Where to Find Singing Lessons in Edinburgh

Where to Find Singing Lessons in Edinburgh It’s Easy to Find Singing Lessons in Edinburgh! ChaptersLearn to Sing in a Music SchoolFinding a Choir to Learn Singing WithTake Private Singing Lessons with a TutorRinging in the New Year, you made a silent resolution: you would take the stage at The Fringe this August and sing your heart out. You didn’t tell family or friends; nobody knows of your secret ambition.While it’s been relatively easy for you to wow the crowds at karaoke you realise that, if you’re going to be a smash at Edinburgh’s most popular performing arts festival, you’d better make sure your vocal skills are in tip-top shape.That means it is time for you to find a voice coach.Of course, you needn’t have planned to stake your entire career and reputation on such a public display of singing talent to need voice or singing lessons. It could be that you’ve been promoted at work and now have a team to lead.The boost in confidence that you’d get from voice training fairly guarantees your leadership skills will also benefit from those vocal lessons â€" to say nothing of how improving your posture and speaking in a warm voice would help you present yourself as supremely assured.Whether you want to learn how to sing for the health benefits you could derive, for advancement opportunities at work or to sing, loud and proud, in public, you have many choices when it comes to taking singing lessons in Edinburgh.Institute for Vocal Advancement is a global network of singing teachers who constantly strive for excellence both in the production of music and the development of singers.To that end, they host seminars and administer proficiency exams to music teachers around the world to ensure that they are up to date on the latest in vocal pedagogy.Your Voice Studio is home to the only Certified IVA instructors in all of Scotland.If you’re thinking lessons there would be pretty pricey... think again! A one-hour session with Tom, the facility’s advanced IVA instructor, is about the same as you would pay for an hour with any other voice tea cher: £45.Additionally, you can purchase a block of lessons and receive a discount that averages to £6 per lesson.  Students enjoy a discount too, by the way, whether they pay on a per- lesson basis or buy a block of time.What will you get for your money?First, your vocal coach will assess your voice: what is your vocal range? This will be determined through structured vocal exercises suited to your voice.Next, you will pick out a song to work on â€" your voice instructor will not dictate which musical style you should embrace.You will leave your first lesson with a recording of your session and recommendations to improve your voice.That initial meeting will set the pattern for subsequent lessons: learning new vocal techniques and mastering breath control, ear training and improving your tone quality.Through it all, there will be a focus on vocal health.Take your singing talents out of the shower and into singing lessons! Source: Pixabay Credit: EfesSing for Smiles“Whether you a re a complete beginner or a serial shower singer...” from the school’s web page.Just the name of this music school evokes glee... but don’t let their name fool you: they are very serious about teaching people who want to learn how to sing.If your voice always cracks as you attempt to hit the high notes or if you run out of breath while trying to hold a note as long as your fav recording artist does, the voice teachers know just what you need to do.Especially if you are preparing for a university entrance exam or other singing audition, going ‘round to Smiles is advised.Those teachers customise their lessons to your individual needs and, should the aspiring singer in question be younger than 16, they have special music programs for them!For adult students, the price for one on one lessons is £33 per hour, but if you purchase a block of lessons you will receive a £3 per lesson discount.Likewise, students may benefit from a block of 10 lessons costing £260 or pay £29 per ho ur of instruction.Visiting the extended list of places you could improve your voice has been a lot of fun; too bad we don’t have room to feature all of them!With no particular endorsement or recommendation, we now list other singing schools you might train your voice at in musical city:more informal coaching: you would be mentored by the choir directors as well as membersless on theory; more on ear: most choirs do not require their members to read music or have formal trainingmore performance opportunity: as a choir member, you would perform with the group rather than looking for your own gigsless performance anxiety: singing in a group is far less stressful than taking centre stage!community and fellowship: singing together is a great way to forge lasting friendshipsWhether you are new to the city or a lifelong resident, you could surely find a place among any of the choirs so prevalent in this city.The Edinburgh Contemporary ChoirYou might worry that, in singing with a choir, yo u will have to wear a robe and sing classical music. Let us put those fears to rest: this dynamic group’s repertoire consists of pop/rock tunes that they perform in a variety of places, wearing coordinated clothes â€" not robes.This choir is currently looking for new members!You may join them for a free taster session; membership for a 10-week term is only £25.Find out if Belfast also has such a magnificent choir!You too could smile big when you sing with friends in a choir! Source: Pixabay Credit: RawpixelsSing in the CityWith 14 active groups across the greater Edinburgh, this is not so much a choir as a choir collective, whose focus is jointly on community outreach and charity.That’s right! You too could sing to raise awareness or money for a cause!They too offer a free taster session, so whether you are looking for a friend or wanting to sing great songs in good company, singing with an ‘in the City’ group might just be the place for you.The Got Soul ChoirThey describe themselves as passionate, fun, energetic and raucous. If you describe yourself in those same terms, you may have just found your singing outlet!With a songbook that includes hits by Stevie Wonder, the Pointer Sisters and Chaka Kahn, it would be a sure bet that you won’t be singing any show tunes or ballads.Their focus, besides having fun, is community outreach â€" making sure nobody feels the sting of loneliness or the pain of isolation.Now, that’s something to get passionate about!Revelation Rock Gospel ChoirHere, you’ll find no conductor or music director, and no songbooks. This choir is democratic; if you wish to sing a particular song, suggest it! There’s a good chance it will make its way into their next performance.Are you ready to solo? With RRGC, that option is open to you. How about conducting? Of course, you can take your place as the leader!In learning to sing with a choir, all but one of your options are open.Take Private Singing Lessons with a TutorSo far, we’ ve discussed one obvious and one not-so-obvious path to learning how to sing. Neither of them offers the benefits that taking singing lessons with a private singing tutor could bring.For one, the choir won’t come to your home... but your tutor will.Let’s say you are truly intent on keeping your artist development a secret until you explode onto the music scene and take everyone by storm.You would stand a better chance of doing so if your music teacher came to your house... or, better yet, gave you online singing lessons via webcam!The voice teachers at Your Voice Studio, mentioned above, offer lessons via Skype, as do countless other singing teachers throughout Edinburgh.And then, there’s Superprof voice and singing tutors.In person or online, Superprof singing teachers present you with a wide range of skills and experience sure to boost both your repertoire and your ability to sing it.With Superprof, you get individual instruction from a professional musician or someone train ing to become professional.Currently, there are a dozen Superprof music tutors in the Edinburgh area and countless more standing by, ready for your request for lessons â€" either online or in person.What are you waiting for? August is only a few months away and The Fringe won’t wait for you...Find out also where you can find singing lessons anywhere in the UK.  You might engage with a singing tutor in  Cardiff, Glasgow, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester  or the capital  for example!!

5 Ways Learning Music Theory Can Make You a Better Singer

5 Ways Learning Music Theory Can Make You a Better Singer Suzy S. Do you love to sing? Well take a wild guess and say it wasnt chord progressions and minor scales that caught your interest. But did you know reading music and understanding the theory behind it can actually help you as you learn how to sing? Find out more in this guest post by  St. Augustine, FL voice teacher  Heather L. Music theory may not be the most glamorous part of being a singer after all, no ones analyzing Brahmss first symphony at that summer music festival in town, and that new Meghan Trainor song doesnt discuss inversions and triads. But you know what? A lot of the best vocalists have theory fundamentals down pat. Heres a list of the best reasons why music theory can help you as you learn how to sing. Versatility First, understanding music theory can make you a more versatile singer. Its one thing not to know any music theory and sing simple songs, like This Land Is Your Land, but its another thing not to know any and then to learn My Funny Valentine, or Lovin You, or a Mozart aria! In other words, learning jazz, classical, and other genres requires some knowledge of music theory.  Without it, we musicians wouldnt be able to understand the symbols and the terms that are in the actual music. What does piano or sforzando mean? What does that funny-looking symbol mean? What does D.S. al coda mean? How do I count this measure? Music theory teaches us all of this! Learning Music For those who have no or limited music theory knowledge, learning how to read music is certainly not impossible, but its certainly not fast or efficient. I see the difference in my students every day. Music theory isnt just a mundane chore or a rite of passage every musician has to get through. Think of music theory as a set of tools explanations, vocabulary, ideas that make you a better, and faster, music learner. Being able to see immediately that that particular passage is really just an F minor scale, and not just a bunch of individual notes, can cut your learning time in half. Auditions and Competitions Many vocal auditions, competitions, and scholarship opportunities are based, at least partly, on a music theory exam or assessment. I once lost an annual college scholarship only because another applicant beat my music theory test score. If I had only taken the music theory course offered at my public high school and studied even just the basics, then I wouldve gotten a huge help once I went to East Carolina University. Learning music theory opens up opportunities for you as a music student, competitor, and as a college student, because it prepares you for music theory placement tests. Better Songwriting Recently I was working on a song that Im writing for my band. The theory knowledge that I have was the only thing that enabled me to write my ideas down on staff paper. Now that I think of it, if I didnt know how to write the notes and chords of my songs down, then I dont really know what I would do. Well, I could record it and then have my band try to figure it out by ear. I could play it and have someone else transcribe it, but its tough to find anyone who can do that, and theyll usually charge by the hour or by the piece of music. Knowing your music theory means that you have a better understanding of how music is constructed, so youll be a more confident songwriter. Learning music theory paves the way for your potential career as a songwriter, arranger, or composer. And besides, youll be better able to write songs that fit your range! Easier Communication You might have your heart set on being a solo singer, only ever performing alone. But even solo artists have to work with other musicians. The best solo singers in the world still have to work with orchestras and conductors, bands, and other talent. Its essential to learn the very unique language of music in order to be able to communicate your ideas, your challenges, even just to talk about whats going on in measure 22! Music theory is the key to learning how to speak music. Can you imagine being in a recording studio and understanding none of what the producer or the engineer is saying?  Music theory allows us to talk about music that were studying or performing, because its like our vocabulary! To Recap: Singers are jokingly known for being the most clueless musicians when it comes to music theory. But we can change that perception! There are a dozen more reasons why singers need to learn music theory, and luckily, there are dozens of books for self-study, and even better, hundreds of music theory tutors online at TakeLessons.com  who will be thrilled to help you learn today! Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather 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  Fatihah Y

Everything You Need To Know About GCSE Chemistry

Everything You Need To Know About GCSE Chemistry GCSE Chemistry: The  Lowdown ChaptersChemistry CurriculumRevision  TipsNot Just a Memory GamePractical KnowledgePlanning RevisionNote-MakingFlash CardsUsing Past PapersStudying for your GCSEs might seem scary, but there are plenty of steps you can take to make sure you're prepared for your exams. We have compiled a guide on what you’ll learn and some tips on revising, so you can get  the best grade you can. PetarChemistry Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamChemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhChemistry Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SaifChemistry Teacher 5.00 (14) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorChemistry Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankChemistry Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HeavenliChemistry Teacher £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JideChemistry Teacher 4.80 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discove r all our tutorsChemistry CurriculumAt this stage in your education you already have a grasp of the basics and will start to learn more in-depth chemistry. Knowing what to expect on your course is a good way to prepare for your course and there's no better way than looking at the curriculum.You will learn about atoms, their structure and the periodic table. You will also learn about chemical changes and the reactivity of metals. You’ll get to test these out in the lab too. As well as chemical changes there can be energy changes. These can either be exothermic (reactions which create energy and transfer it to the surroundings) like combustions or oxidations or they can be endothermic (which take energy from the surroundings) like a thermal decomposition.As well as the chemical theory, you’ll be taught practical skills in the lab and be taught how to conduct an experiment from planning it to writing an analysis of the results.While it might seem overwhelming at the start you'll le arn the curriculum bit by bit building on your knowledge as you progress.Revision takes practice and preparation! (Source: Pexels)Revision  TipsThere are many mistakes that students make on papers, but there are ways you can avoid them. One  common error students can make is writing a description when they’ve been asked for an explanation. A description alone will not get any marks.To avoid this, make sure you read the question carefully and identify the correct command word. Underlining key words and circling command words can help you focus on correctly answering the question.At this level you should be  working on  demonstrating your knowledge, and even if you know the answer you have to use the correct vocabulary to show this. Make sure you get into the practice, in your revision and on your past paper practice, of using the correct scientific vocabulary to explain your answer.Read more about using revision guides for your Chemistry exams.Not Just a Memory GameThe application of knowledge and understanding of science is particularly important in GCSEs.During your revision make sure you really understand each topic. Don't move onto the next topic until you are confident that you know the last one, and could apply it to different contexts. Your exam isn't going to go in chronological order so don't just rely on memory to get you through.The key to learning your topics, and we mean really learning them, is to constantly test your knowledge. Re-read the specification,  refresh your knowledge  with online quizzes and do  all the past papers you can find on your topic until you're sure you know it inside out! PetarChemistry Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamChemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhChemistry Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SaifChemistry Teacher 5.00 (14) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorChemistry Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankChemistry Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HeavenliChemistry Teacher £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JideChemistry Teacher 4.80 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPractical KnowledgePractical work forms a key part of the specification meaning that exam questions will draw on the knowledge and understanding that you’ve have gained through practical work in the lab.You should have a really good understanding of the practical work you’ve done in class and be able to use it in the exam.Search for chemistry tutors near me now.In your revision, focus on the reasons for carrying out a particular practical technique, or the use of a particular piece of apparatus in an experiment. This will help develop your understanding of these methods and be able to write about them in your exam.Brush up on the scientific vocabulary that applies to this practical work so you can easily write about it in your exam. Proper use of appropriate scientific vocabulary will demonstrate your understanding of scientific ideas and techniques.Thinking you know something and being able to accurately put it down onto paper are not the same thing. Practice this technique by picking your favourite topic and explaining it to a friend. You'll find that's it almost impossible to do this succinctly without using the appropriate vocabulary and key terms.Also find the ideal tutor for your A Level chemistry tuition!Planning your revision between your lessons is essential (Source: Pexels)Planning RevisionBuilding a revision timetable can add structure to your revision techniques  and help you identify which topics you need to prioritise.Creating a revision timetable is a great way to organise your study time, plus it also helps boost your motivation to revise for your exams. Hang your revision timetable somewhere visible in your room and once you've done a revision session or covered a specifi c topic tick it off the timetable. Having a visual reminder of all the work you've put in will give you a confidence boost before the exam.Take the first step by setting your GCSE study goals to build a strong foundation for success.Find out about how the GCSE Chemistry exam is graded.Note-MakingThe action of making notes is crucial. But copying out the textbook word for word doesn’t count. You need to understand, rather than memorise.Be systematic and follow the syllabus topic by topic. Don’t move on until you really understand. If you don’t understand the fundamentals at the start you might not understand something later on so don’t skip it. Knowledge works by building. You learn something and then you just keep adding to it, but for this to work the start of your knowledge has to be solid.If you are unfamiliar with any topics consult the relevant section in your textbook or your class notes. GCSE science textbooks are usually fairly good, but if you need a different expla nation go online, you’ll find plenty of resources there.Once you get to the end of a section, run through a few practice questions either online or at the end of chapters in your textbook if there are any. Or if you have relevant questions in a past paper use those.Flash CardsWhile you are making your notes, make yourself a few flashcards or posters summarising important formulas and how to use them.Write a key-point or topic on one side and write and explanation on the other. Test yourself by looking at the key-point side only and seeing if you can explain it without looking at the card!Create a glossary while you’re at it: this will help you remember any definitions you need to know. Definitions and the correct vocabulary are essential in your chemistry exam to get the marks. Even if know the answer, without the correct vocabulary you won't hit the key points that the examiner is looking for. Using the right scientific language is about demonstrating your knowledge. Don't lose marks just on your choice of words!Using Past PapersUsing past papers is a fantastic way to find out how your revision is going, where you need to improve and for getting to grips with exam technique.Past papers are an essential tool for revision. Do every past paper you can find, as many times as you can. Getting used to the past papers will help you to understand the way your subject is structured.Past papers help you get used to the structure and wording of the exam. Get really familiar with your past papers, it’s essential you know the structure so there are no surprises on exam day.Make sure you get your head around the structure of your chemistry paper and ask yourself the following questions:1. Is the paper divided into sections?2. Are the questions multiple choice?3. How much time should you spend on each section?4. Have you covered all the sections in your revision?   Make sure there’s no holes in your knowledge.If you keep seeing a question that trips you up, make sur e you revise that topic. Don't just glance at it and think you know it, really make sure you understand the topic. Questions can be phrased in many ways or a couple of topics might be combined in the same question, so you need to really know the topic so you can apply it to different situations (and  not just repeat information).Revision isn’t so hard when you have so many resources to make it varied and most importantly useful! Combine different techniques to keep yourself on your toes and to keep it interesting. Remember, you should be revising all year long, not just in a panic before your exam.Happy revising!

Everything You Need to Know about the Tudor Monarchs

Everything You Need to Know about the Tudor Monarchs And Some Things about the Tudors Kings and Queens that Might Surprise You ChaptersHenry VII: Henry Tudor (1485-1509)King Henry VIII (1509-1547)King Edward VI (1547-1553)Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days’ Queen (1553)Queen Mary I: Bloody Mary (1553-1558)Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603)With some of the most charismatic characters in the history of the English monarchy, the Tudor dynasty is one of the most studied â€" and most adored â€" royal houses in the history of England.With buckets of charisma, yes, but with tragedy, intrigue, and farce too, there is so much to be fascinated by in the sixteenth-century House of Tudor. Political and religious overhauls, wars and victories, rebellions, coups, and culture, Tudor history has it all.From Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell to the Duke of Northumberland, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Anne Boleyn, it has some incredible characters too.Here, we are going to do a survey of the Tudor times through the figures sat on the English throne, from good old Henry VII, founder of Tudor England, right through to the formi dable Queen of England, Elizabeth I.Whether you want it as just a general overview of the Tudor period, or a guide for your studies, this insight into the lives of the Tudor monarchs will be useful for anyone. We hope you enjoy it! MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHenry VII: Henry Tudor (1485-1509)The first king in the Tudor dynasty, Henry VII came to the crown through his victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the final battle in the thirty-y ear-long Wars of the Roses.Although historiography has generally seen him as a bit of a boring bloke, there wouldn’t have been any Tudors at all if it wasn’t for him. He united the two parties that had been in conflict during the War of the Roses â€" the House of Lancaster and the House of York â€" after he had come to power by marrying Elizabeth of York, he himself being a Lancastrian.His reign was characterised by peace and stability â€" which is why historians tend to see him as a little boring â€" yet his concern with state finances, diplomatic alliances, and supporting English industry gave the dynasty the means with which to gain prosperity, despite the turmoil of the mid-Tudor period.Whilst helping the country to recover after the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII also enabled a move away from the feudal practices of power that had characterised the country throughout Middle Ages. By appointing Justices of the Peace â€" officials who would ensure that laws were upheld in all t he provinces of the country â€" and limiting the power of the regional nobility through taxation, he brought much more of England under central control.Check out our piece on the background to the Tudors for more!King Henry VIII (1509-1547)Where his father is known for being someone a little too fond of money and of the administrative tasks of state, Henry VIII is remembered for being one of the most charismatic, hedonistic, and headstrong monarchs in the history of England.With his early appetite for war â€" styling himself on Henry V â€" and heaps of cash piled up by his father, Henry VIII immediately went to war with France, hoping to lay claim â€" as the English had done for centuries â€" to the French throne.This didn’t go so well at all, and the emptiness of the English state treasury after numerous campaigns in France was one of the reasons for Henry’s determination to break with the papacy and the Catholic Church in Rome.That’s precisely what he did, declaring himself head of the Church of England, incidentally divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon â€" which he was now allowed to do â€" and diverting all the money to the state that would have traditionally have gone to Rome. This â€" including the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 â€" would become his most famous governmental policy and his biggest legacy.Despite this massive religious upheaval, it is said that he died a Catholic. All you need to know about the Tudors!The Six WivesWe can’t talk about Henry VIII without mentioning his wives. ‘Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived’, as the rhyme now so famously goes.Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. These were the women who tried to bear the king’s heirs â€" and to bear Henry himself, although in a slightly different way.Check out our fun facts on the Tudor period! MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors S erenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsKing Edward VI (1547-1553)When Henry VIII in 1547, his son, Edward VI, was only ten years old â€" not a great age to become king, and not a great recipe for monarchical stability. He was Jane Seymour’s son, the most-loved wife of Henry, and the only one that died naturally whilst Henry was still alive.Edward VI was a committed Protestant, very interested in religion and dedicated to reforming the Church of England. However, being nonetheless ten, not all of the things that were achieved during his very brief life and reign can be attributed to him.He is known for having two very powerful advisors, Edward Seymour â€" his mother’s brother â€" who became Duke of Somerset, and then John Dudley, or Duke of Northumberland. The protectorship of Somerset ended in disaster, with financial ineptitude, endless wars, and a number of rebellions that rocked the country. He was overthrown and ultimately executed.Whilst conventio nally seen as a schemer seeking to enrich himself, Northumberland â€" who was central in the plot to remove Somerset â€" brought stability back to England. He cracked down on tax collection and, in a similar move to Henry VII, ensured that representatives of central government were present in the localities to maintain order.However, stability was never going to last long, as Edward VI had always been a sickly child. At the age of sixteen, he died â€" and with his death came a new desperate struggle for the crown.Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days’ Queen (1553)Lady Jane Grey is perhaps one of the most tragic figures in the whole of English royal history, being used merely as a pawn in a game of power.Before Edward VI died, he wrote a will that ordered a change to the succession. Rather than his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, becoming queens â€" as they were both recognised as ‘bastards’ by Henry VIII â€" Edward instructed that his first cousin, once removed, Lady Jane Grey â€" H enry VII’s great-granddaughter â€" would be queen instead.Lady Jane was a committed Protestant too â€" whereas Mary was known for being a very pious Catholic â€" and Edward hoped that Lady Jane would continue his reformation. Conveniently enough, Northumberland, Edward’s advisor, supported this decision too â€" having her engaged to his younger brother, Lord Guildford Dudley.After Edward’s death, and with the declaration of Lady Jane’s ascent to the throne, many of her supporters lost their nerve â€" as support for Mary grew meanwhile. Nine days later, Mary was announced queen by the Privy Council and Parliament.Lady Jane was only sixteen or seventeen when she was executed in the Tower of London â€" alongside Northumberland and her husband. The tragic life of Lady Jane Grey. Image from 1843MagazineQueen Mary I: Bloody Mary (1553-1558)And so, despite Edward’s best efforts, Mary Tudor, Mary I â€" or Bloody Mary, as she came to be known â€" ascended to the throne. And, for the Protestants in England at the time, her reign was not a very happy five years.A devout Catholic, she immediately started to overturn the reformation measures that had been implemented by Edward and by her father, Henry. Being the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife, she was also the cousin of Charles V, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and king of Spain.Mary soon married his son, who became Philip II of Spain â€" a character known throughout history as a deeply religious man. There was all sorts of trouble â€" including the famous Wyatt’s Rebellion â€" when he was to be known as the King of England.The new queen, whilst immediately professing that no-one would be forced to follow her religion, soon had many notable protestan ts imprisoned, and ultimately executed. This is how she came to be given the nickname, Bloody Mary â€" because of the apparent ferocity of her persecution of Protestants.She reversed all of Edward’s religious laws â€" and many of Henry’s too â€" and legally returned England to the religious jurisdiction of the Pope.Despite her marriage to Philip, she did not bear any children â€" and her reign ended when she died in 1558.Find out about life in Tudor England! Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England and Ireland from 1558, last Tudor monarch. Version of the Armada portrait attributed to George Gower c1588. (Photo by: Photo 12/UIG via Getty Images)Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603)According to the law passed by Henry VIII, Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, was to be queen if Mary did not have any heirs â€" and this is precisely what happened.Yet, being the daughter of Boleyn, her religious concerns leant towards Protestantism. And so, after the reaction of Mary’s reign, Elizabeth re-installed many of the reforms passed by Edward. She became Supreme Governor of the Church of England â€" a church which now mixed Edward’s church with elements of Catholicism â€" and made it obligatory to attend.Elizabeth is known for never choosing a husband, instead dedicating herself to her reign. With a group of trusted advisors and a strong navy â€" including many piratical elements â€" she slowly developed English power in Europe and on the high seas.As one of the longest serving monarchs in English history, she presided over a period of great stability. Her reign produced some of the greatest artistic achievements in British history, with figures like William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, and John Dee all producing masterpieces during her reign.

ACT Reading Success

Top 7 Reading Recommendations for SAT/ACT Reading Success At AJ Tutoring, we pride ourselves on having helped thousands of students navigate the test-taking process. Our goal in working with students who are preparing for exams like the SAT and ACT is to minimize stress and maximize success.  While the exams are difficult, the content of each section is predictable, and a limited range of topics is presented. By combining our bespoke, 1-on-1 approach with a level of SAT/ACT expertise that borders on obsession, our tutors provide a tutoring service that is about as efficient and effective as you can get.  For sections that test reading comprehension, we find that the greater challenge is not so much content knowledge as strategic prowess. Most students meet with a tutor for about 10 sessions to prepare for an exam, and, by the end of the course, we’ve developed an approach to the unique difficulties and obstacles of the reading section that makes the most sense for the individual learner.  What we’ve found is that, while strategies are a huge help, students who are voracious readers see the most success on the SAT and ACT reading sections. Because they’ve seen hundreds of thousands of pages of quality fiction and non-fiction, the tactics for time management and passage scanning come a bit more naturally.  With that in mind, here are some reading recommendations that can both engage a young learner with core academic subjects, inspire future readings, and even bolster SAT reading capabilities.  1. Pride PrejudiceThis classic novel by Jane Austen is a great way to build comfort with literature written more than 100 years ago, which, yes, will show up on test day. A “novel of manners,” Pride and Prejudice is committed to a realistic portrayal of a social order. It’s a fitting vehicle for one of literature’s great perceptive minds as readers get to experience the early 1800’s in all their rules and restrictions, their humor and humanity.  2. The U.S. ConstitutionThe CollegeBoard recently announced on empha sis on two core codes for success in today’s society: computer science and the U.S. Constitution. You can read how AJ is helping students better engage with these crucial codes here.One aspect of College Board’s focus on these codes is an increased presence of constitutional passages on the SAT. Think of the advantage you’ll have if you read, re-read, and absorb the founding legal document of the United States. You might even get a leg up on the SAT reading section!  3. The Federalist PapersAre you a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway show, Hamilton? Why not read some of the greatest hits from the man himself, along with a little help from his friends, James Madison and John Jay. It’s a great follow-up to our 2nd recommendation on the list because a key goal of these papers was to get the US Constitution ratified.  OK, you don’t have to read all of them. Start with #10, #14, #78 and #84. Pay attention to how the authors develop their arguments through reason and rh etoric.4. Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassHarrowing to say the least, the life of Frederick Douglass is a testament to the bravery and endurance of the human spirit. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is somehow even more than that: Douglass was one of the best prose writers in American history. It’s moving and informative, poetic and passionate. As if you needed more reasons to pick this up: Douglass’s writings have showed up on College Board exams several times.  5. Scientific AmericanReading Scientific American is super helpful for keeping informed about a wide variety of contemporary scientific goings-on. Subscribing or poking around the website regularly can work wonders for improving your fluency with science-based reading passages.6. A Vindication of the Rights of WomanYou could say it was ahead of its time. Women would not get the right to vote in the United Kingdom until the 1920’s. The word “feminist” wasn’t even coined until the 1890’ s. Mary Wollstonecraft published her vindication in 1792!  In this carefully crafted treatise, Mary Wollstonecraft rejects arguments propounded by political theorists and educators who thought that girls should not receive the same education as boys. Wollstonecraft’s range as a writer and thinker means that reading this will help you with philosophical writings and political arguments as well as with older literary passages.7. Song of SolomonToni Morrison’s masterpiece traces the life and death of Milkman Dead. It’s probably the most important work of American fiction in the last 75 years. It’s also a treasure trove of rich passages in which observe literary skills at the highest level.    So, there you have it! With several holiday breaks coming up and a few months until test day, dedicating an hour a day to reading is one of the best possible investments of your time.If you’d like to have someone to talk through the books with, please read up on our academic English tuto ring.  If you’d like to sign up for customized, 1-on-1 tutoring with an SAT expert, please give us a call today to put together a plan.

Finding a Tutor

Finding a Tutor Improving Academic Performance Millions of students seek private tutoring each and every year. Given overcrowded classrooms, overworked and underpaid teachers, and the increasing competitiveness of the college admissions process, this is not a surprise. To meet this demand, dozens of companies have sprouted up with a “value proposition” and “business model” that involves simply matching students with tutors â€" there are many web-sites which operate this way, and more are appearing every week. Some of the most prominent such web-sites include… www.universitytutor.com www.tutorsteach.com www.tutonation.com www.craigslist.com www.premiumtutor.com …and there are many more. However, with the number of sites of this type steadily rising, the value of the “tutor matching” service to parents and students comes into question. These sites generally allow anybody to post a bio and list their “subject expertise” so they can eventually be contacted by students. From the student’s perspective, it’s nice to have a list of available tutors. However, too long a list is not necessarily a good thing â€" you don’t know where to start your search. You may reach out to five tutors, and hear back from three, two of which take several days to respond. Pricing may vary wildly as well. Nobody wants to pay too much per hour, but everybody wants a high quality tutor. In addition, the actual qualifications, interpersonal skills, and communication skills/style of the tutor you choose hasn’t been vetted with anyone, in many cases, if you choose to use a tutor matching web-site. Plus, an individual tutor might know his or her material, but may be unable to provide the structure you or your child needs to begin to succeed in class. If you don’t ask the right questions, you might not get the help you need. We believe that working with a company like MyGuru provides an attractive middle ground between finding a tutor on one of the tutor matching sites mentioned above and working with a high priced tutoring agency like Kaplan or Huntington Learning Center. First, MyGuru explicitly seeks to be a very selective recruiter of tutors. It isn’t trying to build a large database of available tutors â€" in any given subject and geographic area, it typically has 2-3 expert tutors available. It starts by eliminating anyone who didn’t attend a college ranked in the Top 100 nationally by U.S. News and World Report, and requires a minimum of two years prior experience tutoring or teaching. All tutors then go through an interview process and trial period. In Chicago thus far, its favorite source of tutors is Northwestern University, but obviously many tutors also come from the University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Depaul or Loyola. Second, MyGuru provides all of the “back office” and customer facing support it can to make the process of matching students with tutors easy for everyone. We’ll respond to your request within hours, discuss a variety of tutoring options, provide references, and let you speak to a few potential tutors. You pay MyGuru directly (we offer a money back guarantee) and then we pay your tutor on the 1 stand 15thof each month (like any business). Third, we provide just enough structure to make sure tutoring relationships are successful. We’ll work with students and tutors upfront to set reasonable objectives for each session â€" instead of walking into each session “cold” â€" the tutor and the student know what they’ll review and have prepared in advance. When it comes to test prep, we use our significant knowledge of each major standardized test to design simple packaged solutions that combine “off the shelf” test prep materials with an expert tutor for a customized experience that hits on all the major sections of the test and all of the key test taking strategies for that particular test (ACT vs. GMAT vs. MCAT, etc.). Large national test prep and tutoring chains might be able to make similar statements (although MyGuru’s tutors are probably better on average). However, the biggest such companies charge exorbitant prices for 1-1 tutoring and test prep. It is common for a student to find that a major test prep firm charges $150+ per hour for customized, 1-1 help. MyGuru takes tutors of similar quality and makes them available for less than half that â€" this can either save you a lot of money, or provide you with twice the number of sessions for the same investment. Call MyGuru at 312-278-0321 to learn more.

Benefits Of Working With A Recruiter

Benefits Of Working With A Recruiter Image: rawpixel via https://unsplash.com/photos/_CejbNStRP4 Help with finding a job Anyone who has gone through the job search process, whether it was for a part-time job or their first post-grad job, knows how stressful it can be to find a job. There are so many job search sites out there that it can be overwhelming to think about searching through all of them and applying for all of the jobs you are interested in can be intimidating. A  recruiter  can help you find the jobs that fit your qualifications so you are not applying for jobs that do not match your skills. Also, recruiters will help you get your  resume  together. They know exactly what hiring managers are looking for and will help you tailor your resume to make you stand out as an excellent match for the position. Even if you do not have a ton of professional experience, recruiters can help you showcase other experience so that you are able to get at least an interview. The recruiters also know about the salary and benefits for each position so they can help you decide what works best for your situation. Most job boards do not post the salary and you otherwise would not hear about the salary until you are offered the position. Having this information ahead of time can save you the hassle of applying for a job with a lower salary than you are looking for. Free service Recruiters are paid by the staffing agency, so you get the service for free. Many college students and recent grads want to save money for living expenses and paying off loans, so recruiters are a great resource. Some job search resources may require payment, so if you can get job search help for free, take advantage of the opportunity. You are more prepared for interviews and the job itself Many times, recruiters know the hiring managers for companies. They know what they expect in their interviews, which they pass to you so you can prepare accordingly. This is information that you might not be able to find on your own unless you know someone at the company you are interviewing at. Also, since the recruiter knows your strengths, they will be able to match you with the best job and company for you. They have information about the job benefits and the company culture that you might not get otherwise. This will help you find a job you love and are passionate about. Access to connections The saying, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know” is very true in any career field. Recruiters have a lot of connections to hiring managers in the field you want to get into. This will help you find a job since the recruiter will likely be alerted by managers when job opportunities pop up. It is crucial to get your resume into the right hands as soon as a position you are interested in opens, so working with a recruiter is helpful since they may have access to first dibs on open positions. Feedback about interviews When you apply for a job and get an interview, you will likely not hear any feedback about the interview unless you got the position. Sometimes you do not even hear back if you did not get the job. However, recruiters can contact the interviewer and ask for feedback as to why you did not get the job. This will help you moving forward since you will be able to fix your mistakes and know how to prepare for next time. Waiting to hear back, even if you got the position, can take a little bit. If you need to plan things, such as leaving a current workplace or relocating, it is important to know whether or know you got the job so that you can plan accordingly. Knowing that you got the job can help eliminate the stress of having to make drastic changes at the last minute. Knowing that you did not get the position allows you to move on with the job search process. Confidentiality When you post your resume online, you run the risk of your current employer seeing that you are working on switching jobs. This can make your current workplace stressful and your manager vengeful. However, working with a recruiter allows you and potential employers to be the only ones who know that you are looking for a job. The job search process can be stressful, especially if you are doing it alone and have no idea where to start. With the help of a recruiter, you can be sure that you are well on your way to a job.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Reduce, Recycle, Reuse At Kumon, we put a great deal of emphasis on our commitment to the community and take a conscientious approach to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. Part of that commitment is taking care of the environment. We believe it is necessary to combine the knowledge of people from around the world in order to solve global environmental problems. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is the perfect opportunity to discuss environmental awareness with your family. Whether you already have Earth Day traditions or are looking for new ways to get involved, now is the perfect time to start talking about the importance of preserving our planet. Reduce. Recycle. Reuse A great introduction to Earth Day is the discussion of the three R’sâ€"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make three circle maps, one for each word and use them to list ideas on how to do each of these things to help the Earth. When you are done, let your child pick three activities. Plant Seeds of Learning. Many people plant a tree on Earth Day. Children can learn about plants by growing little seedlings in milk cartons on the window sill of your house or by actually going outside and digging in the dirt. This is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of plants and how they reduce our carbon footprint. They’ll also learn more about scientific classification and plant structure. Recycle. This is the number one action we can do to improve the environment. Help your children understand the importance of recycling with some interesting facts. The U.S. recycles less than 22% of its discarded materials. Did you know that the average American family wastes about 150 pounds of paper per year and that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour? Encourage your children to help protect our oceans and forests by creating three recycling bins around the house for paper, glass and plastic. Build a Birdhouse. Encourage the reuse of recycled products by making an art project. For example, reuse a plastic bottle, toilet paper roll or milk jug to make a birdhouse. This not only promotes recycling and reusing products, but also encourages a sense of compassion towards nature. Birdhouses provide nesting spaces in the increasingly threatened habitat of birds. An increased bird population is not only pleasant for the eyes and ears, but is also important to our ecosystem. Birds scavenge waste and pollinate plants. The good news is that people of all ages can do their part to treat the Earth better. Learn more about Kumon’s commitment to the environment! No related posts. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Reduce, Recycle, Reuse At Kumon, we put a great deal of emphasis on our commitment to the community and take a conscientious approach to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. Part of that commitment is taking care of the environment. We believe it is necessary to combine the knowledge of people from around the world in order to solve global environmental problems. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is the perfect opportunity to discuss environmental awareness with your family. Whether you already have Earth Day traditions or are looking for new ways to get involved, now is the perfect time to start talking about the importance of preserving our planet. Reduce. Recycle. Reuse A great introduction to Earth Day is the discussion of the three R’sâ€"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make three circle maps, one for each word and use them to list ideas on how to do each of these things to help the Earth. When you are done, let your child pick three activities. Plant Seeds of Learning. Many people plant a tree on Earth Day. Children can learn about plants by growing little seedlings in milk cartons on the window sill of your house or by actually going outside and digging in the dirt. This is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of plants and how they reduce our carbon footprint. They’ll also learn more about scientific classification and plant structure. Recycle. This is the number one action we can do to improve the environment. Help your children understand the importance of recycling with some interesting facts. The U.S. recycles less than 22% of its discarded materials. Did you know that the average American family wastes about 150 pounds of paper per year and that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour? Encourage your children to help protect our oceans and forests by creating three recycling bins around the house for paper, glass and plastic. Build a Birdhouse. Encourage the reuse of recycled products by making an art project. For example, reuse a plastic bottle, toilet paper roll or milk jug to make a birdhouse. This not only promotes recycling and reusing products, but also encourages a sense of compassion towards nature. Birdhouses provide nesting spaces in the increasingly threatened habitat of birds. An increased bird population is not only pleasant for the eyes and ears, but is also important to our ecosystem. Birds scavenge waste and pollinate plants. The good news is that people of all ages can do their part to treat the Earth better. Learn more about Kumon’s commitment to the environment! No related posts.