How to Sing Lead in a Band - Heres What it Really Takes

How to Sing Lead in a Band - Heres What it Really Takes Sign up successful Once you’re sure you can get through a full show, make your demo. You’ll also need a press kit (after all, it pays to be professional). Then it’s time to hit the pavement! Peddle your demos to every venue you can think of: coffee shops, bars, music venues, farmer’s markets, colleges, and so on. Create an online presence and build a fan base. Do more networking. When you start landing gigs, be reliable, honest, and as professional as possible so you build an impeccable reputation. Help promote your own shows â€" the better attended they are, the more likely you’ll be asked back. It also helps if you put on an amazing show. Lead vocalists are an essential part of this process, because like it or not, you’re often the face of the band, so what you do matters a lot! Don’t Become a Diva We’ve all heard the stories of outrageous demands  don’t be that singer! This advice is particularly crucial when you’re starting out. You can demand yourself right out of jobs, venues, and eventually the band. Remember, nothing is permanent, and there are plenty of bands who have replaced  difficult divas and gone on to become successful. Vocalists exist in abundance, and it’s not always about sheer talent. It is also about how they meld with the band. The best bands work together and compromise when necessary.  Excellent lead vocalists are able step out of the spotlight at times to let the rest of the band shine â€" and they acknowledge how incredibly lucky they are to be a part of a great band. They show up for practice, and they help out in any capacity they can. Like anything in life, the more effort you put into something, the more rewarding it is. The best lead vocalists embody class, talent and they have worked hard to polish their incredible voice. 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 Patrick Kilkenny

Top 10 Most Unique Instruments to Learn

Top 10 Most Unique Instruments to Learn Top 10 Unique Instruments to Learn Sign up successful Fun Facts About Finger Cymbals Finger cymbals are also known as “zills.” This set of four small, metallic cymbals is often used in belly dancing performances. Banjo Fun Facts About Banjos Not all banjos are alike the instruments can have anywhere from four to six strings. It’s now associated with country music, but the banjo was initially designed by the first African Americans. Harmonica Fun Facts About Harmonicas The harmonica is also known as a French harp or mouth organ. There are several different types of harmonicas, including diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, octave, orchestral, and bass. Because playing the harmonica helps promote deep breathing, it’s often used in physical therapy programs for pulmonary rehabilitation. SEE ALSO: The 5 Easiest Instruments Perfect for Adult Learners Accordion Fun Facts About Accordions An accordionist performs by expanding the instrument’s bellows while pressing down keys with both their right and left hands to play the melody and accompaniment. The accordion is commonly used in Brazilian pop music. Harp Fun Facts About Harps The use of harps can be traced all the way back to 3,500 BC, but they gained popularity during the middle ages and renaissance period in Europe. Harps vary in size some are small enough to be played on your lap! Oboe Fun Facts About Oboes Oboe is pronounced “oh-boh” and it stems from the French word “hautbois.” This woodwind instrument is most commonly played in concert bands and orchestras. Ukulele Fun Facts About Ukuleles One of the most popular unique instruments to learn, the ukulele originated in Hawaii before making its way to the mainland. Multiple celebrities have picked up the easy-to-learn instrument, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ryan Gosling. SEE ALSO: 15 Awesome Musical Instruments You Can Make At Home Bassoon Fun Facts About Bassoons Like the oboe, this woodwind instrument is common in orchestras and concert bands. The bassoon is known for its wide range and its sound is comparable to a male baritone voice. Mandolin Fun Facts About Mandolins The most commonly played mandolin has eight strings and was first designed in Italy. Considered an easier instrument to learn, the mandolin can be heard in country, folk, and bluegrass music. Learn any one of these instruments and you’re sure to stand out from the crowd. With the right teacher, becoming a pro at banjo or mandolin is easy. Need help finding a music teacher who is experienced in an unusual instrument? You can easily search for a qualified music teacher here. If you know of any more unique instruments to learn, leave a comment below and let us know! We’d love to hear from you. Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

5 Talented Singers You Can Learn From in 2016

5 Talented Singers You Can Learn From in 2016 Suzy S. Ready to make 2016 your best year yet? Many vocalists stood out last year, and looking at their strategies and success stories can be a great source of inspiration especially if you want to be famous someday! Read on as voice teacher Molly R. shares her thoughts   2015 was a stellar year for lots of talented and famous singers. It seemed like you couldnt go anywhere without hearing about Taylor Swift and Adele, just to name two that stand out. Singers like those two generated a lot of buzz, and who wouldn’t want that? As we dive into 2016, its a great time to reflect on your goals as a singer. Do you want to be a famous singer someday? Do you want to start small, and overcome your stage fright? Do you want to learn how to write a song? Whatever your goals may be, theres a lot you can learn from the big artists of the past year. Here are some ways you can incorporate their major successes into your own New Year’s singer resolutions! Artist: Hozier What You Can Learn: Collaborate If you want to become a well-known singer within the music industry, your work is never done. Once you get yourself out there, you need to keep  yourself out there! To get extra buzz, many artists create more performance opportunities by collaborating with other singers which can be especially effective if its unexpected pairing. You can learn a lot from Irish singer Hozier; check out his electrifying Grammy performance with Annie Lennox here: On a smaller scale, you could ask another singer to be your duet partner for karaoke, or perhaps get a small group of singers together and put together a cabaret night! Artist:  Adele What You Can Learn: Know when to rest It’s tempting to say “yes” to everything, especially when you are just starting out. It’s great to be passionate about singing, but remember you’re human! You only get one voice, so be careful with it. Just look at  Adele, the hottest artist of the year: she underwent major vocal surgery a few years ago, yet didnt jump back into performing right away because she wanted to take her time healing. Not only thatâ€" she has also become a proud mom and wanted to put family first! Make it a goal to have balance in your life. Feeling worn out after a run of another musical, even though there’s another one holding auditions for vocalists next week? Ask yourself if you need a break, and really listen to your body. Artist:  Taylor Swift What You Can Learn: Market yourself You may have heard the advice “you gotta have a gimmick!” Thats originally from the musical “Gypsy”, and its often true! Being a talented singer is one thing, but what makes you interesting to your audience? Singers need to be savvy about marketing themselves. Taylor Swift happens to be brilliant at this. We should all look to her as an expert on a variety of things! She has revamped her image completely (country to pop!), she’s always out and about with her huge fan base, and how about that “squad” of hers? Ok, so a lot of that’s pretty hard to do if you’re well not Taylor. But heres what you CAN do: get out there in your community! Offer to sing at fundraisers, nursing homes, and so on. Show that you’re a singer with character who cares about a few causes. And yes, why not build up a “squad” of your own? Make this squad filled with trusted accompanists, like voice teachers, dancers, and other singers. Connecting with a group of like-minded artists is essential for your growth! Artists:  Tori Kelly and Shawn Mendes What You Can Learn: Keep plugging away YouTube is where today’s singer hopes to be noticed. But youll want to have a strategy in mind. Are your videos high quality? Are you posting good content? How often? What are you doing to promote your music videos? How about your audience what are you doing to grow them? Are you cross-promoting across other social media channels, like Twitter and Instagram? These are the important questions to ask. To get inspired, take a look at the success story of Tori Kelly! She was eliminated from American Idol, but took matters into her own hands and built up a huge YouTube following. Shawn Mendes, another great artist to learn from, got his start on Vine and now has a top 10 hit and a recording contract. Of course, youre not restricted to finding an audience online, or with one of those platforms specifically. The key is to keep plugging awayâ€" in any medium! Whether it’s YouTube or a local coffee shop, keep giving your best to your audience. Now put your learning into practice! No matter what your resolution is as a singer, remember to bring your best vocally every time. Look at what other successful and famous singers are doing, and find what you can learn from them. Working with a great voice teacher is also key he or she can help you become a better singer, and may even have insider advice or a network to connect you with. Happy New Year, and happy singing! Post Author:  Molly R. Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  here! Photos by  Austen Maddox, Karen Blue,  Eva Rinaldi, Disney | ABC Television Group,  Justin Higuchi 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

Summer 2012 practice SAT and ACT tests at the San Jose office

Summer 2012 practice SAT and ACT tests at the San Jose office San Jose, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara, Campbell, Los Gatos, and Saratoga students did you know that AJ Tutoring is offering free proctored SAT and ACT exams on Saturdays this summer for our current students?   The mock SAT and ACT exams are held most Saturday mornings at AJ Tutorings San Jose office, located near the Almaden neighborhood across from Oakridge Mall.Taking a practice timed SAT or ACT is a great way to keep your edge over the summer and make sure youre on track for the September and October tests.   The mock exams are timed like the real test, and AJ Tutoring will give you score feedback after the test is over.AJ Tutoring will hold practice SAT and ACT tests at the San Jose office on Saturday July 7 and July 14, 2012, from 8:30 am 12:30 pm.   After that, practice tests will happen most Saturdays in July and August 2012.   For a complete schedule, please check our website.If youd like to register for a practice SAT or ACT, or speak with someone about tutoring for fall 2012 tests, please email info@ajtutoring.com.

Food in the United States Its not all Hamburgers and Hotdogs

Food in the United States Its not all Hamburgers and Hotdogs One of my favorite English lessons to give students is about food. We talk about what they eat in their country, and ask what dishes and cuisine they associate with different countries, including Mexico, Japan and the United States.When I ask what food they associate with the United States, they almost always say hamburgers and hotdogs. Or Mcdonalds, or fast food in general. Ive been trying to convince them that there really is a variety of food here, that its not all hamburgers and hotdogs and fast food, but its been hard for me to pin down just what I would call cuisine from the United States.So, rather than try to explain it with words anymore, Im going to start posting a regular series of photos to show people just what it is we eat in the U.S.Heres two I took with my iPhone in the last few weeks:This is the pastry case at my favorite local coffee shop in Whitefish, Montana. I had the chocolate raspberry bread.Brussels sprouts from the local Farmers Market.

Teach Away Telegram - December 2012

Teach Away Telegram - December 2012 As always, the end of the year has crept up on us. We wish all of our teachers a very happy holiday season and hope you have plans to celebrate the new year (if you’re in a country that does so on January 1st!).In this month’s issue, we’re announcing the launch of our new Application Portal! We’ll also share five New Years Resolutions for teachers and travelers. Finally, our country spotlight for December is Vietnam.  Teach Away News: A Better Way to Apply!Teach Away is excited to announce the launch of our new Application Portal. Applicants will now create a user profile that they can update with career developments in order to be sure their information is always up to date.The enhancements to the new Application Portal ensure that teachers with fully completed profiles will be matched with the best opportunities for their qualifications, experience, and locational preferences. With this new, more comprehensive system, Teach Away reinforces its commitment to providing its ed ucators with the highest level of service.Teachers who already have applications with Teach Away will have the opportunity to update them through the Application Portal. We hope our educators enjoy the new and improved user experience!5 New Year’s Resolutions to Make this YearStarting fresh in a new year is a great goal. Actually doing so, however, is another story. We’ve all triedâ€"and failedâ€"before, possibly because we’ve set resolutions that are impossible or overly vague. The success of a New Year’s resolution depends largely on its size and specifics. Teachers and travelers could consider one of the following resolutions:1. Learn something newThis is a great and attainable resolution, as long as you settle on something specific you’d like to learn. Resolving to learn something new is great for a teacher: we’re used to instructing students, but we sometimes forget what it’s like to be a student!You might want to learn something academicâ€"a new language, or the comprehensive history of a new country (come on, you’ve got a year!). Maybe you’d like to learn something technical, such as how to use Photoshop. Or perhaps you just want to pick up a new hobby, like knitting. Whatever the case, come up with your plan firstâ€"will you enroll in an online course, research through blogs, or buy some books to get you started? Set a goal (“learn to create a basic website”), design the plan (“take an online course”), and go!2. Reach at least one additional student who’s been having troubleWe all want to start the new year as better versions of ourselves. But simply deciding you want to be a better teacher isn’t a clear goal. Instead, resolve to make an extra effort to reach out to students with whom you’ve been having difficulty. Perhaps you find there are a few students who make you lose your patience, or a child who is having difficulty learning to read. Make it your goal to improve this situation in some measurable way. This could m ean making a conscious decision to let go of the small things, or counting to ten before raising your voice, or giving up a free period to provide extra tutoring. Try to make a habit that will last the year.3. Try one new cultural experience each monthIt’s easy to fall into a routine once you’ve grown accustomed to your new home. For many teachers, though, the experience abroad won’t last forever, and it’s important to take advantage of your time overseas while you can! Many teachers fall into the same trap after moving overseas: they have every intent to visit all those museums, restaurants, and festivals, but because they’re no longer in “tourist” mentality, they put it off. Don’t let yourself say, “I really want to check that place out someday.” Check it out now! Learn more about your country, and take advantage of every minute.4. Learn local recipesAgain, it’s important to take advantage of living in a foreign country. Resolve to learn to cook one new local specialty each month, and work that dish into your repertoire (if you don’t have a repertoire, now’s the time to build one!). You’ll be thankful if you move back to your home country and can still enjoy tasty reminders of your time abroad!5. Add something new to your lesson plansIf you’ve been teaching a long time, you might be comfortable with the routine you’ve established in your classes. It’s easy to fall back onto the same activities and projects, and it’s great to find a comfortable rhythm. But don’t let yourself fall into a rut. New activities can energize you as a teacher, making your classes more dynamic. Try out a new game, introduce a different book, or change the way you approach certain concepts. You might be surprised with how the change resonates with your students!If you are a relatively new teacher, identify an area where you’d like to improve your teaching. Perhaps you’re a haphazard lesson planner, or your classes are always running behind sch edule. Pinpoint a specific area where you could improve, think of how you could get better, and resolve to change!Country Spotlight: VietnamDespite the influences from other cultures that are so apparent in Vietnamese architecture and cuisine, the country has an identity all its own. Vietnam is developing rapidly and is leaving behind the legacy of its tragic past, although some remnants remain. The country’s many museums and monuments provide fascinating commentary on the American War, but visitors and residents have ample opportunity to relax. Visit a French-style café in Hanoi, lounge on one of the nation’s many tropical beaches, or simply enjoy a piping hot breakfast of pho from a local stall.Though the whole of Vietnam is located in the tropics and subtropics, the country’s long, narrow shape means that climate can vary greatly from north to south. The south sees little difference between the hot and cold season, while the average temperature in the north varies more wid ely. Though each region comes with its own set of weather complicationsâ€"monsoons, typhoons, or extreme heatâ€"the months of April, May, or October are generally the best bet in terms of hitting pleasant weather throughout the country. Teachers can relax on one of the many tropical beaches, visit the mountains, or explore the villages and floating markets of the complex Mekong Delta.Educators who currently teach English in Vietnam enjoy a low cost of living and a beautiful location. Despite the country’s long history of foreign occupation, foreign visitors are treated warmly. For more information about working in Vietnam, check out the current teaching jobs abroad.

New Website Provides Insight Into College Finances

New Website Provides Insight Into College Finances via Pexels.com When researching college costs, it may be frustrating trying to find accurate information and you may have to search several websites just to find one number. This can be made even more difficult if you are trying to compare a list of multiple schools. HowCollegesSpendMoney.com is a reliable resource that has all the crucial numbers you need and will allow you to compare numbers from different schools with more immediacy. While it may be easy to find tuition numbers on other websites, other financial statistics like retention rates, graduation rates, and institutional spending reports are not so readily available. Because some universities would rather keep their spending quiet, some of these statistics are almost completely hidden. All of these factors and more are available on HowCollegesSpendMoney.com. Access to this information could help you predict future tuition rates, how likely you are to graduate, and determine whether you agree with the university’s spending history. Students are facing many worries when it comes to paying for college and dealing with student debt. With tuition prices and student fees increasing almost every year, students often wonder what all their money is going to. It is well-known that many colleges have what is called “administrative bloat” where they hire too many administrative positions, or overpay certain high-up administrators. Students are often disappointed to find out that their tuition dollars aren’t going towards bettering research, building better facilities, or rewarding outstanding professors. Heidi Ganahl, Regent at the University of Colorado, believes that this website will be “a major tool to help us tackle administrative expense bloat on our college campuses.” Michael Poliakoff, ACTA’s president, hopes that this website will help “equip college trustees and leaders to be more effective stewards of their institutions.” By providing transparent information about university finances, the website should help push colleges to re-evaluate their institutional spending and help students spend less overall. This website appears to be a massive step towards a fairer, more transparent financial future for university students across the country. If you would like to learn more or explore the website, you can visit it at www.howcollegesspendmoney.com.

You Learn More if You are Laughing at the Same Time

You Learn More if You are Laughing at the Same Time I think you learn more if you are laughing at the same time. Mary Ann Shaffer During her life, Mary Ann Shaffer achieved to become an editor, starting as librarian and then seller in bookstores. She truly loved books and used to dream about her own novel to be published one day. Mary Ann Shaffer had cancer. So in order to finish her book, Mary Ann asked her niece Annie for help. Annie, by then, was already known as the author of the childrens series Ivy and Bean and The Magic Half The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society became Shaffers first novel. Unfortunately, Mary Ann Shaffer died in February 2008, just months before her first novel was published.