Monday, March 30, 2020

Need A Community Tutor?

Need A Community Tutor?Are you looking for a community tutor but feel that you do not have enough experience in the subject? This is a good opportunity to get started in the area and brush up on your skills.You will find that there are plenty of people who are looking for this type of service, because it is so easy to find these days, if you know where to look. You can find these services online or offline. The benefit is that you can find a local service that you can afford to live near so that you can attend one of their training sessions.If you have money in reserve and are interested in starting a home based business then you may be better off starting a paid service than attempting to make some extra money from home. This is because you will be able to help people in your own community as a tutor. So what type of training should you get? There are plenty of courses available to teach you how to handle the paperwork associated with the education process.Community tutors are usual ly called upon to help with community events like festivals and sports games. They often help with sporting events as well. Many organizations offer internships for students who would like to learn how to become a tutor.Tutoring is especially important for children whose parents do not have the time or ability to help them with their studies. Many families need help getting their children ready for school.Many of these programs are held by businesses or agencies that work with a number of different age groups and this is why they are able to cater to the adult population as well as the young. There are many courses that teach you how to handle school finance issues, so that you know what all of the forms need to be filled out correctly.There are many great benefits that come with becoming a tutor. You get to learn about different areas of study and find a way to fit in with your community. You will be amazed at how much you can do when you take the time to think about the big pictur e.There are many different companies that provide tutoring services and they also have websites where you can sign up. If you are considering a career as a tutor, you may want to do some research into the opportunities that are available. You will be surprised at how many people want the experience of having someone look over their papers.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Do you really need a visa to teach English abroad

Do you really need a visa to teach English abroad So, you’re a young university graduate eager to see the world. Unfortunately, the wanderlust in your soul is much greater than the funds in your bank account. What to do? Well, teaching English abroad is a great way to experience a foreign country and actually make money doing it. Wondering what you need to teach abroad? If you’re an American wanting to experience the kimchi and K-pop of Korea, or a Canadian feeling drawn to the sandy beaches and hypnotic rhythm of Brazil, the visa requirements for teaching English abroad will heavily depend on where you’re from and where you’re going. Recommended reading: What qualifications do I need to teach English abroad? Visa requirements for teaching English abroad. A visa is a document, often as simple as a stamp in a passport, that allows the holder to enter a country and specifies how long they are able to stay. A visa also indicates the activities the holder is able to participate in while in the country, so it is important to understand the various types of visas and how they relate to teaching English abroad. Teaching English on a tourist visa. A tourist visa is issued to a person entering a country with no intention of working or settling there. Depending on where you are from and the country you are trying to enter, it can be issued at the border or require a lengthy application process beforehand. Costs can also vary, ranging from free to hundreds of dollars. For example, citizens of New Zealand can enter Turkey for free and stay 90 days, while Americans will pay $20, and Canadians and Australians three times that. The country you plan to visit will most likely have an embassy in your home country, and that embassy’s website can be a great source of info regarding visas. However, tourist visas generally do not allow the visitor to work legally. One may be able to teach English under the table on a tourist visa, but doing so is almost certainly illegal and you would still have to leave the country before your tourist visa expires or face the consequences. Teaching English in China on a tourist visa, for example, is a big no-no. Recommended reading: You can teach English in China without a degree (and 3 other myths people think are true) Teaching English on a work visa. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Those looking to teach English abroad legally (let’s hope that’s all of you!) will most likely need a work visa, which allows you to enter a foreign country and work while there. Much like a tourist visa, requirements and fees can vary greatly depending on what passport you hold and where you plan on teaching. Getting a work visa in advance of teaching abroad. In many of the most popular places to teach English abroad, such as China, Korea, Japan and the Persian Gulf (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates for example), a work visa should be obtained prior to arrival in the country. In many cases, one would be hired from abroad and the employer would sponsor you and work with the various government agencies to obtain a work permit for you. Teach Away helps you find and apply for jobs from abroad, ensuring that you’re able to have a job and a proper work visa prior to arrival. Keep in mind that documents, such as a TEFL certification, university transcripts or a criminal record check might be needed during the application process. Getting a work visa while abroad in the country you want to teach in. In some places, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, or Turkey, it is possible for an English teacher to be hired while in the country, and then have the work visa granted while they are there. Just like obtaining a visa from out of the country, other documents, such as a TEFL certification or a criminal record check might be required. This can be a great way to check out a country to see if it is for you before committing to an English teaching job there. It can also be a great way to check out a prospective employer and workplace in person rather than accepting a job sight unseen from the other side of the world. Teaching abroad while on a working holiday visa. Some countries have bilateral agreements that allow young people of a certain age to work and travel in a foreign country for up to one year at a time. Australia, Canada and New Zealand, for example, have agreements with non-English-speaking countries like Germany, Italy, France and many others. Though a TEFL would not be a prerequisite for a working holiday visa, it would certainly make you more employable as an English teacher once you get to your destination. Again, the website of a country's embassy in your home country is a great source of info regarding working holiday visas. The lowdown on teaching abroad and spousal visas. You may be interested in teaching English, but do you speak the language of love? Many countries allow the wife or husband of a citizen to live, and often work, in their spouse’s country. This type of visa is obviously dependent on one’s current romantic situation, or, in extreme cases, how motivated they might be to teach English in a particular country. As with most visas, rules vary from country to country, so be sure to do your research before making any rash decisions. So, do I need a visa to teach English abroad? Well, yes you do. However, the type of visa you get depends on your intentions, and the requirements depend on what passport you hold and where you want to go. However, there’s no shortage of opportunities to teach English abroad, and, armed with a TEFL certification, those options become greater. You’ve already done the hard part, working up the courage to go, now it is just about researching your options and making it happen.

What Is HCL in Chemistry?

What Is HCL in Chemistry?In all the studies, books that are written about what is HCL in Chemistry, most of the information that is presented has been evaluated as accurate. However, it is more likely that you have some questions about what is HCL in Chemistry.The HCL that we talk about is a compound that contains hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Now, in all the studies that have been done, these compounds have been classified into three groups that are H, C and N. We will discuss the other groups later on.First, let us look at the matter of carbon monoxide. These are called breathable because they react with oxygen to form water vapor when the presence of oxygen is in the air. Because of this, if you breathe in the air that has high levels of oxygen, the process can be used to burn the body or use as a method of killing bacteria.Another group that is related to the HCl is oxalic acid. This compound is in the form of powder, which is easily absorbed by humans because of its phy sical properties. However, in the absence of oxygen, it will not react. The reason is that oxalic acid reacts to form the oxide, which is considered a solid substance.The last group that is related to the HCL is carbon dioxide. This gas is part of what makes the atmosphere of earth, so you may wonder why it is in a substance that is a solid. The reason for this is that the gases in the atmosphere react to form carbon dioxide, which is a gas that can be easily contained in cylinders.You will find the HCL in chemistry in many different forms. The two most important forms that you will see are the ones that we mentioned earlier, namely carbon monoxide and oxalic acid.You may have some other questions in mind about what is HCL in Chemistry but by looking them over you will have no difficulty answering them. In the end, you can rest assured that there is no problem to understand what is HCL in Chemistry.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Pre Algebra Trigonometry Help - Get the Right Answer For Your Problems

Pre Algebra Trigonometry Help - Get the Right Answer For Your ProblemsIf you are searching for a pre algebra trigonometry help on the internet, you will find a lot of websites to choose from. However, you should be careful and make sure that you are going to get the most accurate answer about trigonometry problems. Many sites that claim to offer pre algebra trigonometry help provide inaccurate and erroneous answers because the site developers may not have sufficient knowledge about the subject.Instead of taking the opinions of these people and blindly accepting the answers of the online sites, do your own research to find out more about trigonometry. If you find many answers about trigonometry that is different from the answers you found, don't get shocked or disappointed. It may be that they don't know enough about the subject. This may be because they are using an outdated source for their information.There are different types of equations that will help you solve the problems rela ted to algebra, for example, quadratic equations, linear equations, as well as the equation of line and circle. Also, there are many different types of problems which can be solved with the help of math. These problems are often solved using algebra. You will need to get the proper training to solve algebra problems.So, if you are looking for good pre algebra trigonometry help on the internet, you should first get an idea about the topic by searching the web. There are several resources that you can use in order to find out more about the subject. If you find very much information on the internet about pre algebra trigonometry, it may be that this information can be outdated. Therefore, it is important that you should have the right information on the web. If you find that the answers are very different from the other sources, you should consider the site developers and ask yourself if they are knowledgeable enough.It is very important to get the right information about algebra beca use this is one of the fundamental subjects in every major course. Many students have a hard time understanding the concepts of algebra in a traditional classroom. That is why most students turn to the internet to get better information. Sometimes, there is a problem with people who are creating websites that claim to give you answers on algebra problems.All those who work in the internet marketing business should not create websites which provide different kinds of answers. They should only provide a single clear and accurate solution to every question. Even though you can ask many questions about algebra problems, you should not provide different solutions for each of them.There are people who are intentionally providing false information in order to market their website in order to sell you their products or services. Therefore, it is very important that you do your own research before answering the questions on algebra problems. You will only benefit by doing so.

Science and Chemistry - One of the Best Paths For a Career in Science

Science and Chemistry - One of the Best Paths For a Career in ScienceIf you are interested in pursuing a career in science, but you have never taken a chemistry class before, then consider taking a Salem Oregon Chemistry Tutor. This is one of the easiest chemistry courses you can take, and it gives you a solid foundation in the fundamental aspects of chemistry. While it will not provide a degree in chemistry, if you are interested in pursuing a career in this field, then this is one of the best ways to go about it.There are four different chemistry subjects that are offered at Salem college and the biology course is a prerequisite for all four of them. For science students that want to explore a career in this field, taking chemistry classes is highly recommended. Since science and chemistry are closely related, a student can easily take chemistry classes and study all four subjects in an attempt to get an education.Science is most often seen as an outside activity rather than an ins ide endeavor. We all understand that science, or in this case chemistry, is a science. It was recognized as such by the schools to show a student's interest in a field that had been built upon for hundreds of years, long before humans first knew anything about chemistry. If you think about it, you would probably agree that there is a very good chance that this field of study should be taught to kids as early as possible, right?There are a lot of different things that one can learn in a chemistry class, and one has to realize that studying it is an important first step for any student interested in pursuing a career in this field. The science and chemistry subject is one of the most important in the entire world, and these days there are many more things that you can learn with regards to it.In the past, chemistry took place over a long period of time, and only certain jobs required the knowledge of these elements. There were quite a few different elements, and the classes that stude nts had to sit through were often highly difficult.These days, science and chemistry have taken a very strong hold on the education system, and anyone with a high school diploma or even a GED can easily find themselves employed with jobs in this field. Any graduate of a high school is able to find employment in a scientific field, and they can do this without the need to worry about any formal education. All they need to have is an understanding of the basics, and with these classes you can get some basic knowledge of the subject.So is science and chemistry the best possible career for a young person? If you are interested in pursuing a career in science, you should definitely think about taking a chemistry class. There are many people that work in this field, and they will be glad to learn what you know.

The Best Places in Africa for Landscape Photography.

The Best Places in Africa for Landscape Photography. Africa’s Greatest Landscapes â€" for Landscape Photographers. ChaptersWhat is Landscape Photography?What You’ll Need to Take Excellent Landscape Photographs.Some Top Spots in Africa for Taking Landscape Pictures.In the ‘West’, we suffer from a little problem of imagination. One particular image dominates our visions of places and, even when confronted by the reality, this image doesn’t budge an inch.So, when we think of China, we don’t think much beyond the Great Wall. An inspiring landscape, sure, but a bit like imagining the UK as only Hadrian’s Wall. When we think of Latin America, we stop at Machu Picchu. And when we think of, say, Russia, we think mainly of vodka and snow.Maybe this is natural. Yet, it remains a little ridiculous. And there’s nothing more ridiculous than the way we imagine Africa.We’re willing to bet that ‘Africa’, for most people, signifies one thing. That’s the savanna â€" a beautiful landscape â€" with its acacia trees, its giraffes and elephants, wildebeest and vultures. But that’s pretty much i t.However, it’s worth remembering in all this, that Africa is, in fact, a continent. A continent three times the size of Europe. And if we think that Europe is a geographically diverse place, we should probably recognise that of our southern neighbours.And it shouldn’t be a surprise â€" although it may well be â€" that Africa has some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth. From the famous coastlines of South Africa and Mozambique to the deserts of Morocco and Chad, from the mountains of Uganda to the canyons of Namibia â€" Africa has it all. And yes, there’s always the Serengeti at sunset to be taking photos of too.But let’s open our eyes â€" and camera lens â€" to the beauty and diversity of the African continent. And let’s learn a little about its geography whilst we search for the best locations for landscape photography.Check out the best spots for landscape photography in the rest of the world. The Sahara is, apparently, the size of China. 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 tutorsWhat is Landscape Photography?But first, let’s start with thinking about what landscape photography actually is and about what a landscape photographer might actually do. Because whilst we might consider this to be one of the most self-explanatory types of photography â€" you just take pictures of landscapes â€" it isn’ t, really.What is a Landscape?And the difficulty of all this starts with the definition of landscape â€" a term that has come to mean mountain peaks and remote locations, areas of the world that remain untouched, or at least undirtied, by any man-made element.Landscape, to us, is this â€" it is usually a natural landscape, and we want it to be an amazing landscape. We want it to take our breath away with its relief or beauty, and we want to feel as though we are the only people there.And this is the thing with landscape as an idea. It is detached and frozen in time â€" available to be looked at but not engaged with.This is what we like doing with images of Africa in particular. ‘Oh, a giraffe!’, we say, looking at a picture of the Serengeti. We appreciate the beauty of the giraffe in the landscape, but forget about Africa as a continent with people in it.It’s a danger of landscape photography that this happens. But this is an unfortunate historical development â€" rather than the way that this needs to be.See the best places for landscape photographers in Asia.Changing the Picture of Landscape.Landscape, as a word, has actually engaged with the integration of a human element with nature from the very beginning. Land and scape are the two roots of this English term â€" and both pay heed to this mixture.Land is not just a place â€" but originally it meant where someone belongs, as France is the land of the French. Scape, meanwhile, means to shape â€" to transform, work on, and sculpt the land.Thought of like this, landscape no longer refers to this nice distant a-human space. Rather, it pays heed to the messiness of landscape â€" and suggests that landscape can be all sorts of different environments.Just as an image of Kilimanjaro inspires so many landscape photos, so should a cityscape or seascape. Street photography, with its depiction of urban landscape, is also a landscape photography â€" as much as nature photography, wildlife photography, and travel photography.The streets of Cape Town or Nairobi are as much a landscape image as the deserts of Morocco â€" and it is important to remember this for your own art.Find Europe's best places for photographing landscapes. Drive in one of the most beautiful landscapes on EarthWhat You’ll Need to Take Excellent Landscape Photographs.But if landscape images can be of anything from streets to mountain valleys, what makes a good landscape photograph?This, in some way, is in the photographic eye of the beholder. However, it is also a question of photography techniques and photography skills. How come one person can take great photos of the Nile, say, but my landscape shot is just average?For great pictures â€" truly beautiful images â€" point and shoot is not enough. And as you work on your own craft, you’ll need to learn a few things. We’re talking shutter speed, depth of field, and white balance. You’ll need to figure out if you want a long exposure or a wide angle lens.And you’ll need to work on your photography composition, get familiar with your camera gear, and practice scouting and waiting in the right places.Good photography really is all about the patience to find the best image you can g et.Go to South America and take landscape photographs!Some Top Spots in Africa for Taking Landscape Pictures.But ultimately, the best way to learn how to shoot is to get out into the world and do it.And to get you inspired, here are some of the best places in Africa to find inspiring and awesome landscapes to photograph.We can’t cover them all â€" because it’s a continent after all. Yet, you’ll find some tips here to get you started. Just remember though, the world has plenty of shots of the savanna.Say something interesting â€" and make something beautiful and new.Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda.The Rwenzori Range in Uganda is one of the largest mountain ranges on the continent. And to remind you that Africa isn’t all heat and dryness, in the Rwenzori there are plenty of glaciers.Alongside this, it is a gorgeous â€" and largely unvisited â€" landscape. And it will give you some of the most beautiful landscape photos you have.Serengeti, Tanzania.Ah, here it is. The famous Serenge ti.  This is where you’ll find your acacia trees and wildebeest.It goes without saying that this is one of the most distinctive and wonderful places on Earth â€" as you’ll know from all of your photos of Africa.Check out the Olduvai Gorge whilst your there â€" both a beautiful place and perhaps where humanity was born.Sahara and the Ergs.Where do you go to get some of the most gorgeous pictures of the Sahara? Given that this desert is the size of China, there are plenty of options.A decent place to start would be the Ergs of southern Morocco. Whilst these aren’t technically in the Sahara, they are massive hills of sand that comes from the desert nearby.Namibia’s Fish River Canyon.Imagine that red, rocky landscape of Arizona or Utah. And then remember that you are in Namibia.The Fish River here has cut a massive trench through the Earth. And whilst the gorge itself is mesmerising, the landscape around is really quite special too.Atlas Mountains.In the Maghreb, through Morocco , Algeria, and Tunisia, you’ll find a range of mountains stretching for two and a half thousand miles â€" and dividing the coastal areas of north Africa from the Sahara.Here you’ll find snow, lush green valleys, and unique wildlife. It’s a great place to come if you’re looking for a part of the old often overlooked.South Africa’s Garden Route.At the southern tip of Africa, you’ll find, funnily enough, South Africa. And on its south-western tip, you’ll find the Garden Route, a stretch of coast known for its verdant greenness.Here, the Tsitsikamma Mountains fall down into the sea, making for a breath-taking landscape. Treat your camera to something beautiful.Simien Mountains, Ethiopia.In amongst the greenness of Ethiopia, you’ll find the towering Simien Mountains. With rugged and ambling peaks alongside jagged spikes of rock, this range makes for wonderful views.For the wildlife hunters among you, there are also the gelada â€" a species of monkey unique to this area.Co astal Mozambique.It’s currently recovering from one of the worst cyclones it experienced in decades. Yet, this tragedy has shone a light on the beauty of Mozambique.With its lagoons, dispersed islands, and gorgeous beaches, it is a unique and paradisiacal place. Try, for example, Bazaruto Island. The beaches of Mozambique are famously gorgeous.Chad.Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked, as it is, in the middle of the Sahara.Yet, whilst it is devastatingly poor, it is also an exceptionally beautiful place. Travel from the Tibesti Mountains in the north to the Manda National Park in the south, and you’ll see some of the most amazing landscapes you’ll ever see.See the USA's beautiful landscapes.

Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh, the Quintessential Tortured Artist ChaptersBiographyPainting StyleThe Question of SanityLegacyOf all of the artists past and present who have made our world more beautiful through their renderings, few are better known than this Dutch post-impressionist painter.So renown is he that there have been numerous books and songs written about him. And films! No fewer than 17 oeuvres to depict his life, his genius and his madness, his final days...Have you seen Loving Vincent? It is a Polish-English experimental film detailing the circumstances of his death, highlighting the possibility that his death was not necessarily by his own hand.Most remarkably, the entire film consists of oil on canvas, painted in the style of the master himself.It uses his most famous paintings: Sunflowers, Water Lilies, portraiture of various people in his life and, of course, Starry Night, seamlessly threaded together to form the narrative’s backdrop.So well-known is Vincent van Gogh that entire web pages have been created to list all of his ‘ public appearances’. He did not enjoy such treatment in his lifetime, though.Alternatively decried as a dangerous madman and a tragic figure, Vincent van Gogh represents the epitome of the tortured artist.Perpetually plagued by visions he could not make others see, he spent his entire life trying to gain acceptance for himself and for his art.In this article, we look at selected aspects of his life and work. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Te acher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBiography Can you see in these eyes the pain of rejection? Image by curiousgeorge77 from PixabayBorn on March 30th, 1853, he was the second Vincent in his immediate family, the first having been stillborn exactly a year before his arrival.There is some speculation that being an ersatz-Vincent affected him deeply; some think that his mother, still grieving for the child she had lost, had neither time nor inclination for the new baby.Still, being named Vincent meant something to the family; his grandfather and an uncle also bore that name.Growing up, Vincent seemed a thoughtful and quiet child who didn’t display an overt aptitude towards art even though he did enjoy drawing and sketching.He enjoyed a special closeness with his brother Theo and, to a lesser extent, his sister Willemina. His other two sisters and brother appear to have not made much of an impact on him; those relationships hardly feature in his later life.When he was seven years old, he was sent to the town school and, when he w as nearly ten, was enrolled in a boarding school a ways from home.Being sent away had a profound effect on young Vincent.  His mother had always been emotionally distant but, paradoxically, had taught her children that family bonds were paramount. What was Vincent to think when he was sent away from the family by the very woman whose demonstrations of affection he had perhaps desperately craved?Fortunately, he did not stay away for long; arduous pleading soon returned him to the family fold. He continued his education at a school relatively close to home; still, he was deeply unhappy.While he had merely amused himself by drawing when he was younger â€" an activity encouraged by his mother, his love of art really took root at this school.Constant Cornelis Huijsmans happened to be the art teacher the year that Vincent attended and he had quite an art pedigree himself.Descended from Cornelis Huysmans, whose works are on display at the Louvre and the National Gallery of Scotland, Consta nt Cornelis studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at Antwerp as well as the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris.In spite of a promising career as an artist, he returned home to care for his ailing father, taking it upon himself to support the entire family. To do so, he accepted a teaching position at a new school that was opening nearby, putting him squarely in the path of one young Vincent.What do van Gogh and Henri Matisse have in common?Painting StyleVincent’s art teacher was unusual in that he refrained from teaching any painting techniques, instead urging his students to illustrate the impression of their chosen subject rather than its likeness.“Real painters do not paint things as they are... they paint them as they themselves feel them to be.” - Vincent van Gogh, in a letter to his brother.Judging by what he wrote to his brother, this teacher’s lessons took root in spite of Vincent’s being deeply unhappy at that time; a frame of mind clearly visible in his gloomy fir st artworks.He did not forsake art completely after finishing his schooling but went to work for a prominent art dealer headquartered in Paris. After he finished his training, he was sent to work in London.He was quite happy there, earning well and idling his time with drawing pencil sketches (and courting the landlady’s daughter) but ultimately became disenchanted with the fact that the firm he represented saw art as no more than a money-making enterprise.His own artistic sun had not yet risen; Vincent needed Theo’s encouragement to study art in earnest.After a short stint at a first-ranked art school, he went to study with his cousin Anton Mauve, who was also a painter. It was Mauve who introduced van Gogh to watercolours; his influence led to a general brightening of Vincent’s dark pencil and charcoal sketches.Whereas before working with Anton van Gogh’s focus was on drawing and sketching, after their brief time together, his medium was paint â€" usually oils but watercol ours too.Thanks to Theo’s constant financial support, Vincent was about to undergo an evolution of his artistic expression.Also learn about Leonardo da Vinci, the most famous among famous artists... Contrary to popular belief, cutting off his ear lobe was not van Gogh's first act of self-harm Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayThe Question of Sanity“I dream my painting and I paint my dream” - Vincent van GoghThere can be no doubt that Vincent van Gogh was mentally unwell; the question is whether being a replacement for the child his mother really wanted (and being given the same name), feeling abandoned by his family at a young age and being rejected by nearly everyone exacerbated his illness.Many of his rash and aberrant actions seem to reflect his desperation for acceptance:proposing marriage to his landlady’s daughter in London (the reason his father and uncle arranged his transfer to the Paris office of the firm he worked for)eschewing work altogether to embrace religionprofessing love and proposing marriage to his newly-widowed cousin after just meeting herputting his hand to flame in an attempt to persuade her parents to let him see hercutting his ear as Gauguin was l eavingconsorting with the ‘lower ranks’ of societyaccusing Theo of sabotaging his career (when Theo reported none of Vincent’s work could sell)In contrast to the erraticism and uncertainty of his daily life, the composition and execution of his work reflected a serenity, organisation and assuredness that, by all accounts, were never experienced by the man himself.Perhaps his lack of social skills led the world to reject him, forcing him to pour all of his passion into his work.On the other hand, Paul Cezanne also dealt with a lot of rejection but he didn’t go mad...Maybe his family’s eternal hope that Vincent would make something of himself drove them to constantly bail him out of situations he had caused... or maybe it was their shame over his antics and how they reflected on the family’s religious reputation.Regardless of all of the whys and wherefores, we have to wonder: if the medicines prescribed today to manage the psychosis Mr van Gogh apparently suffered were ava ilable in his time, would he have become such a genius at depicting the scenes around him?  Would he have rendered such amazing works of art?Discover the influence van Gogh had on the works of Pablo Picasso. Has a bedchamber ever seemed lonelier than the one van Gogh occupied? Image by Anne Saturnino Miranda from PixabayLegacy“The only time I feel alive is when I paint” - Vincent van GoghFor an artist with virtually no formal training, Vincent van Gogh had a massive impact on the art world.He was late to embrace impressionism but, once he caught on, he could not paint fast enough. His use of bold colours and expressive brushstrokes, incorporating elements of pointillism helped lay the foundations of modern art.While his contemporaries â€" Pissarro, Toulouse-Lautrec and Renoir among others became famous painters, Vincent remained unrecognised in his lifetime; another rejection that surely weighed him down.Claude Monet, the French impressionist, also a contemporary of van Gogh, though well thought of by other French artists of his time, was not well-received by critics or society... perhaps the Parisian art scene was saturated at the time, or in flux - nobody knew what to like.The wor ld’s best-known Dutch painter, who never profited from his art, left behind a collection of masterpieces that, today, sell for millions of dollars each â€" some of the most expensive paintings in the history of art.In his self-portrait series and in his still lifes, indeed each landscape painting is a depiction of a vivid world that only he could see.It was incumbent upon him to translate the vibrancy and poetry he was certain fuelled the world into two-dimensional representations, lamenting all the while that nobody ‘got’ him or what he saw.Painted by van Gogh, everything from the workaday lives of everyman to the tired boots they wore became a piece of art history; unique brushwork that we’re privileged to look upon today with awe and perhaps a touch of pity.Misplaced pity, perhaps, because while his life was difficult and far too short, his inner landscape might have been far more beautiful than any of his canvases... had anyone besides his brother given him quarter.Now d iscover other famous works of art painted by some of the world’s most famous artists.

A Columbia University College Experience

A Columbia University College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Amy is currently a student at Columbia University studying human rights, English, and business management. She specializes in many areas of SAT tutoring, in addition to other subjects. See what she had to share about her experience at Columbia University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Amy: Columbia blends the best of both worlds with its urban setting and homey campus. Though exploring skyscraper-filled New York City is always fun, it can be a relief to come home to a school dominated by a blend of classical and modern architecture. As for transportation, Columbia has its own subway stop right outside the Broadway gates for students the city isnt very car or bike friendly, unfortunately. Ive never felt unsafe on or in the areas surrounding campus, either; police escorts and emergency services are always readily available. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Amy: Columbia prides itself on a culture of the love of intellectual pursuit, and its professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants certainly contribute toward that mold. Both students and professors embrace challenge and curiosity in the classrooms; office hours for professors are packed with students discussing everything from general theories to paper topics. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Amy: Interestingly, students receive lots of opportunities to score single rooms their freshman year. Certain dorms are more coveted than others, but freshmen seem to be generally satisfied (and even proud) of their residence halls. Im in the social, all-first-year dorm, and I couldnt imagine myself living anywhere else. Theres never a dull moment, and I have opportunities to meet new people every day in the elevator, at residence hall events, and through mutual friends. As for dining, Columbia has three main dining halls that offer a wide variety of selections. The dining staff always tries to provide vegetarian and vegan options, too, and locally sources a lot of produce from nearby neighborhood farms. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Amy: A wide variety of majors are represented at Columbia, but the university does a good job of providing support for every department regardless of its size. Popular majors include the social sciences, computer science, and various engineering fields, but interdisciplinary pursuits are encouraged as well. Im actually studying a strange combination: Im double majoring in Human Rights (with a specialization in Political Science) and English, and concentrating (essentially the universitys term for a minor) in Business Management. I really appreciate Columbias flexibility in allowing me to combine such different pursuits into one streamlined form of study, and Ive definitely received lots of support from academic advisers and professors, too. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Amy: Ive been very satisfied with the opportunities Ive received to meet new people and make new friends. The unique thing about Columbia is that its less of an enclosed campus, meaning people will go out into the city to explore rather than staying in, so meeting people requires a bit more energy and proactivity. Greek life definitely is present on campus and is growing, but is in no way an integral part of Columbias social scene. It can be a great way to find a community, but probably just due to geographical factors concerning housing, Columbias Greek scene isnt as traditional as one one might find at a big state school. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Amy: The Center for Career Education is great and is available for students as a resource to find internships and jobs downtown. Columbia recognizes the worth of internships in a students career, and offers significantly less classes on Fridays to give students a day to work at a job/internship if need be. The university also hosts lots of career fairs, in which companies from high-level investment banks to local startups to nonprofits come to campus to recruit Columbia/Barnard students for part-time/full-time job opportunities. New York City is one of a Columbia students greatest resources for job searching, simply because it offers something for everyone from the engineer to the journalist to the aspiring researcher. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Amy: Butler Library is a huge, beautiful structure that resembles an Athenian temple more than it does a study space. Its the go-to for most students for late-night sessions, open 24-7 for all cramming needs. During midterms and finals, it gets pretty difficult to find a spot inside the library, so students turn to other study spots around and outside campus. Describe the surrounding town. Amy: Youll never get bored at Columbia: on campus or off campus, theres always something going on. Even exploring the couple of blocks surrounding campus never gets old! Theres everything from restaurants to bookstores within Columbias vicinity, and most students will spend a Friday or Saturday night hanging out with friends at Mels or 1020, two popular bars within walking distance. Of course, New York City has a bustling nightlife scene downtown. Students can visit a club in East Village or check out a jazz venue near Chelsea Pier. Columbia students also get free admission to museums like The Met or MOMA with their student IDs, so a lot of students spend Saturday afternoons art-gallery hopping. Central Park is also about six blocks from campus, so when the weather is nice, students can study, relax, or even picnic in the park. The campus is also bordered by Morningside Park and Riverside Park, great for morning runs or just a change of scenery. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Amy: Columbia definitely has a larger number of graduate students, but each undergraduate class has about 1400 students, which is pretty sizable, too. Some lecture classes have a large amount of students, but Columbia actually offers lots of seminars that have no more than 15 or 16 people. Personalized educational attention carries a lot of intellectual value, and many professors and students prefer the personalized, seminar-style approach to large lecture halls. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Amy: Columbias most prized intellectual tradition is its Core Curriculum, a set of classes every student attending the university takes. This semester, Im in Literature Humanities, dedicated to round-table discussions of a Western literary canon that includes works from ancient Greek poets to Dostoyevsky. Its a lot of reading and writing, but my entire class gets together regularly before midterms and tests to have study sessions in somebodys dorm room. Columbia recognizes the bonds students who go through the Core together form, and Im no exception Ive definitely made friendships and connections as a result of the Core. Check out Amys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Excellent Sight Reading Exercises for Singers

5 Excellent Sight Reading Exercises for Singers Megan L. Unless youre a career-chorister, the concept of sight reading music is probably going to at best make you slightly nervous, and at worst paralyze you with fright. However, at some point, probably when you join a choir or perhaps go to an audition, youre going to have to face that hurdle. Sight reading comes easier to some singers than others, but its not some mythical task akin to retrieving a golden fleece; sight-reading, even for the more able, is a learned skill, and there are several sight reading exercises you can practice to improve. Here are five sight reading exercises that will make a difference and help calm your fears: Familiarity Pick an octave that comfortably covers the middle of your voice. Sit down at a piano and play up and down that octave; as a major scale, harmonic and melodic minor scale, and as a chromatic scale. Listen carefully to each of the notes, and fix them in your mind and your ear. Next, play intervals to yourself within that octave and memorize the sound of the interval. The final stage a friend will be useful here is to play the home note, and then sing back a specific interval. Check your work thoroughly, as this sight reading exercise has as much to do with memory as anything else! Ear and Eye Once your ear has established what those intervals sound like, train your eye to recognize them on paper, as youre going to struggle in any sight reading exercises if you cant translate that knowledge from ear to page. Be aware that intervals dont always look how you might expect on paper, so use this as an opportunity to improve your general music reading skills as well. How Do You Eat an Elephant? The answer should always be a forkful at a time! It may feel overwhelming to be faced with a whole page of tricky music during sight reading exercises, but dealing with it one bar at a time will make it seem much less scary. If the whole page fills you with panic, put the brakes on for a moment and just deal with small sections at a time. Map Reading Think of a piece of music like a roadmap. Take careful note of key and time signatures, and pinpoint interesting landmarks like accidentals or key changes. Look ahead, and fix rest spots, i.e. half or whole notes where you can take stock and plan your strategy for the rest of the piece.  Dont be afraid of sight reading new pieces a little under tempo better to do this and keep going than practice with an error that you cant shake. Self-sufficiency Rules Nothing will give you greater confidence as a singer and a musician than being able to prepare your music yourself, and to know that youve prepared it accurately. There are many singers out there even working within the classical industry at the very highest level that cant read music, and need a voice coach to teach them every single note.  Being able to read songs as easily as you would a newspaper is a valuable skill that will carry you far. Now that you have all these tools to make you a confident and capable singer, there is one final, important thing to bear in mind over and above any exercise or other preparation rule: Without a well-trained, properly-produced instrument, all of your work will be pointless. Finding a good voice teacher is essential to take you beyond being a talented, untrained amateur singer with natural ability. Since we cant hear our own voices accurately, its important to find a good teacher to help you identify and correct bad habits as they happen, and show you the right exercises to practice to improve your skills. Good luck with your singing, and dont forget to have fun! 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 Dave