a rock guitarist? Do you prefer the chord and scale sophistication of jazz? Perhaps country is more your style? Or even classical? With regard to style, another aspect to consider is whether or not you will want to learn to play with a pick, fingerstyle, or perhaps both. Just keep in mind that while different guitar styles can involve a variety of teaching methods and approaches, there is still going to be the need for you, the aspiring guitarist, to learn some necessary basics of guitar, like an introduction to the fretboard. Your teacher will show you the letter names of the six guitar strings. There are guitars available with more than six strings, such as a 12-string guitar, but most people begin by playing a six-string guitar. If you bring your guitar to the lesson, you may learn about the different parts of the guitar, such as the neck, headstock, and bridge. Your teacher can also check to see that your guitar is tuned properly. On this note, if you have a guitar that has very old worn strings on it, it may be a good idea to put on new strings; your teacher can show you how to do this, or may even do it for you. Depending on the duration of your first lesson, you may learn some of the notes on the strings, or even some basic guitar chords. You can also expect to begin learning about proper fretting, picking, and strumming technique. Having Fun With Guitar The following is true: I still get a kick out of playing my guitar as much as when I was nine years old and just learning the basics of guitar. Whether you aspire to become a professional guitarist or play for a hobby, learning the guitar should be a fun and rewarding experience that you can enjoy for years to come. While learning the guitar does involve acquiring skills in technique and some music theory, with the right positive attitude and willingness to learn, you too can become an accomplished guitarist in your own right. It all starts with that first guitar lesson! David A. teaches guitar, piano, singing, songwriting, and more in Goodyear, AZ. He has  performed in numerous and varied musical situations, including with The University of Maryland Jazz Orchestra and the Pavement Chasers Tribute to Adele. He currently performs as a freelance keyboardist and guitarist in the Phoenix metro area.    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  jrsnchzhrs

Online Biology Tutor For Targeting Excellent Grades

Online Biology Tutor For Targeting Excellent Grades 0SHARESShare Biology is a Life Science that discusses the principles of life in its natural set up. Learning Biology could be stressful if you have improper study methods and disorganized learning habits. Try an online Biology tutor once and find the change in your attitude for Biology learning. Well, Biology holds a strong place in facilitating other subject learning as well. It has good connectivity with Chemistry and has its ideas sprinkled in medical field and its modern research areas. Having a good knowledge of biological theories and concepts boosts your personal hygiene, medical awareness and health consciousness. As a matter of course, Biology explores various topics as it is related to life of living beings in general and thus needs detailed learning patterns and specific skills to get through its difficult phases. Try an online Biology tutor- Gear up your Grades The problem with Biology is its terminology. You need to memorize a lot or remember short cuts for names. Even then you miss in the right moment in the test and you could not cram also. First thing in Biology is to learn the general matter  in a chapter as you need to make out what is the essence of the chapter. Then, you need to go in detail for specific concepts and ideas and learn them in their context. One more thing about Biology learning is the lab work and its intricacies. Once you are clear about the day’s work in lab and are able to accomplish it without any confusion, your grades go higher, your knowledge in the subject gets improved and you too feel satisfied and happy to have experienced a hands on experience through successful experimentation in lab. All these need proper guidance, real life examples, unique strategies and a grasp of specific subject skills â€"all these are attainable, once you come into contact with an online Biology tutor who knows what to instruct, how to carry on with your aptitude for the subject and how to redeem your faults. Learning Biology with an online Biology tutor could be wholesome for the benefits it brings forth and it would be more when you connect to Tutor Pace for seeking help in Biology. [starbox id=admin]

How to Prevent Procrastination

How to Prevent Procrastination Procrastinationit happens to the best of us. Even though the deadline for an upcoming project, test, or assignment is looming, you still find yourself watching Friends reruns on Netflix or scrolling through Twitter. Once the deadline arrives, youve scrambled to turn something in on time. Why didnt you just start sooner?Don't let procrastination take over your life. There are small steps you can take to prevent this pesky habit and get your work back on track. Find a study space You may procrastinate because you dont have a clean, quiet space dedicated to studying. You aren't going to be very productive if you're lying in your bed with your TV on. Your bedroom should be used for sleeping and relaxingnot taking an ACT practice test. Instead, find a different study spaceat the library or even at your favorite coffee shopor create a good study environment at home. Limit distractions by turning off your electronics, and consider wearing earplugs if the space tends to be noisy, like a student center or Starbucks. Find a study buddy There are many benefits to group study. Sometimes the best way to get work done is to find someone or a group of people who can inspire or support you. Do you have a friend or classmate who always seems to meet deadlines? Ask that person if you can be his or her study buddy. In addition to teaching you strong study habits, having company when studying can be that extra push you need to crush procrastination. Reward yourself for meeting deadlines Another way you can avoid procrastination is to reward yourself. Set study or academic goals that are tied to a reward, such as a night at the movie theater or studying abroad over winter break. For example, make a commitment that youll read 100 pages of your textbook before you head out to meet your friends for dinner. The key here is to stick with your plan, and only reward yourself if you actually meet your deadline. Receiving positive reinforcement after completing work can keep you motivated. Make your work more manageable The key to dealing with deadlines is to break up your work into more manageable pieces. For example, if you know you have a 20-page paper due in a week days, set small deadlines every two days to ensure youre working on the paper throughout the week, rather than spending an all-nighter finishing it in time. The first deadline could be to finish all of the research components. The next deadline could be to write at least six pages of the paper. Before you know it, your 20-page paper just got a whole lot easier. If you can, set a deadline to finish your paper a day or so before the actual deadline, just in case you need to make any last-minute adjustments. This tactic will only work if you actually follow your deadlines, so treat them as you would any deadline put in place by a professor. Follow these small tips to prevent procrastination and take control over your academic life. If you ever find yourself faltering, try to remember how you felt the last time you were rushed to complete a project or assignment. You can beat procrastination if you put your mind to it and stick with it.

How To Succeed On The Essay Portion Of The SAT

How To Succeed On The Essay Portion Of The SAT The SAT writing section is unique in that it is the only part of the test that is graded subjectively. It is a 25 minute section where you are presented with a prompt (could be a quote by someone famous) and an assignment (a question about the prompt or a guideline to follow for the essay). The instructions are simple write an essay. There is no preferred format or technical direction to follow which gives the test taker flexibility in their writing. The important instructions are outlined at the beginning of the section: Develop a point of view on an issue presented in the excerpt Support your point of view using reasoning and examples from your reading, studies, experience or observations Follow the conventions of standard written English [RELATED: What Does SAT Stand For?] There are a few different ways to approach this part of the test but an effective and proven strategy is to prewrite the essay. This may sound illogical since you do not get the prompt or assignment before the test; but you can still be prepared. Having 2 or 3 paragraphs ready to go can put you in a stronger position on test day. You know from the instructions that in order to support a point you are making you will be drawing on your own life experience. Think back on poignant moments something that stuck with you. It could be a lesson learned from a teacher or a volunteer opportunity you took part in or a time you and your team beat a rival. But again, you may ask if I dont know the question, how can I give the answer? The strategy here is transition sentences. If you volunteered at a middle school and helped a child learn how to read, you can cater this to many different topics: Charity, education, children are the future, relationships, overcoming adversity, inspirational moments, a time you were challenged, poverty in the inner city, economic disparity, etc. And once you have the transition sentence, you can dive right back into your previously written paragraph. Another benefit of prewriting the essay is that it will give you a chance to show off your vocabulary. In your preparation, try to pepper in SAT caliber vocab words to show the graders that you have a command of these words and are able to use them correctly and comfortably. This will give you a chance to improve your language skills and review your sentences with a teacher or tutor to make sure they are as strong as possible. This way on test day, even if you have to tweak your paragraphs a little to fit into the subject, you will still have 3-4 strong sentences which will be guaranteed to impress the graders. Practice writing these paragraphs over and over. Not only will this help you memorize and ingrain the material into your mind, but handwriting is important. If the graders cannot read what you write, it is hard for them to evaluate it properly. Finally, with a prewritten essay, you are able to come into the test more relaxed. Once you read the prompt, you will not be searching you brain for examples or stressing about having enough material to cite. When you sit down, take a minute or two to draw up a quick outline so you can refer back to it and know where you want the direction of the essay to go. (This is a good idea no matter if you choose to prewrite the essay or not). Then, once you are ready, you will already have some examples and experiences at your fingertips and will be ready to write.

Are Online Tutoring Sessions Worth Buying

Are Online Tutoring Sessions Worth Buying 0SHARESShare Online tutoring is a new way of tutoring for students who need help and support on any subject in a short span of time. It is very simple and easy to access works like ready reckon help. It is safe, flexible and interesting where a student can learn any time right from home. It is available computer and an internet connection. Often, online tutoring websites let students choose their own subject, topic and tutor guide them. It offers several positive elements that make online learning beneficial for the younger generation. According to research, online tutoring brings a remarkable change in learning as a lot of students have shown an increase in their performance by using this innovative tutoring technique. Online tutors and their teaching methodologies work towards improving the students ability and problem solving skills. Online learning is very interesting which improves the students perception towards any subject. Besides, traditional way of tutoring, homework help, assignment assistance and last minute test preparation help are useful options offered by online tutoring proves very beneficial. Students can take homework, assignment and test preparation assistance for any subjects and any grades. The tutors give step-by-step explanations that not only provide extra help to master the concepts but help them to develop problem solving skills. The students are encouraged and motivated by better understanding of subjects and comfortably overcoming their problems with personalized one-to-one unlimited tutoring. A lot of students seek Math tutor online who can help them work out daily homework, difficult problem solving and test preparation. Science, English online tutoring are other primitive subjects for which student seeks assistance in preparing answers to the questions, essay and composition writing, etc. Online tutoring is worth buying and everyone should definitely take this opportunity to improve academic career. [starbox id=admin]

8 Facts to Know about SAT Changes

8 Facts to Know about SAT Changes 8 Facts to Know about SAT Changes As you may or may not have heard, the College Board recently announced that substantial changes will be made to the SAT, effective spring 2016. These changes are meant to better accommodate what students will need to know in post-high-school life, for both college and their future careers. The new test will shift the focus to analytic thinking and will be more aligned with what is learned in the classroom. This is a big point of interest for students in junior high and early high school, as the rules they are currently familiar with are now changing. Here are the new rules parents and students will most need to know. The test is reverting to the old scoring scale. While the current SAT is scored on a 2400-point scale, the College Board has decided to return to the 1600-point scale that was used in 2004 and earlier. The essay score will be separate from the math, reading, and writing sections of the test. Essay will be optional. Speaking of the essay being scored separately, students will now be given the option to forgo this section altogether. There will not be point deductions for wrong answers. Formerly, students were encouraged to leave answers blank if they didn't know the answer, since wrong responses resulted in of a point being subtracted from their scores. On the new test, students are encouraged to use their deductive reasoning skills to choose the most logical answer with no penalty for guessing incorrectly. Vocabulary will be more 'real world.' It's currently not uncommon to see antiquated vocabulary sprinkled throughout the reading and writing sections of the exam. Archaic words will no longer be prominent in the test, giving way to more useful and modern, though still challenging, vocabulary. The focus on the math section will be narrower. There will be a smaller range of subjects on the math portion which will emphasize equations, functions, ratios, and other types of math that may be applicable to everyday life. The use of calculators will only be permitted on specified parts of the test. Relevant mathematic formulas will still be supplied to students at the beginning of the test, but don't ditch your algebra tutor just yet. In keeping with the shifted focus on the math portion, calculators will only be allowed for use during certain parts of the test. The reading and writing section will look for evidence-supported answers. In order to get high scores on the reading and writing sections, students will need to provide ample supporting facts in order to demonstrate their interpreting and analyzing skills. Each passage that students must read will be accompanied by a question asking them to select a quote from the text that best supports their response to the preceding question. For the reading section, texts will be chosen more wisely. Rather than choosing passages from old, classic novels and short stories, the excerpts will be taken from multidisciplinary texts such as the Declaration of Independence and other widely-read documents. What are your thoughts on the new SAT tests? How should students adapt their study habits?

Helping Your Child Start the New Year Right

Helping Your Child Start the New Year Right One of the best things about starting a brand-new year is the pervasive feeling of a fresh, new beginning. For children who have experienced a bumpy start to the school year and adopted a negative attitude as a result, the new year is also an opportunity to hit the reset button and change the attitude. Here are several tips on how to help your child start 2020 off right: Get to the root of the problem(s). Maybe your child has had a difficult time in one class. Maybe he or she doesnt see eye to eye with some teachers. Or perhaps a subject that went well last year has suddenly become difficult this school year. Start off the year with an open and honest conversation with your child. Resist any judgment and simply listen. Knowing what has led to your childs feelings of frustration and negativity will help you develop a 2020 action plan that you both feel good about. Set goals or revisit goals set earlier in the year. The goal-setting process is valuable in so many ways. It encourages students to think about things they would like to accomplish in the remainder of the school year, and it helps renew their motivation. Sit down together to review any goals your child set at the start of the school year to see how he or she is progressing. Adjust them as needed and discuss how your child will take steps in the coming weeks and months. Reflect on achievements last year. If the start of the school year has been a little rough, its understandable why your child might feel down or negative. Point out your childs strengths. Talk about a few of the high points of the first semester of the school year (and even the end last school year). Even small successes are worth noting. Refresh your childs perspective. A recent report card with across-the-board bad grades is certainly grounds for concern, but it isnt the end of the worldand it certainly isnt a problem that cannot be fixed. Remind your child that talking about these issues and making a plan to correct them is the first step toward turning things around. Instill resilience in your child. In school (as in life), problems arise all the time. The more you can teach your child to learn and grow from difficult times, the stronger your child will become. Remind your child that when confronted with challenges, he or she should take a deep breath, believe in him or herself, and persevere. That grit is a trait that will serve your child well in life. Lastly, it is important that you have a good attitude about school as well. Your child witnesses how you react to and talk about school, and it rubs off. If your child is struggling, he or she likely feels worse about the situation than you do. Be positive, action-oriented, and most of all, supportive. Let your child know that education is important but his or her well-being is even more important. Together, youll make this year a great one. Huntington is here to help your child achieve his or her best and regain that self-esteem. Call 1-800 CAN LEARN to talk about how we can help your child make this year his or her best one yet.

5 Reasons to Play Sports over the Summer

5 Reasons to Play Sports over the Summer Orange County Summer Tutor Tips: 5 Reasons to Play Sports over the Summer Organized sports activities are a huge part of many childrens upbringing. However, the sports season can get to be overwhelming for some students when combined with academic responsibilities and increased homework assignments. If this is the case, summer can be a great time for kids to participate in sports and athletic activities. In fact, students who are not a fan of organized sports can still benefit from more independent forms of physical activity. In order to receive an overall well-rounded education, its a good idea for kids to learn about health and fitness to keep their body feeling well in addition to keeping their mind sharp through academics. 1. Socialization and teamwork Organized sports provide an excellent opportunity to develop essential social skills such as teamwork. The majority of the academic year is focused on individual achievements thus summer sports activities are a great opportunity to learn the value of contributing to a team. Depending on the child’s age and athletic goals, sports activities are ranging from fun and lightly competitive recreational leagues and camps to highly competitive regional sports teams. Summer is also a great opportunity for kids to try out different organized sports to see which ones they enjoy the most. Many sports camps are only one week long and can offer children a variety of choices (READ: 10 Reasons You Need a Summer Tutor). 2. Self-esteem The academic year requires kids to be very competitive if they are going to succeed, especially as they grow older and get closer to college applications. Childrens sports teams are also competitive, but they provide coaching that helps players track improvement and focus on personal goals as well as playing a valuable role as part of a team. Children who gain athletic ability will often be able to enhance their self-esteem and make growing up a little bit easier. 3. Fitness and nutrition Knowing about health, fitness, and nutritious eating habits is also part of a well-rounded education. When children play sports over the summer, they learn about what types of foods can fuel their body and give them more energy and which foods just make them more tired. Kids can also learn about athletics through kinesthetic learning and coordination, which can help their overall fitness and keep them healthy through their teenage years (READ: Irvine Summer Tutor Tips: 5 Ways to Transition to Summer). 4. Problem solving Problem-solving is also a valuable aspect of playing sports, whether in an organized league or a casual neighborhood game. There are tons of variables that need to be addressed when it comes to focusing on a goal of beating another team or learning how to cope when a player is out sick. When children learn to problem-solve as a group or with the help of a coach they learn valuable skills that can be used in a classroom setting as well as in life in general. 5. Making a commitment Choosing a sport to play over the summer also helps children learn about the importance of making and keeping a commitment. If children can choose which sport or athletic endeavor they want to participate in they have a little bit of choice over their schedule and can learn that sometimes it’s a challenge to keep a commitment even to something fun. Learning to prioritize multiple activities (especially for older students who need to multitask) is an important part of growing up and learning to thrive during challenging periods. The summer is an ideal amount of time to commit to something because, if kids end up choosing an activity they dont enjoy, the commitment will only go on for a couple of months at most. Did you know that you can have fun, play sports, AND catch up on academics during the summer? Our private Orange County summer tutors work with your schedule so you can enjoy your summer break. Call us today to learn more! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.