Slice Club - Jordan Tutoring

Slice Club - Jordan TutoringThe New York Slices Club is a non-profit organization that offers free Slice Club training courses to both adults and children. The clubs in New York offer Slice Club training in the following areas: knife safety, hanging safety, counter-sink knife training, drill dummy training, scuba diving and boating, and knife sharpening and maintenance. There are two types of courses offered: one-day courses that are available every Saturday, and intensive week-long courses that run from eight to twelve weeks long.Jordan training courses include both classroom sessions and live instruction by qualified Jordan Tutors. A certified Jordan Tutor will demonstrate a number of skills in the classroom and after class, as well as, during a hands-on training session. Instructors are available to answer questions and to provide students with assistance, should they need it.The Jordan Tutor program was started by Spencer Jordan in 2020. It has been featured on numerous news and media programs, including CBS, CNN, ABC, and NBC. Today, the Slice Club schools include two branches in the U.S. and Canada, where there are currently more than one hundred children, instructors, and Jordan Tutors.The Jordan Tutor Certification process has several steps, which include a seven-hour classroom training session, an eight-hour hands-on training session, a three-day training course, and a final three-day in-class testing session. During the training, the teachers will be taught basic knife safety procedures, and knife sharpening techniques. A blade that is not sharpened properly can cause injury. Also, before beginning lessons, students will learn the correct procedure for hanging the knife, when to use a knife, how to determine if a knife is sharp, and more.Once a student completes the knife training course, he or she will be assigned a Jordan Tutor. During this initial period, the instructor will provide helpful information about the knife and how to use it. Teachers wi ll also be able to help in other critical knife safety issues, such as selecting a knife to be hung, what level of sharpness is appropriate for certain knives, and how to use safety equipment to ensure the safety of the students and themselves. The students will also learn techniques for dealing with stressful situations and other situations that may lead to injuries.Jordan Tutors will provide instructional techniques to teach the students about the use of knives. During the knife safety demonstration at the end of the week-long training course, Jordan Tutors will teach knife safety skills to the students. After the training course is complete, the students will receive a certificate that allows them to take classes at the local Slice Club in their own time.Slice Clubs offer weekly classes and additional instruction for instructors. The instructors are trained to provide all lessons in a comfortable, interesting, and non-threatening environment, which can make the entire experience more enjoyable for students.The Slice Club at Poughkeepsie, New York has been used for years by students from all over the country, as well as, other countries. This location is also considered to be one of the top Slice Clubs in the world. Whether the students are beginners or advanced, the training offers lessons that will keep them safe and protected at all times.

The 5 Hardest Languages for English Speakers and Why You Want to Learn Them

The 5 Hardest Languages for English Speakers and Why You Want to Learn Them Want to feel smart?Learn a second language.Want to feel even smarter?Learn one of the five hardest languages for English speakers.Learning any language to fluency is a major undertaking, but youll find that some languages take more time than others.When it comes to the amount of time it takes to learn a language, the hardest ones can take more than three times as long  as the easiest ones.So best just to save your time and avoid them, right?Not so fast! Learning a difficult language has several advantages, and itll take your language learning game to a new level.Its a more intense experience, so if nothing else, itll heighten all the benefits of learning a language.Plus, itll make you a total badass. Are Some Languages Really Harder to Learn?But are some languages actually that much harder to learn?Technically, the answer is no. All languages are evolved to be as easy to learn as possible, and theres nothing that makes any one language inherently more difficult to learn than anothe r.However, learning a second language is a little different than learning your first language because your habits and the way you think about language have already been shaped by your past experience. So when it comes to learning a foreign language, how hard a language is to learn depends mostly on how different it is from the language or languages youre already fluent in.Even though no given language is more difficult to learn in a vacuum, some languages will differ more from your native language in terms of syntax, word order, writing system, vocabulary and so on.Still, when we say these languages are harder to learn, all we really mean is that they take longer to learn. You have to figure out how to  memorize more stuff, and you might have to spend more time listening to internalize the flow of the language.But words are still words and grammar is still grammar. Nothing makes these languages inherently harder to learn. Theyre just less familiar and thus take more time. With a goo d plan and a good  language learning method, youll still prevail.Why You Should Learn One of the Hardest Languages for English SpeakersOkay, so the downside to learning one of the hardest languages for native English speakers to learn is obvious: You need to set aside more time than if you were learning an easy language.The upsides, though, are a lot more compelling.Youll learn an entirely new way of thinkingThe whole thing that makes these languages hard to learn is how different they are from English. But look at what that means: If youre learning one of these languages, youre learning a new, unfamiliar way of thinking. An entirely new writing system, a word order you arent used toâ€"whatever.If you arent convinced, consider that research has shown that speaking a language that has little in common with English literally means using your brain in a different way. The very thing that makes some languages especially hard to learn for English speakers also makes these languages espec ially useful for expanding your perspective and learning a new way of thinking.Youll gain access to a very different cultureThe less a language has in common with English, the more likely the culture associated with that language is to be very different from the cultures of English-speaking countries. Since learning a language also gives you access to the culture associated with that language, learning an especially unfamiliar language is a nice two-for-the-price-of-one deal where you also get to know an especially unfamiliar culture.Youll take your language learning skills to the next levelThe harder the language you choose to learn, the more itll stretch your language learning skills. Learning one of the hardest languages for native English speakers will give your language learning muscles a complete workout, so any languages you choose to learn in the future will seem easier and take you less time to become fluent in.The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Centers Languag e CategoriesOf course, before you can get started learning one of them, you have to actually know what the hardest languages are!Fortunately, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), a language learning institute run by the United States Department of Defense, makes this easy. They divide languages into four categories based on difficulty, then make the lengths of the courses they offer in each language proportional to how difficult that language is.The easiest languages, Category I and II languages, include Romance languages like Spanish and French and take 36 weeks to learn. Category III languages, which are harder still, include Russian and Hebrew and the course length goes up to 48 weeks.  The hardest languages of all are Category IV languages, which take 64 weeks to learn at the DLIFLC.The 5 Hardest Languages for English Speakers and Why You Want to Learn ThemThere are five languages taught at DLIFLC that get classified as Category IV languages. Lets tak e a look at them and why they might interest you.1. ArabicThe most obvious way Arabic differs from English is the alphabet. Arabic uses a right-to-left cursive script that draws on 28 letters. Additionally, vowels in written Arabic are often notated with small marks above and below words or even omitted entirely, so readers have to rely on their knowledge of the language to fill in the gaps between consonants.However, because of the limited number of letters used in the Arabic alphabet, English speakers tend to develop an intuitive sense of Arabic writing fairly quickly once theyve made the necessary mental adjustments.Arabic grammar is an involved process. Arabic is a highly inflected language with many rules that may surprise English speakers. For example:Arabic has a singular, plural and dual form, so having two of something is different than having three of something as far as the grammars concerned.The verb generally comes before the subject in Arabic sentences.The basic meanin g of a word is given by the consonants that form the root of that word, and the precise sense of the word is determined by which vowels are added between the consonants.Nouns can be masculine or feminine, and both adjectives and verbs have to match the nouns theyre associated with in terms of genderâ€"unless the noun is an inanimate plural, in which case the corresponding adjectives and verb must be in feminine singular form.Thanks to these kinds of grammatical quirks in combination with the writing system, learning Arabic can be a mind-bending experience for English speakers. For another perspective on what makes Arabic interesting for English speakers to learn, check out this article from Slate.And to start learning Arabic yourself, check out these great online resources.2. Mandarin ChineseLike Arabic, Chinese uses a writing system unfamiliar for English speakers. Unlike Arabic, Chinese doesnt have an alphabet. Instead, written Chinese is comprised of one-syllable characters, and every Chinese word is either its own character or a composite of characters. As a result, learning Chinese means internalizing the thousands of different characters that make up the language.Tones also play a crucial role in Chinese, and words that differ only in terms of intonation can have radically different meanings. Mandarin Chinese has four tones (some varieties of Chinese use more).That said, Chinese grammar is actually fairly simple for English speakers to pick up. For starters, Chineses subject-verb-object word order will feel familiar to English speakers. More importantly, Chinese is pretty much the polar opposite of Arabic as far as inflection goes: Whereas Arabic is highly inflected, Chinese is minimally inflected.So no need to worry about gender or verb conjugation when learning Chinese. For that matter, no need to worry even about singular vs. plural or tense. These aspects of the language are communicated using word order and context rather than inflection in Chinese. Try FluentU Chinese for getting started with the Chinese language.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.3. JapaneseThe writing system used in Japanese is based on kanji, which are characters adopted from Chinese. Therefore, individual characters tend to be similar in both appearance and meaning from Japanese to Chinese, although some differences have arisen over time.Beyond kanji, Japanese also uses sets of characters called kana  that are used to write grammatical markers, foreign words and other words that have no kanji representation. Kana itself breaks down into different classes of charactersâ€"so at the end of the day, Japanese writing is an amalgamation of several different scripts.Japanese writing isnt the only brain-stretching aspect of the language for native English speakers. Japanese grammar generally takes more time for English speakers to get down beca use it has less in common with English. For example, the verb goes after the object in Japanese sentences, and Japanese uses postpositions instead of prepositions, so learning Japanese is probably the quickest way to get rid of any habits English might have given you as far as expecting words to appear in a certain order.According to some, these features may actually make Japanese the hardest language for native English speakers to learn, although youll also find plenty of English speakers out there who have learned Japanese and now wonder what the big fuss is.To get started with Japanese, try FluentU Japanese.4. KoreanFor the last hundred years or so, written Korean has primarily used Hangul, an alphabet consisting of 24 letters. By itself, Hangul is probably the easiest writing system for English speakers to learn out of the five languages on this list (probably a little easier than Pashto/Arabic, definitely much easier than Japanese/Chinese).However, lurking in the background in written Korean is Hanja, the Korean equivalent of Japanese kanji. Hanja, which isnt based on an alphabet but on borrowed Chinese characters, was the main form of written Korean until the 20th century, and its still used in some situations todayâ€"for example, to disambiguate words that have the same hangul spelling.Korean grammar is similar to Japanese grammar (verb goes after the object, for instance) but a little more intricate. For example, Korean has more particles. Korean also uses more sounds than Japanese, many of them sounds that English speakers arent accustomed to.Both Korean and Japanese are also steeped in complex social etiquette that requires English speakers to adjust their mindset a little. In both languages, there are several different degrees of politeness you can use, ranging from the formal to the familiar. Of course, it can be a little tricky learning to navigate this aspect of the language with ease, but its a great example of how learning a new language also m eans learning a new culture.Take a look at this post  for an idea of how to get started with Hangul, pronunciation and other Korean basics.5. PashtoThe final Category IV language listed by DLIFLC is Pashto, spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan.English speakers find Pashto hard for reasons similar to why they find Arabic hard. First, the Pashto alphabet is related to the Arabic alphabet, so theres that.Maybe more significantly, Pashto is a highly inflected language, so learning Pashto means becoming immersed in a world of complex and novel grammatical peculiarities. For instance, which nouns agree with which verbs in Pashto depends on tense.You might recall that some languages like Japanese tend to use postpositions rather than prepositions. Well, Pashto uses postpositions, prepositions and something called ambipositionsâ€"words that fit around nouns like sandwiches.For a taste of Pashto, check out this page.The one thing shared by these five languages that makes them all a handful for native English speakers is that theres little overlap with English in terms of vocabulary.Beyond that, though, these languages are all hard for slightly different reasonsâ€"writing system, grammar, tones, etc.Whichever one you choose to learn, youre bound to discover a linguistic world that is exciting, new and strange in the best possible way.Sure, youll have to put in more time with these languages than with languages more closely related to English, but itll be time well spent!

Tips for Babysitting Pre-Teens

Tips for Babysitting Pre-Teens Image via Pixabay The pre-teen years, or “tween” years as they are often referred to, are exciting times in a child’s life. For one, they are growing up and getting ready to launch into that period of life that parents both anticipate and dread. Two, they are still learning not only in school but in other areas such as friendships and responsibility. Some parents find themselves in a very tough spot when it comes to parenting pre-teens. One reason for this is that they are not quick to change their view of their growing offspring from “little child” to “almost adult.” It is important to understand this when someone asks you to “babysit” their “child” who actually is an active or creative 12-year-old. It is also important to understand the pre-teen’s point of view, too. If you’re past this stage of development as I am, you probably remember being told that you’re “acting grown” or firmly put in your place when you expressed an opinion that was different. Being seen as a “child” can be frustrating to an almost adult. Pre-teens seek to exert themselves in some situations and prove themselves in others. That’s part of growing up. Caring for pre-teens is not the same as caring for a baby, young child, or teenager. Understanding the characteristics of children at this age can help you to develop good relationships with those you care for and win their parents’ thanks. Here is some advice: Get to know the pre-teen Even though pre-teens, in general, share a certain set of characteristics, no two pre-teens are the same. Some pre-teens prefer to work or play alone while others want someone else to be involved. Some are more creative while others are studious. It is important to get to know the pre-teen on his or her level. Ask them questions. Talk to them in a language they can understand. Find out what interests him or her and be willing to let his or her personality direct the activities you both engage in. Treat the pre-teen like a person He may only be 11 or 12, but he is a human being and should be treated as such. What he says, does, and thinks about is important and you should be careful to make him feel loved and valued. Your attitude and actions will help him or her to know that. Many young children do not mean to be disrespectful; they simply want to be heard. For those whose parents are super busy or who do not have siblings or many friends, you can be that pair of ears the young child needs. Be a friend and a role model Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Sabina Dosani writes in her book “Parenting Pre-Teens,” “You need to be a friendly authority, not a friend. This means that you are someone the pre-teen can talk to, play with, and take advice from, but you have boundaries and rules for his or her safety. Like any young child, pre-teens will test the limits and your patience but you have to strike that careful balance between friendship and authority figure. While you play games and do activities, you want to be in control of the situation and set an example for the young person to follow. Many pre-teens don’t need a boss as much as they need a role model. Give them space Pre-teens need boundaries, not rooftops. As they get ready to become teenagers, they are learning the joys of autonomy and independence. Don’t curb that or take it away from them. However, remember they are not fully mature and do not know as much as they think they might know. As a sitter, it is okay to allow the pre-teen to explore in his independence especially if the parents have already approved. But you are still responsible for ensuring their safety and that of your own. A pre-teen may be allowed to play whenever he wants, but that is not in his best interest if he has homework to do. Obey the parents rules This one isn’t a hard one except for when pre-teens want you to bend the rules. It can seem easy to just do whatever the child wants because you want to be liked or because the child is a little strong-willed. But it is important to obey the rules established by the parents. In the long haul, the pre-teen will respect you more and learn to follow rules on his or her own. Stephanie Felzenberg, editor of How to Be the Best Nanny Blog stated, “The parents need to instruct the sitter or nanny and the children clearly about the rules of the house. Its essential that parents and caregivers work together to make the rules of the home consistent.” Avoid being overbearing Pre-teens don’t need a dictator. When I was 11 and 12, my mom had a 15-year-old girl “babysit” us while she was at work. I was best friends with the girl’s younger sister who was the same age as me. However, the babysitter was bossy and had a do-as-I-say type of attitude. For me, that did not work because I am the oldest of seven children and had long been responsible for watching over my younger brothers and sisters, setting schedules, enforcing rules, helping with school work, and even cooking meals. So she and I did not get along too well and after two sitting sessions, she was out. The point is, some pre-teens need a bit more oversight while others are able to self-manage and self-direct. Be careful to respect the difference. For those who need more oversight, look after them appropriately. For those who are advanced in their thinking and behavior, come alongside them and serve as a support system. Sitting pre-teens can be a rewarding experience all the way around. The parents get cheap assistance and peace of mind. The pre-teens get a playmate, listener, or homework assistant. And the sitter gets to put his or her skills to work and make some money along the way.

Dukes Linear Algebra Help Room

Dukes Linear Algebra Help RoomDukes Linear Algebra Help Room is one of the smartest things a parent can do for their child. Children are not the most thoughtful or intelligent people to begin with. The Dukes Learning Tools are designed to enable your child to enjoy learning without sacrificing their emotional safety.The Dukes learning tools are designed to help students learn to use statistics and math in their lives. They are interactive and fast paced allowing students to put math and statistics to work without any fear that they might get lost.The software tools will teach your child basic principles that they need to learn to make good choices and decisions. They will be able to use these tools in many different situations. That includes choosing which parents to buy gifts for, where to go, how to get home, how to make a pizza, and so much more.If you want to see more of the Dukes tools, then you have come to the right place. Visit the Dukes website and take a look at some of the applications they offer. I have personally used the Dukes Math Help Room tool and can tell you that it is fun and a whole lot of fun.The Dukes Linear Algebra Help Room includes lots of activities, games, activities, quizzes, and lessons that you can use for free. The exercises are challenging and well paced, making them fun and engaging. The Dukes Learning Tools will teach your child how to take an ordinary situation and make it into a beneficial activity.The Dukes Learning Tools is available for students of all ages and genders. The objective of the Dukes Tools is to give your child a life-long skill set of good decision making skills. These tools help to build a foundation for your child to do other good things in life such as earning money for his/her college education.If you are interested in trying out some of the Dukes Learning Tools then visit the Dukes website now. It is a very fun and interactive program that will help you child to master fractions, learn about coins, the dollar bill, and many other subjects. You will be able to watch your child learn a lot in this program.

The Organic Chemistry Tutor Physics Incline

The Organic Chemistry Tutor Physics InclineIf you are looking for a chemistry tutor, consider the organic chemistry tutor physics incline. There are some other types of tutors that you can get. All have certain characteristics that will make them a perfect fit for your course. Before you take the leap to finding a tutor, consider all the different aspects of this type of tutor.The first is to consider how long they are going to be there for. Tutors that are here for longer usually have more experience. You want someone who is going to work with you and will be willing to make an effort to help you succeed in your classes. Some of these teachers have great teachers, so they may be able to explain the different components that are required in a chemistry class.Another thing to look at is the types of materials that they will be working with. Some tutors are going to be using printed materials as well as online resources. These materials need to be easy to understand. Some of the materi als that are available today do not require much effort to use.The final aspect of a tutor is how much money they will charge you. One thing that you should consider is how much their tuition will cost you. If they ask you to pay for books, it may be best to look elsewhere for a tutor.When looking for a tutor, you should consider the two best ways to find one. One way is to look for them at the college that you are going to. The other is to go online and ask for the information.Online tutoring can be just as effective, if not more so, than seeing a tutor at the college. Since they will have access to materials that you cannot, there is a larger chance that they will know what you are going through. This is the better option for most people.The last aspect of choosing a tutor is if they are going to be located in your area. It is a good idea to look at their schedule and see if they are available when you need them.

Step Function Examples Tutors

Step Function Examples Tutors Step functions are the functions which take a particular value in a way that they jump from one constant value to another constant value. The graph of a step function looks like a staircase that increases upward or goes downward step-by-step. An example of a step function is the greatest integer function which is represented by the [| |] symbol, and no matter what number is given inside the parentheses, only the integer which is lesser than or equal to the given number is considered as the answer! Example 1: Find the greatest integer values of 4.2, 4.6 and 5.4. Greatest integer means we have to only take the value of the greatest integer possible which is less than or equal to the given number. This implies that the greatest integer less than or equal to 4.2 is 4. Therefore, [| 4.2 |] = 4 Similarly, [| 4.6 |] = 4 Also, [| 5.4 |] = 5 If when graphed, these values give a series of steps, and hence this kind of function is known as the step function! Example 2: Find the greatest integer values of -2.1, -3.5 and -4.7. Greatest integer means we have to only take the value of the greatest integer possible which is less than or equal to the given number. This implies that the greatest integer less than or equal to -2.1 is -3. Therefore, [| -2.1 |] = -3 Similarly, [| -3.5 |] = -4 Also, [| -4.7 |] = -5 If when graphed, these values give a series of steps, and hence this kind of function is known as the step function!

What is it Like to Attend University of Wisconsin-Madison

What is it Like to Attend University of Wisconsin-Madison The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jason is a New York City tutor specializing in Writing tutoring, ESL tutoring, Elementary Math tutoring,Middle School Math tutoring, and more. He holds a Bachelors degree in Russian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jason: The University of Wisconsin-Madison (a Big Ten school) is a beautiful, sprawling campus located on the shore of Lake Mendota, the largest of five lakes in Madison. The student union has a patio right on the lake, with a shore path that leads along the lake toward a point about a mile away. It is also just a few blocks to the state capital building, and right next to the several block-long State Street, the downtown business district for the city (over which the campus has a huge influence). Bus service is fantastic, though most of the campus is very walkable. Madison also boasts (at least in my day) more bikes per capita than any other U.S. university, very bike-friendly roads with separated lanes everywhere, and even buses that have bike racks on the front for passengers. It consistently ranks in the top 25 public universities in the nation (10th place in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings), and places very high on world rankings. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jason: The university is vast 40,000 students (30,000 undergrad), so its hard to generalize. But my feeling is that learning is very highly respected, professors are leaders in their field, and the commitment to learning is high. In addition, there many, many support activities (groups, clubs, events, etc.) that support learning in every field. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jason: Dorm life, like all dorm situations, is going to be what you make of it. In addition to the university dorms, private dorms and off-campus living is plentiful. There are many dining options. The campus has plan and a la carte options, both student unions have cafeterias, and there are many healthy, interesting dining options around the campus. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jason: I wish I could say all of them! But what comes to mind for me specifically are the sciences, the life sciences and humanities, the business school and the agricultural school. I am always surprised at how often I read newspaper articles where the quoted expert is faculty from the UW. I myself studied Russian, where Madison has a very well respected Russian program. I decided to major in it because after exploring several possible options, Russian remained the one that provided me with a window to exploring the world that appealed to my love of language and sense of adventure. And I was able to include minors in International Business and Integrated Liberal Studies. I do feel supported by the university native speakers were plentiful. The university had many travel programs and access to private programs as well, with many activities (Russian tables, movie nights, etc.) VT: 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? Jason: Making friends can be easy; there are many ways to pursue interests and get out to meet people. Campus mixers, of course, but also a full range of sports. Theres a sailing club, other athletic groups (running, yoga, etc.), intellectual pursuits and museums, and so on. The list is really long. There is a strong Greek system, with most national fraternities and sororities represented and having their own house on fraternity row, but they do not at all play any kind of dominate role in the overall social life of the campus. And I have to say, by and large, the majority are friendly, normal social clubs and buck the fraternity stereotype. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jason: The Career Center is very helpful, and there are many support services. Because of the size of the school, most opportunities are found through the individual colleges instead of a centralized university office, but the resources are tremendous. Company recruiters visit the campus all the time. One story Id like to share: Just a couple of weeks ago, I called the Registrars Office to follow up on a residence question I had. This is now many years after Ive graduated. Not only did they resolve my question immediately (and it was not a usual question), but my call was answered by a person. No option tree, no recording, no if you know your partys extension. Real person Ring, ring Office of the Registrar, how can I help you? I was amazed. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jason: No matter what your study method, you can find an environment to suit you and options run the gamut. From the Helen C. White Library, open 24 hours with talking and food allowed, to Memorial Library with quiet area individual study carols (some of which can be rented by the semester), to dozens of coffee shops and the two student unions. When you need to study, you can find your place. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jason: The population of Madison is about 250,000. The city has a rich progressive history. The downtown area starts right where the quad (Student Union, Memorial Library, Wisconsin Historical Society, and University Book Store surrounding) ends, and runs straight up several blocks to the Capital. The Capital has a farmers market, several movie theaters, restaurants, cafs, and bars. There are two large shopping malls both on the east and west side of town, which are about a 20-minute bus ride. Living on or near campus, going downtown is a matter of walking down the block. Outside the city, there are many natural areas including an arboretum, and many sleepy typical midwestern small towns. The Wisconsin Dells (about and hour and half away), Milwaukee (an hour), and Chicago (three hours) are common destinations with easy roads and frequent bus service. Its a very friendly place, and if youre familiar with the Midwestern temperament, youll find lots of it in and around Madison. For example (I dont know if they still do it), I have seen, on many occasions, a bus driver radio ahead to another bus driver to say that there was a passenger that needed to make a transfer to another bus. The other bus driver would then wait for that passenger at the connecting stop. Who does that?! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jason: The class sizes range, from popular liberal arts 101 classes numbering in the several hundred students, to rapidly shrinking as you got down to the 200-300 level classes and 300-400 level classes which are often just a dozen or so students. Although many classes seem large, I never felt isolated or left out questions and discussion are supported and encouraged, and professor office hours were always available. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jason: One professor in particular stands out: Lydia Kalaida (Lydia Borisovna to us), our 210 Conversational Russian instructor. A native speaker from the Former Soviet Union, she was tough as nails with a heart of gold. She had no problem getting tough with a student who was slipping, but always did it in the same way Mr. Gondo, we all love you dearly, but if you dont start getting to class on time, your language is simply never going to improve. I know I upped my game soon after rather than facing her wrath! Check out Jasons tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Vary Drawing Techniques to Become a Better Artist

Vary Drawing Techniques to Become a Better Artist How Can Learning to Draw with New Techniques Make You a Better Artist? ChaptersCharcoal SketchesGraphite for ContrastColoured Pencils for GradationPen for OriginalityPastels for Gesture DrawingA well-rounded illustrator is one who can employ a wide range of techniques. However, in order to reach this level of mastery, they often have to spend long hours working on their technique.Whether you work with a paintbrush, colored pencils, charcoal, oil pastel, or pen and ink, artists are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing drawing materials!While some prefer to work with oil paints when painting a portrait, others choose colouring pencils.The drawing tools you use are completely up to you.So, are you ink or graphite? Here are some drawing tips for those in the dark about their art kit. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/ h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCharcoal SketchesIf you’ve just started a drawing course or follow online drawing tutorials, your teacher will have told you about the techniques painters use to prepare for a portrait.Among these common techniques is charcoal drawing. Charcoal is essentially a stick of burnt wood which produces a black colour when used as a pencil.Charcoal was one of man’s first tools used for drawing reality on a flat surface, and is still a popular tool, as it can be used to trace an outline as well as for shading.By experimenting with charcoal, you will see that it helps to create fine details as well as larger ones depending on the way it is used, me aning that you can create striking drawings using just one charcoal pencil.The are many variations of the charcoal pencil, including softer and harder options that lend themselves to different artistic aims.In my drawing lessons, some of my classmates would use harder charcoal to sketch out the first basic shapes on their canvasses before committing to using paint. Learning the basics of drawing may seem tedious, but it is always helpful later on.Charcoal lends itself to realistic drawing as it is useful in sketching the beginnings or portraits as it is a soft material and therefore easy to erase!However, make sure that you don’t use a normal graphite eraser to do this. To erase charcoal, use an art eraser â€" this will help you avoid making tears in the paper or canvas.See different drawing courses London here.Charcoal may be messy, but it's its soft quality that makes it great for blending! ¦ source: Pixabay - pixel2013One of the advantages to using charcoal is that it is far e asier to get a good gradient that with a graphite pencil, as it is easier to blend, and so you don’t need to use other shading techniques such as cross hatching. However, if you want clear, sharp lines as when drawing a caricature, you might prefer graphite.Graphite for ContrastAre you keen to start drawing comic strips or keep a travel journal in pictures?What drawing tools are best for these kinds of projects?The first drawing tool that comes to mind when we think about sketching is the humble graphite pencil.Its silvery-grey quality and soft texture make it perfect for creating depth and a sense of colour within a piece.We all remember that even in nursery school, we were taught how to hold a pencil in our hand and use it to draw pictures, picking up vital drawing skills along the way.The pencil has always been a part of everyday life, but it is often rather underappreciated by those who aren’t interested in drawing. As simple as it may seem, graphite is a fantastic material for drawing, and this is the reason why the humble graphite pencil will always be important to artists all over the world.Even our prehistoric ancestors used graphite to trace pictures on the inside of caves! Today, graphite pencils come in many shapes and sizes.This is how they are categorised:9H to 9B,H stands for ‘hard’B stands for ‘black’ (meaning a softer lead)HB is in-between, so HB pencils are hard and black in equal measureDifferent types of lead lend themselves to different types of drawing, so while you may use a hard pencil for architecture or other technical drawings, you may use a blacker one for portraiture.Find your next drawing class. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teac her 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsColoured Pencils for GradationGetting a new set of colouring pencils is the most exciting part of Christmas for many 5-year-olds, but even if they seem a little infantile as a drawing tool, colouring pencils have an important place in fine art!Of course, the way they are used by artists is a lot different from the way they are used by children, and so in order to get the most from them, you may have to move away from your current idea of them as children’s toys.With a quick google search, you’ll be able to appreciate the quality of the art produced using colouring pencils, and realise what they can help you achieve in your own art.The advantages to drawing with coloured pencils don’t stop at th e fact that they are coloured â€" you can also use them for shading and to create colour gradients. For example, if you’d like to include a red gradient in your drawing, there will be plenty of different shades of red to make this possible.To get started using coloured pencils, get yourself a set of at least 10 crayons â€" even if they’re only the basic ones, as they will help you practice your techniques before you invest in a more expensive set.The world of colored pencils is fascinating - you can even get watercolor ones! ¦ source: Pixabay - StockSnapColoured pencils are a controversial topic in the art world. Why? People disagree about whether using them is drawing or painting.This may seem petty, but let’s dig deeper.The technique used for drawing with a colouring pencil is closer to a painting technique. Of course, there are different techniques you can use, but it is argued that since painting reveals the grain of the paper, as does using coloured pencils, coloured pen cil drawings are, in fact, paintings. On the other hand, the pigment of the pencil can be weak and let a lot of light through to the paper, making it closer to drawing with a graphite pencil.The technique you use to draw is completely up to you, regardless of your view of drawing with colouring pencils!I would advise that if you wish to start drawing with coloured pencils it’s best to start with simple shapes such as an apple, which looks simple, but has a lot of fine details to be drawn.Once you feel comfortable drawing still life, you can begin to develop your own personal drawing style!Pen for OriginalityWe’ve all doodled in the corner of our notebooks at school.Regardless of whether we doodle out of boredom or a passion for doodling, ink is a great drawing material!The doodles in your sketchbook could represent the start of something bigger, especially if you’re considering a career in drawing and painting.There are many professions centred around artistic ability, includi ng illustration, graphic design, architecture, the list goes on!Although pens are usually set aside in art as a writing tool, they can be incredibly helpful to illustrators and artists, with some works even being created using nothing but a biro.These drawings are created by using the loop method.The smaller the loops are, the darker the final picture will be. On the other hand, the larger the loops, the lighter the picture will be.It’s important to bear in mind that learning how to draw a certain object doesn’t come with a rulebook, and doesn’t have to be traditional. Artists should be creative and find the style that expresses their imagination as effectively as possible.Inking with a more traditional type of pen using a metal nib and India ink is a common technique for satirical drawings.Pastels for Gesture DrawingPastels are another thing that aren’t just for kids!Pastel crayons are made from a mixture of powdered colour pigments and a non-greasy binder such as methylcel lulose.Pastels are a versatile drawing tool ¦ source: Pixabay - SKECCIOPastels, like paints and other materials also come in a number of categories. The two most well-known of these are oil pastels and hard pastels. The difference between these two types is that oil pastels are softer and more suited to blending, whereas harder pastels are better for line drawing and creating more detail within a drawing.There is range of techniques that can be used to create different effects with both soft and hard pastels when creating a portrait, landscape or still life drawing:Hatching: This is where lines and strokes are drawn and varying distances alongside and perpendicular to one another. When hatching with pastels of two different colours, optical mixtures can be created.Light touches:  This technique is used to suggest details (the shadows of a face for example), by applying fine lines to highlight and darken certain areas.Glazes: This technique is used to partially cover one colour wit h another. Layering tones puts colours contextualises objects and gives a drawing more harmony. Light colours on dark ones accentuates brightness, whilst dark on top of pale makes for greater depth.Fragmentation and dotting: Bold pastels are used to create images from dots. The final image is born from the accumulation of points and lines, without any blurring or blending. It’s not easy to begin with, so stick to two or three colours and remember to step back and take a look at the rendering.To improve your skills in pastel drawing, try practicing drawing animals which are moving, and try to incorporate their movement into your piece. This doesn’t just include the animal’s movements, but the movement of the grass in the wind, too, for example.The drawing materials you use to create your art and develop your personal artistic style is down to your goals and preferences as an artist.Some materials and techniques will suit you better than others, but keeping an open mind and tryi ng out new methods as you progress will give you the best chance of a fulfilling artistic career.

15 Fabulous Songs for Male Jazz Singers (with audio!)

15 Fabulous Songs for Male Jazz Singers (with audio!) Suzy S. Guys, ready to explore the world of jazz? There are so many good jazz songs to sing and talented jazz singers to check out! Here are some  top picks from voice teacher  Molly R... For beginner vocal students (or ANY vocal student, for that matter!) nothing beats a jazz standard! Even the rocker guys I work with agree that mastering a classic can do  absolute wonders for improving your voice. Jazz songs are great for singers for so many reasons: phrasing, musicianship, improvisation, strengthening your middle range… sold yet? Then why not consider one of these 15  great songs for male jazz singers? There is a huge variety here: you’re bound to find a few that you’ll love to sing! 1) “Fly Me to the Moon” What a fun one! You can swing the rhythm like Frank Sinatra, or sing it “straight.” That’s why jazz is so great you’ve got choices! 2) “Hello, Dolly!” While I don’t suggest you try to  emulate Satchmo’s signature scratchy sound, this song is swinging! Fun fact: it became a #1 hit that booted the Beatles off the top of the charts in 1964. 3) “Embraceable You” A beautiful Gershwin standard! It’s sweet, slow-paced, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Here’s Nat King Cole singing it in his smooth style. 4) “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” This is another uptempo jazz song that is witty and just  sheer fun!  This is performed by the legendary Dean Martin. Although it’s often performed with a full  band, don’t let the big sound fool you. This is always a treat sung with just a piano, too! 5) “Misty” Numerous singers have made this heartfelt ballad their own and can you blame them? It’s easy to improvise and the lyrics are just lovely. Here it is performed by the gentleman who made it most popular, Johnny Mathis. 6) “All of Me” Again, Mr. Sinatra shows us how you can make choices in jazz. Here, he swings the rhythm. Although you also have the choice of singing it slower and more in the style of a ballad. Either way, this is always a solid choice! 7) “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” I  love this song because of the clever and memorable lyrics. In this video, Harry Connick, Jr. gives this classic song his cool flair. 8) “A Foggy Day in London Town” The Gershwins did such an amazing job of painting a picture of a place with their music. Here’s further proof of that with Michael Bublé’s version this wonderful number. 9) “I Won’t Dance” This sassy song by Jerome Kern is sometimes sung as a duet, but it’s also sung as a solo jazz piece. Legends such as Sinatra and Tony Bennett are among the many who have sung it, as well as movie star Fred Astaire, seen here. 10) “It Had to Be You” Does anyone have a jazzier tone than living legend Tony Bennett? Hes one of the greatest male jazz singers of all time just listen to how simply but effectively he delivers this uplifting classic! 11) “All the Way” This standard has one grand, sweeping melody. Its the  perfect tune to show off emotion as well as how well you can build a phrase. 12) “Stardust” This one was made for intimate jazz club settings! It’s especially beautiful with nothing more than simple piano accompaniment, as heard here with Harry Connick, Jr. 13) “The Girl From Ipanema” Like many of the jazz songs in this list, there have been countless versions of this piece. This was even a Top-40 hit in the 1960s! Many have given this a Latin feel, but note how Nat King Cole gives it a slightly more traditional sound. 14) “When Sunny Gets Blue” Smooth… cool… and yet very emotional at the same time. Ah, that’s why we love vocal jazz! Mel Torme, the “Velvet Fog” himself, sings this so beautifully, with impeccable phrasing and diction. 15) “New York State of Mind” Billy Joel was no doubt inspired from great songs of the past when he wrote and recorded this favorite new standard in the 1970s! Many of the greats have put their own stamp on his salute to the Big Apple. Wouldn’t this be a great number to either open or close a show with? So there you have it! Fifteen fantastic jazzy standards that are perfect for male jazz singers of all ages. (Ladies, check out my list of popular jazz songs for females here!) Of course, the best way to determine the perfect songs for you is by working with your voice teacher. He or she can easily help you find what is best for your vocal range and musical abilities.  If you don’t already have one, TakeLessons can help you find your perfect match for either online or in-person voice lessons. 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! Photo by  Eva Rinaldi 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