Gannon Tutoring: An Excellent Choice For the Student in All of Us

Gannon Tutoring: An Excellent Choice For the Student in All of UsWhether you are interested in participating in a Gannon Tutoring program, or simply want to evaluate how well the Gannon school is doing in producing college-ready students, Gannon tutoring is certainly one of the most legitimate ways to get involved. Because most schools actually use Gannon tutors on a regular basis, they can give some pretty high quality feedback to the student, and a lot of them come highly recommended. Not all schools that work with Gannon do so for a year, so you'll need to learn more about the school's details before you make your decision.If you're one of the many people who have inquired about Gannon tutoring or are currently enrolled in a Gannon program, you will likely be given a choice between the new and the old. The new tutoring option is actually somewhat more expensive but does not require as much time on your part. The new option consists of an online course, which you may be able to fin ish in just a few weeks or so.A course you complete through Gannon allows you to attend a customized online tutoring session with your tutor. The tutor then moves onto another topic, if you wish, and leads your discussions with your classmates. The basic concept of the program is that the instructor and student have similar expectations and are working toward the same goal. You will therefore learn from the very start what it means to be successful in college, and how you can provide yourself with the opportunity to get into your desired field.Students who complete the course will be awarded a Gannon diploma, which they will need to sit for, and to complete. Gannon does require its students to pass a multiple-choice test in order to earn their diplomas, but the simple fact of the matter is that these students will likely be those that are the most interested in attending a Gannon university and taking the first step toward becoming a college-bound professional. You can take one of t he online courses for as little as ten dollars per session, or you can choose to pay for additional tutoring sessions with the option of completing them all on your own time.Depending on how much time you spend on the internet, you may find that a course through Gannon would be too easy for you, or would simply not be worth the investment of your time. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time on the internet in order to find online Gannon tutoring, however.Most online tutoring services will include two sessions that you can complete online together, and in this way, you will quickly be able to see just how effective the system is. The classes are always self-paced, so that you can complete them whenever you can. Gannon's tutors are experts at their jobs, and the classes will be extremely personalized for you, allowing you to provide detailed feedback and answers, ensuring that you are learning at a pace that will suit you best.If you want to keep up with the trends in education, o r if you're interested in obtaining some online education on your own schedule, choosing Gannon tutoring is definitely the right choice. You'll get a lot of important information on your first visit, and at the end of your first session, you'll be able to pass a simple multiple-choice test, allowing you to earn your Gannon diploma!

How to Make the Most of Your High School Orientation

How to Make the Most of Your High School Orientation The start of high school is often accompanied by apprehension, excitement, and plenty of questions. Luckily, high school orientation is a great opportunity for students to learn all there is to know about available extracurriculars, where classes are located, and what to expect during the first few weeks of the year. When looking to make the most of your high school orientation, review the days schedule, interact with other students, and ensure you bring any necessary items. Hoping to start the school year off on the right foot? Keep reading to learn how to make the most of your high school orientation. High school orientation tip #1: prepare the evening before A bit of preparation the evening before high school orientation can help to calm your nerves and provide you with an idea of whats to come. Most high schools will give you an orientation schedule, for example. Its always helpful to be aware of any activities or tasks that will occur during the day, such as getting your school ID picture taken. You might also have to bring some materials with youset those out the night before so you dont forget them in the morning. [RELATED: 4 Things to Know Before Starting High School] High school orientation tip #2: tackle logistics High school orientation is a great opportunity to take care of several key tasks, such as: Obtaining your fall class schedule Getting your student ID card Scoping out the location of your classes and locker Setting up a school email address Remember, teachers and faculty members are there to help you get settled so you can do your best academically. Ask them questions if you have them. Note that the people in the main office are usually very eager to help new students. High school orientation tip #3: review your schedule Take time during high school orientation to check out your schedule and note the room numbers of your classes. Then, take some time to tour the campus and find out where your classrooms are, especially in relation to your locker. Be sure to place your class schedule in an easily accessible place, such as your locker or the inside of a binder. This all can help you feel less nervous during your first week of school as youre figuring everything out. Also locate other important school areas, such as the cafeteria, library, and gym. [RELATED: How to Maximize Your High School Extracurriculars] High school orientation tip #4: interact with other students If you dont know anyone, its a great idea to start a conversation with someone new. Its not as scary as it seemsit can be as simple as asking a question about your new high school or what classes theyre taking. Additionally, many high schools will have older students working at the orientationask them any questions you may have or advice they have for you in your first week. [RELATED: 5 Qualities of Outstanding High School Leaders] High school orientation tip #5: stay positive Orientation can be nerve-racking, especially in a new school with a plethora of new students. However, remembering that everyone else is new as well can be helpful. Everyone is feeling just as nervous as you, even if you cant tell. Having a positive attitude can open you up to learning exciting things about your new school and making new friends. Its going to be a great year, and this orientation will help you learn everything your school has to offer. 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.

Online Tutors Brings in New Service of Online College Algebra Help

Online Tutors Brings in New Service of Online College Algebra Help Every day we learn something new and every new things that we learn drags us to something better experience in life. Since the time of our school we always go on learning something new and this learning experience is never doomed. While in school we learn a lot of subjects. These subjects help in building up the base of a student and also help in constructing a better future for a student. During our school time we make are encircled with various subjects whom we have to study and learn, but as we grow older the number of subjects decrease and each subject comes up with a depth in it. We have to thoroughly read and know the subject for better learning. At the time when we enter college we are only left with one subject as we have to choose one subject among the other subjects and this subject becomes our destination. Further studies are conducted with this subject as the base. Every student takes up their favorite subject for further studies as they know that they can succeed through the help of this subject in near future. Each subject is different from the other and each subject is treated in a different way by the teacher as well as by the students. Algebra is a subject that is a part of mathematics and revolves around equations and formulas. For many students it can be a tough subject and for many it can be an interesting and a subject to work for. It totally depends on how a student is capable of making the subject get fully utilized. Private tuitions are very necessary as it helps a student to survive with the subject effortlessly. But with time private tuitions are also becoming small classrooms where the teachers gather up many students at a time and teach them leading to no extra effort and attention to any student. Smart and intelligent student can cope up with the subject but for the weak students it becomes very difficult as among so many stude nts they cannot open up completely. The weak students are the sufferers as they are out of reach to many teachers. But with the advent of new technology and some brand new ways through which learning and teaching became possible easily. It is the online way to teach. Online teaching can be a good way through which every student will get justified approach from the teachers. Every student can come up with their problems and also ways through which the problems can be solved. Teachers are found to be many in an online institute of teaching or learning. Today every subject is entertained by the online tutors and this brings in more clarity in the minds of the student. One such subject that is more availed by students of the recent timing is algebra. Algebra is a subject that requires a lot of efficiency from the teacher’s end to make an impressive mark on the student. It is a tough subject and also an interesting subject revolving around various equations and theories. Remembering those formulas is a hard work, but good teachers bring in those formulas to the students in a new manner and also in an easier process as well. Advantages of online teaching process Online college algebra help is the term that we use for the service. This makes every student to encounter some new way to cope up brilliantly with the subject. The teachers are efficient enough for every student to know more about the subject. The quality based teachers are only appointed for the subject so that they can give a clean idea about the subject to the weak students. The good teachers teach the subject in a structured manner. They first try to detect the weak points of a student and then they work on it profusely to make the student approach with the subject in a better way for them to grasp the subject faster and better. The teaching session does not have any time limit and thus it is a big tension free zone for the students. They do not have to work on thinking about what will happen when the teacher will not be beside them. Online teachers are available always all round the clock and throughout the year. The students can sit for the classes anytime they want and anytime they have their comfortable time. The entire session of class is conducted through the help of various online ways as tele conferencing, video conferencing and via online chats. This saves time of a student and also the energy is also consumed as they do not have to move about here and there to attend the tuition classes. Each student is attended by every teacher and thus every single child is given the same kind of attention that is deserved by them. It is a one on one way of learning in each student is attended by the single teacher so that you can get the best out of it. The teachers are always available and thus this is the reason that a student develops a kind of self confidence in the inner soul of a student. A little about TutorPace These facilities will help your attention to be grabbed and will land you in getting what you want. The online tutoring  process is the new and the easy way for any student, any teacher and for a parent also as it brings in the convenient way through which you can easily access the tuition classes without wasting your time and energy. TutorPace is an online teaching institute that will help you to get the best service and that also at a very cheap rate. The quality of teachers is good and this helps in bringing the students much more nearer to the institute. For more information you can easily view their site and know what do they really want and to how much extent. You will get a fair idea about every single detail.

Free Tutoring Associations in the UK

Free Tutoring Associations in the UK Free Opportunities for Disadvantaged Students ChaptersWhy Take Private Lessons From Educational Associations?Homework Help in Local LibrariesFree Tutoring Opportunities for Disadvantaged StudentsAdvantages for Autistic StudentsWhat Is More Effective: Homework Help At Schools and Libraries or at Home?Alternatives to Traditional Free TutoringToday, tutoring can take on many forms:One-on-one tutoring with a teacherAfter-school homework help   at tutoring centres, either in study groups or aloneTutoring in an online classroomEducation blogs that prep you on exam questionsMost of these formats are paying and can often be rather expensive.But there is a solution: government and private foundations offering free tutoring services.Whether in cities or in villages, various associations offer homework help and academic support for struggling students in and outside the classroom.Volunteers sacrifice several hours of their time each week to help schoolchildren and A-Level students succeed.Here are some of the opportunities offered in Brita in for free private tutoring. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free !Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Take Private Lessons From Educational Associations?The easiest free tutoring is studying alone.With the age of Internet and sites offering an online writing lab, free online tutoring in science and engineering, maths or history, you might not consider private lessons or lessons in a learning community straight away. Especially since such online tutoring services can’t be beaten for flexibility and accessibility.However, free math tutoring online can be insufficient, while lessons with a tutor through an app such as YUP or TutorMe pricing can be expensive.Additional ly, it can be difficult to advance when there is no-one in front of you to correct your mistakes and, even more importantly, explain why you are wrong and offer strategies to improve your learning process.One-on-one or small-group tutoring is the best way to advance and make progress. Photo credit: US Department of Education on VisualHuntTaking private lessons through a tutoring program can let you:Get free lessons from interested volunteersImprove your reading skillsReview your lessons one more time to make sure you understand themUnderstand your errors and work on correcting themAsk any questions you didn’t dare ask in class or that have come up since thenWork on your study skills to eventually achieve academic success on your own.These associations provide documentation, manuals and audiovisual materials such as textbooks, audiobooks, ebooks or exercise sheets.Everything is generally free. A few organisations ask for a registration fee, but it’s usually not very much. It is m ostly symbolical and lets you participate in all their activities and pays for photocopies. In some, you will have to pay for materials (notebooks and pens and such) and books, others will supply everything. So make sure you browse through online testimonials before making your first appointment so you know what to expect.Did you know you could also take advantage of free online tutoring resources?Homework Help in Local LibrariesIn many libraries in the UK, it is possible to sign up for afterschool homework tutoring. Homework Help Sessions (such as here in Nottingham) offer free resources such as computers with free Internet accessibility, pens, paper, calculators etc. - ideal for children from low-income  or otherwise disadvantaged households. They also have volunteer tutors eager to answer your questions about integral equations, give you encouragement and help with study strategies and career exploration.Some libraries offer homework help sessions. Photo credit: jakemohan on Visu al HuntYou can usually find the library locations offering after-school tutoring and learning programs on the local council website, search for “library homework help sessions” online or use the search at gov.uk. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFree Tutoring Opportunities for Disadvantaged StudentsBut as wonderful as it is to see people volunteering for library homework help sessions, the tutors there will sometimes be dealing with several students at once. If it’s just a case of making sure homework is done properly and answering a few questions about the exercises or lesson, a group tutoring program is fine. But if your chi ld has real difficulties - such as a learning disability - whether it be in calculus 1 or history or geography lessons, one-on-one tutoring is the best answer.While there is no official government programme, Britain’s educational system works with several associations to offer help to disadvantaged teens and elementary school children. Some have their own learning centre while others have an outreach program in the schools themselves.TutorFairTutorFair works with a number of schools in the UK. They provide in-class tutoring, with tutors working directly with teachers to identify students most in need of encouragement and make a tuition plan to help them progress. They also offer small-group lessons with two or three students, taking place either at lunchtime or after school.Additionally, they provide texting-based tuition. A new GCSE maths program allows students to communicate with tutors on-demand via instant messenger.To receive their qualifications, tutors have to provide a DB S check and receive child protection training.The Access ProjectThe Access Project also partners with schools to provide support on-site at GCSE and A-Levels. Tutors work one-on-one with the child in weekly sessions and stay in contact with the student’s teacher to track vulnerable subjects and their progress.They also offer mentoring for applications and interviews to undergraduate courses at college and higher education courses.Some tutoring programs offer help with applications to universities and other centres of higher learning. Photo credit: pcgn7 on VisualHuntAction TutoringAction Tutoring offers in-school tutoring in reading and writing as well as mathematics as an after-school program (no summer tutoring). They supply workbooks and work either one-to-one or one-to-two, with an average of ten tutors per after-school tutoring program. Qualified teachers have completed a training program and DBS check.LanguageFuturesLanguage Futures concentrate on helping students learning a second language at primary and secondary levels. Their scope is a little wider, providing not only support for students in difficulty but also More Able, Gifted and Talented students. They partner with schools to broaden the opportunities for language learning and help students stay motivated and reinforce independent study skills.Are free tutoring websites effective without the benefit of a one to one tutor's guidance?Advantages for Autistic StudentsWhile it is generally considered healthy for students on the autistic spectrum to learn alongside non-autistic students, the daily routine of school and homework and interpersonal relationships can be very challenging to someone with autism or other social disabilities.Brain in Hand is a combination app/support system. The smartphone app offers a calendar function with reminders about upcoming tasks and how long they are estimated to take. It will remind the child of upcoming deadlines and any changes in its daily routine. This gives t he child a greater sense of security because they always know what is coming up next.But in addition to daily task reminders, the app also provides the child with coping strategies. When they are confronted with a stressful situation, they can look on their phone and find reminders on how to stay calm, what questions to ask to get the answers they need to centre themselves.And if that doesn’t work, the student can press an “emergency red button” that puts them in touch with someone at the National Autistic Society.Reminders can be inputted by parents and teachers with official access to the app.There are several planning apps for autistic children out there, but Brain in Hand offers an impressive support structure for the pupil and school.Discover how to make the most of the free tutoring apps available to every student...What Is More Effective: Homework Help At Schools and Libraries or at Home?Associations with their own rooms or a tutoring center will have access to games, c omputers and other equipment. However, from a psychological point of view, it is generally a better idea for teachers to help out at the student’s home.The idea is not to do housework or cook dinner but to avoid wasting too much time travelling to and from school, tutoring and home. Having an educator come to their home means that the student isn’t taken out of their comfort zone - often useful when the student has learning disabilities.Students are often less apt to play tough and pretend to know more than they do when they aren’t in unfamiliar surroundings.One-on-one tutoring is the best way to improve grades and study practices. Photo credit: US Department of Education on Visual HuntHowever, in some cases, a bad family situation will make it easier for some students to learn outside of the home, and some students with other types of learning disabilities might profit from props and games that are not necessarily portable.Home tutoring is generally the better option, but it is important to tailor free math tutoring (or tutoring in any other subject) to the needs of each child. An individualized learning curriculum also means adapting in terms of physical places for lessons or even organising an online tutor session via Skype. A school counselor can help figure out which strategy is best.Alternatives to Traditional Free TutoringSome associations seek to improve their activities and take them to the next level. Not content to help students with their numeracy or improve in their second language at home, some have expanded beyond home tutoring.Long-distance tutoring can take several forms. There are two main ones:Online tutoringTutoring by mail.If the pedagogical basis is sound, they can give a good working ethic, adapted to school rhythms, with excellent resources for algebra, physics or chemistry.Long-distance learning is old, but the Internet has definitely changed the game. An online learning academy is particularly attractive to teens. They can even include video conferences with a live math tutor or chemistry tutor and several friends. Without having to factor in travel time, scheduling just became a lot easier!Now find out where you can turn for free tutoring in the UK!

Avail High School Calculus Tutors To Approach Calculus Exam With More Confidence

Avail High School Calculus Tutors To Approach Calculus Exam With More Confidence Calculus is deemed as one of the toughest branches of Math and it is also felt that those who are gifted with a special brain for Math have the courage to choose Calculus courses. Those who choose it also find it brain storming many a time for the problems it shows forth and the mental exercises it demands. Many students find it excruciating, if they do not hold good fundamental knowledge in Algebra and Trigonometry. Still, taking high school Calculus and acing the subject is the gateway for college Calculus and many advanced Math courses. What you need to know about Calculus? To define in very simple terms, Calculus is the study of change. It has two main branches, Differential Calculus and Integral Calculus. To excel in Calculus, you need the skills of Algebra and Trigonometry. High school Calculus topics are Limits, Derivatives, Integrals and Applications of Derivatives etc. Students find these topics and other ones in Calculus tough, if they do not follow their classes regularly or are not motivated to do Calculus. Let us see one question on Inverse Functions with solution now Prove that the inverse of an invertible odd function is also an odd function. Solution: Start with the property of f and its inverse f -1f ( f -1(x)) = x Change the right side x of the above equation to (-x) and writef ( f -1(x)) = ( x) Again change x in the above equation to f ( f -1( x)) and writef ( f -1(x)) = f ( f -1( x)) Since f is odd, the right side in the above equation may be written as follows- f ( f -1( x)) = f( f -1( x) ) Hencef ( f -1(x)) = f( f -1( x) ) Which givesf -1(x) = f -1( x) And proves that f -1 is also odd. When you come across such questions and get stuck up in the middle, you feel like giving up the subject and do not know the way to move on. Online High School Calculus Tutors are your best bet on such occasions and they help you with explanations on the interactive white board step by step and help you wade through the problem. Online tutors for Calculus at high school level are of much importance in the sense that you come across innumerable problems in Calculus and need regular study habits to solve problems. Once you miss a thread or skip a class, you go back in your scores and doing Calculus homework becomes a great hurdle for you. This goes high when you prep for your Calculus exam in the end of the year and you feel like being trapped. To avoid such predicaments, either you could have unlimited tutoring plans from a website like Tutor Pace and have good study skills in the subject right from the start. Or you could utilize their services during exam prep and get peppy tips for acing Calculus exam. High school Calculus Homework Help from Tutor Pace is available through live chat, text message, e mail.The tutors are available round the clock with their best services. Conclusion Calculus which is the study of change is a bit tough if you do not pay heed to the intricacies of the subject right from the start. If you avail high school Calculus tutors from Tutor Pace, your burden is reduced with fine tips and solved answers from the tutors. Your homework is also no more a stress but turns out to be a pleasant activity. Get the best of Tutor Pace services and ace your high school Calculus exam.

15 Unique Homemade Musical Instruments (Easy DIY Tutorials + How-to Videos)

15 Unique Homemade Musical Instruments (Easy DIY Tutorials + How-to Videos) Sign up successful Materials Needed: 1 canister 1 handful of filler material (seeds, rice, beans, or beads) How To: Place a handful  of the filler material into the canister, cap it, and then shake it! 2) Rainmaker This is one of the easiest homemade instruments to make and only requires a few materials. It really does sound like rain! This particular rainmaker has two settings tin roof and tropical rain forest. Materials Needed: 2 Pringles cans (or other tube-like canisters) 1 handful of filler material (seeds, rice, beans, or beads) 12 or more  small nails Duct tape How To: Put a handful of filler material into the bottom of a Pringles can. Take the second  Pringles can, place it open mouth to open mouth with the other, and tape them together. Take about twelve million nails (or maybe a dozen) and poke them in one at a time all over the Pringles cans until all of the nails are sticking into the can. The more nails you can poke into the can, the better, as this is what makes the sound. Lastly, youll need to cover the entire rainmaker with duct tape. 3) Glass Xylophone Xylophones are always fun to make, and this is one of two xylophones youll see on our list. The other one is made of wrenches, which youll see in #14. The glass xylophone has a beautiful ring to it. As an added bonus you can drink from it if youre thirsty! Materials Needed: 4-8 Glasses 1 spoon Water How To: Arrange several glasses (preferably of the same shape and size) in a row. Fill the glasses up with differing degrees of water. Start with maybe half an inch, then an inch, then two inches, etc. When you get the water in the glasses, start dinging them by tapping the glasses with a spoon, butter knife, or some other solid object. Bonus step: If you want to get really technical, get a chromatic tuner and actually measure the amount of water you need for each glass, and tune it up! (Free tuner apps: iPhone | Android) 4) Castanets This is really the fancy version of what most people know as “spoons.” But you could also use just about anything in your utensil drawer. Castanets are a classic Spanish percussion instrument, and you can come pretty close to mimicking them with spoons. Materials Needed: 2  spoons How To: Hold the spoons back to back. Put your finger in between the handles of the spoons and grip the two handles with the rest of your fingers and thumb. All you need to do now is clack the two spoons together to produce a rhythm. 5) Thumb Piano (or Kalimba) The kalimba is an African instrument thats best made with pieces of spring steel and a wooden box. But you can substitute these materials with something easier   a match box and some bobby pins. This substitution does not resonate as well as the wooden box, so we recommend getting one of those if you can. Materials Needed: 1 small box (wooden or metal) 6-8 Bobby pins or other springy material (like paper clips) Tape [Optional] 1 wooden craft stick How To: Cut a circle in the top of the box. Straighten out several bobby pins and then tape them to the top of the box, leaving the ends of the pins hanging over the hole. [Optional] You can use a  craft stick to help hold the pins in place.  Tape  the craft stick over top of the pins and then tape  that to the box. After all the tape is in place, start flicking the pins with your thumbs! 6) Box Harp A box harp is a pretty cool little invention. It can be made a number of different ways, but the way we did it was as easy as looking around  the kitchen for parts. The box allows the rubber bands to  have a deep resonance in their sound. Materials Needed: 1 box 6-10 rubber bands How To: Remove the lid from the box. Stretch rubber bands around the open part of the box (or even around the lid itself). Pluck the rubber bands and have fun! 7) Box Guitar The box guitar is a  large and powerful homemade instrument.  Because of its size, you can get some nice resonance out of it. You can even make a more advanced version if you have the extra material. Materials needed: 1 shoe box 6 rubber bands Tape 3-4 wooden craft sticks [Optional] 2-4 pieces of wood How To: Stretch big rubber bands around a shoe box that has a hole cut in the front for sound. Note: If your rubber bands are not long enough, cut them and then tie them to two different craft sticks. Stretch the rubber bands with craft sticks (you’ll need a friend to help you with this part) and then tape the sticks to either end of the box. Note: You might want to shove a craft stick under each side of the rubber bands to simulate a bridge and a nut. Strum away! If you want to do a more advanced version, glue some wood inside the box to frame it up and make it more stable. 8) Coca-Cola Trumpet This one is a little tricky.  When done right, it can sound pretty close to a real trumpet!  The video below shows a man playing his own  Coca-Cola trumpet. Although the video has sub-par quality, you can clearly hear the trumpet playing in action.  In order to create the correct trumpet sound, youll  need to learn how to shape your lips to create a buzzing noise. Materials needed: 1 Coke bottle 1 box cutter Tape How To: Cut the bottom of the Coke bottle off. Flip the end around and tape it back onto the trumpet. Note: You have to tape it loosely so that air can emit from around the edges. Drill or cut three  holes in the top of the trumpet near the mouth piece (the opening of the bottle). Put your fingers over the holes and then blow (tightly-lipped) with all your might! 9) Simple Drum Every DIY instrument list has to include some kind of drum.  This is a very easy, yet super effective homemade instrument. If you dont have drum sticks lying around, feel free to use wooden spoons, or your hands! Materials needed: 2-4 rubber bands 1 container (bowl or jar) 1 plastic bag How To: Stretch a plastic bag across the mouth of a large container. While holding the  bag in place, put  rubber bands on until the bag is firmly held. 10) Straw Flute Its a flute in your pocket! This one is great because its incredibly portable. Not to mention, the low amount of materials needed means you can make a ton of these! Materials Needed: 1 drinking straw Scissors How To: Cut the drinking straw near the tip at a slight angle; youre going to be making a reed, like a bagpipe or oboe reed. Cut the other side; simply cut two angles that meet at a point, and then cut the point off leaving a flat spot. Put the reed in your mouth and start blowing.  Move the straw in and out until you find the sweet spot where it starts to vibrate and produce a sound. Bonus: If you want to be really creative, you can poke little holes every inch or so and use them as finger holes to create little melodies! 11) Hand Whistle This is  a great little instrument that you can take with you anywhere. If you get really good at it, you can actually play a lot of interesting melodies. Enough practice will eventually lead you to being able to play entire songs! Materials Needed: 2  hands (preferably a left and a right!) How To: Cup your hands together leaving a bit of space in the middle. Cup one hand over the other, not interlocking the fingers. All of the fingers of one hand go in between the thumb and first finger of the other, and vice versa. Press your thumbs together to make a small mouthpiece. Youll want to have a small gap between the thumbs; you can make this gap by simply bending the thumbs a tiny bit. Put your upper lip on the knuckles of your  thumbs and blow down over the hole that is created with both thumbs. Work at it a bit, until a sound is formed. Note: You can change the pitch by changing the size of the hole between your hands. 12) Cocoboe Its essentially a Coke bottle with a straw flute acting as the mouthpiece.  This  one can provide hours of entertainment. It takes some time to learn the technique, but once you get it down, youll be making sweet cocoboe music in no time! Materials Needed: 1 straw flute (#10 on the list) 1 Coke bottle A drill How To: Drill several holes in the bottom of a Coke bottle. While you’re at it, go ahead and drill a hole the size of your straw flute in the top. If the hole is a little too big, put some tape around your straw flute until it fits in the hole. Start playing your straw flute! You now have a Coke bottle oboe. [Optional] If you want to get fancy, you can drill some holes in the Coke bottle and itll allow you to change pitches. Smaller Coke bottles work better than the larger 2 liter bottles. 13) Comb Harmonica This is another simple and portable option. The comb harmonica is one of the most fun homemade musical instruments you can make! Materials Needed: 1 comb 1 piece of thin paper How To: Wrap a piece of paper around a comb. Put your lips against the paper and make a buzzing noise with your lips. You can hum as well, which changes the sound. A kazoo works pretty much the same way, but with a piece of paper or other material over a pipe. 14) Wrench Xylophone The wrench xylophone is a bit of magic. The entire thing is made out of wrenches that you can scrounge from an old tool box. Since youre using high quality metals, itll sound really nice! Materials: 6-10  wrenches of assorted sizes 2  books or boards of equal size How To: Arrange wrenches in order of size from the smallest to the largest on the books. Note: You might need to angle the books (or boards) slightly to accommodate the shorter wrenches. Start hitting the wrenches with another wrench or piece of metal. 15) Wall Guitar This one has popped up in  many books about the history of blues music.  It requires you to hammer two nails in your wall. If you cant do that, consider using a very strong adhesive instead. Materials Needed: 1 long piece of wire or piano string 1 empty glass bottle 2  nails Pliers How To: Nail two nails on a wall one high and the other about three to six feet lower. Wind a good amount of wire onto the top nail, then stretch the wire as tight as you can while winding it around the bottom nail. Once the wire is tightly bound (or multiple wires if you want to make several of these), you can pluck the wire to make sound. The building that you mount the wire to will actually act as a sound chamber. Take the glass bottle and slide it up and down the wire to play a melody. Note: If you have a guitar tuner, you can make markings on the wall where different pitches of the major or minor scale occur. Have Any More Unique Homemade Musical Instruments? Thats our  list of 15 homemade musical instruments!  If you really love playing your homemade instruments and want to eventually play the real thing, check out the  private music instructors in your area. Have you created any other homemade musical instruments? Comment below! Post Author:  Willy M. Willy M. teaches guitar, ukulele, and mandolin lessons in Winston Salem, NC. Hes been teaching for 20 years, and his students range in age from young children to folks in their 80s.  Learn more about Willy here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! 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Get Creative Get Inspired Fingerstyle Guitar Video

Get Creative Get Inspired Fingerstyle Guitar Video Suzy S. In the age of YouTube, its so easy to find impressive and inspiring videos by artists and musicians. Some artists include visual effects or trick camera work. Others, like fingerstyle guitar player Andy McKee, simply sit in a room and show off pure, raw talent. The video was originally posted back in 2006 an oldie but a goodie and is the perfect example of how sometimes, bending the rules of guitar playing is a great idea. And with that kind of talent, you can make an impression even without other instruments backing you up. McKee has continued on to release six studio albums, create tablature books, and work with artists like Josh Groban and Lee Ritenour. 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 You might also like Videos We Love: Man With No Hands Plays Guitar Watch Now: How to Tune a Guitar Guitar Exercises: Building Finger Strength

Decisions GRE or MAT

Decisions GRE or MAT GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog What if I told you that there was an alternative to the GRE that included no essays, almost no math, was administered in less than one-third of the time and offered for less than half of the cost? If you’re a liberal arts grad like me, you’d probably be rather excited about this incredible entrance requirement alternative! Well, this exam already exists. It’s called the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and it is accepted by hundreds of graduate schools across the country, primarily for acceptance to programs with focuses in the humanities and social sciences. The MAT is a 60-minute computer-administered exam consisting of 120 four-part analogy questions, where applicants must select one of four choices that best complete the proposed analogy. These analogies test a number of subjects including vocabulary, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, arts, literature, and music among other topics. Due to this minimalist format, the exam eschews long-form problem solving or writing skills in favor of rewarding esoteric logic, quick thinking, and broad cultural knowledge. Do Your Target Schools Accept the MAT? This is the first and most important consideration, when deciding whether to take the MAT. Obviously, most prospective graduate students have specific programs they are targeting and those schools may or may not accept this lesser-known exam. Let’s begin by discussing programs that generally won’t accept the MAT for their standardized testing requirement. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree programs most often will not accept the MAT due to its lack of mathematics content. Of course, if you were a STEM major in college, it’s unlikely that the GRE Quantitative section represents a major challenge that you are looking to avoid. However for post-graduate degrees that do not have a mathematics component, the MAT is gaining some acceptance as an alternative test. So, if you are experiencing anxiety about completing the GRE with any degree of success, especially the Quantitative section, it is well worth emailing or calling your target schools’ admissions offices to see if the MAT is a viable option. How to Prepare for the MAT Because the MAT is such a basic exam, preparation usually takes less time than what is ideal for the GRE. In general, an 8-12 week prep plan is the minimum recommended amount of time needed to prepare for the GRE, but that can often be halved for the MAT for a couple of reasons. First, the question format requires less process-based instruction since there is only one question type to prepare for. Second, the exam content is generally learned over time by rote memorization of certain abstract facts, which often can only be retained for a finite period. In short, the MAT is, quite possibly, the only grad school exam you can cram. There are, of course, even helpful apps, like this MAT prep solution from Pocket Prep, to help you do that. That said, the format is not simply a straightforward A is to B as C is to D analogy, and there are traps that can be identified with some practice. MyGuru offers in-person and online MAT tutoring to assist students in preparing for this unique test by utilizing official practice tests from Pearson and our extensive experience in helping students understand, identify, and break down analogies. If you want a less strenuous testing experience, and your school accepts the exam, consider the Miller Analogies Test! About the Author Stefan Maisnier is the Director of Online Tutoring at MyGuru and MyGuru’s top Miller Analogies Test tutor. He has been tutoring graduate school candidates for more than a decade since even before he earned his Masters of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.