Lets Learn How to Play the Ukulele.

Let’s Learn How to Play the Ukulele. Everything You Need to Know about Playing the Ukulele. ChaptersWhat is the Ukulele?Some Famous Ukulele Players and Performances.How to Play the Ukulele.Where to Find Ukulele Lessons.The ukulele is one of those instruments that everyone thinks that they can play. It’s an instrument that populates the corners of kids’ bedrooms. And it’s an instrument that is generally seen â€" a bit disrespectfully, perhaps â€" as generally just a ‘small guitar’, on which you can strum along to things like Jason Mraz.Yet, this does not really do credit to the instrument itself. Because ukuleles are not just guitars for beginners. Rather, they are quite distinct instruments, with their own history, their own sound, and their own particular traditions. Tell Jake Shimabukuro, for example, that it’s just an easy guitar; we’re sure that it will be appreciated.So, rather than collapsing this instrument into the category of the guitar, we’re going to talk about how you can learn to play the ukulele properly. We’re going to talk about how you can be a proud ukulele player with an awesome ukulele technique. We’re going to give you the knowledge of this instrument and the skills you need to hold your own in it. And, finally, we’ll point you in the direction of some ukulele teachers who guide you further on your journey.Let’s get started. Because the ukulele is a beautiful and hugely versatile instrument that you’ll love to learn and to play. So, there’s no reason not to take it seriously. Let’s have a look. 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 SamueleGuitar 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 tutorsWhat is the Ukulele?Yes, the ukulele is a type of guitar. But only in the same way that a mandolin or a cittern are. Because whilst the guitar has come to be the most recognisable of all plucked string instruments, it, like many of the rest of them, developed out of the lute.The same is true of the ukulele, which itself took its form from the Portuguese string instruments such as the cavaquinho and the rajao, as you’ll see below.As you’ll probably know, the ukulele is a small four-string instrument that uses re-entrant tuning â€" in which the strings are not necessarily tuned in order of pitch. Most often, the highest string (physically speaking) is not of a low pitch but is tuned much higher.These days, ukuleles are played in all sorts of different genres of music â€" not just in Hawaiian music.Find out about learning the mandolin - or about how to play the cittern! See what the ukulele can offer.A Brief History of the Ukulele.So, whilst you probably know that the ukulele was played originally by the Hawaiians, this is not to say that it developed there. Rather, the Portuguese â€" some sixteen thousand of whom moved to the islands at the turn of the twentieth century â€" brought their native instruments with them.These, such as the cavaquinho or the machete, were four-stringed instruments from the islands of Portugal â€" and they gave both their structure and their common tunings to the ukulele.Enjoyed by Hawaii’s king at the time, King Kalakaua, the instrument became hugely popular across the islands â€" and soon spread to the United States. From there, as is predictable, it went global â€" and moved from traditional Hawaiian music to all sorts of different genres.Learn about the lute!Different Types of Ukulele.If you are hoping to play ukulele, it is probably helpful to know the many different styles and types of instrument that you can find . Because whilst we say ‘ukulele’ as if it were just a single thing, there are actually many sizes that you should be aware of.The most common type is the soprano ukulele, which has generally become known as the standard ukulele. It comes in at about fifty centimetres, with about twelve to fifteen frets. Whilst you can tune the instrument pretty much however you want, a standard tuning is GCEA.Alongside this, there is the concert ukulele (or alto ukulele) which is slightly larger, as well as the tenor ukulele, the baritone, and the bass. These get progressively larger, with a longer fretboard and a lower pitch range.If you can play one, you can play them all. However, as they increase in size, you may have to get used to the extra stretch.Some Famous Ukulele Players and Performances.Whilst knowing the instrument’s history and types is helpful if you want to learn ukulele, it is pretty crucial to hear some real ukulele music too.Because watching a professional play the instrume nt is inspiring â€" like, actually â€" and it shows you what your instrument can actually do. And whilst strumming major chords is fun, that’s not half of what you can get out of learning the ukulele.So, get ready to see some performances that are actually impressive. Watch their technique and learn a little bit from them too.George Formby.George Formby was the comedian and musician from Wigan in the UK. He was, for a while, the highest-paid entertainer in the country â€" and he was known primarily for his ukulele and banjolele.Whilst he was known more for his comedy, Formby was actually quite an important figure in the history of the ukulele. After his death, the George Formby Society was set up to continue performances in his spirit. And this, in turn, influenced the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain â€" an organisation that continues to tour the world.Find out how to learn the banjo!Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.After the sixties, after George Formby had died, the ukulele fell out o f popularity a little. It wasn’t until the nineties, when Israel Kamakawiwo’ole started making music, that it entered back into the mainstream.Israel, or IZ, remains Hawaii’s biggest selling artist ever, and it was his arrangement of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘What a Wonderful World’ that brought attention back to the instrument. Since then, the instrument’s popularity has reached stratospheric levels. Why not learn a new instrument?Jake Shimabukuro.If you want to see ukulele playing that moves away from simple strumming patterns, check out Jake Shimabukuro, the Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso who went viral with his covers of George Harrison.If you want to see how to play ukulele in a way that will simply astonish people, Shimabukuro’s work is where you need to look.His music has won a huge number of awards â€" alongside the music he recorded with his early band, Pure Heart â€" and he continues to tour the world with his instrument.How to Play the Ukulele.So, we hope that you have seen the beauty that you can get out of the ukulele’s four strings. But now we’re turning to look at how you can learn to play ukulele. You’ll be playing your favourite songs in no time.As you’ll have read above, the most common tuning for the ukulele is GCEA, in which the G is the string physically highest as you hold the instrument.How to Hold the UkuleleThe trick with knowing how to hold the ukule le is in remembering that you need to press the instrument against you whilst you are strumming the chords. You’ll do this with the forearm of your right arm.This may mean that you don’t immediately feel like you have a lot of movement in your right arm. This is true â€" however, you don’t need that movement. What you need instead is space for the movement of your wrist. Because this is the motor that will power your strum.Strumming.When you play the ukulele, the majority of your contact with the strings will be done with your thumb or your index finger.If you are using your index finger, you’ll want to keep it loose and relaxed â€" whilst striking the strings with your nail.The alternative to fingerpicking is that you use a pick or a plectrum. However, with the uke, you usually play with one that is felted. This means that you won’t get the plasticky click of pick on nylon strings â€" which tends to ruin the vibe. You should learn the ukulele too.Where to Find Ukulele Lessons.Much of the materials that you will need to get started with the ukulele are available online. By this, we mean the basic ukulele chord charts and chord shapes, the tablature for easy ukulele songs, and the required music theory for beginner ukulele players.If you don’t like to read this sort of stuff, there are plenty of video tutorials on YouTube for you to learn in a bit more of a practical way.However, you may well want to find a teacher to help you develop as a ukulele player. They would be able to show you the ukulele techniques first hand â€" and jam with you once you know the basic chords.Head to Superprof to Find a Private Ukulele Instructor.Superprof is one of the best places to find a ukulele tutor in your area.Across the UK, we have hundreds of ukulele teachers who can teach you everything you need to know â€" either face-to-face or online. It’s a great â€" and super easy â€" way to learn the ukulele â€" a nd the vast majority of our tutors offer their first hour free!Find out about different kinds of string instruments!

German GCSE The Best Way To Learn German at School

German GCSE The Best Way To Learn German at School Learning German At GCSE Level ChaptersLanguage Learning Stigmas In GCSE Aged PupilsSo, Why Choose GCSE German?Common GCSE Language Learning IssuesGCSE German: Principal Exam BoardsUsing Past Papers To Improve German SkillsPupils need a stronger attitude towards language acquisition and it is teachers who need to change this approach. Thankfully, new language specifications are taking this on board and are beginning to introduce more and more details regarding the culture and the way of life in Germany.GCSE German: Principal Exam BoardsGerman at GCSE Level is offered by AQA, WJEC, Eduqas and OCR, among others. The qualification is designed to help learners to develop language skills and provide activities that have real-life relevance.The reformed GCSE German GCSE (which is now graded 9-1 as opposed to A*-E) is being taught from September 2017.Below are three of the most popular exam boards for German GCSE.AQAAQA officials have worked alongside teachers to create a specification that will stimulate and motivate st udents. As such, they’ve introduced a range of topics, many familiar but others focusing more on the culture of Germany and German-speaking territories.While the AQA syllabus offers an insight into culture, popular areas of interest and study and employment relating to German, the course is examined on the pupil’s speaking and writing abilities.OCROCR offers a flexible course whereby tasks can be completed out of the classroom, which can help teachers to set assessments in more relevant settings to encourage a higher performance.In a recent move towards offering even more flexibility to students too, OCR has introduced a short course whereby learners can either focus on just the speaking part or just the writing part of the course. This means that if you are better at one part, Speaking or Writing, you can opt to only be examined on these sections.EdexcelEdexcel, another one of the principal exam boards offering German lessons, has developed a syllabus that intends to motivate p upils by bringing language to life using cultural references and varying themes. The content covered is clear and manageable and has been trialled by teachers and students alike for suitability.Learn more about learning German at A level as well.Using Past Papers To Improve German SkillsAs with most, if not all other subjects offered by mainstream exam boards, German students can find past papers for their course by visiting the relevant exam board. Most documents are available in .pdf format and therefore easily downloaded prior to being printed out and completed by hand (as you have to in an actual written exam).When attempting a past paper, be sure to set yourself a time limit and to avoid being disturbed as you will want the experience to be as close to an exam setting as possible in order to gain the most from it.Try to mimic exam settings when completing past papers and don't let yourself get distracted. Photo credit: comedy_nose via Visual Hunt / CC BYPast papers are a fanta stic source of revision as they allow you to find out what kinds of questions you will be faced with when it comes to your exam, and let you practice exam techniques so that you are as prepared as can be by the time the assessment period arrives.In addition to past papers, be sure to cast your eye over the mark schemes as well so that you can fully understand what the examiner will be expecting from you.Note: While BBC Bitesize is a great source of German revision for GCSE students and provides mock exams to download and complete adapts to GCSE level, it is not an actual exam board and therefore the grades you achieve on their assessments may not reflect the grade you will get in your final GCSE exam.Search for German classes London.

Outgoing is the Way to Get Going - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Outgoing is the Way to Get Going - Introvert Whisperer Outgoing is the Way to Get Going Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Communication, Dealing with Fear No responses Go to top Networking can take place in different shapes and forms, but in this post, I’ll be discussing how to tackle the most dynamic, challenging and ancient of all: face-to-face networking. (Adolescent love may get covered as well, just as an FYI.) Let’s Begin With an Exercise to Limber Up Use your imagination to travel back to a networking event you’ve attended in the past. (Note that by “networking event,” I include any situation in which you had the chance to talk to somebody you thought could help you in your career, project, etc.) Picture this situation: soda drinks, people nervously walking up and down in their best suits, making an effort to remember every name…a typical networking event. And you stare at herâ€"the person who you trust could get your resume into that cool firm. Next  to her, a cheerful guy shares a smile with her and draws all the attention in the room. You begin to sweat, thinking you will never make an impression, and so on. Now, let’s come back to present. Was it really the first time you were in a situation like this one? Nope, although last time it happened you didn’t care as much. The last time it happened, you were staring at that cutie you wanted to kiss in high school while she was spellbound talking to the hot guy in class. You didn’t care that much only because it wasn’t that big a deal. (“She is going out with him instead of me. So what? When I‘ve outsmarted everyone and nailed a nice job, I’ll be able to go out with even prettier girls…”) But what if the guy who got the girl got the job as well? Even more important, what if getting the girl means that he is more likely to get the job? Before moving on, let’s note two things here: first, I assume the same happens to girls in high school, so adapt as needed; and second, if you don’t recall that feeling at all, you either don’t need this advice or need it the most. This said, what is my advice for networking? Care less. What that guy had and you lacked was charm, a natural way of being. Not everyone is a great performer with a full list of impressive skills and experiences, but I assure you that being charming works just fine to get the favor of the people who will open doors that only top achievers find easy to open. You may not have been graced with the attribute of charm, but growing it is possible by developing a worry-free way of being. It’s the old “success leads to success” story. More Zack Morris, Less Sheldon Cooper Confidence comes because you’re good at something, and confidence shows when you’re relaxed. I want you to look relaxed, so that everyone assumes you’re good at whatever it is. Before you complain about using shortcuts in life (some people do), in my defense I’d say that I’ve achieved astonishing marks, two degrees, speak different languages…the whole kit. But what I’ve leveraged the most in my networking endeavors has been my travel stories and easiness in talking to people. It just works better. What do you need to become the attention magnet? As I said earlier, care less. This requires a specific mindset and practiceâ€"no more. Here’s how to achieve it: 1. Develop a Defeat-Proof Mindset In this highly dynamic society, there are plenty of opportunities to network that don’t put any stress on you. If things go wrong, try again tomorrow. But look nervous, and you will lose appeal. Why don’t we start a conversation with a stranger? Most of the time, it’s because we’re afraid of what the person would think about us. The same explains many things we end up not doing. If I had had half the number of conversations that only took place in my head, I’d be the new Carnegie. I have no idea how to get rid of that concern, so I don’t bother anymore. Instead, I just take leaps of faith. The truth is that most of the messages we communicate lie in the way we communicate them. You will feel more natural and confident if you don’t follow a script, and that matters more than the words you use. (Check out Roger Love for more proof on this.) In short, approach conversations like you would a cold showerâ€"just walk up to the person and think of something once you’re standing in front of them. By doing this, you take a lot of pressure off. There is no thinking beforehand, no plan, just an objective. If you fail to achieve it (which will happen many times), you won’t care as the resources spent were minimal. You won’t feel frustrated because you won just by standing there. 2. Practice Till You Forget There Was a Mindset Like anything in life, you won’t learn this mindset by heart unless you put intense hours into it. However, unlike many things in life, practicing to become natural and charming comes cheap and with surprising perks associated. Talk to random people. I can explain to you how the process works, how after talking to many people you gain confidence and how as your self-esteem grows, you care less about the whole process. But you have to see it with your own eyes. You need to feel uncomfortable, hold stupid conversations with a smile and enjoy awkward silences. It’s the only way to learn. Travel places and try living away from home. You want to broaden the sorts of people you meetâ€"the more varied, the better. I worked in the U.K., Ireland, the U.S. and Spain before I turned 22. The jobs? No big deal: McDonald’s, amusement parks, hotelsThere are many agencies that find you summer jobs (for a fee) in different locations. For instance, I travelled to the U.S. with Travelingua and met people from everywhere in the world; there are plenty of other sites you can check out. If you have a lower budget, sign up for Couchsurfing (almost free) and join events organized by its members, who are active in every major city, and youll get to meet many people for the cost of a beer. 3. Conversational Tips I have never followed a list of tips to use in a conversation, but with time I have noticed a few things. I encourage you to use your own experience and use these only as a reference. Smile. Saying “Hey! How you doing, loser?” sounds a lot better with a smile on your face. (Although even with a smile, that opening may be a bit too risky for a first contact.) I know you’ve worked many hours on your resume and studied many more to fill it up, but don’t just spell it all out to the first person you get to talk to. People would rather have you listen to their stories than listen to yours. Practice active listening. Ask questions regarding their story and link to your own to create a bond. Take every chance to laugh at funny comments or jokes. A nice laugh cheers the group up and is a compliment to the person who made the comment. Be alert. There are a few things you need to look for in your counterpart’s body language: Is she open to talking? Is she willing to talk to you alone, or should you help others join the conversation? Does she want to end the conversation? All body language is important. If you need more help on this, try The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease. Enjoy yourself! Meeting somebody and being accepted is a challenge. You will often achieve this when you master the mindset, but remember: care less and enjoy the moment. Ready to Network? Now that you’re the life of the party, you’re ready to go out and meet the people who could help your career. In my experience, befriending a person works way better than boring her with your capabilities. Be a person anyone would enjoy having around, and you’re halfway there. A couple comments for this final stage: Find your “vital experiences” and use them. No need to get mystical here; any experience can become “vital” if you learned something from it. It’s all about selling your skills in a user-friendly way that’s easy to remember. For instance: “I played tennis for nine years and then I gave up. With time I regretted that decision, learned the importance of perseverance and to avoid feeling defeated.” This is something a potential employer might want to hear about, and we all have stories like this one. Just explain them in a way that evokes something positive about you. People remember stories; use them while actively listening as I explained above. Live up to your new way of being. It’s difficult and risky to demonstrate an interest in something you don’t care about; people could notice that your intentions are not honest and this could play against you. Change the object of your interest; make befriending the person the desired outcome, regardless of the subject of the conversation. Follow these guidelines and you’ll appear like someone who is confident in her capabilities, able to think on her feet and enjoyable. You will see that the longer you practice, it soon becomes all about the other person and not as much about what they could offer you. Soon, youll be networking everyday and in every contextâ€"you never know where the opportunity of your life could be. Are you ready to be more outgoing? This post originally appeared on Career Attraction. Image: Peter Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Photography How To Choose A Camera Lens

Photography How To Choose A Camera Lens What Kind Of Lens Do I Need For My Digital Camera? ChaptersAbout Camera LensesWhere Will Your Lens Be Used?Fisheye LensWide Angle LensesMacro Photography LensesStandard Kit LensesTelephoto LensesThe best lens for landscape photography exists, the best lens for wildlife photography exists. No matter what you want to take pictures of, there is a lens that can support you to get better results.In fact, there are so many lenses for so many different kinds of images that it can leave you feeling a little confused over where to start. Not least because the prime lenses are quite expensive, especially when you want to but an entire collection.Today lets learn about what interchangeable lens you might need for your camera. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAbout Camera LensesDetachable camera lenses are used with the body of a digital SLR camera or SLR camera to create images. Generally, if you use SLRs, DSLRs or interchangeable lens cameras, you will be able to purchase a wide variety of lenses to accompany your digital cameras. But lenses are not only there for aesthetic purposes, but they also play an essential role in the kind of image you can create as a photographer.All photography aims to create the most vivid and true to life photographic images possible. When you use the different lens, you give yourself the advantage to keep your images not just crisp and sharp but also the best that they can be.There are lenses for close ups ( Macro), Zoom lenses that give you some more flexibility over what you are shooting, There are lenses which work well in landscape environment’s like safaris   (Wide angle / telephoto), Panoramic lenses   which give wide but distorted views of reality (Fisheye) and general lenses (standard)By adding the right lens to your camera equipment, you can take your photography to a whole new level.Discover more accessories to make you photograph like a pro!Generally SLRs, DSLRs or mirrorless cameras use interchangeable lens. Photo Source: UnsplashWhere Will Your Lens Be Used?Which digital camera lenses you use depends a lot on what it is that you plan to shoot, compatibility with your camera body and the effect that you are looking for in your images. All lens’ tend to have a purpose, and many of them can cross over into what is defined as a general lens range. Often when you purchase your camera if buying it as a bundle, you will get a general lens with the camera body.Focal length is t he best way to understand how to choose your lenses. Focal length is chosen by the millimetres (mm) of the lenses from the optical centre of the sensor in your camera. That sounds confusing so think about it like this. The small the mm of your lens the wider the field of view and the more that you will be able to see in your image, For example, an 8millimeter fisheye lens might give a view of 180 degrees. The larger the mm of your lens, the less that you will be able to see in your image, for example, a 120mm macro telephoto lens would be able to show an ant walking on a leaf in full size.Let's take a closer look at the different kinds of lenses and what they can do for your photography.Fisheye LensA fisheye lens is one of the widest wide angle lens available. So wide in fact that it gives the impression of a 180-degree panoramic photo. Although it has quite a noticeable distortion in some images, it can look quite beautiful. A fisheye lens while interesting tends not to be used muc h in professional circles. But I feel that when used well it gives a truly unique and creative effect that can be quite breathtaking with a rotating effect.The Benefits of a Fisheye LensLooks great when used with round shapesThey create really unique effects that can show old scenes in new waysWorks great to snap panoramic or hemispherical  photosThe Disadvantage of a Fisheye LensFisheye lenses curve straight lines if you don’t want a distortion this lens will not be right for you.Focal LengthThese lenses are usually 8mm â€" 10mm but can go up to 35mm as wellDifferent Kinds Of LensesCircular, Full frame, ZoomExample Of A Fisheye LensSigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye LensCheck out photography course London. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Tea cher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWide Angle LensesA wide-angle lens allows you to fit more into the frame of your image. Like Fisheye lens wide angle lens also have some distortion although not quite as dramatic. Such as things in the foreground of the photograph will appear somewhat larger and elongated than usual, and the background will look much smaller.Benefits of a wide angle lensGreat for photographing different subjects at different locations within the image. This lens keeps all subject sharp.With this lens, it is easy to get a significant depth of fieldCan capture scenery, landscapes and vast scenes perfectlyDisadvantages of a wide angle lensWhen shooting at low apertures the edges of the photo can become blurry. It is better to use central aperture ranges to keep the image sharp.There can be a slight distortion of subject depending on how close they are to the lensFocal lengthWide angle lens, are most commonly lens with a focal length of 24mm - 35mmDifferent kinds of lensesThe fixed focal length and zoom lensesExample of a wide angle lensNikon 35mm AF-S f/1.8G NIKKOR lensRead our tips for choosing the best cameras for your type of photography...Macro Photography LensesA macro lens allows you to photograph ultra close up images. If you want to get the details on a ring, see the pollen on a flower or see the detail on an insect and the macro lens is the one for you. How you plan to use your lens heavy decides which lens will be right for you. Distance from the subject also dictates which lens would be best.For example for a lens with a focal range of 40mm- 60mm, you would need to be around 6 inches from your subject. This focal range wou ld be best for inanimate objects that won’t get scared away by your presence. A lens with a focal range of 90mm - 105mm you would need to be roughly a foot away from your subject.This focal range would be best for plants, insects and flowers. A lens with a focal range of 150mm- 200mm you could be much from your subject. This focal range would be best for capturing anything that might be scared away by your presence.Benefits of a Macro lensPerfect for incredibly sharp close up photographyCan capture the smallest detailsYou can buy a lens with optical image stabilization which will make shooting easier if you don’t have a steady handWorks well for Portrait photography tooDisadvantages of a Macro lensYou need good lighting to get the best resultsIf the lens doesn’t have image stabilization built into the lens and you shake even the tiniest bit, you may notice blurring. You may need a tripod.If you make a mistake, it will show upFocal lengthMarco lens, are most commonly lens with a focal length of 50mm - 160mmDifferent kinds of lensesAutofocus, manual focus, Zoom lensesExample of a Macro lensCanon 100mm f/2.8L MacroStock your beginner's kit with these photography essentials...All photography aims to create the most vivid and true to life photographic images possible. Photo Source: UnsplashStandard Kit LensesThis is the lens that you may get with your camera purchase. The standard lens tends to be a pretty good reflection of what the human eye is seeing. The most common standard lens focal length is a 50mm lens with a fixed focal length. A very popular standard lens is the 18mm â€" 55mm zoom lens and great for general purpose use.Benefits of a Standard kit lensGreat for getting started and perfect for new photographers and the enthusiastThey usually come with the camera, so there is no added costHas a fair wide angle and ability to zoom inGetting this with a camera body is cheaper than buying them separatelyDisadvantages of a Standard kit lensSometimes the im age quality on these lenses can suffer.Doesn’t compare to a professional prime lens for clarity and speedFocal lengthStandard lens kit lenses, often have a focal length of 18mm â€" 55mmDifferent kinds of lensesThe fixed focal length and zoom lensesExample of a Standard lens kitSigma lenses â€"  18mm -50mm  f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM and 17mm -50mmf/2.8 EX DC OS HSMTelephoto LensesA telephoto lens is used for photographing distant subjects like wildlife, sporting events or street views. Generally, this lens is best for capturing photos of subjects at a mid to far distance away. Despite that, they can also create flattering portraits without the distortion often found in wide angle lenses.Benefits of a Telephoto lensYou can photograph without being noticedYou can detail lots of information in the same imageYou can shoot in tight spacesDisadvantages of a Telephoto lensThe size and weight of the lensYou need to use faster shutter speed to avoid camera shakeFocal lengthTelephoto lenses, are m ost commonly lens with a focal length of 135mm - 300mm +Different kinds of lensesThe fixed focal length and zoom lensesExample of a Telephoto lensNikon AF-S 200mm - 500mm f/5.6E ED VRLenses that give you some more flexibility over what you are shooting. Photo Source: UnsplashYou don’t have to be a professional photographer to take amazing photos but having the right equipment definitely helps produce the highest quality results. While having the right camera is essential, it is the lens that allows the photograph to take shape.Next, read these ideas on whether photography truly is an expensive hobby...

6 Ways to Avoid Falling Behind During Winter Session

6 Ways to Avoid Falling Behind During Winter Session The winter courses offered by your college or university are a great opportunity to get ahead in your major or to catch up on electives. The potential downside, however, is that winter classes cover in 2-4 weeks what normal courses cover in 15-16. Avoiding falling behind requires an attitude and approach tailored to a more intensive, faster pace. While some support will be provided by the structure of the course itself, its essential to look ahead and to incorporate certain strategies in order to succeed. Ways to avoid falling behind during winter session include attending class, communicating with your professor, and dedicating time outside of the course to assignments. Excited for winter session, but looking for ways to stay on top of your coursework? Here are six. 1. Be realistic about the time commitment winter session will demand A significant portion of winter session success is developing realistic expectations with regard to the intensity of the class and the amount of work required. Review the syllabus immediately, and create a calendar that notes any: Assignments Exams Readings. Try to assess how much time your coursework will takehow many hours of work should you expect to put in per hour of class time? Being honest with yourself about what the workload will look like will help you avoid underestimating the needed effort and falling behind. 2. Prioritize your winter session course in your schedule Wherever its feasible, cut back on other commitments for the duration of winter sessionor at least dont agree to anything new. A winter semester is not the time to pick up extra work shifts or to agree to taking care of your neighbors dog. Make sure your class remains the priority. [RELATED: Stress Management Tips for Busy Students] 3. Treat winter session like a job Once you have a realistic idea of the amount of time required for the class and your other scheduled commitments, build yourself a daily schedule for completing coursework and readingand then treat it like a job. Show up for your scheduled shifts, and work to the schedule, rather than to the assignments. If you finish early for the day, stay until the shift is over and work ahead. 4. Go to your winter session class periods This may seem fairly obvious, but short semesters mean attendance is even more critical than usual. Attending class is more efficient than trying to catch up on your own. Maximize your efficiency by committing to attending every class and engaging fully. Also, keep in mind that with a stricter attendance policy comes harsher consequences if you miss classes. Missing more than the allotted number of classes may end up being reflected in your final grade. [RELATED: Top 5 College Study Tips] 5. Put extra effort into winter session If you do fall behind, be prepared to accept the consequences of either extra work or lower gradesbut dont quit! Whats most important is not to turn a mistake or mishap into a failure by throwing in the towel when you miss an assignment, fall behind on readings, or have to miss a class. Dont throw away potential success because you cant achieve perfectionjust put in the extra time. 6. Communicate with your winter session instructor Be sure to attend office hours and to stay in touch with your professor. Its easier to get help with assignments if you have a pre-existing relationship, and the instructor is aware of how hard youre working. Helping students succeed is part of their job, so feel free to count on them. The rigor and intensity of a winter session course can feel intimidating, but adequate preparation and the right attitude will mean you can take advantage of its benefits. Just make sure you truly understand whats required of you, create a plan, and are prepared for any unexpected setbacks with good communication and a little forward thinking. [RELATED: Should I Graduate College Early?] 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.

5 Common Italian Grammar Mistakes That Even Natives Make

5 Common Italian Grammar Mistakes That Even Natives Make Brooke Neuman Dont pick up any grammatical bad habits when  visiting  abroad. Below, Italian teacher Giulio G.  shares 5 common Italian grammar mistakes natives  often make Spending your vacation in Italy is amazing, both for the breathtaking landscapes and the opportunity to improve your Italian language skills. When learning Italian through immersion, however, it’s necessary to know that even native speakers make some pronunciation and grammar mistakes. It is extremely important to recognize these Italian grammar mistakes in order to avoid  getting into any bad habits. Below are the five most common Italian grammar mistakes natives make while speaking. 1. “Ma Però” vs. “Ma” or “Però” Italians will often put together these two conjunctions in daily conversation, not realizing that they’re making a common repetition mistake. When translated into English “Ma però” means  but however. As you can see, this is a repetition of two words that have similar meanings, which makes the expression wrong. When you want to introduce an adversative sentence, it is necessary to choose just one of the adversative conjunctions. For example, “Volevo andare al mare ma sono restato a casa” (I wanted to go to the seaside, but I stayed home.) 2. “A me mi” vs. “Mi” or “A me” This is another repetition mistake similar to the one above. Many Italian speakers are used to emphasizing the “Mi” by putting it together with “a me” to express the piacere construction. For example, “A me mi piace il gelato” (I like the ice-cream). This sentence is grammatically incorrect, however, as “Mi” is an alternative way to say “A me.” Therefore, saying “A me mi piace il gelato” actually corresponds to saying  I I like the ice cream. The correct way to say this sentence is “A me piace il gelato or Mi piace il gelato.” 3. The usage of congiuntivo (subjunctive) When traveling throughout Italy, it’s uncommon to hear the subjunctive while speaking with natives. Rather, native speakers prefer to use the indicativo, even with sentences containing verbs that express doubts, wishes, beliefs and worries. However, this is incorrect, as one should use the congiuntivo form when expressing such emotions. 4. The usage of Ed/Ad Natives are used to putting the D eufonica (a Greek word for ‘Good Sound’) after the vowels e or a anytime theyre  followed by a word that starts with a vowel. For example, “Io vado ad Empoli” (I go to Empoli) is incorrect because the word Empoli does not begin with an ‘a.’ Its only  necessary to use the D eufonica when the e and the a are respectively followed by a word that starts with e and a. For instance, “Io vado ad Ancona” (I go to Ancona) or “Luigi ed Ennio sono italiani” (Luigi and Ennio are Italian). 5. Gli vs. Le In Italy, it is quite common to use the masculine indirect pronoun instead of the feminine indirect pronoun  when talking about a woman. Doing so, however, is committing a gender mistake. It’s important to keep in mind that Gli is a masculine pronoun and Le is a feminine pronoun. For example, Gli ho detto che era bello (I said to him that he was handsome), or Le ho detto che era bella (I said to her that she was beautiful). Traveling to Italy is a great way to learn Italian. However, be aware of these common mistakes, so you dont pick up any bad Italian grammar habits from the natives you meet. Post Author: Giulio Giannetti Giulio Giannetti received his degree from the University of Florence in linguistics and intercultural relations and is currently getting his master’s degree at the University of Bologna. Find a  language lesson near you. 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

Critical Reasoning Question 5-MURDER - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question 5-MURDER BobbiM Feb 2, 2014 Statistics show that more than half of the nations murder victims knew their assailants; in fact, 24% last year were killed by relatives.  Nor was death always completely unexpected.  In one study, about half the murder victims in a particular city had called for police protection at least 5 times during the 24 months before they were murdered.  Nonetheless, most people are more likely to fear being killed by a stranger in an unfamiliar situation than by a friend or relative at home. Which of the following, if true, best explains the reaction of most people to the likelihood of being murdered? A.  Statistics are likely to be discounted no matter what the source, if their implication seems to run counter to common sense. B.  In the face of such upsetting problems as murder and assault, most people are more likely to react emotionally than rationally. C.  A study taken in only one city is not likely to have an effect on attitudes until similar studies have been undertaken at the national level and have yielded similar results. D.  Most people do not consider themselves to be in the high-risk groups in which murder occurs frequently between relations, but do see themselves as at least minimally susceptible to random violence. E.  People who seek police protection from relatives and friends are often unwilling to press charges when the emotions of the moment have cooled. The correct answer is: D Most murder victims were killed by people they knew, yet most people are more likely to fear being killed by a stranger.  The best way to explain this apparent contradiction is (D):  Most people dont believe they fall into the high-risk groups containing murderous friends and relations, but they do think they could be victims of random violence. As for (A), did these people find it counter intuitive that most murder victims knew their killers?  We dont know, so we cant assume they dismissed the statistics.  (B)s too vague to explain the discrepancy.  In light of the statistics, peoples fear of strangers seems irrational, but is it emotional?  A more emotional response might be to become terrified of being killed by ones spouse or best friend.  (C) fails because national statistics already exist, as the firs sentence makes clear.  Finally, (E) might explain why people who knew they might be killed ended up dead, but it doesnt resolve the discrepancy at hand.

Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2)

Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2) Discussion about the changes to the UK’s GCSE system has been all over  the pages of our newspapers for months. However, less is being said about  the similarly significant changes to our primary school education system. To  combat this, we present our myth-busting guide to what's changing for those  who are under 11. KS1 (key stage 1) students are aged 5 to 7, in schools across England and Wales KS1 is normally Year 1 and Year 2. KS2 (key stage 2) students are aged 7 - 11, normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. So, what are the major primary school assessment reforms? - All schools will give children a baseline assessment in reception, to  allow Ofsted to judge schools on the progress that students make as  well as on their test results. - Assessments before the end of Year 6 will be teacher marked, not  externally marked. - The government will set ‘performance description indicators’, and  schools will use these to assess students instead of the levels (such as  4a or 6c) that they use at the moment. - At the end of Year 6, test results will be in the form of a ‘precise scaled  score’, where 100 is the expected score. These scores will be reported  to parents, who will also be told how their child has performed in  comparison to the average for the school, the local area and students  nationally. - End of Year 6 tests will be more challenging ‘So when will my child be tested, and what in?’ we hear you cry. Your child will  sit the following tests throughout their time at primary school: - A reception baseline test - A phonics check at the end of Year 1 End of Key Stage 1 tests set by the government but marked by  teachers in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing (including grammar, punctuation and spelling) - Teacher-set assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 in: - Speaking and Listening - Science National tests at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Grammar, punctuation and spelling Teacher assessments at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing - Science Whew! This is all quite a change to primary school assessment, and it comes on top of updates to the National Curriculum. While teachers and students alike wrap their heads around these updates, our tutors will be on hand to help give your child a boost. Browse our website and find a tutor!  We have thousands of specialist 7+ and 11+ tutors, so you can be sure of finding someone who is just the right fit for you. Written by Emma H (English teacher) Still have questions? We’d love to hear from you at support@tutorfair.com Related article: GCSE Exam Reforms