5 Delightful Jazz Guitar Licks - Tabs and Audio

5 Delightful Jazz Guitar Licks - Tabs and Audio Madalyn Danielson Having a few guitar licks up your sleeve is super helpful when youre improvising. Guitar teacher  Samuel B.  shares a few of his favorite jazz guitar licks Before we begin playing these jazz guitar licks, its a good idea to get familiar with the pentatonic scale. The pentatonic scale is a more versatile and useful scale than you might think. While being an easily-recognized basis for blues, rock, and country solos, it can be (and frequently is) a scale used  for jazz solos, too. Adding a few accidentals (notes other than the baseline ones indicated below) can make for some memorable moments in jazz guitar licks. Ive heard jazz called  â€œthe American classical music,” and heres why I agree: its chord structures are more complex than those in blues, rock, and country. Sixth, ninth, eleventh, augmented, and diminished chords are all common to it. Solo jazz guitar licks  feature a level of intricacy comparable to that of their chord counterparts. Here are a few tricks guaranteed to spice up any pentatonic-based jazz solo. Lick One The first of these jazz guitar licks  covers the segment between the fifth through eighth frets. Notes 2, 5, and 12 are the only ones foreign to the scale itself: document.createElement('audio'); /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lick-One.mp3 Lick Two The next one is grounded in the second-through-fifth-fret territory. It features three open-string notes and only one otherwise “outsider” (the note thats both ninth and twelfth): /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lick-Two.mp3 Lick Three Lick three is a different animal entirely. Its plucked with an open hand (not a pick) and is based on notes comprising a moving triad. As indicated, the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth notes are pairs (not single notes) and are played simultaneously with the thumb and index finger. The remaining ones can be played with an index-and-middle-finger alternation: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lick-Three.mp3 Lick Four Like the first two, the fourth and fifth jazz guitar licks are based once again on pentatonic segments (the highest and the lowest ones respectively). /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lick-Four.mp3 Lick Five While the fourth lick  involves four accidentals (the second, fifth, ninth, and eleventh notes to be exact), this fifth lick is comprised entirely of notes that are pentatonic: /blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lick-Five.mp3 As seen above, these five jazz guitar licks are intricate and unique creations that can make any jazz guitar solo an instant hit. Learning the pentatonic scale on the guitar is essential for jazz guitar licks, and once you do, you can apply it to other genres, as well. Be creative, have fun, and if youre looking for further practice with your jazz guitar, ask your guitar teacher to help you out with  some new moves and grooves! Post Author:  Samuel B. Samuel B. teaches beginner  guitar lessons in Austin, TX. He teaches lessons face-to-face without sheet music, which is his adaptation of Japanese instruction (involving a call-and-response method). Learn more about Samuel here! Photo by  Larry Johnson 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

Italian Grammar Rules How to Form Singular and Plural Nouns

Italian Grammar Rules How to Form Singular and Plural Nouns Brooke Neuman Mastering Italian grammar can be difficult. Nonetheless, its important if you want to become proficient in the Italian language. Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some tips and tricks on how to form singular and plural nouns In Italian, it’s important to understand how to form singular and plural nouns. After all, nouns are a cornerstone of the Italian languageâ€"or any language for that matter. Luckily, this Italian grammar rule is easy to master as it follows a certain pattern. Once you learn this recognizable pattern, you’ll be able to express more exponentially in Italian. Lets get started! Identifying the Gender of a Noun Regardless of number, each noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. It’s important that you understand how to recognize whether a noun is feminine or masculine. Once you know whether a noun is feminine or masculine in the singular, you can make changes to the ending to pluralize. If a noun is feminine, it generally ends in â€"a in the singular and if it is masculine, it generally ends in â€"o in the singular. See examples below: Feminine:  la mela Masculine:   il ragazzo However, there are some nouns that end in â€"e,  which can be  feminine or masculine. See examples below: Masculine: il ristorante Feminine: la notte Pluralizing the Noun The most basic way to pluralize singular nouns is as follows: Nouns ending in â€"o, the ending changes to â€"i in the plural. See example below: Singular: il libro Plural:   i libri Nouns ending in â€"a, the ending changes to â€"e in the plural. See example below: Singular: la bambina Plural: le bambine Nouns ending in â€"ca change to â€"che in the plural.  See example below: Singular: l’amica Plural: le amiche Nouns ending in â€"e change to â€"i in the plural. See example below: Singular: lo studente Plural: gli studenti Exceptions to the Rule There are several exceptions to the rules listed above: For the nouns that end in â€"io,  the -i is generally not repeated in the ending.  An exception to this are words like lo zio, which becomes gli zii. See example below: Singular:  il negozio Plural:   i negozi not i negozii There are certain  feminine nouns ending in â€"a that change to â€"i in the plural. See example below: Singular:  l’ala Plural: le ali. There are certain  masculine nouns ending in â€"a that  change ending to â€"i in the plural, along with nouns ending in â€"o and â€"e, which can be masculine or feminine. See examples below: Singular:  il problema Plural:  i problemi Singular:  la mano Plural:  le mani There are also nouns ending in â€"a that can be both masculine and feminine. Dentista, for example, can be accompanied by the masculine or feminine article;  la dentista or il dentista. In these cases, the masculine noun changes to â€"i in the plural and the feminine noun changes to â€"e in the plural. See example below: Masculine Plural: i dentisti Feminine Plural: le dentiste Nouns that end in â€"ca and â€"ga have a hard sound that needs to be preserved in the plural. To do so, the plural forms add an -h, but are otherwise normal in their pluralization. These nouns can be either feminine or masculine. Here is an example of each: Singular: la barca Plural: le barche Singular: lo stratega Plural: gli strateghi The same addition of the ‘h’ in the plural also applies to nouns ending in â€"go and in â€"co. Some nouns ending in â€"co, however, don’t include ‘h’ in the plural (l’amico à gli amici). Singular:  il dialogo Plural:i dialoghi Singular:  il pacco Plural:  i pacchi Lastly, another type of noun with a spelling change are those that end in â€"cia or â€"gia. If the â€"i in this ending is unstressed in the singular, it drops the â€"i in the plural. However, if the â€"i is stressed, it is retained in the plural. Singular:la mancia Plural:  le mance Singular:  la farmacia Plural:  le farmacie Abbreviated Nouns In Italian grammar, there are other types of nouns that are  abbreviated, which are shortened to make them easier to write and say. La foto, for example, which is short for la fotografia. With these nouns, they retain the same ending in the plural shortened forms (le foto). Similarly, nouns that end with an accented vowel or a consonant don’t change in the plural, either. See examples below: Singular:  il caffé Plural:  i caffé Singular:  il film Plural:  i film An important part of understanding nouns is also understanding what articles accompany them, including definite and indefinite articles. You can read more about articles in this blog post. While there are many exceptions to nouns, the basic rules of how to form singular and plural nouns will take you quite far. As  you work with your Italian tutor, you can learn the exceptions through practice, listening, and repetition. Before you know it, you will naturally form singular and plural nouns perfectly! Photo by llmicrofono Ogglono Post Author:  Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Singers, Dont Forget the Most Important Part of Performing!

Singers, Dont Forget the Most Important Part of Performing! Sign up successful Developing Stage Presence by Emphasizing Particular Words or Phrases Given this dynamic, a singer can enhance his  or  her performance in a number of ways. A particular word or phrase might be emphasized with more volume or ornamentation (or conversely, as a contrast to the bombast around it) if the word or phrase is of particular importance to the message. When I perform He Aint Heavy, Hes My Brother (my version is closest to Neil Diamonds version), I always put extra focus on the words Why not share? just before the songs climax. Listen here: This crystallizes the meaning of the song into a single, simple phrase, and I sing it as though my obligation to the audience is to have them internalize just these three words if they take anything from my performance. In other cases, words may be sung with a particular inflection of strain or of release, as per the singer’s vision of the song’s message. I put an extra level of strained intensity into the line Stop this heartbreak overload in John Waites Missing You in order to show that the narrator has reached the limits of his emotional angst and thus must cry out in fury: Meanwhile, I sing the line Take away all my sadness in the song Have I Told You Lately (my version is closest to Rod Stewarts version) with exceeding calm and relief, expressing that although the tone of the song is rather sad, the narrator is reassured into solace by his lover. Developing Stage Presence Through Body Language Body language can also be an important element in conveying a story to an audience, even if one’s body is partially occupied by playing an instrument while singing. An audience will always respond to conviction and comfort, and these can be displayed not only through a singer’s familiarity with the song at hand, but also through confident posture and the willingness to connect both with individual listeners and with a crowd in general. Some artists accomplish this through their banter between songs, or their willingness to perform a cover of a well-known song to which the audience already may have a strong nostalgic attachment. Others draw from techniques employed by dancers (purposeful movements, exuberant energy), actors (poignant facial expressions), speech-givers (different rhythmic cadences to emphasize key thematic concepts), or folk-tale narrators (a tangible sense of wondrous exploration in each new piece that is sung). Perhaps the most universal connection between singer and audience can be achieved through strategic use of eye contact. Eye contact need not (and perhaps should not) occur for every moment of a song â€" a singer may look above the audience’s head, look down, and/or close his or her eyes for certain lines in a song, and often these moments not only infuse an enhanced urgency or poignancy into a line that is sufficiently powerful to compel such a change, but can continually renew an audience’s interest every time that eye contact is re-established. Need some specific exercises to practice that will help improve your stage presence? Check out the quick tutorial below. When I teach voice lessons, it is sometimes necessary to work on things such as intonation, situational breathing, projection, eye contact, vowel sounds, and other tools. These instructions help develop the basic parameters of a capable singer. But I always strive to gear these devices toward helping the student achieve a unique interpretation of each song he or she works on. Keep these performance tips for singers in mind . The real magic occurs beyond the physical framework of the notes; it occurs in the message that is communicated. Steve G. teaches singing, piano and music theory lessons in Davis, CA. He earned his PhD in music theory and composition from the University of California Davis and also tutors math and writing.  Learn more about Steve here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Barry Lenard

Learning Italian Find the Best Italian Teacher

Learning Italian Find the Best Italian Teacher Finding the Best Tutors to Learn Italian With ChaptersWhat to Look For in a Teacher of ItalianWhat are you Learning Italian For?Self-Taught or Certified?Language Instruction Delivery MethodsTeachers of the Italian language are worried. A recent report by the British Council reveals that, overwhelmingly, secondary school students are learning to speak French, German and Spanish.If all people want to do is speak Spanish, how is an Italian teacher to earn a living?Many have turned to giving private Italian language lessons. They teach Italian online, or visit their clients' homes for one on one instruction.That makes for a crowded market, one where the choice is great. Where you may find the teacher you need right around the corner from you.How would you know a good teacher from a mediocre one? That is to say: of all of the teachers of the language of Dante that you could engage, how to find the one that is right for you?Let us give you some ideas on how to winnow the long list of Italian teachers available for hire into a manageab le two or three names, from which you would then select the ideal teacher for you.You don't have to look far to find your ideal Italian tutor Source: Pixabay once you have determined what level of certification your teacher should have...Once you know why you are driven to take Italian courses, you can follow these steps to find your perfect teacher.Buona Fortuna!Prepare for your Italian exams with our guide to exams.

Managing Your Time - Private Tutoring

Managing Your Time BobbiM Mar 27, 2014 Once youre done finally managing yourself-we knew you could do it-learn to manage your time. You have so much time to get your stuff done. Insert some deep quote about the mystery of time here. Lets get started. To manage your time effectively, you will need to determine three important pieces of information: 1. What do you need to accomplish? Consider the classes you must attend each week, your work schedule, social commitments, class assignments, and so forth. One of the hardest problems to figure out is how much time an assignment will take. Some of the ability to know how long things will take comes with experience, but the following general rule may help you plan your time: THINGS ALWAYS TAKE LONGER THAN YOU THINK THEY WILL. 2. What things do you currently do that waste your time? Before you can figure out how to spend your time effectively, you need to find out if and how you are wasting time. To do this, think about how you currently spend your days. Are there some things you do that simply waste large amounts of time? How might you restructure your days so that less time is wasted? 3. How can you keep track of what you need to do? Most people who manage their time successfully say that they cant live without their schedule book or daily planner. It helps them keep track of appointments, assignments, social commitments, and even important phone numbers. If you dont already use some kind of schedule book invest in one today. Take your schedule book with you to class and be sure to mark down your assignments. But writing things down is only half the battle-you have to make a habit of checking your schedule book every day to see why you need to do. Excerpt from College Success Strategies by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

4 Review Techniques to Get You Ready for Any Exam

4 Review Techniques to Get You Ready for Any Exam A Comprehensive Review of Test Prep Strategies How ready are you for your upcoming exams? Honing your test taking skills will prepare you for exams in your high school courses as well as any achievement exams you will take this year. Focusing now on your test taking skills will pay off in the long run as you approach each exam with confidence in your abilities.The staff at Huntington Learning Centers has helped thousands of students improve their test taking strategies. Some of our favorite strategies include: Understanding the directions Each exam is different and has its own testingguidelines. It's important to do your research before exam day arrives toensure you understand these guidelines. Pay attention to what is allowed in the testing center, your time limitations, and what portions of the testing materials you may write in, complete your work, or jot notes. Using your time wisely Standardized achievement tests all have time limitsthat must be strictly adhered to. Knowing your time limits is importantbut you should also focus on using every minute wisely. If a question isposing a particular problem, skip it, answer the questions that you're more confident in and return to answer it later. You should also check forerrors, reread written passages, and scan your math work until time iscalled. Finding strategies that work for you No two students are alike and during your preparation you'll find specific test taking strategies that are most effective foryou. A good way to discover strategies that work for you is to takeseveral practice exams before testing day. You'll learn about the layoutand content of the exam while discovering how you work best. Some students like to jot notes as they read while others prefer to read all of thequestions before turning their attention to the corresponding writtenpassage. Checking for errors Identifyingerrors is crucial to your success. Several times during the testing session make sure that your response sheet corresponds with the examquestions. This mistake is much easier to solve if you identify yourerrors early. Double check that you have followed all of the testingguidelines, erased any errant marks, and answered every question. Huntington Learning Centers provides comprehensive test prep review and test taking strategies for achievement exams. Our tutors are specially trained to provide general strategies and test specific information for a variety of exams, including: SAT: The SAT Exam is an achievement exam that plays an important role indetermining college admission and scholarship opportunities. The SATExam is offered on seven testing dates eachyear and most studentstake the exam during their junior year with the option to retest duringsenior year. ACT: The ACT Exam is an achievementexam that is offered six times each school year and is designed to assessa student's academic achievement and readiness for college. Results fromthe ACT Exam are typically used to help determine college admission andare accepted by all four year universities and colleges in the UnitedStates. PSAT: Most students take the PSAT in October of their junior year in high school. It is similar to the SAT exam and is a good indicator of astudent's potential on the SAT. Academic organizations, such as theNational Merit Scholarship Program, award scholarships based on PSAT scores. SAT Subject Tests: In recent years the College Board began offering individual subject area tests as part of the SAT exam. These tests are designed for students todisplay the specific knowledge they have gained during their high schoolcourses. Colleges use the SAT Subject Tests to form admission decisions,determine readiness, and place students in courses. AP Exams: After completing a year-long AP course students have the opportunity to sit for a subject specific AP Exam. These exams cover college level material and are typically taken to highlight a student's knowledge and earn college credit. There are 31 AP Exams offered in the five general subject areas of science, math, history, language, and English. 4 Review Techniques to Get You Ready for Any Exam A Comprehensive Review of Test Prep Strategies How ready are you for your upcoming exams? Honing your test taking skills will prepare you for exams in your high school courses as well as any achievement exams you will take this year. Focusing now on your test taking skills will pay off in the long run as you approach each exam with confidence in your abilities.The staff at Huntington Learning Centers has helped thousands of students improve their test taking strategies. Some of our favorite strategies include: Understanding the directions Each exam is different and has its own testingguidelines. It's important to do your research before exam day arrives toensure you understand these guidelines. Pay attention to what is allowed in the testing center, your time limitations, and what portions of the testing materials you may write in, complete your work, or jot notes. Using your time wisely Standardized achievement tests all have time limitsthat must be strictly adhered to. Knowing your time limits is importantbut you should also focus on using every minute wisely. If a question isposing a particular problem, skip it, answer the questions that you're more confident in and return to answer it later. You should also check forerrors, reread written passages, and scan your math work until time iscalled. Finding strategies that work for you No two students are alike and during your preparation you'll find specific test taking strategies that are most effective foryou. A good way to discover strategies that work for you is to takeseveral practice exams before testing day. You'll learn about the layoutand content of the exam while discovering how you work best. Some students like to jot notes as they read while others prefer to read all of thequestions before turning their attention to the corresponding writtenpassage. Checking for errors Identifyingerrors is crucial to your success. Several times during the testing session make sure that your response sheet corresponds with the examquestions. This mistake is much easier to solve if you identify yourerrors early. Double check that you have followed all of the testingguidelines, erased any errant marks, and answered every question. Huntington Learning Centers provides comprehensive test prep review and test taking strategies for achievement exams. Our tutors are specially trained to provide general strategies and test specific information for a variety of exams, including: SAT: The SAT Exam is an achievement exam that plays an important role indetermining college admission and scholarship opportunities. The SATExam is offered on seven testing dates eachyear and most studentstake the exam during their junior year with the option to retest duringsenior year. ACT: The ACT Exam is an achievementexam that is offered six times each school year and is designed to assessa student's academic achievement and readiness for college. Results fromthe ACT Exam are typically used to help determine college admission andare accepted by all four year universities and colleges in the UnitedStates. PSAT: Most students take the PSAT in October of their junior year in high school. It is similar to the SAT exam and is a good indicator of astudent's potential on the SAT. Academic organizations, such as theNational Merit Scholarship Program, award scholarships based on PSAT scores. SAT Subject Tests: In recent years the College Board began offering individual subject area tests as part of the SAT exam. These tests are designed for students todisplay the specific knowledge they have gained during their high schoolcourses. Colleges use the SAT Subject Tests to form admission decisions,determine readiness, and place students in courses. AP Exams: After completing a year-long AP course students have the opportunity to sit for a subject specific AP Exam. These exams cover college level material and are typically taken to highlight a student's knowledge and earn college credit. There are 31 AP Exams offered in the five general subject areas of science, math, history, language, and English.

Contracts 101 9 key things that should be in your teach abroad contract

Contracts 101 9 key things that should be in your teach abroad contract So, you nailed that interview and have a job offer in your ideal location, congrats! All that's left is to sign on the dotted line. Easy, right? Not so fast! I know it might feel like a like a drag at first, but reading through your contract before you start your teaching job is essential to helping you understand exactly what to expect from your new role. We know that for first-time teachers abroad, reviewing your contract can seem like a daunting process. How can you be sure you're getting a good deal? That’s where this video, hosted by our resident contracts expert, Graeme, comes in. Stay tuned while he walks you through the 9 things you should check for when reviewing your new teaching contract. Before we dive in, here are few things to keep in mind when reviewing your offer letter or contract for the first time: The length of the document will vary depending on the country your new role is located in (with schools in China, for example, offer letters may be as long as 20 pages!) Some of the terminology used to refer to bonuses or accommodation allowances will vary from country to country You might not see the benefits listed on the original job description on your offer letter If you’re uncertain about anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Placement Coordinator for an explanation. That’s what we’re here for! Short on time? No worries! Before you sign on the dotted line, here are the key takeaways from the video above: 1. Salary Your monthly gross salary must be stated in your contract and it should also specify whether the amount listed is before or after tax. It should also say whether you’ll be paid in local currency or USD, and whether your salary will be deposited into a local bank account or an account back at home. One final thing: your contract should state when you can expect to be paid each month. Take it from me - this info is super important in helping you budget accordingly when you first arrive in your new country! 2. Vacation Your vacation allowance must be included. You may want to do some quick research to confirm this adheres to the national holiday entitlement, and also check what statutory holidays you can take. You might also want to check with your employer on whether you get a choice of which days to take. They might have restrictions on when teachers can take time off, depending on the time of year. 3. Flights Schools often contribute towards the cost of your flight, either partially or in full. The contract should explain how the cost of flights will be covered, whether they will be directly purchased by the school or reimbursed later. 4. Accommodation Many schools offer teachers a housing allowance, many cover accommodation expenses in full, and some even arrange housing for you. If accommodation is provided, it’s worth checking whether you get a choice of housing, if you’ll have to share with roommates and whether utility bills will be covered. If you get a housing allowance, check that it’s not included in your base salary. Your contract should state how much housing allowance you’ll receive and how frequently. Does your contract specify whether your allowance gets paid to to you or to your landlord directly? Does your contract state that you will have to pay the deposit? Will your employer assist you in finding a place to live? These are all questions you can ask your Teach Away Placement Coordinator to clarify with your new employer if they’re not covered in your contract. Tip: Don't forget to look up the cost of renting an apartment in the area near your school to help you figure out what your living expenses will be like when you move overseas. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. 5. Healthcare If you’ve been promised medical insurance, this should also appear in your contract. It should mention the period and extent of coverage, or at least how to find out this information. 6. Dependents If you’re relocating with a family, a contract should confirm what costs, if any, will be covered, such as their flights and school fees. 7. Contract length The majority of teaching contracts last for at least one school year, but increasingly contracts are for two years or more, often with benefits such as bonuses for completion. 8. Contract termination ? Your contract must also explain what will happen if you terminate your contract before it ends and what this will mean for you and (if applicable) your spouse and dependents. All checked off? Great, you can now relax a little, knowing your contract forms the basis of a great teaching position. Remember, if you’ve recently been offered a teaching job abroad through Teach Away, your Placement Coordinator will be happy to go through your contract with you, so don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Just getting started with your job hunt? Check out the five key qualities hiring schools are looking for in a teach abroad candidate - and see whether you fit the bill.