Chemistry Nobel Prize

Chemistry Nobel PrizeThe Chemistry Nobel Prize and its association with chemistry have been popular ever since the first prize was awarded in 1930. The award is awarded to a chemist that has contributed their valuable research to mankind. It is not only for chemistry research that has been honoured, but also for the deeds of the doctor or scientist in other fields.Science and reason have had a good rapport with the Chemistry Nobel Prize in history. Many eminent scientists are associated with the Nobel Prize because of their contributions in various fields such as medicine, agriculture, astronomy, mathematics, biology, and physics.The Chemistry Nobel Prize is given on an annual basis by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Nobel Prize committee, a board of professional judges, consists of nine members and is headed by the Royal Swedish Academy President.This award is given for the most outstanding achievements of the chemist that have contributed to the discovery of chemical ele ments. They were chosen based on the annual requirements and the qualities considered relevant to the award, such as scientific accomplishment, creative genius, literature, and humanitarian activities. This award can be conferred only once and thus, this particular prize has earned much reputation over the years.To win the Chemistry Nobel Prize, the researcher must have contributed significant and groundbreaking research. Their discoveries have enhanced the quality of life for the common man and the whole world has benefited from these remarkable people.The Chemistry Nobel Prize is well known in the academic circles and many scientists use it as a platform to address the needs of mankind and raise awareness among the general public. Because of the involvement of people, the prizes are also extended to help them in other fields like arts, education, culture, etc.There are a number of possible contenders for the Chemistry Nobel Prize and there are a number of people involved in the se lection process. The committee of the Nobel prizes mainly comprises of an eminent member of the Swedish Academy, but this year, it also included three members that are considering an additional representative from the Alfred Nobel Foundation, who has researched extensively on the chemistry awards.There are some other factors that are considered by the Chemistry Nobel Prize committee when it comes to awarding the prize. The creativity and individuality of the chemist are an important factor for this year's prize, as the winner must be a visionary in the field.

A Closer Look 8 Major World Languages Thatll Steal Your Heart

A Closer Look 8 Major World Languages Thatll Steal Your Heart One of the great thrills  of language learning is just in choosing a new system of culture, symbols and meaning to tackle.Often, the choice is not made in the head, but in the heart:Were in love with Brazilian music, and so we learn Portuguese.Were in love with a Catalan girl, and so we learn Catalan.Or were in love with cheese  and cinema, and so we learn French.But when those sorts of adventures are conquered or run aground, we might next want to pick from among the worlds 6,000 languages based on some actual foresight and pondering of the evidence.Now maybe you prefer the obscure, but if you find it  most practical to  consider one of the major world languagesâ€"which are generally defined as languages that get some use and respect beyond their own cultural/geographical groupâ€"then heres a closer look at eight of the big ones. How and Why to Pick a World  Language to LearnSince  high school, I have taken on  six languages in which I eventually became fluent, but I have also spe nt a significant amount of time (more than a year total) on completely failing to learn three more. Languages are intoxicating, alluring temptresses. It is fun to grab a textbook  and jump in.But before I had poured so much  time and effort into those three failures, I wish I had more carefully weighed their benefits, and the costs and practical issues that would eventually drag me down and cause my motivation to flag. Heres what I have found to be the top considerations to make  before taking the plunge in terms of world languages and their practicality for you.Practical considerations:Travel: How will this language enrich or enable travel experiences?Business: In my line of work, what opportunities could this language open up?Personal: Does this enrich my personal, social, family or romantic possibilities?Cultural: What music, literature, film, theater, television, etc. can I enjoy or create in this language? What activities (dance, martial arts, sports, etc.) can I take part in w ith it?Linguistic considerations:Difficulty:  How far removed is this from the languages that I know? What special challenges does this language present in terms of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and writing systems?Linguistic appeal:  What are the wild and interesting thrills that this languages grammar and vocabulary may open up as ways to  experience and reflect on the worlds events  and emotions?A Closer Look: 8 Major World Languages Thatll Steal Your HeartHere are the major world languages to consider, and a look at their selling points for the language-learning addict.EnglishIf youre reading this, you of course probably already speak English. But for the purposes of comparison with those to follow, consider that this is the worlds lingua franca in just about every domain.  One larger estimate puts the total number of (native, fluent and attempted) speakers at 2 billion, or roughly one-third of the worlds population. There are so many enriching thrills to be had in speaking other languages, but this is the single most practical language you can speak.That said, consider that another two-thirds of the planet dont  speak English, and that many (well, most) of those who do  speak it do so pretty badly. Youre going to have more interesting adventures in human  communication if you can master one or more of the other major world languages below.SpanishSpanish is spoken in Spain and in a large swath of the Americas, both of which are very appealing areas in which to live and travel. Instituto Cervantes puts the total number of native speakers at 470 million, and the total number of speakers worldwide at 559 million.Spanish also has an outsized cultural presence in the world thanks in particular to its contributions to music, film, literature and television. Ive met a number of people in my travels in Eastern Europe and Brazil, for instance, who have picked up Spanish simply because they enjoy dancing tango or watching telenovelas (soap operas).Many learners find this to be a relatively easy language to tackle, though any such judgement is of course subjective based in particular on your experience with languages close to it. But, if youve studied Latin, French or other Romance languages, you will of course find this approachable.It also shares a lot of words with English, particularly those which in English are descended from Latin.Pronunciation for many learners can be quite easy to approach, since there are only five base vowels to deal with and they are quite separate from each other; even if you dont hit them exactly youre still going to be understood. The writing system is also quite simple to learn, with very nearly one sound for each letter of the alphabet.FrenchThe French government tells us that there are 220 million French speakers on the planet, including those who speak it partially. It is, after English, the most taught language on the planet, and an important language for diplomacy. It is one of six working languages for the U.N., one of three procedural languages for the E.U., and the sole language for deliberations of the Court of Justice of the European Union.The language can be relatively easy to understand for English speakers because it shares a lot of cognates with English, thanks to the two languages intertwined histories. On the other hand, it has up to 17 vowels, depending on what you count, which  can make pronunciation a bit difficult, and the spelling system, while better than that of English, is not exactly straightforward.Mandarin ChineseThe Chinese government insists that Chinese is one single language, but since there are quite a number of not particularly mutually intelligible varieties under that umbrella, as a language learner youre going to have to start with just one. And in terms of practicality as a world language, your best choice is Mandarin, which has 897 million native speakers.Even Mandarin has a wide range of variation, but the standard version is a lingua franca in Ch ina, and can be used by Mandarin speakers from various dialects to communicate.For those coming from a tone-free, Latin-script-using language like English, Mandarin can certainly appear frightening, and it is indeed a challenge. It is difficult for adult learners to get used to using tones as part of communication  and memorizing the 4,000 characters known to  an average educated Chinese person is daunting.One blogger points out  the many challenges, including cultural factors that can be discouraging as well, including a Chinese propensity to laugh at any mispronounced phrase. On the other hand, Chinese has no cases, declensions or genders, and the tense system is relatively straightforward. If you have a personal desire to learn Chinese, you can rise to the challenge!ArabicAs with Chinese, Arabic is considered a single language, but from the point of view of a language learner it is a variety of not-mutually-intelligible, um, dialects, and you will have to pick one. There are 267 million total Arabic speakers in the world, and no one dialect is dominant, so youll have to pick based on which region or culture interests you the most.There is also the literary version of the language, Modern Standard Arabic. It is used in most written documents and in news broadcasts, and spoken as a second language by educated people throughout the Arab world. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and it is related to Classical Arabic, which is the language of the Quran.However, from the point of view of a language learner it can be quite frustrating to have the purely spoken dialect used by people in conversations and the written form to learn as well, with little overlap between them. This means that  a decision to learn Arabic generally means learning two languages.The writing system is from right to left, and the cursive (connection of an entire word) can make it difficult to approach at first. But there is at least much more consistency between sp elling and pronunciation than one finds in English, and so reading and writing can be mastered rather quickly. The language uses  three cases, eight noun declensions, and lots of other inflections that can be challenging.RussianNative Russian speakers number 171 million  according to one count, and the language is important on the world stage, with second-language speakers located particularly in the former Soviet republics. One count puts total speakers at 260 million.This gives you a huge range of lands that you could travel over and make use of the language, and these are places where often it can be harder to find people with passable English skills.The spelling system is not as scary as it looks. The 33 letters indicate mostly regular pronunciation patterns (though stress and what it does to vowels can be hard for learners to predict). The grammar on the other hand is duly frightening; cases are complex and there are many irregularities.The same is true for verb conjugations, t hough the use of perfective and imperfective aspects  to indicate the degree to which something is finished can be rather new and fun.PortuguesePortuguese counts some 202 million native speakers in the world, and one of the main appeals is that the language provides  the best music on the planet. For me, listening to music was an unending source of motivation in  learning the language.Most learners  will decide between the European or Brazilian varieties, which are written similarly, particularly since the recent standardization, but have quite different pronunciations and vocabularies.Like Spanish and French, this is a Romance language, so if you speak either one of those languages or Latin, this will be a relatively easy project. Pronunciation of some sounds, particularly open and closed vowel sounds, can be difficult for language learners.In terms of grammar it could be considered a bit more complex than other Romance languages, as Portuguese has  more total ways to inflect verbs , although in practice many of these are not used so much, particularly in the Northeast of Brazil and among less-educated speakers.HindiHindi has  some 260 million native speakers, is the official language of a number of Indian states and is used at the national level as well by many non-native speakers. It is written in the Devanagari script, from left to right, and the pronunciation is phonetic and regular.Hindi  is an Indo-European language, and that coupled with British colonization has left some cognates between English and Hindi. Tenses are straightforward but do not of course correspond exactly to English tenses, which can make choosing the right one a bit of a challenge.Which is the best language for you? I cant tell you that, of course, but I hope that this has given you a few clues as to where you might want to head.While this post focused on world languages, you definitely may also want to consider smaller, regional languages. While they can be less useful in a practical sense, there is a real joy in being able to speak a bit of Quechua or Catalan with a native speaker, who will often be surprised and quite  grateful for your efforts.So whether you go for one of the big world languages or a lesser-known dialect, I hope you enjoy the journey!Mose Hayward blogs about language learning, dating and failure at TipsyPilgrim.com.

TUTORING IN ALICE

TUTORING IN ALICETUTORING IN ALICE has the latest edition with new and more in-depth subjects such as health, psychology, philosophy, sociology, economics, politics, history, politics, business, international affairs, technology, environment, movies, sports, etc. All these subjects are within your budget and will give you a thorough understanding of all the fields. It's great to have a book that provides information about all aspects of the subject without being too rigid.Other ways of learning from ALICE include online tutoring. This is the most reliable and convenient option for learners who cannot go out for lessons. The online lessons are delivered at the best of the services and prices. This gives you the flexibility to study from anywhere you want.One important thing to keep in mind when it comes to learning from ALICE is that you are provided with adequate time to complete the lessons. If the tutor is too busy then you might miss out on some important points that are discussed in the text. However, it can be said that the interactive lessons with the active participation of the tutor are very good. It also helps to receive feedbacks of the tutor so that you can learn the lesson easily.These lessons are generally meant for difficult students who do not have a lot of time to attend class. It is a way of trying to help them get through to a higher level of education by taking the stress off of their lives.If you want to learn more, there are books that are designed for high school students that are not as in-depth. However, these books are not really meant for lower middle school students who can make use of the text for their homework.A great thing about ALICE is that it takes the student to many colleges at once. This makes it easy for them to compare courses. It also makes it easier for them to find the programs they want. All the instructors are widely known in their field and hence there is no need to find someone new.TUTORING IN ALICE is a popular cho ice for students who want to learn new things. It is available in two editions, the first for students in elementary schools, and the second for those at higher levels.

Beauty Through Chemistry

Beauty Through ChemistryCosmetic chemistry books provide the necessary knowledge for chemical engineers, scientists and students to become successful in this field. This field requires expertise in various aspects of chemistry, which is important for businesses in pharmaceutical, food and medicine sectors. Scientists who are interested in this field must possess a comprehensive knowledge of the different elements and also experience in practical application of these elements. So, this type of science must be chosen for the student who wants to pursue further career in this field.A student can find cosmetic chemistry books in many online bookstores. These books provide basic information about various aspects of chemistry, including elements. Such books are designed in such a way that they can be easily understood by students and even their professors. These books contain the latest developments and also the latest results from various researches carried out in this field. Therefore, e very scientist is advised to purchase books about this field.However, learning about this field is not as easy as learning about other fields, which is why students should also learn and practice some basic tips to learn about this field. These tips can be applied by students and also their professors when explaining to them the basic concepts of this field. These tips include basic understanding of basic terms and learning how to utilize them effectively. Students must be taught how to present data with proper syntax and jargon. They must also be taught how to express their ideas in a concise and simple language. These tips can be very helpful while teaching.Other than these basic knowledge, students must also know how to use chemical symbols and formulas in order to fully comprehend and understand the topic. Chemistry books, which contain simple and detailed descriptions about chemical substances and the reactions that occur in these substances, provide the students with an unders tanding about this field. But, these books should be purchased only after students get good knowledge about the subject.Students must also get hands-on experience in this field in order to know about the principles involved. Students should also learn to apply the principles in different projects. This will help them improve their skills and knowledge. After getting exposure to many different experiments, students can learn to analyze different aspects of this field.The students must also learn about the various technical aspects of this field. Chemical engineering students must learn about the latest technological changes in the field. Thus, it is important for students to get a good grounding in the field of chemistry.This is why all students must remember the basic information about the field of chemistry. This knowledge can give a clear idea about the fundamental aspects of this field. It also gives them an opportunity to enhance their knowledge about the field of science. They can learn about the varied effects of elements and chemicals in different fields of science and may even create better knowledge on this field through these books.

3 Simple Tweaks to Instantly Improve Your Singing Voice

3 Simple Tweaks to Instantly Improve Your Singing Voice Suzy S. Want to know the secrets of the best singers out there? Here, Corona, CA teacher  Milton J.  shares his advice to instantly improve your singing voice As singers, we greatly admire those vocal artists who seem to be able to create their vocal sound so seemingly effortless and without strain or discomfort. What is it that theyre doing that we as aspiring or budding singers are not? Here are just a few of the tricks of the trade and vocal tweaks you can use within your voice lessons to instantly improve your singing voice. Larynx Lowering One trick that will serve to transform how your vocal sound passes through your throat and increase your range is with larynx manipulation. Your larynx is colloquially known as your voicebox, or with male singers, the “Adam’s apple.” So how do you lower your larynx? To start, use the beginning of the yawn. Avoid intentionally pushing down the back of your tongue, as most people do when first learning to lower the larynx. This is because if you push your tongue down, you will feel a tightening of the muscles under your chin, which isn’t what you want for singing at all. Instead, using the yawn technique will help you use your sense of feeling and touch to understand how to control the muscles around your larynx. Open Throat Breathing Breathing is a subset of singing that many singers do not realize they must actively think about and foster greater control of. For instance, many of us singers tend to inhale much like we do when we’re sitting, walking, or talking. That is, through the nose and not utilizing the full capacity of our lungs. Because of that, we do not use all of our vocal tools to their best ability. When doing your warm-up exercises, take some time to focus on your breathing. To maximize your inhalation intake, try opening your mouth on an “Awh” shape and open your throat in a yawn-like fashion. When you finish your exercise, youll notice your lungs may feel expanded, your body a little bit lighter, and a few yawns may have passed (this is normal, as your body is adjusting to the influx of air). Additionally, once you move to practicing a song, try breathing through the next vowel you are slated to sing. For example, if the next word after an inhalation is “over,” you would inhale through an “ooh” mouth shape. This will both help to increase the amount of air you receive into your lungs in addition to cutting down the time necessary to create the shape for your next singing word, setting in motion the best utilization of all of your vocal tools. Diaphragm Engagement Lastly, another overlooked portion of everyday singing is using the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It plays a major role in breathing, as its contraction increases the size of the chest and, thus, inflates the lungs. Now, if youre having trouble feeling your diaphragm, lie flat on the floor and place a moderate weight on your stomach area, something like a large book. Push that weight up using just the muscles in your stomach. Simultaneously draw air into your lungs to their full capacity and sing out. The muscles youre using are your diaphragm. Thus, strengthening the diaphragm with strength-building exercises will certainly enhance your vocal output. In this exercise, take a deep breath from your diaphragm, and while exhaling, count as high as possible. Count slowly and evenly, then record how much youve improved every day. Another strengthening exercise is Belt Singing. That is, take a simple belt and heckle it across your diaphragm. Make sure its tight enough so you can push out on the buckle using your diaphragm, but not too tight where it constricts breathing or is uncomfortable. From there, do your warm-up exercises and sing your song selections. When you have finished and remove the belt, youll notice your diaphragm will feel as if its been through a workout. These easy tricks and tweaks will greatly improve your singing voice in just a few sessions. Why not try them out with a vocal teacher near you today? Milton J. teaches guitar, piano, singing, music recording, music theory, opera voice, songwriting, speaking voice, and acting lessons in  Corona, CA. He specializes in classical, RB, soul, pop, rock, jazz, and opera styles. Learn more about Milton 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  Boelseye Lisa Boels

Venting Feels So Good Just Make Sure You Know the Right Way to do It - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Venting Feels So Good â€" Just Make Sure You Know the Right Way to do It - Introvert Whisperer Venting Feels So Good â€" Just Make Sure You Know the Right Way to do It I just spent time with a friend of mine that needed to vent. When we were done, she said she felt much better. Venting does have its place in order to release pent-up frustration. We all do it but there are some insider tips about it, you need to know. Venting can be a good way to let off steam and stress. We all need to do it sometimes and you have to be selective about who you vent to. At work, we do face a considerable number of frustrating things and it’s easy to vent to your work peers. The problem with doing that is that if it is about the boss or another person (which it usually is) what you say will most likely get back to that person. I don’t care how “confidential” you try to make your venting; don’t count on it staying that way. Trust me, as a manager, it always got back to me plus I usually knew when it got to others. News travels fast. If you need to vent about a work issue, find a person who isn’t at work and is neutral. (Being neutral simply means they will listen and not make you feel worse) My rule of thumb when venting to anyone at work is this: If it’s okay with you that anyone hears what you are about to say â€" go for it. If not, don’t say it. If you want, you can vent to me. If you want me to shift into “coach”, just let me know. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Types of Camera for Shooting Video

Types of Camera for Shooting Video Which Are the Best Cameras for Shooting Video ChaptersWhat’s the Difference between Compact, Single Lens Reflex, Hybrid, and Bridge Cameras?Using a Camera to Shoot VideoFilming with Hybrid CamerasFilming with Compact or Bridge CamerasChoosing the Right Cameras for Shooting VideoImportant Vocabulary for Filming“The camera can film my face but until it captures my soul, you don't have a movie.” - Al PacinoCinema is an art form that a lot of us love. Action films were the highest-grossing genre in the UK and ROI in 2017, followed by animation, sci-fi, drama, and then comedy. Whether it’s to laugh, cry, think, or gasp, there’s a film for every emotion.Are you interested in shooting video?Learn more about the different digital cameras you can use to shoot video. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotogr aphy Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat’s the Difference between Compact, Single Lens Reflex, Hybrid, and Bridge Cameras?When starting with photography or film, you’ll need a camera. That said, with all the different cameras on the market, it can be tricky choosing the right one. There’s a big difference between reflex cameras and compacts for taking on holiday with you. However, the gap between the different types gets smaller every year. There are several main types of camera you can use to shoot video. (Source: Bru-nO)Before you go choosing which will be best for video, you should understand the difference between these four main types of digital camera.A digital SLR camera or DSLR camera is usually preferred by photographers for its superior image quality. DSLR cameras have a larger body and you can get accessories and interchangeable lenses to further improve their performance.Wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses, external batteries, there’s all sorts of stuff you can get for DSLRs. The most important thing about reflex cameras is the mirror. The mirror reflects the light from the lens onto the image sensor.  This allows the user to see exactly what the sensor sees.Hybrid cameras don’t have a mirror; the image is retransmitted to the sensor. The viewfinder only shows a representation of what the sensor is picking up. As they don’t have a mirror, the bodies of hybrid cameras tend to be smaller.The biggest diff erence between reflex cameras and hybrid cameras is how they capture light and the image. However, much like with reflex cameras, you can change the lenses on hybrids, something you don’t get with bridge cameras.Bridge cameras are falling out of favour due to the increasing performance of compacts. However, bridge cameras tend to have better lenses. In terms of ergonomics, bridge cameras are closer to reflex cameras. This type of device is usually chosen by amateur photographers and filmmakers.Compact cameras are smaller than the other types we’ve covered and are great for sitting in your pocket during holidays. In recent years, they’ve become much more impressive and comparable to entry-level reflex cameras in some cases.  It’s better to have to a good compact than a reflex with a bad lens!Another notable difference between the different types of camera is the size of the sensor. The sensor is what picks up the light to create the photo. It’s the heart of the device.Refle x cameras have the largest sensors. The larger the sensor, the easier it is for the sensor to capture the light, especially in low-light environments. That’s why the best DSLR cameras are generally known for being the best cameras.Until recently, reflex cameras were the only cameras to have full-frame sensors. However, the hybrid Sony Alpha 7 also has a full-frame sensor.Technological advancements continue to revolutionise the camera market.Check out our tips for shooting video.Using a Camera to Shoot VideoWhether or not you shoot video with a reflex camera depends on your objectives. You should know the pros and cons of using these types of camera. Bigger cameras tend to shoot better footage but also are much heavier. (Source: rkarkowski)Firstly, the sensor is one of the main reasons these cameras take such good photos and video. In addition to the sensor, you also need the right lenses. The lens will greatly affect quality.There’s no point in investing in a telephoto lens unless you’re shooting a nature documentary. Big lenses are cumbersome and mightn’t be worth lugging around with you everywhere. You probably want lenses with variable focal lengths.A 35-70mm lens will be useful for wide shots, portraits, and some light zooming if you want.  However! If you want to do professional video, avoid zooming while filming.Fixed lenses are also highly recommended. These are often great quality and allow you to focus on the framing rather than the zoom.  Also, try to get lenses with an aperture between f/1.8 and f/2. While more expensive, these lenses will help you to shoot better video.Also, pay attention to the weight of the c ameras. The bodies can be quite heavy on their own. With a big lens attached, they can be even harder to wield. This can become a massive pain for holiday videos, for example. In this case, you might want to invest in a tripod. On the other hand, the heavier the camera, the easier it is to stabilise. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFilming with Hybrid CamerasHybrid cameras are a good alternative as they tend to be smaller and lighter than reflex cameras. In recent years, hybrid cameras have become more popular with professionals including Sony’s Alpha 7. Perfect for low-light conditions, this camera is great for amateurs and professionals alike. Some hybrids are almost as good as SLRs. (Source: Hans)Like with reflex cameras, you can change the lenses on hybrid cameras. This is pretty good given their small size.  That said, you should also consider investing in a microphone since the built-in microphones aren’t great. Even though the video quality has greatly improved in recent years, sound quality is often overlooked. An external microphone can quickly make a light camera heavy.Pay attention to stabilisation. Some devices come with built-in stabilisation but this isn’t always the case. It can be tricky fixing a shaky image in post. So make sure that the image is as stable as possible when filming.While they’re lighter and often as powerful as reflex cameras, the ones that do great video tend to be expensive. You can expect to pay close to £2,000.Filming with Compact or Bridge CamerasBridge cameras aren’t great for filming, you can’t change the lenses, and they’re still quite cumbersome.Compacts, however, can be useful when it comes to filming videos. High-end compacts can shoot 4K video and include options like slow-motion.  The big advantage is just how small they are.In terms of stabilisation, they’re not great, but you can get accessories to help with that.They also don’t cost as much as hybrid or reflex cameras and you can still get great quality images and footage.Choosing the Right Cameras for Shooting VideoYou need to choose a camera according to your budget as well as your objectives. How you'll use your camera will influence which model is best for you. (Source: Alexas_Fotos)If you’re just after some nice holiday videos, compacts will do the job. If you’re wanting to make videos professionally, you’ll want to invest in a hybrid or reflex camera so you can play around with different lenses.Next, it depends on your habits for taking photos. Some opt for a reflex because they already have several lenses while others go for the latest hybrids.Take your level and value for money into account when buying cameras.Important Vocabulary for FilmingHere’s a couple of terms that you may find useful.4KMost cameras can now film in 4K. However, this isn’t the same 4K that’s used in cinema (4096 x 2160 pixels). These cameras are better than full HD but they keep the 16:9 ratio (3840 x 2160). This is 4K UHD.AutofocusAutofocus is when the camera takes care of focusing itself. In other words, it tries to work out what you’re focusing on and will try to keep this eleme nt sharp. That said, it can be annoying when shooting video. In this case, you should do it manually.If you'd like to learn more about photography and film, there are plenty of private tutors on Superprof who can help you. There are different types of tutorials for different budgets and learning styles so it's up to you which one you go for.Face-to-face tutorials are the most costly but are also the most cost-effective. With just you and the tutor, the tutorials can be tailored to you, what you want to learn, and your preferred learning style.Online tutorials are similar but instead of the tutor being there in the room with you, they'll teach you remotely using video conferencing software. While this is fine for academic and theoretical subjects, it can be trickier for hands-on subjects that benefit from having a tutor there in the room with you.Finally, there are group tutorials which tend to be the cheapest per student per hour. Since the cost of the tutor is shared amongst all th e students in attendance, each student will be paying a smaller amount than they would in face-to-face or online tutorials.The choice is yours!

One Trick to Make Your Guitar Solos Amazing

One Trick to Make Your Guitar Solos Amazing Megan L. It takes a lot of skill to stand out as a guitarist. Here, guitar teacher  Bernard M.  shows you exactly what it takes to pull off an amazing solo and how you should approach phrasing You may or may not be ready to play a guitar solo, but its good to know what elements go into one. What is it that makes a great guitar solo? While there are many ways to answer this  question, there is one crucial element that often goes overlooked by even the most experienced  players: phrasing. Phrasing is the way in which a musician or composer combines notes to create a musical  sentence, or phrase. Although it can be very subtle, it often makes the difference between a  memorable solo and “note soup.” What does this mean for you guitarists? Play less, leave space. Let your ears lead the way, not your fingers. Many musicians suffer from the misconception that faster, more technical playing is somehow better and more musical. This can be very discouraging to new players, who have trouble  competing with their more experienced peers. Never fear! Creativity and imagination are what  make great music, and this is what phrasing is all about. Check out these two samples to hear the difference between a busy solo and one that uses  creative phrasing. The Problem: A Run-On Not bad at all, but can you hum a bar or two of that solo? Does any part of it stick in your  memory? The problem with this solo is that it’s practically one long phrase. Like a run-on  sentence, it’s difficult to follow and needs to be broken up! In this next sample, I add space and punctuation to the previous solo, creating different  musical phrases. The Solution: Adding Space By simply adding space to create distinct phrases, I have made the solo much more  memorable and effective. Each phrase has room to breathe before moving on to the next. By  playing less, the notes that are played gain much more power, adding strength to the solo as a whole. Hopefully, by now I’ve convinced you to focus on your phrasing the next time you go to  take a solo. This, however, is easier said than done. Phrasing is very elusive and intangible. It  has a closer link to creativity than technique, and therefore, is difficult to learn or teach  methodically. Instead, it’s something that constantly develops as  you grow  more experienced and  more tasteful. Here are few suggestions to help you develop your phrasing and taste. Take your time. This is perhaps one of simplest yet most profound suggestions on how to improve your  soloing. Being comfortable and confident while playing allows you to sound your best. If you try  to fill your solo with every last lick you can conjure up, you will very likely end up feeling  rushed, nervous, and stumbling through the solo. Slow down! Savor the solo and don’t overthink it. When you relax and give yourself  plenty of time, it allows your creative instincts to take the wheel. Some great ways to leave  yourself this room to breathe include long, expressive bends, sustained notes with some tasty  vibrato, and even simple rests. Break it up. Even the most creative players can fall into the trap of putting their fingers on auto-pilot,  aimlessly playing up and down familiar scales in monotonous eight notes or triplet lines. One of  the best ways to combat this common ailment is to break up the patterns. Playing a long descending eighth note line? Throw a rest or two in there to punctuate  your phrase. This can be a very powerful move and make an otherwise boring lick fresh and  interesting. Think like a drummer. We guitar players spend a lot of time thinking about chords, scales, arpeggios, and  intervals. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, we sometimes forget about  something just as, if not more, important; rhythm. Thinking about what you are playing rhythmically is at the core of phrasing. What are  you doing on the third beat of the measure, or the “ of 2?” What beats do you want to highlight  or downplay? Do you want to play along with the beat, or use syncopation to emphasize  unexpected accents? This might seem overwhelming to players who are not used to thinking this  way, so I will refer to my advice above; take your time, play what you are comfortable playing  and above all, follow your creative instincts. Emulate the experts. My final piece of advice is to study the players that inspire you the most. How do they  use phrasing in their solos? Learn your favorite guitar solos, note for note, and study them  closely. This is a great way to pick up the playing habits of your heroes and start developing your  own individual sound. Studying the solos of players like David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, or Derek  Trucks, who have a keen sense of phrasing, will help you make even the simplest licks powerful,  expressive and inspiring. Some of my favorite songs  to play are  classic rock guitar solos. They feel good and they sound incredible. As always, make sure you set aside time for plenty of practice. Try to not go a day without playing for 15 minutes. You will start to see significant progress in just a couple of weeks! Post Author:  Bernard M. Bernard M. is a guitar and songwriting instructor in Philadelphia, PA. He teaches lessons online and will travel to his students.  Learn more about  Bernard 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

What is a Lute, and How is it Different From the Guitar

What is a Lute, and How is it Different From the Guitar Shanika As a guitar player, I rarely had to deal with the issue of explaining what my instrument was to people I met. Even non-musicians are generally familiar with the guitar and the many forms and shapes it takes. When I made the transition to playing the lute, however, this changed significantly, due in no small part to the odd-looking case that I have to carry the instrument around in. People will often ask me, “What is a lute?” In truth, the history of the lute is a long one and I often simply explain that it’s like a guitar with more strings. If I have the time, though, I really do love to give a more complete answer. Read on to learn a brief overview of the history of the lute, and some comparisons between the lute and its more famous cousin, the guitar. The lute is a descendent of the oud, which was most likely brought to Western Europe by the Moors in the 9th century, when they occupied Spain. While the Spanish would seem a likely conduit for the instrument to enter the rest of Europe, they generally rejected the instrument, and the oud instead traveled with merchants through Sicily and up into Italy. The oud is a fretless melodic instrument, double-strung in courses, that is perfectly suited to the subtle tunings, systems and scales of the Middle East. In order to better integrate the instrument into Western European music, a few changes were made; adding frets was the first of these changes. Because Western European music was harmonically-driven and used precise tuning systems to harmonize multiple notes at the same time, the oud needed the addition of frets to comfortably play in tune with other musicians. This simple addition of frets marked the change from oud to lute. Despite the obvious harmonic implications that frets allow, the lute remained largely a melodic instrument until the beginning of the 16th century. Like oud players, the new European lute players continued to play the instrument with a plectrum or a bird quill. Through paintings and other iconographic sources, we have been able to reconstruct much of this early picking technique and determine that it is remarkably similar to modern mandolin and even electric guitar playing. The pinky of the plucking hand rests on the body of the instrument and acts as an anchor and a reference point for the rest of the hand. This allows for very fast and accurate diminutions. The fretting hand seems to have been very similar to modern technique. Depending on the size of the instrument, the thumb of the fretting hand could hang over the neck and even fret notes when needed, or if the instrument was too large, the thumb remained relaxed behind the neck. The end of the 15th century marked an amazing change for the lute, one that helped make it the most popular instrument for more than 200 years. A group of German lutenists discovered that by using the fingers to pluck instead of a plectrum, they could play entire polyphonic works. The hand position itself remained largely the same, but the instrument could now play solo material of remarkable complexity. The addition of a low sixth course (double string) also increased the gamut of the instrument, allowing for full bass lines. A few years later, the very first lute publications were printed by Ottaviano Petrucci. First came Francesco Spinacino in 1507, and then Joan Ambrosio Dalza in 1508. What becomes quickly apparent from these early publications is the high level of lute playing that is present so soon after the development of a polyphonic technique. The lute then exploded in the 16th century. Courts like those of Henry VIII, Francois I and the Pope in Rome hired lutenists as personal musicians and as means of cultural competition, pitting lute players against each other in contests that often impacted a rulers status amongst his peers. The highest-level lute players were paid in amounts comparable to modern NBA stars. Alberto da Ripa of Mantua, for example, was hired by the French court of Francois I, as the royal lutenist. In addition to earning the second-highest salary at court (of everyone, not just musicians!), he was given land and yearly stipends of food and alcohol. Intense competitions for these lucrative jobs produced musicians of unbelievable capability. The lute was easily the most dominant instrument of the 16th century, its regard only increased by the fact that it was linked (erroneously) to the Greek lyre of legend. The Florentine Cameratas influence on the arts in the 1570s and 80s helped propel a deep interest in reviving Greek culture, a culture that many considered the peak of human civilization. In fact, it was this invented connection to the legendary Greek instrument that may have allowed the lute to survive as long as it did. Despite its popularity during the 16th century, the lute began to lose ground in the early 17th century. The addition of more and more bass strings, up to 11 total courses (or 20 strings total, with two single strings), and the increased popularity and manufacturing of keyboard instruments, started to alienate the lute from the general population. The instrument was getting more difficult to play and more costly to maintain, and simpler instruments like the guitar were becoming more readily available. Thomas Mace, in his “Musicks Monument” (1676), tried to defend the lute and uphold it as the supreme instrument, but ultimately his argument showed that the lute was on a decline, and one from which it never quite recovered. Despite this decline, great players of the lute continued to produce amazing music and hold the highest positions at important courts. For example, the great German lutenist Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) was the highest paid musician at the Dresden court and was reportedly so talented that another musician, jealous of his abilities, tried to bite his thumb off! The lute survived the 18th century, often playing continuo in orchestras, including Mozarts, and filling the second violin position in string quartets. Ultimately, the lute died out in the first decades of the nineteenth century. The beginning of the 20th century also marks the beginning of the lute revival. While early players and researchers like Diana Poulton did much to expand our knowledge of the lute, it wasnt until the virtuoso guitar player Julian Bream began playing the lute in concert that audiences and players started to become aware of the beauty and complexity of the instrument and its repertoire. The generation since Bream has elevated lute playing to very high levels. Players like Paul ODette, Robert Barto, Nigel North, and Hopkinson Smith tour the world and often have fanatical followings. The large body of music (60,000+ pieces) and its predisposition to added embellishment hopefully guarantee the lute a new life in the 21st century. Some students may be interested in how the lute differs from the modern classical guitar, an instrument that has come to share some of its repertoire. In terms of the actual instrument, even the largest lutes are significantly lighter in build than the average guitar. This lighter construction means that the lute is much more responsive, but produces less volume. The lutes double strings, or courses, tuned in octaves and unisons on the higher strings, produce a different timbre than the guitars thicker, single strings. The strings of lutes today are also generally either made of animal gut, nylgut (a synthetic gut), or nylon, while the classical guitar generally uses only nylon strings (wound and unwound). Depending on the type of the lute strings, the sound can be crisper and brighter than the modern guitar. The most obvious difference between the lute and the guitar is the pear-shaped body of the lute, which is produced by gluing ribs of wood together and then gluing the soundboard on top. This “tortoise shell” shape is descended from the oud, and some other instruments today, like the mandolin, have also retained this body shape. The lute can be a fickle, even difficult instrument, but when well-played, it produces some of the most beautiful and powerful music ever written. Perhaps one day it will regain its stature and stand beside the guitar as not only one of the most beautiful instruments, but also as one of the most popular. Laudon S. teaches music theory, guitar and classical guitar lessons in Baltimore, MD. He specializes in classical and early music, as well as bluegrass and folk. Laudon has been teaching for over 10 years and he joined the TakeLessons team in January 2011. Learn more about Laudon or search for a teacher near you! Photo by Kevin Kenny 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