5 Reasons Why Live Music Matters

5 Reasons Why Live Music Matters Megan L. When you think about listening to music, do earbuds and mp3s immediately come to mind? Do you mostly listen to music on the radio while traveling from one place to another? If you cant remember the last time you saw a live performance, this list is for you! Read on to find out the five most important reasons why live music matters and then make plans to see a concert soon! 1. See the Sweat Music doesnt come out of a machine, a cloud, or a search engine. People make music, and it takes a lot of energy, dedication, and commitment. If you rarely see live music, it is easy to forget how much work goes into that killer beat, sweet riff, or catchy melody. Go to a show and get close enough to see the passion, energy, and yes, sweat, that goes into making music. You will definitely walk away with a deeper appreciation for what musicians do. 2. Learn How Ever wonder how a band gets a particular sound? Do you want to learn how to be a better performer yourself? One of the best ways to learn is by watching other artists to see what they do. You might discover a cool guitar move, a way of engaging a crowd, or a combination of instruments or effects that you never thought of. 3. Share Experiences Spending time with friends or family enjoying live music is a great way to bond. Shared musical experiences will become memories that can last a lifetime. You will always remember the time your best friend took you to see your favorite band or the new artist who surprised you with their talent or their message. It also feels amazing to be completely absorbed in the music and then glance around the room to see youre surrounded by so many others who feel the same way! When you go to a concert, you are sharing your love. 4. Unplug Although it is becoming more and more common for audiences to watch performances through their smartphone cameras, attending a live music event is actually a great opportunity to unplug from your devices and enjoy the present moment. There is so much to see, hear, and feel at a performance, so dont spend your time glued to a screen. You might find that the time you spend enjoying music in the moment with your cellphone switched off refreshes your mind and gives you a new perspective on life. 5. Support Artists It has always been hard to make a living as an artist, and it is particularly difficult now that so much music is available for free online. Many musicians now make more money performing than they do from their recordings, so if there is an artist whose work moves you one of the best ways to show your support is to attend their next concert. Especially for independent artists playing in smaller venues, a supportive audience is one of the most wonderful things a musician can see. Whats your favorite concert of all time? Tell us what made it so special in the comments! -Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger Photo by Pragmagraphr 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

What are AP Through-Course Assessments

What are AP Through-Course Assessments Students enrolled in AP courses face an end-of-course assessment, testing students cumulative knowledge in a specific AP subject area. AP scores, however, are not only dependent on how well you do on your final AP exam. In some cases, they also consist of through-course assessments. If you are enrolled in an AP course, its important to understand all of the elements that will make up your AP score. So what are AP through-course assessments? Keep reading to learn more, including two examples from AP Seminar. The basics of AP through-course assessments Through-course assessments are tasks that students complete during the year (as opposed to an end-of-year exam) and that factor into your final AP score. Aside from using these assessments to calculate your final score in the course, instructors use them to determine whether you and your classmates are adequately meeting learning targets so you will be well prepared to take the AP exam at the end of the year. [RELATED: What Is the AP Capstone Program?] AP through-course assessment example #1: team projects in AP Seminar In AP Seminar, one through-course taskthe team projectmakes up 20 percent of a students final grade. Teams of three to five students select a research question and incorporate relevant concepts into two assignments: Individual research report Students use this opportunity to delve deeper into a particular aspect of their research question. They then use their findings to compose their individual research report, which is 1,200 words in length. The report should explain how the selected topic relates to the overall research question, as well as analyze, evaluate, and properly cite all sources. Team multimedia presentation and defense Teams compile all of the research gathered by their members in their individual reports and develop one or more proposed solutions to the research question. Teams analyze each students individual research to draw conclusions about possible solutions, conduct any further research needed to properly establish a solution, and craft an argument to support their findings. [RELATED: 4 Myths About AP Prep] AP through-course assessment example #2: individual projects in AP Seminar The individual portion of AP Seminars through-course assessments accounts for 35 percent of a students final grade. When developing your individual project, you will include the following tasks: Individual written argument The College Board presents students with a selection of relevant issues and prompts students to choose one to investigate further. Once a topic is identified, students must develop a research question, conduct extensive research and analysis, and sculpt a well-defined argument. This written argument must be 2,000 words in length and utilize a minimum of one source provided by the College Board. Individual multimedia presentation This portion of the individual project must be six to eight minutes in length and explain their research question conclusion. Students present evidence to support their argument and should illustrate how their findings relate to the overall context of the topic. Students present this project to their peers and instructor. Oral defense Once students have completed their multimedia presentation, their instructor will ask two questions that students must answer in order to defend their stance on the issue. Students may also face follow-up questions in order to further defend their answers. Questions regarding research reflection may relate to evidence students chose not to use, strategies chosen to gather research, and how the research question changed over time. Questions relating to extending argumentation will prompt students to discuss the real world effect their findings may have, how certain they are about their drawn conclusion, and any additional questions they found themselves addressing during research. Teachers may ask questions from the provided College Board list or utilize their own that relate to the students specific topic. [RELATED: The Ultimate Study Plan for AP Courses] How do AP through-course assessments apply to you? When taking certain AP courses, its important to remember that its not just the final exam that you must prepare for. You must also be ready to complete through-course assessments and other assignments during the year that test a variety of skills. The purpose of these tasks is to set you up for ultimate success in your AP class and college. While AP seminar courses offer through-course assessments, not all courses do. Its important to note that through-course assessments vary by AP course. Be sure to research your particular course in order to see if it incorporates through-course assessments and what those may entail. 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.

English Consonant Pronunciation Exam - with Audio

English Consonant Pronunciation Exam - with Audio How is your English pronunciation? Read the sentences below aloud and answer the questions. Then listen to the audio and decide if you sound the same as the recording. If you dont sound the same, make a note it.  All the sounds  you had difficulties with can be practiced in our intensive pronunciation courses.1. Do you approve of the prices of these apples. They are perhaps a bit steep.Q: Do you say the p in prices, perhaps, and approve with a puff of air?2.  Bobby Brown catches lobster and crab and cooks them on his boat down in the cabin.Q: Is your b in Brown rounded and your b in lobster flattened?3.  Elephants laugh and make friends easily. Offer your friendship to an elephant and shell never forget.Q: Are your upper teeth pressed against your lower lip when you say [f]?4.  Dr. Van saved the gravely ill patient who had a severe case of the flu virus.Q: Are your upper teeth pressed against your lower lip when you say [v]? And do vibrate your vocal cords?5.  Tom is a common America n name. So are Mary, Samantha, and Emily.Q: Do you hold your lips together when you say m in Tom and name?6. The twins quietly did their homework and made drawings of the wheat fields to the west.Q: Do your round your lips when you say w? And, is your w silent in the word drawings?7.  Beth is an athlete and marathon runner. To stay healthy and happy she eats three meals a day and thinks positive thoughts.Q: Do you place the tip of your tongue between your teeth when you say th?8.  My mother and father loathe northern weather. They prefer southern climates.Q: Do your vocal cords vibrate when you say th in these words?9.  When Betty returns in a fortnight, we will read the story A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.Q: Are your t sounds in Betty, returns, fortnight, and story all different?10.  The actor planted fifteen rows of vegetables in his rooftop garden.Q: Do you say the t in fifteen and rooftop with a puff of air?11. The actor planted fifteen rows of vegetables in his roofto p garden.Q: Do you say the t in fifteen and rooftop with a puff of air?12.  Trevor tried to initiate a conversation about 19th century literature.Q: Does your t sound like ch in Trevor, tried, century, and literature?*This is an advanced lesson.13.  Dr. Davis is a dedicated pediatrician from Broward County. His predictions are always true. Q: Is your d in pediatrician a quicker sound than your d in Davis and predictions?14. Andrews dream has been to receive an education in fine art and drawing.Q: Do your ds sound like js?*This is an advanced lesson.15. The United States started with thirteen small states. Today, there are fifty states spread from east to west.Q: Are all of your ss voiceless? (Voiceless means made without vibrating your vocal cords)16.  Is it possible to measure qualities such as pleasure and compassion? Q: Do you pronounce the ss in measure, qualities, and compassion differently?17. Magicians specialize in deceiving their audience. Exceptional ones succeed at it.Q: Do your cs in magicians and specialize sound like sh?18. Dozens of guests gazed at the dazzling performers as they played Brazilian jazz pieces.Q: Do your vibrate your vocal cords when you say z?19. The executive from Oxford plays the xylophone.Q: Do you pronounce each x differently?20.  Charlie Chaplin wore a mustache in his film The Champion.Q: Does your ch in mustache sound like sh?21.  Sharon took a short trip to Washington. She found shells along the shore there.Q: Is your sh a quiet, steady sound?22.  George is going to major in engineering. Hes starting college in June.Q: Do your gs and js sound the same?23.  Now, youre learning to pronounce the consonants. Practice them again and again.Q: Do you touch your gum ridge behind your upper teeth when you say n?24. Caterpillars crawl and later turn into graceful butterflies.Q: Do your round your lips a little and curl your tongue when you say r?25.  Larry is good-looking and loves to laugh. Hes likeable and pleasant to be with.Q: D oes your tongue tip press against your gum ridge or the back of your teeth when you say l?26.  Year after year, millions of people visit the Grand Canyon. Young and old enjoy the brilliant views.Q: Do your raise your tongue to an [i] position for the y and i sounds?27.  Kathy is working at the bank until six oclock. Then, shes making turkey stew for the kids.Q: Do you say the k in Kathy and kids with a puff of air?28. Victor cant come to the card party. He is scuba diving in Tuscany, Italy. Q: Do you say the c in cant, come, and card with a puff of air?29.  The queen is on a quest to find orchids to give to the monarch at Christmas time.Q: Do you say the q or ch in queen, quest, and Christmas with a puff of air?30. The goose laid bigger golden eggs. Soon the farmer got very greedy.Q: Do your vocal cords vibrate when you say g?31.  The strong young men are bringing their running times up. The strongest man is running faster and longer.Q: Do you say a hard g in strongest and longer bu t not in strong or bringing?32.  This fall, we will see beautiful red and golden hues.*Q: Do you not touch your tongue tip to your gum ridge when you say l in will, beautiful, and golden?*This is an advanced lesson.33. The guests saw how happy and healthy the heir to the throne was.Q: Do you gently let out a puff of air when you say h in how, happy and healthy?34.  These stories werent written in Latin and later forgotten.*Q: Do you pronounce the ts in boldface in your throat?*This is an advanced lesson.

Review of Key Concepts Tested on GMAT Sentence Correction Questions

Review of Key Concepts Tested on GMAT Sentence Correction Questions GMAT MBA Admissions Blog GMAT sentence correction questions are part of the verbal section of the GMAT. Anyone can dramatically improve their score by understanding what’s tested in the GMAT sentence correction section and practicing deliberately to understand why the correct answer is indeed correct and developing the ability to identify and avoid common pitfalls. The verbal section has 36 questions and usually 12-14 of them are GMAT sentence correction questions. With these questions, you are presented with a sentence, part or all of which is underlined. There are five answer choice options, and each one is a different way to replace the underlined part. The first answer is always the same as the underlined portion, but next four are different, and your task is to choose the answer choice the reflects the best way to write the sentence. What do GMAT sentence correction questions test? These types of questions test your ability to use the English language accurately, effectively, and as concisely as possible. Regarding the grammar concepts, skills, and rules you need to master, the GMAT sentence correction section tests your understanding of eight main concepts: Odd or inappropriate comparisons When trying to make comparisons in English, without intending to, writers and speakers often end up comparing things that aren’t the same and can’t be compared. Some GMAT sentence corrections ask you to re-write sentences to correct for this. For example, consider “Frank loves running more than his wife.” This sentence literally means that Frank would potentially rather be married to the act of running than to his wife. One would need to write “Frank loves running more than his wife loves running.” Many GMAT sentence correction comparison questions are much more complicated than this, but the basic idea is the same; you need tomake sure the sentence is written such that the comparison that is intended to be made is the one actually being made with the words as written. Agreement between subjects and verbs Often GMAT sentence corrections simply ask you to make sure the subject of the sentence and its verb match. This means that if the subject is singular, its verb needs to be singular, and if the subject is plural, its verb needs to be plural. And usually, the sentence will be somewhat complex, with phrases in between the subject and the verb to throw you off. For example, the sentence “students, assuming weeks of studying, succeeds on exams” has a subject of students, which is plural, and a verb, succeeds, which is singular (i.e., “he succeeds” but “they succeed”). So “succeeds” should be “succeed.” Idiom Usage Idioms are simply about understanding common ways of saying things in English. These can be tricky and frustrating for non-native speakers but are generally easier for native English speakers to work through. Examples would be that you agree “to” something, but we agree “with” someone. Or, we distinguish A from B, but we distinguish between A and B. Accuracy and consistency of verb tenses This concept is about making sure that, in general, the verb tense remains the same throughout a sentence. To use an obvious example, one might say “we were running around the track when our coach unexpectedly appeared.” But, “we were running” is something happening in the past, and so it should be “unexpectedly appeared.” Pronoun usage To correctly answer GMAT sentence correction questions that involve pronoun usage, it’s helpful to know that pronouns stand in for nouns, and those nouns are called “antecedents.” So, in the sentence “Mark left his jacket at the restaurant” the antecedent noun is Mark and the pronoun is his. In GMAT sentence correction questions, the most common issue involves the antecedent being ambiguous or unclear. So, for example, if I write that “James and Frank rode his car from San Diego to Los Angeles” it’s unclear whose car was driven by San Diego to Los Angeles. Instead, I’d need to write something like “James and Frank rode Frank’s car…” Parallelism Parallelism is about making sure related parts of your sentence “match.” You can’t write that you really enjoy playing basketball, reading, and to cook. Instead, you enjoy playing basketball, reading, and cooking. Usage of modifiers If I were to write “A hardworking, intelligent, and honest man, the bank robber was no match for the town sheriff” you’d probably notice that something didn’t seem right. The hard working, intelligent, and honest man is the town sheriff, not the bank robber. You’d need to re-write the sentence to something like “The bank robber was no match for the town sheriff, a hardworking, intelligent, and honest man.” GMAT sentence correction questions are often more complicated and confusing than this, but that’s the idea. Concision In business, one generally wants to be as simple, clear, and concise as possible because this tends to reflect higher levels of efficiency and productivity in an organization. It makes some sense then that on the GMAT, the ability to recognize unambiguous, concise, clear language is tested in the sentence correction section. For example, one might write “At the end of the day, it was still possible to accomplish every single thing.” However, it would be more concise to write “Still, it was possible to accomplish everything.” Summary Almost all GMAT sentence correction questions end up falling into one of the above categories. While it can be helpful to study some grammar rules and understand and be able to define and identify nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, etc., it’s probably more important to simply understand how these eight concepts operate within the realm of the GMAT and do a lot of practice questions to build, test, and refine your understanding.

Tips to Learn Effectively

Tips to Learn Effectively Learning is by no means an easy task. The students brain must form new neural connections. Distractions from the outside (noise, pollution, other students) or from the inside (fatigue, hunger, personal issues) limit the students ability to learn. Fortunately, by following a few tips the study and tutoring results can be greatly improved. Choose a Good Study Location Select a place where you don’t have distraction while studying. Avoid using cell phones, video games and chatting with friends since it may distract you during study hours. Select a suitable place to concentrate on your studies. Additional tip: don’t choose too noisy place or too calm set for studying. Too noisy place will totally change your attention from studies. But on the other mode too peaceful place may make you sleep. Follow Standard Guidelines or Books Referring plenty of books will make you annoyed. Therefore get necessary study materials which are more relevant and contain your syllabus. Learn the concepts clearly and make a note of doubts you come across. You can clarify it from personal tutors or classmates. Additional tip: surf through internet and get the standard and quality books. You can also get guides and notes from private tutors as well. Concentrate on the Important Subjects There are a many important subjects: math, algebra, calculus, science, physics, chemistry, biology, English, reading, writing and history. You may have difficulty in learning or understanding the concepts in any of these subjects. Therefore pay more attention to those important subjects. Additional tip: Track your progress in exams to find out the areas which you don’t understand and need help. If you are home schooled, ask for help from free tutor immediately. Set Daily Goals Prepare a daily schedule for studies. Have an overall look on subjects and concepts you learnt the previous day, before setting a daily time schedule. Have necessary time for revision also. This will make you confident to face exams without fear. Additional tip: Your daily goals should portray on both studies and how far you are strong in concepts. Therefore include regular tests in your schedule. Health Tips Health is more important to make a person think and act correctly and periodically. As a student, you defiantly need strength to learn well, understand the subject, work out problems in math etc. Here are few health tips for you: 1. Clear your mind from distractions, before getting into study. 2. Have water in between your daily tasks. 3. If you got struck up in reading books, just take few minutes break. 4. Avoid coffee or tea. 5. Appreciate yourself when you get good marks, which will boost you to move further. Best of success in your study and tutoring sessions.

5 more Math tricks to Amaze your tutor

5 more Math tricks to Amaze your tutor Numeracy in the mind its not a talent, and not a gift. It is simply knowledge of some mathematical tricks. Now you will have additional knowledge that will help you use your mental abilities a bit more efficiently. Trick #1  Tip counting. If you need to leave a 15% tip, there is a simple way to do it. Calculate 10% (divide by 10), and then add the resulting number to its half and get the answer: 15%  ?f  $25 = (10% ?f 25) + ((10% ?f 25) / 2) $2.50 + $1.25 = $3.75 Trick #2 Division by 5. Actually dividing large numbers by 5 is very simple. All you need just multiply by 2 and move the decimal point: 195 / 5 Step 1: 195 * 2 = 390 Step 2: Move the decimal point: 39.0 or just 39. 2978 / 5 Step 1: 2978 * 2 = 5956 Step 2: 595,6 Trick #3  Subtraction  from 1000. To perform subtraction of 1000 you can use this simple rule: Subtract from 9 all the numbers except the last. And the last digit subtract from 10: 1000 -648 Step 1: subtract 6  from 9 = 3 Step 2: subtract 4  from 9 = 5 Step 3: subtract 8  from 10 = 2 352 Trick #4. Fast squaring, better method: a^2 = (a-b)(a+b)+b^2 So, e.g: 291 = (291-9)(291+9) + 9^2 = 282*300+81 = 84600+81 = 84681 With a little practice, you can do this in your head. Trick #5. Calculating 10 x, where x is a non-integer. The first thing is that x can always be broken down into x = k+y, where k is an integer and y is between 0 and 1. Then, obviously, 10k+y = 10k *10y. So the question becomes how do you do 10 y where y is between 0 and 1? Well, you can figure it out using some tricks when y = 0.1, 0.2, , 0.9, and then interpolate between those. For example, say you need to get 100.3. Then 210 = 1024 ~= 103.  So 210/10 ~= 103/10 = 100.3. So 100.3 ~= 2 (correct answer is 1.99). Then knowing 100.3 makes figuring out 100.6 and 100.9 easy. Also, 100.5 is easy, because 210 ~= 103, so 25 ~= 103/2 so 25 /10 = 3.2 ~= 100.5.

5 Cheap Eats to Order for Delivery

5 Cheap Eats to Order for Delivery Image via Pexels.com Pizza is one of the most common food delivery options, especially among college students. A 2014 USDA study revealed that college-aged people have the highest reported percentages of pizza consumption in America. Pizza pies are perfect for any college activity, from binge-watching to partying to studying. They’re easy to order, vegetarian-friendly, and come in reasonable portions for low prices. Plus, pizza shops are often found near any college campus, resulting in faster delivery times. You also have options when it comes to where you buy your pizza from. Chain restaurants like Dominos or Pizza Hut have longer delivery hours, allowing you to conquer your late-night pizza cravings. But, there are also mom-and-pop pizzerias to give you that classic Italian cheesy goodness. “I prefer smaller pizza shops because the pizza is usually better, but chain restaurants are more convenient for deals and delivery times. Personally, my favorite chain restaurant is Dominos because they always have a great coupon for large pizzas,” said Albright College senior Tristan Ellis. 2. Sandwiches This is a broad category, but that’s not a bad thing! Whether they’re hot or cold, filled with veggies or lunchmeat, sandwiches are found on most restaurant menus. They’re also easily customizable, so you don’t have to pick off anything you don’t like when it gets delivered. In some restaurants, toppings don’t cost any extra or cost very little so you can add as much as you want to make your perfect sandwich. You can get as picky as you want. Sandwiches are also usually pretty filling, so if they’re big enough you can always save half of it for later. Image via Pexels.com 3. Chicken Chicken is a popular take-out dish because it comes in so many forms. You can have your chicken breaded and fried, or grilled as a healthier alternative. There are chicken patties, chicken tenders, chicken fingers, popcorn chicken, chicken fries, chicken wings, chicken nuggets… You can even have chicken shaped like dinosaurs. 30 percent of all 50 states in America prefer to order chicken for delivery, according to a 2016 survey conducted by Eater. Because chicken is so affordable and versatile, you can find it on most restaurant menus, whether it’s served on its own or incorporated into another dish. 4. Chinese food Any dish from a Chinese food restaurant is a good choice for delivery. According to Woman’s Day, some popular Chinese meals, like beef and pea pods with black bean sauce, are more expensive to make at home than to order. There are several ingredients, most of which tend to be pricey and hard to find. Your best bet is to have the meal pre-made. The Eater survey found that Asian food is the top choice for delivery in 13 states. In fact, Chinese food delivery dates back to the 1920s. Chinese food containers used to be called oyster pails, carrying any dish you can imagine. “The cartons of folded cardboard, coated on the inside, with the wire handles, veritable icons of economy, ingenuity, and simplicity, can hold everything from mu shu pork to wonton soup, retaining the dish’s heat while releasing steam,” said a New York Times article in 1997. The best part about Chinese food is the quantity you get for such low prices. “It’s cheap, so you can get a lot of food and have enough leftovers for the next couple of days,” said Kaitlyn Kirkpatrick, a senior at Albright College. 5. Tacos Image via Pexels.com GrubHub and DoorDash are incredibly useful for delivering your favorite Mexican food to your doorstep. Tacos make excellent comfort food, and now you don’t have to put any effort into getting them. Alternatively, burritos are great for delivery as well, and like Chinese food, these dishes are cheaper to order rather than to make yourself. The Taco Bell Tex-Mex lovers out there are in luck. Taco Bell now partners with DoorDash to deliver the ever-cheap, ever-tasty food to customers. Right now, the delivery service is only in a few areas. Are you one of the lucky ones? Have you decided which of these cheap eats you’re going to order for dinner? Now, here are 50 things to do while you wait for your food to be delivered.