Playing the Violin for Right-handers

Playing the Violin for Right-handers How to Play the Violin Right-handed ChaptersChoosing a Right-handed or Left-handed ViolinHow Do You Hold a Violin Bow?How to Loosen Up Your Right HandWhat Violin Techniques Are There?“If it is true that the violin is the most perfect of musical instruments, then Greek is the violin of human thought.” - Helen KellerThe violin, viola, and cello are famous for the demanding technique they require in order to be played.A good number of Brits have taken at least one lesson on how to play a musical instrument in their life. Most people say the guitar is their favourite string instrument while very few seem to have a soft spot for the violin or fiddle.That said, there are actually plenty of people interested in learning to play the violin, they just either think it's too difficult or too expensive to do. Especially with the instrument accessories that you have to invest in too.There's some truth to this. The violin can be really tricky to play and it's almost impossible to learn it for free. However, with the right resour ces and planning, you can make learning much easier and cheaper than you probably first thought.In this article, we’re going to look at exactly how to play violins right-handed.This can be difficult as they’ll have reverse every movement they see in order to produce a good sound or play a violin piece.You’re far more likely to see a left-handed person playing a right-handed violin than a right-handed person playing a left-handed violin since around 1 out of every 10 people is left-handed. With fewer lefties about, manufacturers and luthiers make fewer left-handed versions of their instruments.That said, being left-handed has never held back virtuosos and some of the greatest musicians of all time (including Schumann and Beethoven) were left-handed.In order to play a note correctly, the bow has to be guided by the forearm and the wrist. You’ll also need to work carefully on holding the violin bow.How Do You Hold a Violin Bow?After you’ve tuned your instrument and applied ro sin to the bow, you’re going to have to learn how to use the bow.I don't think any of these are your new violin bow. (Source: Pexels)We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, correctly holding the bow is fundamental to producing quality notes.  How you hold a violin bow is both a science and an art.Holding the bow itself isn’t the most difficult thing to do. However, holding whilst accurately moving it in order to produce notes is rather complicated.You need to place the bow with the middle of your index finger just by the pad next to the screw.  Then place your pinky on the flat part at the base of the bow while keeping the finger curved.  The index and pinky will naturally envelop the top of the bow and now you can place your thumb underneath.  Your hand needs to be relaxed yet rigid as if you were holding onto a small rock on a climbing wall.Achieving a good sound and nuance will come from the speed of the bow, the pressure you apply on the strings with the bow, and how the bow is positioning in relation to the bridge.This is what we call resonance.  You then need to learn how to move the bow through the air. The ideal way is to trace figure eights in the air rather than circles.  There are tonnes of great videos on YouTube explaining this technique.How to Loosen Up Your Right HandSo you’re in the right position to play the violin with the instrument between your collarbone and your chin.  You just have to start playing with your right hand.A physiotherapist could help with those aches and pains. (Source: whitesession)We recommend playing open strings first just so you can get the hang of holding the bow. Above all, make sure you stay in the right position.Place the hair of the bow halfway between the bridge and the neck so that the bow is directly over the soundbox.  Move the bow straight across the strings in a smooth and fluid motion.Don’t forget that the more pressure you apply to the bow, the louder you’ll play. This will be useful for n uanced playing (fortissimo, forte, mezzo forte, piano, pianissimo, etc.).Normally, you won’t remove the bow from the strings as they’ll need to produce a continuous sound. If they don’t, you might need to add some rosin.  Getting the sound right is all down to how you move the bow.There are a lot of exercises you can do with just open strings.  Once you get the hang of one string, you can move onto another string to make sure you’re used to the different heights.You can then start playing notes by bringing your left-hand into play.  Once you can correctly play a note, you can start by placing your middle finger a bit further up from your index, and then your ring finger, all while playing one string with the bow.What Violin Techniques Are There?You can’t just stop there doing basic techniques. Just like playing the guitar or the piano, you won’t become a master in just one day.Your technique will dictate how your violin sounds. (Source: Pexels)Mastering violin bow techni que can take a lot of practice.There are also plenty of different techniques, too:DétachéColléLegatoLouréMarteléStaccatoJetéSautilléSpiccatoVibratoWhatever type of attack you use, here’s some advice:Position your elbow as if you were playing the D stringMove your elbow straight when you change from one string to anotherLower your elbow for the reverse motionGive the impression that the bow is horizontalMove the bow down when you move to the G stringKeep your elbow at the same height when playing a single stringWould you like to learn to play the violin at a conservatoire or music school?  Or are you looking for a violin teacher near me?You can also get private violin tutorials at your house! There are plenty of violin tutors from all over the UK on Superprof. Many of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour for free so you can see if you get along, the type of tuition they offer, and organise the details of your tutorials, such as the rates, schedule, and what technique s you'd like to focus on.With private tutorials, you're the only student in the class. This means that the lessons are tailored to you and what you want (or need) to learn. If you're just playing for fun, your tutor can teach your some of your favourite songs. If you're preparing for an audition for a music school or conservatoire, they can help you to focus on techniques that are going to impress!Don't forget there are also online tutorials via webcam if you live rurally or can't schedule tutorials with local tutors!When you first start, you should consider an electric violin or a try to practice with the violin mute accessory so you don’t upset your neighbours with your playing.It would be a shame to get complaints just as you’re getting started with the violin.  Stick with it! You’ll soon be making progress.

An Introduction to Acrylic Painting

An Introduction to Acrylic Painting An Introduction to Acrylic painting ChaptersWhat is Acrylic Paint?Types of Acrylic PaintAcrylic vs Oil PaintingBeginner Acrylic Painting SuppliesBest Acrylic Painting CoursesIt’s always great to have a creative outlet, a way to express your personality through different mediums. Acrylic painting is a perfect way to express yourself visually, and a great hobby to keep you entertained when you need a break from the constant stimulation of technology. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePaintin g Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Acrylic Paint? Acrylic paint has some unique properties which add to its appearance on the canvas.Before we dive into the pros and cons, the techniques and tools, and everything else you need to know about acrylic painting, let’s take a moment to see how the painting medium first came about.Acrylic paint was essentially first conceived sometime during the early part of the 20th century by German chemist and entrepreneur Otto Röhm, when he first stumbled across acrylic resin. It wasn’t until the 1950s that it first became available to the general public though.This resin has a wide variety of properties, such as fantastic water resistance, and it is incredible durability when solid, which makes it the perfect ingredient for paint.Acrylic paint first came to artists’ attention due to its great versatility when compared with oil or watercolour paints, and as such it went on to become a staple of many a painter’s repertoire.With acrylic paint one can achieve a variety of effects simply by addi ng water, or mixing up the mediums used with the paint. This made the process of painting and mixing up styles much more accessible and easier than was the case before the invention of acrylic paint, when painters had to go through the hassle of mixing their own paints.For this reason and others, acrylic paint is often the preferred option for model enthusiasts. So if you’re looking to get into the world of model painting, you’ll probably need to become familiar with acrylic paint.Types of Acrylic PaintAcrylic paint can be purchased in two grades, professional and student. The professional grade paint, as the name suggests, is designed to be used by artists well-versed in the medium, and those who desire the most potential for creativity in terms of how they can manipulate the paint.While the student grade acrylic paint is meant for anyone new to the paint, or those working on a budget since its more affordable than its professional counterpart.Grade aside, there are also a wide variety of acrylic paints which can all achieve different styles and end products.  Craft acrylics - The preferred paint for model painting. This is because craft acrylic paint is versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces such as wood and ceramics.  Interactive acrylics - Best for artists seeking to modify their work as they go along. Interactive acrylic paint grants the artist more scope to alter their painting by delaying the drying process when necessary.  Open acrylics â€" Designed to extend the time it takes acrylic paint to dry, open acrylics are for those projects which require longer drying time, giving it a characteristic of oil painting.  Iridescent acrylics - An extravagant option to give art an extra splash of colour, iridescent acrylics will create a glowing effect to really catch the eye.Exterior acrylics â€" The last noteworthy type of acrylic paint that may interest you, is exterior acrylics. Much like craft acrylics, these paints will serve you well on a v ariety of surfaces, plus they are highly water resistant making them ideal for outdoor use. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAcrylic vs Oil PaintingAcrylic painting, for those that don’t know, is the main alternative to oil painting. Acrylic paint tends to come in tubes, similar to oil paint, but unlike oil paint, it dries very quickly. As a result, it is a great paint to start out with, as y ou won’t need to wait a long time for it to dry.Another reason why you might consider painting with acrylic over oil paints is how easy it can be cleaned up after use. The last thing you want as a beginner painter is to have to spend half the afternoon cleaning up after yourself, and literally waiting for paint to dry.Painting with acrylics is also much more appealing in the sense that you can clean up after yourself using plain old tap water, rather than having to rely on foul-smelling chemicals to wipe off your brush as you would with oil paints.Not to discredit oil painting too much, but acrylic painting can also be made to look like oil painting, or even watercolour, with a bit of practice. Since you can dilute it with water, you are able to achieve a variety of techniques and visuals, which make it highly versatile.Of course, there are some drawbacks too, but these shouldn’t dissuade you from starting out with acrylic paint. The main downside is that there are fewer colours to choose from compared to oil paints, and the quick drying time might affect how you paint.Beginner Acrylic Painting Supplies Your work space doesn’t have to look like this. Keep it simple.Now that you have a better idea of the nature of acrylic paint, and the characteristics to bear in mind when starting out with it, let’s take a look at the essential beginner supplies which will get you started on the right foot.While you may already know some of the basics required to kickstart a new painting hobby, like a brush or canvas to paint on, there are some other supplies you may be less familiar with. Painting for beginners requires some of the more obvious painting supplies, but also some less well-known ones.BrushFirst things first, a brush should be your number one priority if you’re looking to get into acrylic painting. With a whole host of options available, it can be pretty intimidating to attempt to make the right choice first time.However, with just a couple of brushes on hand, you can express your creative side in many ways. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want a hog hair brush with stiff br istles for heavier painting, and a lighter brush like a small round one to add finer details or effects like watercolour.One thing to keep in mind when using acrylic paints is to maintain your brushes well, that is to say, wash them thoroughly after each use as this type of paint can be tough on bristles.CanvasOf course, once you have your paint and brushes, you’re going to want a medium to paint onto. A canvas is a great place to start, and the best option for a beginner starting out is a pre-prepared canvas, which’ll be ready to use from the start.Cotton duck is one of the best materials for a canvas, due to its affordability and availability. While you could opt for the higher quality of linen, you’ll probably want to start out with something a little more reasonably priced, especially if you’re just trying the hobby out.PaletteThe last obvious item on your acrylic painting shopping list should be a good palette. You’ve seen those photos of famous painters with a brush in one hand and a palette in the other, so its obviously worth the investment.However, before you run out and buy the first one you find, it’s worth bearing in mind the quick-dry nature of acrylic paint. This characteristic means that both plastic and wooden palettes won’t serve you as well as stay-wet palettes which have been developed specifically for working with acrylic paint.You could even get your hands on a few disposable palettes, which are the best option for dabbling with acrylic painting.Jar of WaterSomething you may or may not have considered when taking up acrylic painting, is the need for a jar or cup of water at your work station at all times. This is necessary because you’ll need to keep the brush and paint wet, due to the quick-dry nature of acrylic paint.Cleaning SoapAnother supply that’s easy to overlook is soap to clean your brushes. Special soaps are available for use specifically with paintbrushes. These will keep the bristles at their best and help to maintain the brushes no matter how often you use them.Best Acrylic Painting Courses Get comfortable and study from home.Finally, to give you some direction with your first foray into the world of acrylic painting, we’re going to recommend some great tutorials, courses, and classes out there. You can learn to paint while also specifically developing your skills in the medium of acrylic painting. Learning to paint doesn’t have to be a chore either, check out these engaging painting courses and feed your artistic flair.Video TutorialsThe Arttutor YouTube channel is a fantastic resource for beginner video tutorials on acrylic painting. Their acrylic painting playlist contains a variety of video classes which will help you up your game from the get-go.Katie Jobling also has some great tutorials and video lessons on the popular video streaming platform which should help get you off to a strong start in acrylic painting.Great Online CoursesIn terms of painting lessons you can follow along with online, there are several solid options to choose from as a beginner.Your be st bet is likely to search Udemy’s great number of courses led by experts. Many acrylic painting courses can be found through the website, with some focussing on the basics, and others focussing on more complex elements of acrylic painting.Online TuitionLast, but certainly not least, is the option of seeking online tuition to help brush up on all the basics.Depending on where you are in the UK, chances are you’ll be able to find a acrylic painting tutor near you by using the art lessons near me search function on the SuperProf website.Even if there isn’t a tutor near you, or you prefer online tuition, we have you covered on that end too. Our qualified tutors offer art lessons for adults and children alike, and will be more than happy to help you start out in the field of acrylic painting, and get you up to speed with everything from supplies to techniques.

What is Summer Slide

What is Summer Slide As the new school year begins, students may find themselves overwhelmed by the plethora of new information encountered. During the hazy first few weeks of back-to-school time, you may notice your child has lost skills they learned the year prior over the summer months. Summer learning loss, also known as summer slide, occurs when students dont retain all of the important information taught in the classroom during the last school year. While this is often a common occurrence for young students, there are ways you can work to prevent it come next summer break. Looking to increase academic retention in your student and ward off summer learning loss in the future? Keep reading to learn how you can understand, identify, and prevent summer slide. Understanding summer slide Summer slide is a term that encompasses any learning loss a student may experience when returning to school after summer vacation. While its important for your student to rest and refresh their mind over the summer, its also vital to incorporate some level of learning during these months. Summer learning loss can be detrimental to students in a multitude of ways, including: Decreased reading level A lapse in foundational math skills If your student experiences summer learning loss, they may get discouraged more quickly when doing homework, frustrated that they dont recall various concepts. Reassure your child that this is often a common occurrence for students, and work with them to find creative ways to relearn the material. [RELATED: 4 Questions to Ask Your Child About School] Identifying summer slide If your student is noticeably struggling with concepts and subject areas that they focused on in the school year prior, they may be experiencing summer slide. Initiate honest conversations with your student about how their classes are going so far this school year. Ask in what areas theyre struggling, and if any of the concepts were learned previously. If youre able to identify that your child is suffering from summer learning loss, encourage them to review notebooks from last year that may jog their memory or offer a deeper insight into the concept or subject matter. Additionally, reach out to your students teacher to discuss any extra credit opportunities that are available to bridge the knowledge gap. Teachers are typically quite familiar with summer slide, and likely have strategies to help students tackle it. Catching any signs of summer learning loss early in the school year can give your student an opportunity to address it early on and get back on track. [RELATED: 4 Tips to Prevent Summer Slide] Preventing summer slide Looking ahead, there are many ways you can prevent summer slide. While keeping the restful aspect of summer vacation in mind, develop a learning schedule for the summer months. Encourage your student to reador practice their reading skills, depending on their agefor a specific amount of time each week. Create fun games, such as keeping track of the cost of food at the grocery store, to keep basic math skills fresh in their minds. Also execute engaging STEM projects, both inside and outside your house, that will allow them to practice foundational science skills learned the previous year. While it can be challenging to motivate your student to learn during the summer months, getting creative with your methods can keep them excited about their education. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Summer slide impacts numerous students each year. If you find that your student is one of them, discuss with your student and their teacher ways in which they can regain lost skills and start the new school year off on the right foot. 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.

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa Catherine earned her bachelors degree in economics and English from the University of Tulsa. She specializes inalgebra tutoring, GRE tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Tulsa: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Catherine: The University of Tulsa is a lovely campus in an area of town thats rapidly revitalizing (the university is a big force for that). I never felt unsafe on campus, even late at night. Unfortunately, Tulsa is a car town; there arent a lot of public transit options. Its a quick bike ride or drive from campus to many of the fun neighborhoods and areas of town. If you do use your bike, be sure to be carefulits best to use the neighborhood streets, as many drivers arent used to seeing bikes. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Catherine: I never had a problem meeting with a professor or an adviser; its a small school, and people are generally available and happy to talk with you. Also, its a small enough campus that you can find people easily. For instance, if you needed to talk to a certain professor, everyone knew you could always find him outside at a certain time taking his break. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Catherine: The freshman and sophomore dorms and cafeteria are fairly standard. In your junior and senior years, its likely youll be able to get into one of the on-campus apartments, which are spacious and convenient (living room, dining room, full kitchen, etc.). The dorms and apartment communities do host events, but there are plenty of other opportunities to socializeespecially if youre involved in one of the many clubs. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Catherine: I studied English and economics. I found the faculties of both programs to be extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they did. The English department is larger, and probably has more opportunities for working in the field as a student (literary journals both student and professional, a few enviable special collections of original material from authors like James Joyce), but the economics department also supports students original research and opportunities for sharing or publishing. The bigger majors include various engineering persuasions, especially petroleum, and some business majors, like energy management. (Tulsa is an oil town.) How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Catherine: Greek life is fairly significant, though I never participated. Faith groups also make up a big component of social life on campus. Personally, I made most of my friends via the student newspaper which I worked for as a reporter and eventually as editor-in-chief. As long as you take a chance on a groupwhether its a sorority or a club like the newspaperyou shouldnt have too much trouble. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Catherine: Student and career services staff are friendly and helpful. Energy companies, large corporations, and engineering firms have an especially large presence among recruiters. Its more difficult for liberal arts majors; however, I believe that is symptomatic of the larger job market, and not a fault of the school. Plenty of my peers were able to make great connections in the worlds of graphic design or the nonprofit sector. I went into public radio by way of an internship I did at the on-campus NPR affiliate. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Catherine: The library is probably the top choice for a study area, especially when the weather is nice and its possible to use the tables on the terrace outside of the library. It also has several great reading rooms, as well as rooms and various nooks down in the stacks. Generally, its not too hard to find a good place to camp out and studyexcept for during finals! Describe the surrounding town. Catherine: Downtown Tulsa, just a couple miles away from campus, has boomed in recent years. Theres a lot of fun to be had there at art galleries, restaurants, shops, and parks. A fair number of TU students hang out there, though that tends to be more popular with the people whove grown up in Tulsa. And if you want to learn to two-step, Tulsa is the place for you. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Catherine: The undergraduate student body is about 3,000 students. I found the class size to be small and comfortable, especially in the liberal arts classes. Class size tends to run larger in the sciences, for classes like statistics and calculus. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Catherine: One of the best things I did while at TU was participate in the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge. The program supports undergraduate research, both traditional and unconventional. I opted for the unconventional side, and used the program for support in helping my old high school create a student literary journal. I got to work with a group of students at the high school to help them shape their vision for the journal, solicit and select work, and publish a final product, which continues to this day. Check out Catherines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters Megan L. Its a common misconception that singers and instrumentalists are two completely different types of musicians. Theyre actually much more alike than you might think! The difference is that, as singers, your instrument is your body! Because of this, as you learn how to sing, youll likely come across some specific issues of technique. One of the most important things for singers to work on is singing notes that are perfectly in tune. Generally, producing the correct notes for an instrumentalist is almost automatic: once you know the correct fingering or position for a note on your respective instrument, its relatively easy to play. More so, the note will likely be close to being in tune already, just by virtue of the consistent physical dimensions and regulations in instrument building. For singers, however, singing the right pitches is not achieved by pressing down the right fingers. This is where singing scales can help Why are Singing Scales Important? Scales are the foundation of all music. This is why mastering your particular instrument your voice should begin with mastering all the different scales! This is true for virtually every genre of music, from classical to jazz to pop and so on. Just think: if most music is built on scales and you can already sing them all proficiently and confidently, then you have a head start on learning almost any piece or song that you want to sing. Besides being a fundamental baseline for learning vocal literature with ease, singing scales as part of your daily practice routine is also necessary for building advanced technique. Much like an athlete that starts and ends their daily training with specific fundamental exercises, stretches, and calisthenics, singing scales allows you to keep your singing body in excellent shape. Because there are no words to be memorized, melodies to remember, nor any complicated rhythms to maneuver, you can better address things like breath control, extending your vocal range, developing a variety of vocal timbres and colors, perfecting pitch and intonation, and controlling your mental and emotional focus. The Best Ways to Practice Singing Scales There is no right or wrong way to practice scales, but there are several good tips for singing scales you should keep in mind. Most singers prefer to focus on scales at the beginning of a practice session. This is because scales serve as an excellent vehicle for warming up the voice. Be sure to focus on a variety of scales. Major and minor scales are the most important to learn and implement in your routine. There are 12 musical keys, and for each of those keys, there is one major scale and three different types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Start with one octave of each scale. As you become increasingly proficient and confident, you can develop your range by doing two octaves. You can also learn and incorporate other types of scales: jazz, blues, whole tone, octatonic, chromatic, and so on. Making Scales Fun As with anything else, repetition can get boring. Fortunately, there are a number of different things you can do to make scale-singing fun and fresh: Start with just a few scales and add one or two new ones every week. This will make every week feel new and give you a constant feeling of achievement. Incorporate different rhythms. Add words to the scales. This will help you practice your diction along with the scales, as well as make it fun. You can even try a tongue twister! Sing the scales in different interval patterns, such as thirds. This is great if you are more advanced and have already become proficient at singing scales straight. Use a tuner to make sure your intonation is accurate. You can also work with your teacher  or fellow singing students to get more ideas and tips for singing scales. Although scales have the reputation of being boring or pedantic, they are an invaluable part of any musicians technical and artistic development. Just as important, they can also be fun! By acknowledging their usefulness and incorporating different routines and exercises through various tips for singing, you might even start looking forward to daily scale singing! 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 bobnjeff

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence Need to Boost Your Self-Confidence? Maybe a Life Coach Could Help ChaptersWhat Services do Life Coaches Offer?Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceAs the professional world seems to be moving faster each day, and the practice of networking makes every social interaction all-the-more valuable, having confidence in yourself and your skills is more important than ever before.But what if you find it difficult to throw yourself into a conversation with someone else? Or you fear being judged by others in public?If you’re often struggling to get your voice heard more generally, whether it be in a professional setting, among friends, or even trying to talk to make conversation with the people you come across in your everyday life, you might have been wondering about what you can do to help this.Some people put their low amount of social interaction down to having an introverted personality, but introversion, while it is often associated with shyness, is not down to a lack of confidence. In fact, you can be an introvert who is perfectly co mfortable going about their personal and working lives, but a lack of confidence can make this significantly more difficult.So, how might improving your levels of self-confidence change the way you experience life?There are many reasons people want to increase their confidence. From climbing the career ladder to simply having the courage to take up a new hobby, being more confident in yourself will not only open up multiple opportunities, but it will also help you get more out of life.Whether you're looking for success or you want to feel confident in your own skin, life coaches can help you ¦ source: Pixabay - ernestoeslavaActing more confident is not the same thing as feeling confident, however, so if you’re hoping to become more confident, rather than learning how to act like a confident person, think about hiring a life coach to help you reach your goal.Life coaching is a method of talk therapy used by people who want guidance on altering their lifestyles. There are many type s of life coaching available for various purposes, including services to help with professional goals such as career coaching programs, business coaching, leadership coaching, corporate coaching services, executive coaching, business coaches for entrepreneurs and coaching sessions for those looking for guidance with a career change or improving their work-life balance.In addition to these, there are coaches and trainers who help people with personal coaching services such as wellness coaching.Personal coaching focusses on personal development in a way that relates to someone’s personal life, rather than their professional success.People seek the services of a personal coach for many reasons. For instance, they may be working towards transformational change to their lifestyles and need someone to motivate them and keep them moving forward towards their goal. In other situations, clients may have a goal in mind yet they may be unsure as to how to reach it â€" in this case, a wellnes s coach could put them on the right path before helping them to succeed with their dreams.Building confidence can be done with personal coaching services. To learn more about life coaching to improve your confidence as well as finding a life coach to suit our needs, read on!Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceHiring a life coach isn’t like buying a product from the supermarket â€" in order to see tangible results, you’ll have to put in the hard work that your coach is asking of you. This means heeding their advice and practising the methods and plans assigned to you.Whether they specialise in a certain area or usually take a holistic approach with their treatment, life coaches use a variety of methods to help people overcome certain feelings which contribute to low self-worth. While some involve learning and practising new skills, others centre around reflection on your place in society.Here are just some methods used by life coaches in cases of low self-confide nce, self-esteem or self-image which you may see in your life coaching sessions:ReflectionOne of the most common ways in which coaches help people to realise their self-worth is to have them take stock of their positive attributes as a means of empowering them. For instance, if someone feels like a fraud in their career (a common issue for those with low self-esteem), they may be asked to list the achievements and positive attributes that led to their position.Life coaches often suggest writing lists of the things their clients like about themselves source: Pixabay - StockSnapReflecting on your personal qualities, achievements and your positive attributes, achievements, and the areas in which you are already confident can lift your spirits and give you a good foundation to build on.Reject negative thoughtsThe root of low levels of confidence is often to do with having a negative mindset when it comes to the opinion which is held of oneself. Life coaches prescribe several exercises t o help their clients change their self-perception. These may involve accepting compliments from other people without self-deprecating or making positive affirmations in front of a mirror as part of a client’s morning routine.Identify and remove sources of negativity from your lifeWhen discussing your personal experiences, your coach may identify some possessions, situations or people who are having a negative impact on your confidence.In order to help resolve your problems, your life coach may ask you about the prospect of removing some of these things from your life. This can be a difficult and sometimes impossible task, and it is up to each individual to make their own decision when it comes to dealing with muting these negative sources.Challenge yourselfConfidence is to do with your level of self-belief, and whether you have faith in your own abilities. This is why coaches are keen to learn about their clients’ personal goals when helping them to boost their confidence.By fin ding out what clients what to achieve or learn to do better, coaches often make plans for them to challenge themselves outside of their sessions. The idea behind this is that confidence when people prove their own abilities to themselves.Practice confidence-building skillsMany people with low self-esteem and self-image believe that they are viewed in a negative way by others. Due to the fact that these feelings can also make people feel like an imposter in their profession or peer group, life coaches often recommend practices which contribute to a good self-image. Examples of these practices include expanding one’s knowledge in certain areas as well as starting a self-care routine.Reading up on various subjects and learning about new ones can help with confidence by giving shy people something new to share with others, while practising self-care can help them enjoy spending time with themselves, thus improving their self-worth.See how a life coach can help with depression.Or, how life coaching can help you to lose weight.

Making Learning Easier

Making Learning Easier Making Learning Easier 5 Tips to Give Your Student an Advantage There is no magic bullet to ensure that your child will be an excellent student who never experiences problems or challenges. However, there are a few things you can do to help your child stay focused and work more efficiently, thereby setting him or her up for success during homework time and in the classroom: Establish routines and rules. Clear procedures create a home environment conducive to maximum learning, eliminating wasted time and encouraging children to work more efficiently. On the other hand, lack of structure can result in a child feeling unorganized and overwhelmed. Just as your childs teacher does in the classroom, establish and maintain clear routines for study time at home. Once you have established and communicated those rules, hold your child to them. The less time spent on getting settled into homework, organizing or finding ones things, the more time can be spent on learning. Read, read, read. Simply put, a child who is a capable, confident reader will find school to be easier overall. Reading is essential in every subject, and teachers will increasingly expect your child to offer opinions on and insight into the things he or she reads. Make books, literature and reading a frequent family activity. Incorporate reading into your daily lives, and encourage your child to read for fun, both aloud and independently. Work on basic skills. If your child is struggling with basic concepts and this is causing problems in class and during homework, it may be time to investigate. Consider having your child assessed to get more details on what academic skills he or she may be lacking. Encourage thinking. No matter what subject your child studies, critical thinking is an important skill that you can and should hone from an early age. Encourage your child to analyze, question and express opinions on books, articles, news and more. When reading stories, discuss the characters and main messages and have your child share his or her thoughts and ideas. Even with subjects like math and science, teach your child to think through problems and talk about the practical application of math and science concepts. The more your child develops such essential higher order thinking abilities, the more capable your child will be as a student. Foster good study habits. Many children who are otherwise capable students are hampered by disorganization and poor study skills. Teach your child the basics, such as maintaining a neat workspace and backpack, embracing a system for tracking homework and projects (and their due dates), and making all study and homework sessions efficient. Ask for suggestions from your childs teacher as well. Finally, one of the most important things parents can do to benefit their children is talk about school. It sounds simple, and it isbut study after study proves the positive effects of parental involvement on students long-term educational outcomes. A small amount of effort today will help your child build a strong foundation for school and life success.

How can I give detailed feedback with the Win-10 Multi-Clipboard

How can I give detailed feedback with the Win-10 Multi-Clipboard For corrective feedback on writing to be effective, it must be consistent, frequent, immediate, and explicit. Thats difficult for a teacher to achieve with 120+ writing assignments piling up and lessons to plan. Difficult, but not impossible. Free grammar checker How can I give detailed feedback? Wouldnt it be great if, instead of having to use terse correction codes on common ESL errors, you had a list of detailed grammar explanations in one place and you could insert them lickety-split into a students text with the click of your mouse? The recent Windows 10 update makes giving detailed feedback a little faster. Heres what an ESL teacher can get after they activate the multi-clip clipboard. With a clipboard like this, you can insert web addresses, grammar rules, even images into your students essays and compositions. To access it, you will have to activate it. Step 1: Press the Windows key + V Instead of pressing CTRL + V or right-clicking your mouse to access the paste command, use the Windows icon key + V. The first time you do this, Windows 10 will show you this pop-up box. Step 2: Click Turn on So, you have to activate it. Click the Turn on button to activate your mult-clip clipboard. It will say that your clipboard is empty. Step 3: start adding items Now, start copying your favorite grammar rules and web URLS from a Word document or from the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker. It might be a good idea to keep a DOCX file of rules and explanations so that you can populate your clipboard quickly for the next time the writing assignments start piling up. An example of some corrective feedback messages collected into a Word DOC file Step 4: start correcting Once you have populated your clipboard with the grammar rules you want, you can start correcting. Open a Word DOC that a student has submitted. When you find an error that you want to comment on, press WIN + V and scroll to the feedback message you want to add to a comment. Example of a students essay with the multi-clipboard activated It is that easy! Step 5: Use the VWT grammar checker Alternatively, you could ask students to use the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker. Its free and it gives corrective feedback on grammar errors in seconds. Hey! It is worth mentioning. You seem interested in giving fast, explicit, frequent feedback on errors, so I thought I should at least let you know about the best grammar checker for ESL. But why send your students to the Virtual Writing Tutor if you can add a grammar checker to your own blog or Moodle website? The steps for adding a grammar checker to your own website are here. Commenting on student writing Instead of providing explicit feedback on grammatical errors, you may want to comment on other aspects of student writing. If so, check out my blog post on how to comment on student writing. It turns out that the most common commenting practices used by teachers fall short of the ideal in predictable ways, but there is an easy fix. Please follow and like us: