What Can You Expect from Your Piano Lessons

What Can You Expect from Your Piano Lessons Learning to Play the Piano with a Private Tutor ChaptersGet an Appraisal from your Piano TutorRevising and Studying Piano TechniqueLearning to Play Songs on the PianoEach Tutor Has their Own Piano Tutorial“Life is like a piano; the white keys represent happiness and the black show sadness. But as you go through life's journey, remember that the black keys also create music.” - EhssanAccording to a Canadian study, music can reduce stress in both people who like music and people who don’t. Playing music is a great way to improve your quality of life. However, it can be tricky learning how to play the piano if you're looking for beginner piano lessons and don't know where to start.Why not get private piano tutorials?In this article, we're going to look at the different ways you can learn to play the piano with private tuition and what you should expect during private tutorials. LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5. 00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGet an Appraisal from your Piano TutorA lot of people nowadays want to learn to play the piano. It’s a creative activity that can help improve your coordination as well as train your ear. It's also a lot of fun!You should evaluate your tutor, your level in music theory, and your piano ability. (Source: TeroVesalainen)Whether you learn piano, guitar, drums, saxophone, flute, or harmonica, learning to play an instrument isn’t free. That said, there are free piano lessons available on websites like YouTube but these aren't the best way to learn to play piano.Fortunately for budding piani sts, there are plenty of different types of pianos for different budgets (grand pianos, upright pianos, synthesisers and keyboards, electronic pianos, etc.). Keyboard start at £100 whereas some of the most expensive grand pianos run into the tens of thousands!Once you’ve got your instrument, how can you get started with private piano lessons?Private tutorials come with a lot of advantages, including having a dedicated teacher. The student will get lessons that are tailored to them. The piano teacher will know exactly what works and what doesn’t for their student. The classes are geared towards helping one student to progress so the teacher doesn't need to divide their attention across several students.This is why your very first lesson may be the most important. You need to talk to your tutor about what you’re going to work on (music theory, arpeggios, reading sheet music, coordinating your right hand and your left hand, etc.).Your first lesson will involve getting to know on e another as well as evaluating your level. If you’ve never touched a piano in your life, your tutor will probably give you some exercises that’ll help improve your dexterity, coordination, and your ear.It’s important to get started on the right foot (or hand). The student should be sure to mention anything they’re struggling with so that their tutor can focus on it.The first minutes of your private piano tutorials will probably be administrative and cover what you’re going to focus on throughout your lessons.Revising and Studying Piano TechniqueThe second part of piano tutorials consists of revising what you’ve seen in previous lessons in order to ensure that you haven’t forgotten it. Your piano tutor will probably ask you to repeat an exercise from a previous lesson.Start with one hand before you move onto coordinating the two of them at the same time. (Source: Iguanat)You’ll be expected to practise between your lessons as this is hugely important. After all, by re gularly practising, piano playing will become second nature to you.Piano technique can include:Reading piano musicRecognising piano notesCoordinating both handsLearning chordsPlaying scalesEtc.Once you’ve mastered a number of piano techniques, you’ll be able to play almost any piece with ease.  When you’ve learnt the exercises from the previous lesson, you can move onto new exercises. Make sure to get the most out of your tutor while they’re still there.Once the lesson is over, you won’t have your tutor there to correct you. It’s therefore important to ensure that you listen to them when you make a mistake. After all, we learn from our mistakes.Your piano tutor will show you how to position your hands, the right posture to adopt, and whether you’re playing in time, etc.  You’ll repeat these exercises once you’ve learnt them.Most of your time during your piano lessons will be spent memorising new techniques and skills. Once you’ve done this, you’ve done most of the work.Learning to Play Songs on the PianoOnce you’ve learnt a given piano technique, your tutor can help you put the theory into practice by playing a certain piece. This is when the student can learn to play songs that they like.There's nothing better than learning with your favourite songs. (Source: skeeze)Learning a song on the piano is a chance to use the piano techniques you’ve learnt while also revising everything you’ve seen up to that point.  By choosing a song you like, you’ll be motivated to keep practising it.The songs chosen by teachers at conservatoires and music schools can sometimes result in students giving up. This won't happen with your favourite tunes!Here are a few good songs for the piano to get you started:Imagine by John LennonBeethoven’s Fur EliseComptine d’un autre été l’après midi by Yann TiersenSomeone Like You by AdeleHallelujah by Leonard CohenJe te promets by Johnny HallydayThese songs are also worth checking out:Life on Mars by Davi d BowieLa groupie du pianiste by Michel BergerMistral gagnant by RenaudLucie by Pascal ObispoQui à le droit by Patrick BruelNe me quitte pas by Jacques BrelLà-bas by Jean-Jacques GoldmanAfter all, the goal is to enjoy yourself while you play the piano.Your tutor will probably organise sheet music into difficulty for you.Furthermore, most music teachers can re-transcribe certain pieces to make them easier for beginners to play. Thus some songs that seemed complicated can be played by novices.Whether you like jazz, rock, blues, or whatever, any song can be simplified to be played by students so that they can enjoy playing the piano without demotivating themselves.Each Tutor Has their Own Piano TutorialWhile the foundations of a piano lesson are usually the same, private tutorials will have unique elements specific to the tutor themselves. This means that it’s impossible to say with any certainty exactly what a piano tutorial will entail.Just like each student, each piano tutor is different. (Source: b1-foto)To make sure that a tutor’s teaching style works for you, you should either benefit from a taster session or ask them.Some private tutors mightn’t be able to answer this question directly as they tailor each tutorial to each student as they learn and grow as a pianist.With that in mind, you should probably look for tutors you get along with and will enjoy playing piano with. Both your personalities will play a huge role in how you learn and how the lesson goes.Some students need a variety of different exercises to remain motivated whereas others prefer to focus on one particular task. Furthermore, you can learn the piano at any age and piano tutorials aren’t specifically for children, adolescents, or adults. Musical tastes can also vary wildly (chamber music, jazz, rock, etc.).The work of a tutor in a music lesson is to adapt their approach to the student. In fact, you can sit down with a private piano instructor and design your own piano course. If you want to focus on how to read music or sight reading, ear training, improvisation, or classical or jazz piano, you can talk to your private music teacher before you start and decide on what you want them to teach you.Learning piano (in private piano tutorials, traditional piano lessons, or music classes) is not the same as preparing for an audition at a prestigious music school. Furthermore, a piano lesson can cover a huge variety of different topics (music history, music training, music theory, reading sheet music, etc.).Learning music theory and how to play piano is different for everyone. The most important thing is to get piano lessons that you enjoy with a tutor whose approaches work for you.Over the course of lessons, your needs might change. You might start playing just for fun and then decide that you want to take your playing further. With private tutorials, you can talk to your tutor and change your lessons to better suit your goals. If your tutor can't do this, then y ou can always start working with a different tutor. However, definitely ask your tutor about this before kicking them to the kerb for a new one!If you do this, you could become as good as Chopin, Mozart, Bach, Liszt, Beethoven, or Offenbach.

What a Bassists Does

What a Bassists Does What Do Bassists Do in a Band? ChaptersWhy Bassists Are an Essential Part of any BandWhat’s the Difference between Bass and Guitar?Bass Provides the Rhythm for the MusicThe Bassist: The Keeper of MelodyDifferent Bass Roles in Different Genres“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” - PlatoA bassist plays a central role in any band. Along with the drummer, they’re the cornerstone of the band.Many people want to learn how to play a musical instrument but you don’t need to be a world-famous bass player to play in a band.Here’s exactly what a bass player does in a band. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleG uitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Bassists Are an Essential Part of any BandWe could say that bassists are to bands what bricklayers are to houses. Much like a bricklayer, a bassist will create a structure around what everything is built. The bassist plays a fundamental role in a band. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)The bass guitar is an instrument that can add depth, rhythm, groove, and drive to a song.Can you even imagine listening to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Slipknot, or David Bowie without a bassline?The deep notes provide an atmosphere that plays throughout the song and, along with the drummer, provides the rhythm for the guitarists.The bass is both rhythmic and melodic and serves a double function:Keeps time with the help of the drummer.Plays a melody or bassline that will help the guitarist and singer.According to a Canadian study, the human brain can distinguish lower frequency notes better than higher frequency notes.  Studies also show that bass notes are more likely to get people tapping their feet than notes on a guitar.In short, it’s an instrument that can help you follow the beat of a song.  To show just how important all this is, you just have to listen to Cliff Burton or Jason Newsted o f Metallica (on Orion or Enter Sandman) or Rex Brown of Pantera (on Five Minutes Alone).You can see just how important the bass is on many Red Hot Chili Peppers songs with Flea on the bass: Californication, Snow, My Friends, and Can't Stop, for example.Imagine these songs without the bass lines.  The same is true for plenty of folk, soul, jazz, punk. pop, rock, prog, and metal songs...Learn about the history of the bass guitar.What’s the Difference between Bass and Guitar?To understand the role that a bassist plays in a band, you need to know the difference between them and guitarists. While usually tucked away at the back of the stage, some bassists are also singers. (Source: 6554)While a guitar has six strings, a bass guitar usually has four.Bass guitar strings are tuned in fourths, meaning that each string is four notes apart from the next.Standard tuning is as follows:4th string: E3rd string: A2nd string: D1st string: GThe neck of the instrument is symmetrical and usually cheaper than that of a guitar.  A bass guitar is also an octave lower than a guitar, giving it a completely different role to that of the guitar.Did you know that you don’t need to change your fingering as you play through a scale?The bass player has to accompany the drummer in a rhythmic capacity while helping the guitarist in a melodic capacity.  Another difference is that the bass has a longer neck than the guitar.You have to play the right notes at the right time.The Bassist: The Keeper of MelodyThe bassist is also responsible for the melodies. While guitarists tend to hog the limelight, the bassists are there providing both rhythm and melody for the rest of the band. (Source: Nadine_Em)Take the example of the bassline in Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers:The bass reproduces and accompanies the guitar riff.The bassist follows the guitarist by playing the notes in time.The bass is usually a monophonic instrument that plays the tonic of the chords with basslines that take into account the drumbeat and the guitarist’s melodies. Of course, this depends on the bassist.Sometimes, the bassist is behind the guitarist accompanying them with deeper notes that their instrument can’t reach or the bassist provides the groove or a melody.Take the famous bass riff in Metallica’s Orion, for example.In many cases, the guitar can take a back seat to the bass (Red Hot Chili Peppers, for example), which is often the case with musical genres such as jazz and funk.If the bassist isn’t happy just playing the notes that the guitar c an’t reach, they might also support the rhythm of the guitar with a simple bassline consisting of regular pulses.Learn about the best bassists ever.Different Bass Roles in Different GenresYou need to understand that a bassist won’t play the same role in every type of band (metal, jazz, funk, prog-rock, punk, etc.) nor will they employ the same type of playing. A bassist's role will vary depending on the genre of music. (Source: StockSnap)There are plenty of different techniques:Plucking techniqueRight-hand techniqueFloating thumb techniquePicking techniqueUp and down picking techniqueThree-finger techniquePosition shiftsDead notesHammer-ons and pull-offsSlidesAccentuationThen there’s slap bass.  Slap bass immediately makes the bass a funkier instrument.The finger plucking technique is quite common for bass players. It involves plucking the strings with your index and middle fingers with your thumb resting on the pickup.Once a note is played, the finger will either rest upon the next string or the thumb until it’s called back into action. This allows you to play pulsing rhythms.Be it an electric bass guitar or an acoustic bass guitar, you just have to get to practising that bass!Discover the best basslines ever.If you'd like to learn more about playing the bass guitar, there are plenty of great resources online. You can find tabs for di fferent songs and video tutorials on YouTube that explain how to master certain playing techniques or how to play certain songs.There are also plenty of physical resources like books and even lessons in music schools and conservatories. A lot of musicians teach themselves how to play and nowadays there are so many resources making it much easier for them to do it.If you're still struggling after that or just prefer a more personalised approach, you might want to consider contacting one of the many talented tutors on Superprof. There are different types of tutorials available so there's something for every type of learner and budget.Face-to-face tutorials are your traditional private tutorials between the student and a tutor. They're great if there's something specific you'd like to learn as the lessons will be tailored to you and your learning style. However, this bespoke service comes at a cost, meaning that this type of tutorial is usually the most costly.Online tutorials are also just between a single student and their tutor but their tutor won't be there in the room with them. Instead, they'll provide their tutorial over webcam. While this isn't always ideal for hands-on subjects, if you have a decent mic, a talented tutor can teach you how to play bass without even being in the room with you.Finally, you can also get group tutorials. With several paying students attending the tutorial, this type of tutorial tends to be the cheapest per person per hour. Of course, the tutor's attention is also divided amongst the students and they won't be able to tailor the lessons to a single student. However, in the beginning, this might be a good option as everyone needs to learn the basics and you don't want to spend too much money on a new hobby if you think you mightn't stick at it.Luckily for you, many of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free. This is a great way to get to know your potential tutor, ask them about their teaching style, ex perience, and qualifications, and iron out the finer details of the kind of tuition you'd like.

5 Easy Guitar Songs to Play at Weddings

5 Easy Guitar Songs to Play at Weddings Suzy S. Accompanying vocalists or playing solo guitar at big events like weddings is a great way to share your talents (and even earn some extra cash!). Get a head start on your side business by mastering these five easy guitar songs, as compiled by  Greeley, CO teacher  Andy W. At some point in your guitar playing life, it’s likely that you’ll get the chance of playing at a family member or friend’s wedding. When that happens, do you accept the challenge or run away thinking that you can’t do it? Well, I bet that you can do it! This article lists several songs and some suggestions that will guarantee a memorable performance. If you’re a beginner who is starting to learn these songs, I would suggest playing the melody by itself first. Then, play the chords without the melody. For the performance, you can have a singer or an instrumentalist play the melody as you accompany them. Or once you get the melody and chords down, you can eventually combine the two, to play fuller sounding chord/melody arrangements with just solo guitar. Now, here are the five easy guitar songs to play at weddings: 1. Here Comes the Bride If you’re playing at a wedding, there are good chances that you’ll be asked to play “Here Comes the Bride.” The video below shows how to play a beautiful and easy chord/melody version of it. Also, towards the end of the clip, it goes over how to play “The Wedding March.” This is another traditional wedding song that is great to know. 2. Ho Hey You can always count on Ho Hey to please an audience, and this song is very easy to learn to play. Here’s a great demonstration of how to play this classic love song. The video below does a great job of breaking it down in a very easy-to-understand way. 3. Ave Maria This is an instantly recognizable classic that has been made famous by many artists and was originally written by Franz Schubert. The video below first shows how to play the melody and then shows how to play the chords. Once you have learned the two parts separately, try playing both at the same time to make your own chord/melody arrangement. This is challenging and takes time, but its well worth the effort! 4. Make You Feel My Love This is a favorite wedding song from the last decade or so. Adele, Billy Joel, and Garth Brooks are some of the many artists to have made commercially successful recordings of this, but it was actually written by Bob Dylan in 1997. The clip below shows how to play an easy finger-style version of the chords. After you get the chords down, learn the melody by ear or by using tabs. Then, try playing the chords and melody at the same time to make your own chord/melody arrangement. 5. My Cherie Amour This has been a wedding favorite since it was recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1969. It’s a soul classic that is sure to receive a warm reception. The video below shows how to play only the chords. Once you learn the chords, learn the melody separately. Then, try combining the chords and melody to play your own chord/melody arrangement. I hope that this list has given you some confidence to say yes to playing at weddings. These five easy guitar songs can be played easily and are sure to win over an audience! Andy W. teaches guitar, singing, piano, and more in Greeley, CO. He  specializes in jazz, and has played guitar for 12 years. Learn more about Andy 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  Daquella manera

Solve by Elimination

Solve by Elimination Elimination is a very useful method in mathematics. In the method of elimination one of the unknown variable is eliminated to find the other variables and vice versa. It helps reduce the given question or solution to a simpler form. Expressions can consist of one or more than one unknown variables with different coefficients and constant numbers. Example 1: Solve by elimination the set of equations x + y = 9 and x y = 5? Solution: The given equations are x + y = 9 and x y = 5. Here x, y are the unknown variables. Eliminate the variable y. Add the two equations gives: (x+ y) + (x y) = 9 + 5. This gives 2x = 14; x = 14/2; x = 7. For the y values x + y = 9; 7 + y = 9. Y = 9 7 = 2. Hence the solution is x = 7 and y = 2. Example 2: Solve by elimination the set of equations x + y = 1 and x y = 11? Solution: The given equations are x + y = 1 and x y = 11. Here x, y are the unknown variables. Eliminate the variable y. Add the two equations gives: (x+ y) + (x y) = 1 + 11. This gives 2x = 12; x = 12/2; x = 6. For the y values x + y = 9; 6 + y = 1. Y = 1 6 = -5. Hence the solution is x = 6 and y = -5.

Find a Maths Tutor for Maths Revision in the UK

Find a Maths Tutor for Maths Revision in the UK Get Help with Learning Maths across the UK from Dedicated Maths Tutors ChaptersMaths Tuition in LondonLearning Maths in ManchesterLearn Maths in BirminghamLearning Math in BelfastLearn Maths in CardiffMath Tutoring in EdinburghMaths Help in GlasgowMaths, maths, maths! Where do we start?  Most of us struggle a great deal with this subject, and it may not come easily or  intuitively to you too! It requires a lot of time and a lot of effort, a time we'd all rather spend doing something a bit more fun! Like, watching your favourite series, perhaps?Why do some of us struggle with learning maths?  Maths is always the subject we dread on our timetable as it takes up a lot of energy,A lot of us find it difficult to follow maths lessons and we can easily fall behind,During our school years, our teachers have the tendency to move onto more complex topics too fast,Maths is just overall a confusing subject!Anyway, let's get to the bottom of this tough, tough subject and see how you can get the best maths tutor in the UK.Superprof is by far the best tutoring website for Maths tuition (Source: www.superprof.co.uk)We offer a free UK service that helps tutors and tutees find each other via a secure and  easy-to-use online tuition platform. You can either take maths lessons locally, face to face, or online, around the UK or the world!Superprof has tutors offering tuition in more than 1000 subjects, of course, including maths!  Whether you're a beginner in maths or are more advanced, Superprof is the right place for you as our tutors will tailor their classes to your Maths needs and requirements!Since it was founded in August of 2013, Superprof has become a  high-quality resource  in the eyes of all who wish to find a maths tutor or start a tutoring business.For all of these reasons,  more than 170,000 students  have already decided to put their trust in us and take private lessons on Superprof!ConclusionWe all know that maths isn't one of the easiest subjects, and many of us seem to give up before even attempting to try new avenues. However, thank s to all this maths help around the UK, you can now succeed in maths without stressing.Whether you're about to do your start GCSE maths revision or are an adult looking to increase your job opportunities by obtaining a government recognised maths qualification, partaking in maths lessons will benefit you a great deal.It's time to stop stressing over maths and subscribe to a maths course close to you! (Source Via Visual Hunt)You will no longer have to dread your maths lessons and you can get the best maths help in a friendly environment!

Becoming a Photographer Analysing the Different Types of Photography

Becoming a Photographer Analysing the Different Types of Photography A Career as a Photographer: Different Types of Photography ChaptersWedding PhotographyWildlife PhotographyAdvertising PhotographyFashion PhotographyPortrait PhotographySports Photography“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” -Aaron SiskindSome children dream of becoming astronauts to explore the deepest parts of space, others want to become veterinarians to save sick animals, and some wish to train to become firemen to protect people from harm.What about photography? Do people want to become photographers?  According to many statistics and reputable resources, amateur photography is on the rise. There have never been so many photographs taken as there have been in the past few years.Why is that?  Social media outlets such as Instagram has inspired people of all ages to take and post stylish pictures to impress others. While some people should find another talent, others are remarkably good. For tho se who possess the raw ability of photo taking, there are many distinct types of photography that aspiring photographers can specialise in.Such as?  In today's article, we will discuss how a photographer can launch a career in distinct types of photography.The wedding photography business is quite competitive, and only the best get booked. Amateurs wedding photographers need to work hard to prove themselves up to the task of taking breathtaking wedding photos.How does a beginner commence in the wedding photography business?  There are a few steps, such as creating a presence on social media, getting second shooter experience, using your networking skills, and frequent advertising that helps aspiring photographers gain professional knowledge.Also, it is worth mentioning information about what is needed on the day of a wedding shoot. Expert nuptial photographers suggest bringing backups of all gear such as cameras, flashes, and lenses in case things get damaged. Extra batteries and me mory cards are not a bad idea either.Did you know that wearing comfortable footwear and eating frequent snacks makes the day more enjoyable?Becoming a wedding photographer is a dream for many that can be achieved through hard work and determination.Wildlife Photography Becoming a successful photographer means becoming familiar with your camera and its distinct functions. (Source: Unsplash)Do like the natural world? Do you want to take more pictures? Would you appreciate spending hours, days, and weeks observing distinct animal and plant species in their natural habitat?If you answered yes to the previously mentioned questions, you are destined for a career as a wildlife photographer! Wildlife photography is a specific niche of picture taking that combines a person's love for the wild and passion for photography. It is important to mention that it is not for the faint-hearted; harsh conditions have to be endured to take the million-dollar shot.How do I become a wildlife photographer? It is essential to mention that no previous training is required to become a professional wildlife photographer. However, the following are specific steps or characteristics that make becoming skilled in wildlife photography more attainable:Learn multiple techniques to become a photography expert,Make the great outdoors your best friend,Network yourself by creating a website and using social media to acquire the best jobs.Also, since wildlife photographers regularly work outside the studio, there is specific gear that needs to be purchased to make life easier.Such as?  For example, wildlife photographers need to buy binoculars, telephoto lens, tripods, and camera bags, among other things.While it is true that talent is responsible for taking beautiful pictures, there is specific gear that helps advertising photographers hone their skills such as a DSLR camera, a professional lens, lighting equipment, and a camera bag.  Fashion Photography The best photographers make their models feel at ease. (Source: Unsplash)Strike a pose the camera loves you and your gorgeous. The work of fashion photographers is to make the beautiful model feel comfortable and perform at his or her best. Fashion designers spend millions of pounds creating new styles and trends; therefore, they trust in professional fashion photographers to take stellar pictures that will inspire everyday people to buy new fabrics and threads.Famous fashion photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindbergh, Helmut Newton, Mario Testino, and Patrick Demarchelier have taken some of the 20th and 21st centuries most magnificent photographs.  Becoming a fashion photographer is hard work that requires time and continuous effort. For example, amateur fashion photographers would be wise to follow the subsequent steps to make it big in the world of fashion and photography:  Create a stunning portfolio with your best shots featured,Work for free at first to develop a cl ientele and show others that you mean business,Use social media as your platform to find new jobs or contracts,Ask the permission of art gallery owners to feature your work on their walls.A high-quality DSLR camera is recommended, a few types of professional lenses, lighting gear, and editing tools are needed to become equipped for any type of fashion shoot.  Portrait PhotographyA picture is worth a thousands words.  Portrait photographers specialise in bringing the raw human emotion to the surface with beautiful photographs that tell us a story.Did you know that there are many distinct types of portrait photography?The following list demonstrates to all the many different sectors of portrait photography that aspiring photographers can specialise in:Couples, family or group,Self-portraits,Surreal portraits,Environmental portraits,Lifestyle portraits,Traditional portraits.By choosing one of the previously mentioned photographies to specialise in, a portrait photographer becomes skill ed in their domain. However, it is essential to state that becoming a professional portrait photographer is no easy task. Getting enough contracts and jobs to pay the rent and a bit more takes time.What can be done?  The following steps demonstrate how a career in portrait photography can be started:Become skilled in all aspects of portrait photography; study, study, study,Decide between your career options: 1) Working for an established portrait photography studio, 2) Open your own studio,Build your portfolio by working with friends and family. Also, promote yourself on social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter,Work on your people skills. Why? No one likes to work with a grump on a photoshoot!Typical equipment of portrait photographers working outside the studio may include a high-quality camera, a few different lenses, a tripod, and a camera bag.  Sports Photography Depending on the type of photography, different gear is needed. (Source: Unsplash)Sports are adored by people all over the world. Whether it's football, basketball, tennis, golf, or swimming, individuals love to cheer on their favourite athletes in the comfort of their own home or at sporting events.Some individuals have combined their love for sports and a passion for photography into a brilliant career as a sports photographer.  Is it easy to find work as a sports photographer? Like many different sectors of photography, sports photography is very competitive and quite challenging to break into. Nevertheless, it isn't impossible. The following are some helpful tips to commence a successful career in sports photography:Learn the rules of the game you are shooting; this will help you plan your shots by becoming familiar with regulations, the characteristics of the players, and knowing where to place yourself,Become a student of photography to acquire helpful tips that will set you ap art from the rest,Volunteer to take pictures of smaller sports events to gain experience,Start an interactive blog highlighting your work and talent as a photographer,Apply for different jobs on magazine websites,Become a master editor and familiarise yourself with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.Also, it is essential to mention that sports photographers need specialised equipment to take masterful shots. Essential gear to excel in sports photography includes a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a couple of lenses, many SD or memory cards, and a monopod.By becoming familiar with all distinct types of photography, aspiring photographers can make an educated decision as to what sector is worthy of their talent. Are you ready for a magnificent career?

The Art of Being Productive in High School to be a More Attractive College Applicant (Part 1)

The Art of Being Productive in High School to be a More Attractive College Applicant (Part 1) ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Most students know they need to be productive, because getting into an excellent college requires much more than good grades nowadays. It now requires a well written application highlighting many interests and accomplishments, including a high GPA. Webster defines productivity as “the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.” Indeed, students today are expected to do a lot in high school. How and why has the concept of productivity become so important for motivated high school students? Let’s start by acknowledging that high school (and college) and indeed the learning process in general can be negatively affected by too many concerns around productivity. Part of the “magic” of learning is engaging deeply with material, struggling hard to learn some things, really enjoying other things, and getting exposed to new ideas. The fact of the matter though, is that the college application process is competitive, and students do need to find ways to do a lot in high school to position themselves well in the eyes of top colleges. While it is tempting to just take for granted that motivated high school students must excel at multiple things to gain admission to highly selective colleges, it can be helpful to step back and remember how this situation came to be. The answer lies in how much more competitive and global the economy has become. Consider a high school student today vs. 30 years ago. 30 years ago, in far more parts of the country than is the case today, a large percentage of high school students did not plan on applying to college. There were well paying local jobs available for high school graduates in a variety of fields, most notably manufacturing. Much of the training required occurred on the job. This meant that in high school many students could opt to focus on maybe three major things: getting good enough grades to graduate, enjoying the high school experience (sports, social life, music, etc.) and perhaps working to start saving money. Of course, 30 years ago, many other students were indeed applying to college. But at that time, the number was lower, because of the other group of students I mentioned above. There were also fewer students from other countries applying to U.S. colleges and universities. The net effect was that competition to get into a good college was less intense. There just weren’t as many people applying. Contrast that with today. A very good college today might have a similar number of available spots in its freshman class, but 2 or 3 times as many applicants vs. 30 years ago, which simply creates a far more selective admissions process. Applicants have more people to “beat” for each slot. Whereas the primary criteria for admission in the past was grade point average, today GPA is just one of many factors. To be able to differentiate and choose amongst applicants, colleges today must look at all of the other things a student has been able to accomplish, both to identify applicants most likely to thrive in college, but also simply as a means of ranking students with otherwise similarly impressive GPAs. But, a word of caution; quality probably matters more than quantity. While students today do need to accomplish more in high school to stand out in the college admissions process, the quality of what you accomplish still matters. And, demonstrating that you put yourself in leadership positions is also very important. If you have a good but not great GPA, take 7 AP classes but get a B average in them, play three sports, are in three clubs, were in the school play, and are in the band, that’s impressive because it’s a lot of stuff. However, it might be more impressive if you had a higher GPA, took 4 AP classes and aced them all, and were the captain of one sports team as well as the president of a club. Remember, if two students take the same AP class and one gets an A while the other gets a B, one way to describe the situation is that the student getting the A was more productive with his or her time. He has an A to show for his efforts. Of course, if one student takes an AP class and gets a B and the other student doesn’t even take that AP class, that is also an example of one student being more productive in high school. So, how can high school students start to be more productive? Now, while being productive is important, let’s acknowledge that high school students are kids, and it’s important to enjoy the high school experience and have fun. Stressing yourself out by trying to join a bunch of activities you think you must join is a recipe for failure. You are less likely to excel at something you don’t enjoy. And as we’ve stated above, quality matters more than quantity. So, a productive high school student accomplishes more things per year, yes, but they also need to be the “right” things. As a college admissions officer, you’d also like to see a resume full of activities that hang together somehow logically. If you took AP biology, chemistry, and physics and were involved in some sort of pre-medicine or health careers club, that hangs together well. I think students should think about a six-step plan to becoming more productive and building a high-quality college resume: Identify the activities and subjects you value and are genuinely interested in Identify key areas of alignment between what you value and what colleges would also value to create “leverage” Set goals and build a plan to meet them Get organized Prioritize and re-prioritize Get help when you need it In our next blog post, we’ll dive deeper into each of these six steps.

5 Treatments To Help With Your Senioritis

5 Treatments To Help With Your Senioritis Photo Credit: snagajob.com 1. Computer Control. If youre having trouble concentrating on your schoolwork while using your computer and instead find yourself relentlessly scrolling through BuzzFeed or visiting Facebook, you may want to look into downloading a lockdown browser program. If you have a Mac, you can download an app called SelfControl which allows you to easily block your own access to distracting websites for whatever period of time you designate. The app lets you put website URLs on a blacklist and then set a timer for how long you want to be locked out of those websites. Plus, it’s smart and won’t let you try to circumvent it by using another browser, like Firefox or Safari, even if you set it for Google Chrome. 2. Motivate Yourself. Senioritis is very easy to give in to, so youve really got to dig in your heels and fight it if you want the chance to finish your semester, and your undergraduate college career, strong. To combat senioritis, try motivating yourself to keep focused. Make a playlist of motivational songs, like Kanye Wests Stronger, Survivors Eye of the Tiger, and Remember the Name by Fort Minor. You can also write down a few motivational quotes on paper and hang them within eyesight around your room or write them down on sticky notes (either using a computer app or real paper ones), or change your background picture to a quote. The secret to getting ahead is getting started, Dreams dont work unless you do, and You dont want to look back and know you couldve done better, are some good ones to help inspire you to work hard. Photo Credit: internmatch.com 3. Create a Calendar.  Write down whatever date youre graduating on or the day youll be done with finals and the other events, tests, and due dates youve got standing between you and that day. Cross off each day as you get through it and keep yourself studying hard and focused on your goal of finally being done. Youve worked hard for the last four years to get to this point; dont screw it all up now by slacking off and giving in to senioritis. 4. Make a List. Each day, make yourself a list of things you need to get done for the next day; whether its reading a textbook chapter, studying lecture notes, or going grocery shopping, and then cross or check things off as you get things done. Maybe its the nerdy list-maker in me but personally, being able to check things off that I got done that day feels really good. 5. Set Up a Reward System. Make a deal with yourself, like for every hour of studying or homework you do, you get to watch one episode of some TV show, or you get a half hour to waste on the Internet. You can even go bigger and make rewards for yourself like getting to order takeout, buying that item youve been eyeing, or that youll let yourself book that trip you wanted to take this summer or go to a concert if you just get through the rest of the semester and fight your senioritis. Hopefully these treatments will help stave off your senioritis and allow you to stay focused and studying hard until graduation finally comes itll be here sooner than you think!