NC State University Chemistry Courses For the Intelligent

NC State University Chemistry Courses For the IntelligentNC State University is a place that students from across the country come to learn and understand chemistry. This is a course that all people interested in working in the chemical industry, or who simply want to know more about it, should go to. For more information, you can visit the school's website.This is not your typical graduate level degree. As an undergraduate degree, you may have thought that you could gain employment by simply applying for the right job, but this is a science based in reality. When you graduate from a college, you will see that there are many different industries that require certain knowledge. The most successful among them is chemistry.If you are preparing to graduate from a four-year university, then you will be pleased to know that you will need to take this course, as well. These courses are unique because they do not focus on one particular field of study but offer students the opportunity to ga in a foundation in a multitude of different fields. This helps to educate students in areas such as anthropology, psychology, physics, etc.One of the most appealing aspects of NC State University's chemistry course is that the coursework involves a wide range of subjects, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Students will learn all about these subjects, even if they aren't too familiar with them. With this in mind, the coursework has a real basis in the real world. This can make for some truly exciting coursework that you won't want to give up so easily.In order to enter the field of research for a career in chemistry, you will also need to take a master's level course, which is a four-year degree course. You will find this coursework very similar to the undergraduate courses. You will learn all about various types of compounds, including organic compounds, organic reactions, and synthetic chemistry. You will learn how these different substances work and the important role that the government has played in advancing the field of chemistry in recent years.Another important thing to note about this coursework is that it will also prepare you for further study and training, such as graduate level education. After graduation, you will have the ability to pursue an advanced degree in your chosen field of chemistry. This will allow you to continue your education and develop new skills. It will also enable you to make a career choice of your own, instead of having to choose based on a closed university or technical college.NC State University is one of the top institutions for scientific and educational research and offers many exciting options to its students. This is the perfect place for individuals who want to advance their careers in chemistry, even though you don't have to be a specialist in the field to get the education you need.

Sports-Related Head Injuries Linked to Serious Brain Condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Sports-Related Head Injuries Linked to Serious Brain Condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of fiber tracts in the brain (image courtesy of Wikipedia) In 2009, Ann C. McKee, MD et al. published a scientific paper in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology entitled Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Athletes: Progressive Tauopathy following Repetitive Head Injury.  Dr. McKee and her research team at The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy had done (and still do) some of the world’s leading work in brain trauma research in athletes. The paper was a review of 47 verified cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). There are a great many neurological and behavioral symptoms listed by the paper that define CTE, making the claim that the condition is its own form of tauopathy. (Tauopathy is a form of brain degeneration caused by the build-up of tau proteins. We’ll talk a little bit more about tau proteins later.) Isolating CTE as a unique brain condition is perhaps the paper’s achievement: We demonstrate that although CTE shares many features of other neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, post-encephalitic Parkinsonism, and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson’s-dementia complex of Guam (ALS/PDC), CTE is a neuropathologically distinct, progressive tauopathy with a clear environmental etiology. CTE is not unique to athletes, but it is certainly prevalent in contact sports. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) suffered on the field can eventually lead to CTE. In the 2006 scientific paper entitled The Epidemiology and Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Brief Overview published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, Jean A. Langlois, Sc.D., M.P.H., Wesley Rutland-Brown, M.P.H. and Marlena M. Wald, MLS, M.P.H. reported that current data on TBIs around the country are probably underestimating the actual number of cases: Sports and recreation activities are also a major cause of TBI, including concussions, and are severely underestimated using existing national data sets. Although a previous Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study estimated that approximately 300,000 such injuries occur each year, it included only TBIs for which the person reported a loss of consciousness. Other studies suggest that injuries involving loss of consciousness may account only for between 8% and 19.2% of sports-related TBIs. Taking this into account, a more accurate approximation may be that 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related TBIs occur each year. CT scan of brain with cerebral contusions, hemorrhage within hemispheres, subdural hematoma and skull fractures (image courtesy of Wikipedia) The article also made it clear that people who suffer these TBIs are at a much higher risk of developing other health conditions including epilepsy and Alzheimers disease. There are, however, non-physical cognitive ailments that pose a unique problem for recognition. CTE and depression, for example, may not reveal obvious physical problems and can thus go undetected until it is too late. Such was the case for Dave Duerson, Junior Seau and Derek Boogaard, just three of the many athletes who suffered from the condition. Duerson, a former Chicago Bear and New York Giant, killed himself in 2011. He shot himself in the heart. Before doing so, he requested through multiple avenues to have his brain preserved for research. He left it in his suicide note and in a text to his ex-wife. This reinforces what writer Ed Pilkington noted in an article for The Guardianthat Duerson knew he had a problem. In the article, Pilkington interviewed Dr. McKee (the same Dr. McKee from the 2009 paper cited earlier) at the NFLs brain bank (The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy) in the Bedford VA medical center in Massachusetts as she was examining a brain that used to belong to a very skilled NFL player, but whose identity would remain anonymous. Her evaluation of said brain was that repeated blows to the head had reduced its size and removed key filaments. Later, she pulled up slides of Duersons brain on her laptop. They showed the buildup of tau, that abnormal protein that is formed in the brain after repeated trauma. Tau proteins essentially block the function of neurons and can spread to surrounding areas, eventually destroying functionality. Although tau is a damaging characteristic of brain trauma and can be detected in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, it does not necessarily correlate with CTE and cannot, therefore, serve as a dependable diagnostic. In an NBC News article centered on former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, more of the same was found. Seau committed suicide in 2012 just like Duerson: a gunshot to the chest, preserving his brain for research. As the article by Maggie Fox stated, an autopsy showed he had CTE. Seau, like others before and after him, died young. One can’t help but wonder what would happen to these former-athletes if they went on living with CTE into later ages. And, if they did, what sort of psychological and behavioral challenges they would face on day-to-day basis. Would the tauopathy completely destroy their cognitive capacity? Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett underwent brain scans last year that showed he had signs of CTE. Dorsett, now 59, had recalled bouts of memory loss and admitted that his “quality of living has changed drastically and it deteriorates every day.” Derek Boogaard (image courtesy of Wikipedia) In a 2011 article for Time, Jeffrey Kluger reviewed yet another victim of sports-related brain damage: hockey player Derek Boogaard. His death was not directly caused by CTE as Duerson’s and Seau’s were, but Boogaard was diagnosed postmortem. He died from an overdose of alcohol and oxycodone, taken, perhaps, in an effort to alleviate some of his suffering. Kluger defines CTE in his own words: a brain condition similar to Alzheimers disease but caused by nothing more mysterious than getting hit too much. Kluger later reiterated the hardest part about brain disorders such as CTEnamely that the condition cannot be properly diagnosed until the patients brain can be sliced open after their death. Those afflicted may experience any number of symptoms including memory loss, intense depression and general cognitive distress. The University of Rochester Medical Center is working on multiple projects on traumatic brain injury, but interestingly, one project is looking at non-concussion-causing head blows. It is well-known at this point that repeated concussions cause serious cognitive issues, yet with this other project, Jeffrey J. Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H. wants to look at the everyday, seemingly harmless hits that football players experience. Using special sensors inside the helmets of University of Rochester football players, Dr. Bazarian could compare readings before and after the players season. This study is vastly important because, as the lab says on their site, while the neurologic risks of concussion are just beginning to be appreciated, the risks posed by cumulative sub-concussive head blows are potentially much larger, as they affect virtually every athlete involved in contact sports on an almost daily basis. The findings could call for more preventative actions in contact sports and likely freak out parents of young athletes everywhere. Practically, you may not be able to take the hits out of the games, but there may be ways to manage potential trauma. After all, as we’ve just learned from Dr. Bazarian, multiple seemingly minor head blows can add up to irreversible, life-changing damage. Even a concussion, something that used to be treated as a laughable incident (how many fingers am I holding up?), is now seen as a serious injury. Even the world of medicine is seeing them in a whole new light. “Scientifically, what were seeing is there is actually a change in the electrical activity of the brain that can last weeks or months,” says Dr. Neil Martin, chairman of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. It seems, then, sitting out for the rest of the game is not treatment enough for even the simplest of concussions. Risking another hit, in the long run, may prove fatal. UFC logo (image courtesy of Wikipedia) The danger is real, especially since many head injuries in contact sports go undiagnosed and untreated, as current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones reflected on in a Fox Sports article from last week. “I saw those lights,” Jones said. “Now that I’m older I realize that those lights were probably some type of concussion.” This is the threat Dr. McKee and other brain trauma experts are talking about. Concussions are dangerous on their own, but if gone unnoticed or are not treated properly they can develop into CTE and other serious brain conditions. In an interview with Jeffrey Brown of PBS, Dr. McKee admitted there are still a lot of questions out there regarding CTE. And when working in a field (science) that demands overwhelming evidence to accept alternative hypotheses, questions leave room for doubt and further studies: A key question remains, what’s the incidence and prevalence? How common is this disorder? And that, we will never establish from an autopsy study. For that, we really need to be able to identify this disease in living individuals. And that’s a huge focus of our more recent research. How can we identify this in people that are living? And that might be through MRI scans or PET scans and especially the ones that might peg the [tau] protein that develops. But we are really going to need those tests to be able to determine if a living person has this disease and then be able to measure that person’s exposure to head trauma. And that will be the defining moment. And that will probably take a longitudinal prospective study involving probably thousands of subjects. These are the questions that Dr. McKee and her peers in brain trauma research are faced with. The next logical step, it seems, would be working towards preventative measures. After all, we cant very well cancel sports Well, Reebok might have made a step in the right direction with a new product called the Checklight. It is a skullcap worn under the helmet but has force detectors attached and will light yellow for a moderate hit and red for a severe hit. Although they make it clear that the product is not a concussion diagnostic, the light indicators can give players, parents and coaches more information about the severity of hits and allow them to make the best decisions with that new information. Today, over 400 living athletes have promised to give their brain up for trauma research.

5 Steps to Taking Control of Your Time

5 Steps to Taking Control of Your Time 5 Steps to Taking Control of Your Time Unfortunately most students don’t learn until college that studying the night before is not studying in advance. It is crucial that students practice organizational skills and follow an intensive planner starting as early as middle school. The planners help students prepare for and anticipate their upcoming tests, quizzes and assignments and a completed schedule will show the students the reality of time and the necessity of time management. Well-constructed planners also help to bring down a student’s anxiety level once everything is on paper and not floating around in their heads causing confusion.1. Brain dumpBefore you write-down and organize a to-do list, pull out a piece of paper and just start writing everything you need to accomplish. Don’t worry about organizing the tasks just get everything on the paper. 2. Invest in the last planner you will ever useOnce you have everything written down you must invest in a planner and the planner I recommend goes above and beyond the duties of a normal planner. The planner I recommend can be found on Amazon and is called Tools4Wisdom Planner. This planner incorporates monthly planning, goal setting, steps to achieving your goals and much more. Once you have the planner start by picking out the big dates and incorporating them into your planner.3. Set reasonable goals every week and prioritizeAfter filling in your calendar and the big picture of your schedule you can begin looking at your to-do list and choosing which ones to make a priorities and goals for the week. 4. Write down action steps for accomplishing goalsFor each goal write down exactly what steps you will take in order to accomplish that goal in your allotted time frame. This will go in the completion steps box in the lower left hand corner of the page in the picture below.5. Now get to workNow that you know what you have to do and the time frame you have to do it in, it’s time to get to work. Start with the highest priority on your to-do list or with the first step towards the completion of your goal or desired outcome for the week.

3 Life Lessons the Food Network has Taught Me

3 Life Lessons the Food Network has Taught Me FN personalities.Courtesy of: http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/grub/2012/05/11 As they say in Family Guy, it seems today, like all you seeis sex on TV. But. The Food Network defys this rule. Its the best part about cable, and it doesnt feature any crude material.  It makes viewers hungry, inspired, and slightly jealous; but it also teaches many life lessons to those craving wisdom about life. 1. Dont mess around at your job, you might be on caught on camera. Restaurant Stakeout with host Willie StegelCourtesy of: http://theashleysrealityroundup.com Cue Restaurant Stakeout and Mystery Diners! Both of these shows involve hidden cameras and the things employees do when they think their manager isnt looking. Lets put it this way, the situation never ends up too good for the employees, and sometimes it even ends up getting people fired on the spot for their bad behavior, i.e. a valet person stealing a Mercedes to do a delivery order. I know first hand from working at a nice grocery store that cameras are in every building built after the new  millennium.  The less conspicuous and sketchy activity you do at work, the better off you will be. 2. Always try to make fresh food. Iron Chef America and Chopped make us all want to bring out our inner ninja chef. But most people dont want to spend more than five minutes dealing with food, unless its prepared and ready to cook. Fresh food can get a little expensive, I understand. However, at least produce is not too extravagantly priced, (just DONT go for organic kinds, they are not worth the high price).   Pasta with onions and herbs.Courtesy of: http://www2.worldpub.net/images/saveurmag/ A tip: try herbs (parsley, oregano) or white onions on spaghetti for an extra kick of flavor that regular pasta sauce does not provide on its own. 3. Explore food and its cultures. It might be scary at first, but Guy Fiari makes a living doing so. In his show Diners, Drive-ins Dives, he travels as far away as Portland for fresh, organic food, and as close as Cincinnati  to eat hometown chili. Eating food from all over gives insight into different cultures and makes you think more creatively about what kinds of food you can make. I.e. if you have had Cincinnati chili, you might want to try and make it yourself now that you have had it somewhere else. And there you have it, kiddos. Watch the FN and not only will you learn how to cook and appreciate food, but you will learn that sometimes certain foods are worth waiting for. Enjoy your food!

Moles Chemistry Formula

Moles Chemistry FormulaMoles are always a mystery to people. They get on people's nerves and also can cause significant problems if left untreated. This is why most doctors and other medical professionals advise their patients to get mole removal surgery, but they usually suggest that people have their moles removed early in their lives.Moles that have grown into their adult forms can look like cancerous growths. If you happen to notice a mole on your face or any other body part and it's close to the skin, then it is a good idea to see a doctor about it as soon as possible. Also if the mole looks to be malignant, then you should be thinking about having it removed for your own good.Moles can be very distressing, especially if you notice one on your body when you're young. Some moles look like they could be a cancer, so it's important to find out more about them as soon as possible. There are many causes of moles, as it can be caused by genetics, too much sun exposure, hereditary and more. Getting it removed before it gets too big will also prevent any further complications, like cancer.Sometimes a mole will just appear on your body without cause. It's a common occurrence, especially if you have a family history of having them. You might not notice them, or perhaps they just pop up and disappear when you least expect it. Either way, if they are coming out and going away, you might want to see a doctor about it, as getting one removed could help cure you of this condition.Moles can be hard to take care of and sometimes it can be hard to know what to do about them. Whether they appear on your body or are simply looking for a home, it's easy to let them go. It's important to keep track of the size and color of the mole, and also when it grows. Keeping track of these things is vital when it comes to removing them because they may look fine, but the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to remove.Moles can become unsightly and cause many problems for you. There are many different types of moles, and it's hard to tell how one will react to your particular skin condition. The best advice is to keep track of the size and color of the mole, and also when it grows.Moles can make someone's life miserable, but keeping track of them and monitoring them regularly can save the situation and keep your life from becoming even worse. Getting them removed should be your first step, but also watching for them and getting them checked out on a regular basis is very important. It's very possible that you'll be able to live a better life with the removal of a mole.

Why You Should Choose TCC Tutoring

Why You Should Choose TCC TutoringTCC Tutoring offers a variety of options that can help you improve your academic performance and prepare you for the college entrance exams. When you enroll in one of these programs, they will get you ready for the rigors of high school. There are three essential elements that all successful students go through before they are accepted to any school and enroll in any college - dedication, perseverance and discipline.The most important thing to remember when you enroll in college is to apply yourself. In this case, when you have finished your college curriculum, you should also apply yourself to improve your academic performances. This will be another benefit of working with TCC Tutoring which is that they provide you the support you need.You should also set your educational level according to your peers. If you have the potential of attending a prestigious university, it is imperative that you work hard so that you will be among the best in your grou p. Another advantage of working with a college prep program is that they will also guide you towards your major. As you go through your courses, you will be well prepared to find a job and you will also have the confidence to pursue your studies.Apart from being enrolled in a university or college, if you feel that you are not doing your schoolwork well or that you are unable to meet the expected expectations, you can also apply to the tutoring program offered by TCC Tutoring. The tutors of TCC Tutoring are the best tutors who are dedicated to providing their clients with the best education that they need.The best part about being a member of a college prep program is that you will start by studying from scratch. There are no college tests or test papers to memorize and your studies will begin right from the start. This will help you ensure that you are preparing yourself for your higher studies and that you will enjoy every single minute of your studies. TCC Tutoring will also offe r you different ways of learning new concepts that are useful in the real world.You don't worry about what to study next or how to learn it. What you need is a good education, just like you deserve. Your high school diploma, GED certificate, and in some cases, even the High School Diploma are not enough to stand on your own.With the help of TCC tutoring, you will have the confidence that you need to excel in all your studies. This is a great way to prepare yourself for your future and you will feel the difference when you enter the real world.

Getting Started with Pottery Lessons

Getting Started with Pottery Lessons What Do You Need to Start Pottery Lessons? ChaptersConsider Your ApparelTemper Your ExpectationsWhat to Expect from Pottery ClassesLet us flash for a moment on the first day of school. It doesn’t matter if the school in question is a primary school, a secondary or if you’re starting on the path to your Bachelor of Fine Arts...Inevitably, there will be a run on school supplies, shopping for new clothes and perhaps even a little treat to make resuming studies more palatable. A nice lunch and maybe a new haircut?Would you need to make such purchases before starting lessons in the ceramic arts?Should you clutter your home with clays and pottery wheels? Maybe build a kiln in your back yard? Perhaps even make a bid for a slab roller or that extruder you found for sale on Gumtree?All of those would be good purchases if you were setting up your own ceramic studio but if you’re proposing to learn about ceramic art, you probably don’t need to go quite that far.In fact, learning how to make beautiful terracotta figurines or func tional yet decorative earthenware really does not call for you to invest a lot of money, at least at the outset.Once you get really good at creating art ceramics, then you might consider setting up an art studio!This article deals with what you might need to get started with pottery-making and we can’t wait to amaze you with how little you need to purchase before your first lesson.That being said, why don’t we just get on with it? CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Disc over all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsConsider Your Apparel Nobody could every claim that working with terra cotta was an exercise in neatness! Image by ENRIC SAGARRA from PixabayNobody has ever claimed that creating ceramic products is a tidy affair.Ceramics used in science and engineering applications do require an element of cleanliness to prevent contamination of the end product or, in the case of ceramic tile production, to prevent them becoming too brittle.Ceramic artists need not be quite so fastidious.In fact, they would be the first to tell you that theirs is a messy business that involves gooey earthen materials, water and a fair amount of grit. Going to class dressed to impress is obviously not a good idea.Suggestion #1: wear something you won’t mind getting dirty.If you are taking a ceramics class at an arts center, most likely you will be provided with an apron but there’s nothing wrong with you bringing one of your own; in fact, you might be instructed to do so.You may also be warned to wear something loose-fitting and comfo rtable... but not too loose â€" no flyaway sleeves, scarves, ties or anything that could get caught up in any of the equipment.On the flip side of that coin, you don’t want to wear anything too confining, either.Working with clay involves long periods of sitting with a pottery wheel between your knees. If your trousers are too tight to make extended sitting and leaning forward uncomfortable, you might want to reconsider your wardrobe choices.If you usually wear skirts, you should consider wearing one with enough flare to permit your knees being far apart.Suggestion #2: choose your clothing with an eye toward comfort.As for shoes, obviously, you would go with ‘sensible’. High heels would be out and, for safety reasons, it might not be acceptable to wear open-toed shoes.While an artist’s studio is not quite an industrial area, there are still industrial elements like kilns and heavy materials that, should your foot come in contact with them, might result in serious injury.In a similar vein, be cautious about jewellery. Especially in adult classes, participants are reminded that wearing rings is not a good idea: not only could a ring gouge your design but you might not ever get it clean again!You may take that idea further and leave off earrings, too, especially dangling ones and if you choose to wear a necklace, be sure that it stays tucked inside your top or doesn’t hang so low it gets mixed up in the clay you’re working.Finally: if you wear your hair long, you will most likely be instructed to tie it back, both for safety reasons and for convenience â€" you really don’t want a stray hair in your eye or mouth while your hands are full of clay!Suggestion #3: safety first! Don’t wear anything that might snag, impede or expose you to injury.Time to challenge your knowledge about ceramics history and modern uses! Even those not-so-perfect pieces have a purpose! Image by Oliver Huber from PixabayTemper Your ExpectationsLet’s suppose that you’ve decided on gifting everyone on your holiday list something made by your hand out of ceramic materials. What a thoughtful idea!Clay artists make it look so easy: a lump of clay on a potter’s wheel, a bit of water and the curving of hands; a bit of pressure â€" we don’t know how much and, voila! Stoneware is fired and ready for use.In truth, it’s not quite so easy to be that artist in residence.You have to know a bit about the ceramic materials you’re working with:Because of its toughness, common clay is usually used to make building materials â€" bricks, cement and aggregate (the base for concrete)China clay, also known as kaolin clay is used to make glossy paper (and for stomach remedies)Bentonite has many industrial uses and is also used in cat litterFuller’s Earth is also used in pet waste productsBall clay is a high-quality clay used fo r ceramics including floor tile, wall tiles and bathroom fixtures such as sinks and loos.Bear in mind that, even within these broad categories, there are infinite grades and qualities.Now delve deeper into what ceramics actually are...Most likely, you will be working with ball clay but even working with such quality material does not guarantee a good outcome of your first few tries.You will have to learn the right amount of pressure to exert and how fast to turn the wheel. You will need to know how much water you will need to use you will need to learn how to recognize that your piece is in imminent danger of collapse.You will have to keep from getting frustrated if, at first, you don’t succeed in creating the beautiful pieces you had envisioned.In fact, it would be best if you set your mind to learning one aspect of ceramic sculpture per lesson... meaning that your goal to gift everyone art pottery this Christmas is a little ambitious.However, nothing says that, if you have the t ime, money and inclination, you cannot take more than one class.For instance, you might consider looking for a workshop in wheel throwing that can help you master the basics of working clay on a pottery wheel. Or, if you’re more advanced, look for a masterclass to learn glazing.You can usually find such classes at your local art center; if you have an art institute in your city you may even check with them â€" sometimes they host open classes to address a particular skill.To learn more about pottery classes in general, you should read our companion article... Your pottery instructor will likely advise against wearing a lot of jewellery Image by PDPics from PixabayCheck for different online art courses here.What to Expect from Pottery ClassesUnless you have some extraordinary talent â€" you know instinctively how much pressure to put on the clay as it spins, how wet your hands need to be and an intuitive sculptural technique, you can expect a few setbacks and frustrations on your way to being the ceramic artist you always knew you were.Do you remember that scene from the movie, Ghost, when the vase Molly was making flopped over? It’s really not so unusual for a piece to flop, especially when you’re a beginner.That is why the best ceramic and glass teachers recommend approaching your artistic aspirations by first embracing the creative process.Focus on the materials and processes that go into making visual arts. Learn the various properties of that inorganic material you propose to work with, the various clay tools and what they’re us ed for.Realise how taxing creating clay art can be.You might be surprised to find that working with ceramic material is relaxing but physically challenging â€" from the amount of pressure you exert on the clay to maintaining a position for a long time.In fact, your instructor will most likely address your posture in the very first class.Ideally, your back would stay straight with your arms against your body and bent at the elbows to roughly 90 degrees. Any tools you might need should be close at hand.You might work on your posture at home if you’re called out on it.Once you get the basics of making pottery down in class, nothing says that you can’t practise clay sculpture at home. You might try your hand at coiling â€" an ancient technique that does not require a wheel.The wonderful thing about clay is that it is so forgiving! If you can’t quite get those vases right, you can try again... or turn it into a contemporary ceramics art piece. If you can’t quite get the grooves r ight on the bowl you’re making, you can ‘erase’ them and try again.Likewise, if your clay sculpture doesn't turn out exactly right, have another go at it.The important thing to remember is that learning how to make a beautiful piece takes time and work; so the most important thing you need to bring when you get started with pottery is patience!Now learn what supplies and equipment you should have on hand before you start your ceramic classes...

How to Sing Better with One Simple Trick

How to Sing Better with One Simple Trick Suzy S. Whether youre a fan of American Idol or not, the show has become a large part of pop culture.   And if youre able to ignore the gimmicks, youll find that shows like Idol do have some merit in exposing some amazing talent: grunge-loving Chris Daughtry, country crooner Carrie Underwood, and of course Kelly Clarkson just to name a few. Theres also a way these artists can help you improve your own voice.   Dont believe us?   Its as simple as learning to listen more efficiently.   As you listen, train yourself to focus on the intricacies of the singers vocal style, and youll be able to pinpoint the areas that you need to work on yourself.   And dont worry if we catch you rocking out to Since U Been Gone, we wont judge. Heres an excellent list of elements to listen for in other singers voices, courtesy of PerformanceHigh.net: 1. Melisma (embellishments, riffs, trills, licks, runs) how, when, and to what extent does the singer decorate the basic melody? 2. Texture is the voice breathy, edgy, brassy, clear, gritty, etc? 3. Intonation (pitch) is the singer on pitch? Do they use blue notes? Do they intentionally (or not) sing any notes slightly flat? 4. Emotional expression what does the singer do to help you feel the lyrics emotionally? 5. Phrasing and space what is the rhythm of the lyrics? Does the singer push or pull any lyrics ahead of or behind the beat? Where does the singer leave space? 6. Dynamics how loud, how soft? How quickly or slowly do the singers dynamics change? 7. Mix is the singer singing in chest voice, head voice, or a mix? If a mix, how heavy (chesty) or light (heady) a mix are they using? Do they use different approaches throughout the song? 8. Compression how compressed is the voice? (High pop belting is often very compressed; breathy low-volume singing is not.) 9. Tension and release how does the singer help you feel emotional tension and then release simply through the voice (and not the song structure or lyrics)? 10. Placement is the voice aimed forward behind the nose? Or is it rounder and throatier? Is it more present in the mouth, or in the nose, or equally balanced? Practicing better listening will also come in handy when listening to recordings of yourself.   With this one simple concept, youll be able to really feel the details in your singing, making it seamless. How has the simple act of listening helped you sing better?   Leave a comment below! 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 Image courtesy of http://abcnewsradioonline.com.

4 Steps to Help Beginner Piano Students

4 Steps to Help Beginner Piano Students To learn the piano follow these 4 steps! ChaptersBegin with proper postureEase your way into playingGradually improve your techniqueHow to play the piano with small handsRegardless of your level and objectives, today we’re asking the question: how does one play the piano?Ok, it’s a bit vast we know. So we’ll break it down into four pieces of advice. In order to play the piano well, you’ll need to have the proper posture, and know how to play slowly, but at the right tempo. Lastly, how can you play like Mozart if you have small hands? Read on to discover the answers to these questions and more! LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teach er £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBegin with proper postureWhen you play the piano you’ll need to use your entire body. So it’s important to adopt (and memorize) the correct positions and posture when you start to learn how to play piano, so that it becomes like second nature.First, position yourself in the middle of the piano, comfortably seated on your chair or stool. Use the key of G in the middle of the keyboard as a benchmark. Remember that will alter slightly depending on what piece you're playing. To play piano songs that call for high notes, you’ll position yourself slightly towards the left side of the keyboard, and in the opposite side for music with a lot of low notes. Where is that middle C again?Learning proper posture is key to becoming a true pianist.Next, you’ll position your lower arms by adjusting the height of your seat. To be well placed,  your elbows should be at th e same height of the keyboard. Or slightly under the keyboard if you have short arms. The lower arms should not be perfectly perpendicular to the keyboard.This arm position will allow you to move your fingers on the keyboard faster and easier, for a maximum of flexibility in fingering. Generally speaking, pianists aim to have good body position in order to make piano playing more supple and fluid. These are all things that your piano teacher will instruct you on. Check out an online piano video to see how the professionals look.What type of seat is best for playing piano? A stool, bench, or chair?This really comes down to your personal choice. The renowned pianist  Glenn Gould played on chairs, which obviously served him well! The downside is that you can’t adjust their height. If you choose to sit on a chair, select one that corresponds to your body and the height of your piano keyboard.The benefit of the piano bench, in addition to the possibility of modifying its height, is tha t its width facilitates side movements of the piano player. This is why the bench is generally the most popular type of seating used by pianists.Standing up while playing is just something for the great Elton John, not for beginners!After your arms, the next thing to check as you learn to play piano is your back! The back’s position must be perfect so that you don’t cause any lumbar pains from playing. Above all else, piano playing should be a pleasure! If the piano is causing back pains, you’ve overlooked this goal.When you play the piano, the back should be straight but not too rigid. And this rule is not only applicable to the piano. In a seated position, the back should always be straight, and never hunched over the keyboard: this is the worst position for playing the piano.After you’ve mastered the position of the lower arms and back, you’ll need to think about your hands! Even if the entire body is in use when you play the piano, the hand plays the most important rol e.To play the notes perfectly and reach the keys, your fingers must be curved and arched. Your palm should be slightly higher than the fingers, so that they “dive” into the notes (except the thumb which should be almost completely flat). This position will allow you to reduce tenseness and gain in speed while playing piano. The power you’ll need to touch the keys should be stemming from the fingers and not the wrist or arms â€" easier said than done!This is also what allows for the curved position of the hand. And remember to keep your feet flat on the floor, to increase your stability and confidence. Playing on the tip of your feet is not a good idea, even when you are beginning your instruction and don’t yet know how to play piano.While we wholeheartedly stand by all of this advice, it’s important to note that every person has a unique physical makeup. With time, your positions might differ slightly from the accepted rules, as outlined above, and more in keeping with you r individual playing style and physique.Discover the best ways of playing your piano scales too…Ease your way into playingWhen you start to learn piano, it’s important begin by playing slowly. This will allow you to warm up your fingers before playing (in the context of a piano course for example). It will also be very helpful when you learn to play a scale, chord progression, or piano song.Certain pianists want to play faster than the music, or play the piece at the speed required by the sheet music notations without being at the level to do so correctly. These are not the right approaches!Increase your execution speed gradually but begin by playing slowly. You must succeed at playing the piece perfectly before being able to play fast. You can’t jump from Mary had a Little Lamb to the most complex arpeggio. Get a metronome to pace your playing!Begin by playing slowly!In general, playing the piano slowly will allow you to:Memorize what you're playing easier. Your brain must co ncentrate on every detail in the sheet music, to absorb and remember them all. Soon you’ll be able to identify and pass quickly from minor scales to major scales.To make technical progress quicker, because playing slowly allows you not only to memorize music easier but also to memorize finger movements that you’ll find in other songs.Be attentive to what you’re playing, to piano chords, tempo, rhythm, etc. As such  you’ll be assured that what you are playing is correct, and that you’re not making mistakes in rhythm or in reading music.Better understand the nuances of the piece and “feel” what you are playing.To anticipate the upcoming measures instead of running after the music that you’re playing. By playing slowly, your brain will work faster than your fingers.If you're looking for a piano tutor, you can stop searching the Internet for piano lessons London and head directly to Superprof!Gradually improve your techniqueIf you are playing the piano, chances are you w ant to get better. That’s the goal of most pianists, whether they are absolute beginners or more experienced musicians. But making progress in piano playing could mean different things.First, it’s the ability to read sheet music easily. By decoding the notes, you’ll acquire a knowledge of solfege and music theory. You’ll see, soon you’ll be reading more complex music and sight reading faster.Making piano playing progress also means becoming more flexible and faster.Your hand movements and fingering will become more and more supple. You’ll play chord progressions (with the left hand) and note progressions (right hand) faster, without creating tenseness and clenched fingers. And your playing will become better articulated and more expressive.In order to use your fullest artistic potential, you must reach a good technical level. Technique serves the artistic, creative and performance sides.Getting a piano instructor and taking piano lessons will help you advance must quicke r than if you are self-taught. Piano classes are especially useful if you are stumbling over a piece of music or blocked from learning in any way. There are so many benefits to a piano lesson! Studying piano tutorials and videos on the Internet will also be fun and helpful, but beware of free piano classes and certain online lessons advertised online.You’ll make great progress if you are disciplined and practice the piano regularly. Don’t force progress, because you risk skipping steps and making mistakes. There are phases in piano instruction that just can’t be rushed through.How to play the piano with small handsEven small fingers can reach the black keysSome people believe that the piano isn’t for them because of their small hands. Is it possible to play the piano with short fingers? Our answer is yes.In truth, there are many pianists who don’t have particularly big hands â€" “piano hands” as we say â€" who play those sharps and quarter notes with a lot of fluidity and ease.Sure, certain music composers are known for their large hands. But the hand length has no bearing on quality of playing and piano technique.This is notably the case with Liszt, who, according to legend, could play the eleventh interval with just one hand! Some small-handed people might have difficulty playing some music by Liszt, as it was conceived for those with Liszt-sized hands!Generally speaking, classical music from the Romantic Period (nineteenth century) used a lot of intervals and chords with sevenths and ninths. Therefore, much of the “Romantic” repertoire requires large hands. We can’t deny it, but perhaps with a bit of creative improvisation on your piano notes you can overcome it!But remember that 95% of piano music can be played with modestly sized and even small hands. What’s more, it’s even preferable to have small hands when playing songs that use chromatic movements. Just ask your music teacher!Each hand configuration has its benefits and disadva ntages, and hand size has a limited effect on piano instruction. If you have small hands and you want to learn to play the piano, go for it!Whether you play classical piano or jazz piano (or anything!), you now have everything you need to attack those black keys and play those tunes. Your beginner piano skills will fade away, and you’ll learn to play by ear and read music like Mozart!Are you the next Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?