A Day in the Life at Harvard University

A Day in the Life at Harvard University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Nat is a 2011 graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelors degree in Social Studies. He is a New York City tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, GRE prep tutoring, French tutoring, and more. See what he had to say about his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Nat: The campus is in the heart of downtown Cambridge, and comes with all the perks and risks that that implies. All of the Boston metropolitan area is easily accessible with public transportation, and all the various things you might need to buy can be attained at shops that are easily walked to. There are, of course, crimes, but it never felt unsafe to me. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Nat: It varies, of course. There are a handful of professors who dont seem very interested in connecting with students, but they are the exception. Nearly everyone seems to take pleasure in speaking with engaged students, and will meet with you often, and sometimes in social contexts as well. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Nat: The rooms are huge and the cafeteria food is well above average. The school does its best to facilitate social gatherings, but most people spend time with their friends or their clubs separately. The only real impediment to a social life is the amount of work. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Nat: No particular program seems more supported than another, and all have more than adequate funding. I was part of an Interdisciplinary Honors major in which I studied Philosophy, History, and Economics. The department was funded well enough for me to get money for research. VT: 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? Nat: I did not spend my freshman year at Harvard, so I cant speak to that. Greek life barely exists and is not particularly relevant on campus. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Nat: The Career Center is helpful for those looking for careers in finance, law, and industry, but its less helpful for those looking to do something more off the beaten path. However, if youre looking for a connection with a famous company, its the place to be. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Nat: There isnt a student union, nor do most dormitories have lounges, but the libraries are plentiful, spacious, and open late. Some are even open 24 hours. There are also college-run cafes and dining halls where many students work. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Nat: Its in an upscale part of the city. There are bookstores, cafes, movie theaters, concert venues, and lots of restaurants. Boston is easily accessible, as are many points in New England for those feeling adventurous. Most students, however, find few reasons to leave campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Nat: The college part of the university consists of around 6,500 students. Lecture courses could be very large, but most courses are very small and rely on student involvement. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Nat: My junior year, I took a seminar with an Economics professor in which we read fundamental texts from history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and sociology. Each one in some way examined how the present world came to look the way it does. The class was eye-opening and changed the way I see the world. What more can you want from a class than that? Check out Nats tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

8-Year-Old Girl is Gnarliest Guitar Shredder Ever

8-Year-Old Girl is Gnarliest Guitar Shredder Ever Megan L. Im willing to bet that playing like a girl will stop being an insult within this little ladys lifetime! At just 8 years old, Lisa-X  is able to play rapid fire metal solos that will melt your face off and blow your mind. Shes smaller than her guitar, but she sure knows how to make it sound big and mighty. Plus, the sweet grin she gives the camera as shes bending a note around 1:46? Priceless! Child prodigies like Lisa are absolutely amazing, but theres really no wrong age to start playing guitar. Enrolling in guitar lessons is the perfect first step to get your musical journey going. The right guitar teacher can help you learn to play the music you love, and give you personal attention to make sure youre progressing as you should. Search for a teacher on TakeLessons and get started with guitar lessons today! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

6 Helpful Diction Exercises for Singers [Video]

6 Helpful Diction Exercises for Singers [Video] Suzy S. Improve your technique (and your next performance) by working on diction! In this article, singing teacher  Liz T.  shares some great exercises to try out Imagine youre  at a concert, and your favorite artist gets up on stage to sing. You recognize a popular song from her  album starting, but when she opens her mouth you cant decipher any of the lyrics. As a singer, paying attention to diction   that is, the way you enunciate your words can  make a big impact on your performance.  It’s a crucial part of connecting with your audience and even having proper vocal health! If you struggle with you diction when you sing, though,  dont be ashamed. It is truly something all singers struggle with! It doesnt mean you are a bad singer but the better diction you have, the more your audience will be able to enjoy and appreciate your performance. There are tons of diction exercises you can try, which will help you train yourself. Start adding these to your practice sessions, and youll notice a difference! 1) Practice Tongue Twisters Try  speaking your favorite tongue twisters first, and then try singing them! I recommend focusing on ones with letters or syllables that are more difficult for you. Start slow, and then work up to a faster speed. Really make sure you are articulating each sound. You can also  try speaking  or  singing the alphabet to get the shapes ingrained in your muscle memory. Here are a few tongue twisters that are great for improving your  diction: She sells seashells by the seashore. Red leather, yellow leather. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Who washed Washington’s white woolen underwear, as Washington’s washer woman went West. Mommy made me mash my MMs. 2) Study  Phonetics (IPA) For this exercise, take a look at the song youre currently working on, and break down each word in the  lyrics. Break apart the vowels, consonants, and diphthongs. Feel free to write in your score, if you need to spell a word differently for it to make sense in your singing. Many singers refer to the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) when singing. This is a system derived from Latin that is used today as a standardized representation of sounds. It’s a great tool for singers to use and study! 3)  Practice Vowels Take some time focusing on each of the vowels:  ah, ay, ee, oh, and oo. Add a consonant at the beginning (such as mah, may, me) and sing through the list, making sure each one is clear. 4) Practice Consonants Next, focus on consonants, like D, T, and N. Practice  speaking  the different sounds, repeating each a few times. 5) Do Some Lip Buzz/Trill Warm up your lips, tongue, and teeth with simple lip buzzes and tongue trills. 6) Incorporate Breath Support Pick one of the tongue twisters above, and practice saying it all in one breath. Whether you are performing live on stage (using a microphone or not) or singing in a studio, you should always use clear and accurate diction! And if youre struggling,  remember that clear diction may  not happen overnight. Keep practicing these diction exercises, and work with your voice teacher to improve your technique. Good luck! Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches singing, acting, and music lessons online.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M in Vocal performance and currently performs/teaches all styles of music including Musical Theater, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, RB, and Country. Learn more about Liz 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

Who Are the Great Violinists

Who Are the Great Violinists The World’s Most Famous Violinists ChaptersViolin’s Beginnings with MonteverdiJean-Baptiste Lully18th Century: Vivaldi’s Influence on the History of the ViolinRomantic Music and Violinists in the 19th CenturyThe Success of Violinists in the 20th CenturyCurrent Young Violin ProdigiesBeethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Berlioz, Mozart, Brahms, Handel, etc. It’s easy to name the famous composers.While most people can name a legendary pianist, it’s a little harder to name a performer famous for playing the violin or from the strings section.Whether they were a conductor, soloist, or composer, there have been a good number of skilled musicians who underwent violin tuition the instrument and are renowned for violin playing throughout the history of music.Be it romanticism (the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, for example), baroque, or classical music, there are plenty of famous violinists who have performed as solosists and as part of the orchestra.Whether you prefer a sonata, ensemble piece, traditional composition , jazz or rock music, here’s everything you need to know about the greatest violin player from each of the major musical periods! TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsViolin’s Beginnings with MonteverdiClaudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was one of the most famous concert violin players of all time. He was born in Cremona, a centre of violin manufacturers in Italy. In fact, Cremona was home to the Guarneri family of instrument builders and Stradivariu s, whose instruments still exist today.It's hardly surprising that the young Claudio became familiar with music very quickly. While there are no sources to prove it, it’s very likely that the musician was trained by Marc'Antonio Ingegneri, the musician for the city’s cathedral.Claudio Monteverdi would have also probably have taken classes at the University of Cremona in order to broaden his knowledge of the subject. The instrument owes a lot of its success to Monteverdi’s works. The opera L’Orfeo helped establish it.While the instrument was also used by the greats, at the same time, it also became a royal instrument.Monterverdi’s main works:L’Orfeo in 1607Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland) in 1640L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) in 1643Other composers also left their mark on the 16th century. With the birth of the true violin, composers like Salomone Rossi didn’t hesitate to make use of the instrument in their piec es and add to the instrument's repertoire.Jean-Baptiste LullyBefore we get anywhere near the electric violins of today, we need to look at another one of the greats from long ago.Jean-Baptiste Lully, with the help of Molière, invented a new genre. (Source: Wikimedia Common)Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) is one of the most famous French composers in the history of music.He is famous for having attracted the attention of Louis XIV and being the royal composer from 1653.This Italian-born musician was the official dancer and violinist. He started his career with the Mademoiselle de Montpensier and quickly caught the attention of the king who made named him superintendent of music and composer for the King’s chamber. He created the Petits Violins (Little Violins) orchestra.He composed music to accompany pieces by Molière such as the Le Bourgeois gentilhomme and Georges Dandin. Some believe that Lully himself even played the odd solo while presenting his work. He held the violin on h is shoulder in order to making dancing easier.At the height of his career, he succumb to gangrene after striking his foot when he conducted somewhat vigorously.Lully’s main works:Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme in 1670Atys in 1676Te Deum in 1677Of course, the 17th century didn’t end with Lully. While he definitely deserves a place in the history of the violin, special mentions should also go to the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli and the English composer Henry Purcell.If you take violin lessons for beginners, you’ll definitely end up hearing more about them! TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors18th Century: Vivaldi’s Influence on the History of the ViolinAntonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was one of the most famous musicians during the 17th century and the Baroque period. However, during his younger years, Antonio Vilvaldi was a priest.Vivaldi was considered one of the greatest violinists of his time. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)After being ordained in 1703, the young man gave it all up due to health reasons.Having been born into music, and thanks to his father being a violinist, he became a master violinist and virtuoso in an orphanage and Italian conservatoire.This is where he would write some of his most famous pieces, including his quartet of violin concerti. Here are some of Vivaldi’s violin pieces to add to your playlist:La Stravaganza in 1712Four Seasons in 1725Orlando Furioso in 1727Search for  violin teacher London  now .Wolfgang Amadeus MozartBorn into a family of musicians, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) learnt music early on. A gifted artist, he composed his first pieces aged just 4!While more famous for his piano pieces, the musician didn’t forget the lessons his father, a violin a teacher, taught him. This is probably why the famous artist integrated violin parts into a lot of his works.Important works by Mozart:Violin Concerto No. 5 in 1775Requiem in 1791The Magic Flute in 1791Romantic Music and Violinists in the 19th CenturyIt was at the age of 5 that Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) started playing the violin. Our older readers probably didn’t want to hear that.The Italian violin star revolutionised the way the instrument is played. His technique brought him a lot of success. Spectators came from far and wide to see his concerts.According to some sources, Niccolo Paganini owed his success to a special ability, being able to spread his fingers more than usual. The musician, who was inte rnationally successful, moved from capital to capital playing for willing audiences. His charisma and gambling made many think that he’d made a deal with the devil.  As a result, the Church refused to bury him when he died.Paganini’s main works:Duetto Amoroso for Violin and Mandolin in 1807Violin Concerto No. 1 in 181624 Caprices for Solo Violin in 1817The 19th century is famous for Romantic music which was expressive and emotive.Get information here about violin lessons online.The Success of Violinists in the 20th CenturyThe Belgian Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931) learnt the violin thanks to his father, who was also a musician. To help his family, the young artist played the violin outside of churches.Once enrolled at a conservatoire, Eugène Ysaÿe, slowly but surely, became a great virtuoso. Positive encounters did the rest.  He became one of the most influential violinists of the 20th century.The Ukranian David Oistrakh (1908-1974) is one of the many musicians who got into music thanks to their parents. With a mother who was an opera chorister, David Oistrakh learnt the violin at the age of 5. After his first tour of Ukraine, his career took off. The Soviet Union even allowed him to travel to the West for a few concerts.David's son, Igor, is also is a gifted violinist. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999) is more than just a violinist. During the Second World War, he played over 500 concerts for the Allies. Having been a star from the age of ten, the young man was already familiar with international tours. Throughout his long career, Yehudi Menuhin supported other artists from totalitarian regimes. He was named a UNESCO goodwill ambassador in 1992.Isaac Stern (1920-2001) started playing the violin at 8 years old, just a few years after arriving in the United States. Originally from Ukraine, Isaac Stern joined the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra before joining the New York Philharmonic. When he died, the New York Times had this to say about him:“Isaac Stern [...] was considered one of the great instrumentalists of the 20th century.”Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) was a Russian violinist who became a naturalised American citizen after the Russian Revolution in 1917. Before leaving Russia, his father taught him violin from a young age. He continued his studies in the Vilnius Royal Academy of Music and then the St. Petersburg Conservatory. When he arrived in the United States with his family, he continued his exceptional career in a new continent.Current Young Violin ProdigiesThe great violinists of the past have also inspired an entire new generation of virtuosos. Some are already proving themselves and on their way to becoming greats themselves. The best thing about these violinists is that they live in an age where they can be recorded. While for older violinists, you'll have to take our word for it, you can actually search for the concert that you're interested in. Let's have a look at a few international stars of vio lin music.Born in Armenia in 1966, Samvel Yervinyan showed promise from the age of 7. He now travels the world performing. The American Federation of musicians described him as:“a violinist of extraordinary ability, as demonstrated by sustained international acclaim.”Did you hear about the young prodigy from across the Channel?Camille Berthollet rose to fame on the French TV show “Jeunes Prodiges” (Young Prodigies). At just 16 years old, she won the competition and found her way into the spotlight. The young artist then sold over 75,000 copies of her album, the best selling classical of 2015 in France.The prodigies don’t stop there.Born in 2001, the Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich quickly became known for his musical talent and is a veritable child prodigy. After showing his mastery of some of the world’s greatest pieces, he made his debut with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra just two years after he started learning to play the violin. From Beethoven to Bach vi a Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky, nothing’s out of reach for this young virtuoso. The young boy has performed and toured all over Europe.The younger generations are getting interested in this fascinating instrument. (Source: Tom Swinnen)However, the violin isn’t just for the very young musical prodigies. There are older violinists showing off their talents around the world. The American violinist Lindsey Stirling, who’s 31 years old, has performed shows all over the world including covers and her own original pieces: The soundtrack from Zelda, Rihanna covers, nothing stops this girl.Of course, this list isn't exhaustive and you should also check out composers and violinists like Sibelius, Sarasate, Rossini, Glazunov, Wieniawski, Prokofiev, Milstein, and Mendelssohn.If you want to learn more about the violin and other orchestral instruments like the cello, fiddle, viola, etc., remember that you can find tutorials online and around the UK.

Lateral Area

Lateral Area Lateral Area In geometry, a 3-dimensional figure is the object which has 3 dimensional measurements of length, width and height. Using these 3 measurements, various calculations of volume, surface areas are analyzed. Shapes such as polyhedrons, cylinders, cones and spheres are 3-dimensional figures. Polyhedrons are the shapes which have flat surfaces known as faces, and these faces are made of polygons. Examples of polyhedrons are pyramids and prisms. Cylinders, cones, spheres are 3-dimensional but are not polyhedrons as they do not have flat surfaces. They have curved surfaces. Cylinders have 2 congruent base circles connected by a curved surface. A cone is a figure which has a base circle connected to the vertex on top by a curved surface. A sphere is also one such space figure which has all its points equidistant from the center point. What is Lateral Area? Lateral Area is the sum area of all the surfaces of the figure except the base and the top area. That means, lateral area is the sum of area of all the faces or lateral surfaces only. Based on the shape of the figure, the lateral area can be calculated accordingly. Lateral area is measured in square units. For instance, if the dimensions are in meters, then the unit of lateral area would be square meters. Lateral Area of Geometric Shapes: Lateral area of various geometric shapes can be calculated using the dimensions of that particular shape. For calculating the lateral area, we do not add the areas of the top surface and the bottom surface of the figure. While calculating the Total Surface Area of a figure, we add up the areas of all the surfaces (including the top and the bottom), but for Lateral Area only the areas of the lateral faces need to be added up. Now let us calculate the Lateral Area of various geometric shapes with different sizes: 1) Lateral Area of a Prism: A prism is a very popular 3-dimensional figure which consists of flat faces and identical bases. The bases are congruent and parallel to each other. All along the length, the prisms have the same cross-section. The prism is a polyhedron, so it does not have any curved sides. Its faces are flat and it has edges (or sides) as straight lines. We can classify different types of prisms based on the cross-section or the base of the prism. If the base or the cross-section of a prism is a square, then it is known as a Square Prism. If the cross-section along the length is a triangle, then it is known as a Triangular Prism. Lateral area of any prism can be calculated by using the formula as shown below: Lateral Area of a Prism = (Perimeter of the Base) * (Height of the prism) == L = P * h a) Lateral Area of a Rectangular Prism: A rectangular prism has 6 rectangular faces including the top and the bottom surface. Since the base of the cross-section of the prism is a rectangle, hence it is known as the Rectangular Prism. To calculate the Lateral area of a rectangular prism, we consider only the area of the 4 lateral faces and do not calculate the area of the 2 bases of the prism. The perimeter of the base of a rectangular prism is nothing but the perimeter of the base rectangle. The perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of all its side lengths. This implies Perimeter of a rectangle, P = 2l +2w (where l = length and w = width of the rectangle). Hence the Lateral Area of a Rectangular prism can now also be written as: Lateral Area of a Rectangular Prism = Perimeter of the Base * Height of the Prism L = P * h L = (2l + 2w) * h Or L = 2lh + 2wh (where l = length, w = width, h = height) Example: Calculate the lateral area of a rectangular prism if given that the length is 6m, width is 5m, and height is 8m. Given that length l = 6m, width w = 5m and height, h = 8m. Lateral area of the rectangular prism, L = Perimeter of the base * Height L = 2lh + 2wh == L = (2* 6* 8) + (2* 5 * 8) == L = 96 + 80 = 176m Hence, the Lateral Area, L = 176 square meters. b) Lateral area of a Triangular Prism:A triangular prism is a prism whose base of the prism (or the cross-section along the length) is a triangle. If the sides of the base triangle are a, b and c, then the Perimeter of a triangle is the sum of all its sides = (a + b + c). Lateral Area of a Triangular Prism = (Perimeter of the base triangle) * (Height of the Prism) L = (a + b + c) * h Example: What is the lateral area of a triangular prism whose height is 12cm and which has a base triangle of side length 6cm, 4cm and 5cm? Given height of the prism, h = 12cm The side lengths of the base triangle are a = 6cm, b =4cm and c = 5cm. Lateral Area of a Triangular Prism = (Perimeter of the base triangle) * (Height of the Prism) L = (a + b + c) * h Hence, L = (6cm + 4cm + 5cm) * 12cm == L = 180 square centimeters. c) Lateral area of a Regular Hexagonal Prism:A hexagonal prism is a prism whose base of the prism (or the cross-section along the length) is a hexagon. A hexagon is a polygon with 6 sides. A hexagonal prism consists of 2 identical hexagonal bases and 4 rectangular faces. A regular hexagon is a polygon which has 6 equal sides. If the side length of the base regular hexagon is s, then the perimeter of the base hexagon is the sum of all its sides = s + s + s + s + s + s = 6s. Lateral area of a Hexagonal Prism, L = (Perimeter of the base regular hexagon) * (Height of the Prism) L = (6* s) * h Example: If the height of the prism is 10cm and the base is regular hexagon of side length 4cm, then what is the perimeter of this hexagonal prism? Given height of the prism, h = 10cm The side length of the base regular hexagon, s = 4cm Lateral area of a Hexagonal Prism, L = (Perimeter of the base hexagon) * (Height of the Prism) L = (6* s) * h Hence, L = (6* 4cm) * 10cm == L = 240 square centimeters. 2) Lateral area of a Pyramid: A pyramid is a 3-dimensional figure whose base is a polygon and has triangular faces meeting at the top vertex (also known as the apex). Lateral area of a pyramid is the sum of the areas of the lateral faces of the pyramid structure, without including the area of the base. Just like a prism, there are different types of pyramids based on the shape of its base. If the base of the pyramid is a triangle, then it is known as a Triangular Pyramid. If the base of the pyramid is a rectangle, then it is known as the Rectangular Pyramid. If the base polygon is a regular polygon, then we get a regular pyramid. If the base polygon is an irregular polygon, then the pyramid formed is an irregular pyramid. Lateral Area of a Regular Pyramid = 1/2 * (Perimeter of the base) * (Slant height of the pyramid) (Note: Slant height is the perpendicular altitude drawn from the apex (vertex) to the base of the lateral triangle as shown in the above figure). Lateral Area of an Irregular Pyramid = Sum of the areas of each lateral triangular faces a) Lateral Area of a Square Pyramid: A square pyramid is a pyramid which has a square base. If the side length of the square base is a, then the perimeter of the square base = 4 * a Let the slant height which is the perpendicular distance drawn from the apex to the base of the lateral triangle be = s Lateral Area of a Square Pyramid = 1/2 * (Perimeter of the Square base) * (Slant height of the pyramid) = 1/2 * 4a * s = 2 * a * s Therefore, Lateral Area of the Square Pyramid = 2 * a * s Example: Find the lateral area of a square pyramid whose square base has a side length of 5m and its slant height is 9m. Given side length of the square base of the pyramid, a = 5m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 9m Lateral area of the Square Pyramid = 2* a* s = 2* 5m * 9m = 90m2 b) Lateral Area of a Triangular Pyramid: A pyramid consisting of a triangular base is known as the Triangular Pyramid. In general cases, the base triangle is an equilateral triangle and therefore it is an equilateral triangular pyramid, also known as the regular triangular pyramid. But in case the base triangle does not have equal sides, then the pyramid is known as the irregular pyramid. If the side lengths of the base triangle are a, b, and c, then the perimeter of the triangle = (a+ b+ c) Let the slant height of the pyramid = s Then, Lateral Area of the Triangular pyramid = 1/2 * (a+ b+ c) * s Example: Calculate the lateral area of an equilateral triangular pyramid of base side of 6m and slant height of 10m. Given the side of the base equilateral triangle, a = 6m (Equilateral triangles have equal sides) Hence, a = b = c = 6m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 10m Lateral area of the triangular pyramid = 1/2 * (a+ b+ c) * s == L = 1/2 * (6+ 6+ 6) * 10 = 90m2 c) Lateral area of a Pentagonal Pyramid: A pyramid consisting of a pentagonal base is known as the pentagonal pyramid. A pentagon is a polygon consisting of 5 sides. If the base pentagon has side lengths of a, b, c, d and e, then perimeter of the pentagon = sum of all its sides = (a + b + c + d + e) Let the slant height of the pyramid = s Lateral Area of a Pentagonal Pyramid = 1/2 * (Perimeter of the base pentagon) * (Slant height) So, Lateral area of a Pentagonal Pyramid = 1/2 * (a+ b+ c+ d+ e) * s Example: Given the side lengths of a regular pentagonal pyramid as 5cm and the slant height of the pyramid as 12cm. What is the lateral area of this regular pentagonal pyramid? A regular pentagon has 5 equal sides. Given the side lengths of the base pentagon as a = b = c = d = e = 5cm Slant height of the pentagonal pyramid, s = 12cm Lateral area of a Pentagonal Pyramid = 1/2 * (5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5) * 12 = 150cm2 2) Lateral Area of a Cylinder: Cylinders are commonly observed in our daily life. A cylinder is a 3-dimensional solid closed figure and it consists of 2 congruent circular bases that are connected by a curved surface. A cylinder has 2 congruent circular bases and they are parallel to each other. The perpendicular length between the 2 circular bases is known as the height of the cylinder or the altitude. For a given cylinder, let the radius of the circular base = r Let the height (or altitude) which is the perpendicular distance between the 2 circular bases = h Then the lateral area of the cylinder is given by the equation below: Lateral Area of a Cylinder = (Circumference of the circular base) * (Height of the cylinder) Therefore, Lateral Area of a Cylinder = 2 * ???? * r * h Example: Calculate the lateral area of a cylinder whose radius of the circular base is 6m and the height of the cylinder is 8m. Given the radius of the circular base, r = 6m Height of the cylinder, h = 8m Lateral area of the cylinder = 2 * ???? * r * h == L = 2 * 3.14 * 6m * 8m = 301.44 m2 3) Lateral Area of a Cone: A cone is a 3-dimensional figure which has a circular base connected with the single vertex on top (also known as the apex) by a curved surface. The height of the cone is the perpendicular distance from the vertex to the center of the circular base. The slant height is the distance along the surface of the cone from the vertex to the circle, as shown in the figure on the right. For a given cone, let the radius of the circular base = r Let the height of the cone = h and the slant height of the cone = s From the figure we can see that slant height, s = (h2 + r2) (Using the Pythagorean Theorem) Then the lateral area of the cone can be calculated as follows: Lateral area of the cone = ???? * r * s Therefore, Lateral Area of the Cone = ???? * r * (h2 + r2) Example: Calculate the slant height and the lateral area of the cone if the radius of the cone is 6cm and the height of the cone is 8cm. Given radius of the cone, r = 6cm Height of the cone, h = 8cm Slant height, s = (h2 + r2) = (62 + 82) = 10cm Lateral Area of the Cone = ???? * r * (h2 + r2) = 3.14 * 6 * (62 + 82) = 188.4 cm2 4) Lateral Area of a Sphere and Hemisphere: A sphere is a 3-dimensional geometric figure perfectly symmetrical in shape. It is a closed figure formed by points which are equidistant from the center. A sphere has no edges (sides) or vertices (corners). If the radius of a sphere is r, then we can calculate the lateral area as shown below: Lateral Area of a Sphere = 4* ????* r2 When a sphere is cut into equal halves, then we get a Hemisphere. Therefore, the lateral area of a hemisphere is half of the lateral area of the sphere. Lateral Area of a Hemisphere = 2* ????* r2 Example: If the radius of a sphere is 5cm, then what is the lateral area of the sphere and the hemisphere? Given the radius of the sphere, r = 5cm Lateral Area of the Sphere = 4* ????* r2 == L = 4* 3.14* (5cm)2 = 314 cm2 Lateral Area of the Hemisphere = 2* ????* r2 == L = 2* 3.14* (5cm)2 = 157 cm2

Common Things to Expect in the 11+ Exam

Common Things to Expect in the 11+ Exam At Tutorfair we are helping our London tutors become the best people to deliver 11+ exam tuition. However, we don't want to forget the slightly smaller people who have to actually do the exams! Our very own resident expert, Sophia, explains what pupils can expect on the day of the 11+ exam.  She  sat her 11+ exam 18 months ago and has just completed a very happy year in her new school. The 11+ is the first really important exam for most school kids as it decides your next school, which will influence the next seven years of academic life. The first part is choosing which schools to apply for. Teachers can suggest which school a student will settle best in, parents might nag about how far away the school is and newspapers will throw their academic results at you; however, visiting the school is vital and gives an idea about the atmosphere. This is usually the main factor for deciding. When I did the 11+, everyone’s main worry was how to prepare. Despite teachers equipping us with an army of revision papers, many parents were still not satisfied and promptly proceeded to raid bookstores for Bond papers and scour the Internet for the previous year’s 11+. One solution that many turned to was tutoring for the 11+ exam. Tutors are brilliant, one-to-one teachers who usually specialise in exams; they know where to get 11+ exam papers, how to revise properly and what schools look for in the exams. I had a tutor for three lessons in which we simply recapped key points and practised papers; almost immediately I felt one step ahead of the exam. For exam day, we received a bucketload of advice: go to bed early, eat healthy food and prepare everything the night before (water bottle, pencil case, etc). But the most important one: just relax. Adrenaline isn’t needed in an exam; the 11+ won’t trip you up with quantum physics or jump off the table and eat you, so don’t panic. When you’re actually in the exam room, it feels just like a normal exam that your school teachers throw at you. During the interview just relax, don’t fidget or talk too fast, and be honest. When the magic day of acceptance letter comes, it is easy to get excited or overconfident. It is important to wait for the other results and think carefully before choosing. Don’t get upset if the results aren’t what you hoped for either. It could be for the best - maybe that school just wasn’t right for you. Everyone I know has got into a school and is really happy there and now that the 11+ is over, it seems really small. If you are looking for a tutor to support your child through the 11+ visit the Tutorfair website and find fantastic  11 plus tutors.

How to Approach Writing Supplemental Essays

How to Approach Writing Supplemental Essays ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Just when you think you’ve made headway on your college applications - filling out your information, getting letters of recommendation, writing your personal statement - supplemental essays hit you. These supplement essays for college can seem overwhelming. Many schools require multiple essays, and many offer multiple prompts. So how should you approach writing supplemental essays? 1. Make a list of all of the supplements you’ll have to write Compiling a list of all of the essays you have to write will help you plan out your writing process. Some schools don’t require essays; some schools require five or six. Understanding the requirements for each school on your list is a first key step. Set yourself internal due dates for when you plan on finished each set of supplemental essays. Once you have all of the prompts together, you will be able to see how you can reuse certain material across prompts for different schools. If given the choice, consider choosing prompts for different schools that are related to one another. That being said, make sure you are tailoring your essays to individual schools. Never copy and paste. 2. Write your supplements by school Each application that you turn in should look different because each school you are applying to is different. The supplemental essays are your opportunity to tailor your application to specific schools. Each school is going to have a unique personality in the questions it’s asking. Getting to know what the school is looking for is the first step towards tackling its supplements. You should look to the admissions website for ideas. For example, Stanford’s supplemental essays are different in nature to Yale’s supplemental essays. On Stanford’s website, it states: We want to hear your individual voice in your writing. And the nature of the questions, such as the “Write a letter to your future roommate” question suggest that. Stanford is looking for you to show your individuality and how you stand out from other candidates. Yale, on the other hand, asks supplemental questions that are almost all focused on finding out how each applicant will contribute as a member of the Yale community and how he/she will align with the school’s values. Both schools are looking for unique individuals, but the tone of their questions varies. You should think about how all of your supplements for each school will then build off of each other and fit together. And while it is perfectly fine to recycle essay material from school to school, make sure that each set of supplements are tailored towards the individual school you’re applying to. 3. Addressing the Why This College? Essay Most schools requiring supplemental essays will ask a version of the “Why this college?” prompt. These essays should be addressed in two parts: 1) What can you, as an applicant, add to this school and 2) What can you, as a student, gain from this specific school? One major mistake you should avoid in these essays is being too vague. Rather, you want to show that you have researched specific programs, classes, professors, etc. at each individual school. Show what you can add to these schools and what you can learn from them. Especially for your safety schools, you want to make sure that you’re displaying genuine interest. Another mistake is writing comparatively across schools. Instead of comparing School X and School Y, or even School X and “other schools”, focus only on the individual school. Comparatives tend to take on a negative tone, and you want to keep your application as positive as possible! Writing supplemental essays can be a daunting task. Set yourself deadlines, tackle the writing on a school-by-school basis, and tailor each essay to the individual school. For more insights into the admissions process, see this article, outlining 51 college admissions tips. Hannah Smith is a graduate of Stanford University and an Admissions Expert at InGenius Prep.

Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives

Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur Alternatives Shopping for anything can be tough.Theres the actual task of tracking down what you want, and then the added stress of making sure you get a good deal.And shopping for an online language learning course can be especially complicated.Each student must navigate through a nearly infinite universe of options.They shine brightly, but there are so many of them that it can get overwhelming.Choosing which foreign language to learn  was hard enough.How can you ever possibly decide which online course  is right for you?In the universe of online language courses, some shine brighter than others. Pimsleur is one of those brilliant options. And since it fuses well-researched methods with diverse and varied activities, its not surprising that Pimsleur enjoys a good reputation.But wait a minute what if youd prefer an out-of-this-world learning option other than Pimsleur but still want to enjoy some of the best aspects of that classic program?Well, youre in luck. In the language learning universe, a nything is possible. And in this post, were giving you the power to choose for yourself.Consider the 14 Pimsleur alternatives below for a whole new world of learning! Why Consider an Alternative to Pimsleur?One reason you might consider a Pimsleur alternative is to enhance and build on your Pimsleur experience. If youve been using Pimsleur, you might have enjoyed its features but be interested in trying something new. Luckily, you dont have to choose between Pimsleur and a Pimsleur alternative. You can use both simultaneously, and they can actually work together to push you forward towards fluency.You might also consider a Pimsleur alternative because Pimsleur isnt quite right for you. Theres more than one best way to learn a foreign language, so its possible that Pimsleur just doesnt meet your needs. Maybe its the format. Maybe its the method. Maybe its the activities. Regardless of why youre not vibing with Pimsleur, you might find an alternative that better meets your needs.Fin ally, using a Pimsleur alternative might give you a better bang for your buck. If youre budget-minded, you might not be up for forking over the dough to use Pimsleur, or you might be interested in whether that same amount of money could get you a better deal for your own personal needs elsewhere. Luckily, Pimsleur alternatives are available at a variety of price points.How to Get the Most Out of a Pimsleur AlternativeConsider which of Pimsleurs features you like most.Pimsleur has an array of features, so think about which you like or are most interested in. For instance, is  the spaced repetition learning  a big factor? Is there one particular activity you enjoy best? Knowing what parts of the Pimsleur program are the biggest draw can help you find the ideal Pimsleur alternative for you.Consider which of Pimsleurs features you would benefit from the most.What areas of your language skills do you feel least confident about? For instance, do you feel unsure of your speaking skills? On ce youve decided what skills you need to work on, consider which Pimsleur features target these skills. Then, you can look for similar features in your potential alternative.Pair multiple Pimsleur alternatives for more well-rounded learning.You dont have to limit yourself to just one Pimsleur alternative, or to count out Pimsleur altogether. In fact, since each program offers different features, they can work nicely together to round out your learning experience. Variety is the spice of life, after all!Dont hesitate to try new and innovative products.New language education products are introduced regularly. Since many of these products are founded on science and research, like Pimsleur is, they can also be tremendously useful, so dont hesitate to try any new and innovative products if theres a free trial period offered. Your next favorite language learning product may be something youve never even heard of!Power to the People! 14 Mighty Pimsleur AlternativesThis list of alternatives is organized by learning principle. The Pimsleur method makes use of four main principles: organic learning, graduated interval recall, anticipation and core vocabulary. However, other programs also make use of similar principles. Here are 14 possible Pimsleur alternatives.Organic LearningThe principle of organic learning ties into the idea of learning material in context. In summation, Pimsleur focuses on introducing new information in the context of a realistic conversation. For Pimsleur, this means using scripted audio dialogues that replicate actual conversations.The general idea behind organic learning is that learning in context is thought to improve retention and make learners more prepared to use the skills theyve learned. Here are some other programs that use a similar principle.FluentUFor a fun and multifaceted organic learning experience, FluentU is hard to beat. FluentU takes real world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and moreâ€"and converts them into t op-notch learning tools.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps tr ack of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.ReadlangYou can learn organically through reading your favorite websites, too, and Readlang makes that process even simpler.Readlang is a downloadable web reader that can turn whatever you want to read into a language lesson. Readlang can instantly translate words and phrases on websites, allowing you to read material in your target language while picking up new vocabulary in an authentic, real-world context.Not only that, all the words you translate are automatically saved, allowing you to practice them more later.The free version allows you unlimited word translations and flashcards. However, youll be limited to 10 phrase translations per day. If you subscribe for the premium edition, all the services are unlimited .And if youre not sure what to read, Readlang can even help you with that. Readlang provides some articles through the website.ClozemasterAvailable: iOS | AndroidClozemaster offers organic learning through realistic example sentences.Youll be presented with sentences and their translations and asked to fill in the blanks. Not only does this give you a realistic idea of how a word might be used, it gives you experience using that word, which also exercises one of the principles well discuss later, anticipation. For some languages, some of the sentences also include audio.In addition, if you sign up for a free account, you can access readings in your target language.If you sign up for a pro account, youll have access to even more features. For instance, you can select if you want to work on vocabulary, listening or speaking and can choose between multiple choice and text input.Plus, Clozemaster offers a huge array of languages, including some you may not even have heard of. For instan ce, you can study Breton, Occitan, Piedmontese and more.TandemAvailable: iOS | AndroidOne of the most natural ways to learn organically is to learn through interacting with native speakers, and Tandem allows you to do just that. However, Tandem also provides additional resources, so you wont be in over your head.Tandem allows you to search conversation partners and connect with them immediately for free. Afterwards, you and your partner can leave reviews of each other so you have a clearer idea of what you need to work on.Premium memberships unlock a host of additional options, including unlimited translations, the ability to search for users near you and the removal of ads.The translation features are particularly useful for organic learning. After all, youll be looking up the words you need to know when you need to use them, which is about as in-context as learning can get.Graduated Interval RecallGraduated interval recall has to do with the spacing with which learners are exposed to material. The logic is that spacing out material at increasingly distant intervals will improve a learners ability to remember a word. Pimsleur carefully spaces out the material youll be presented with in attempts to aid retention.Graduated interval recall is much like the idea behind spaced repetition systems, which are used in the following programs.GlossikaGlossika is a language learning system that focuses primarily on listening and speaking. To help learners acquire these essential skills and build vocabulary, Glossika uses spaced repetition. Glossika refers to this as doing reps, so you can feel like your language skills are finally getting the workout they deserve. You can even adjust the audio speed so that it feels like an appropriate rate of speech for you.Words and phrases are intended to be realistic, so Glossika also plays somewhat on the organic learning principle.Plus, Glossikas algorithm adjusts to you, making the learning experience more customized for each lear ner.With over 50 language options, youre likely to be able to find a Glossika program for your target language.AnkiAppAvailable: iOS | AndroidAnkiApp is all about spaced repetition. Its kind of AnkiApps thing.Rather than being focused exclusively on language education, AnkiApp is actually a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help users learn whatever material theyre studying.The spaced repetition system is designed to make learning more efficient by analyzing how youve done and carefully selecting what you need to work on.You can create your own flashcards that incorporate words, images and/or audio, but if youd rather get started right away, there are also plenty of existing language learning sets you can enjoy.Plus, AnkiApp is free!SuperMemoAvailable: iOS | AndroidSuperMemo has been optimizing spaced repetition intervals since the 1980s, so theyve got mad experience in the field.And guess what? SuperMemo already offers a collection of over 100 courses to help users learn more than 10 different languages.Have a special set of vocabulary that you want to learn? You can also create your own course and use SuperMemo to optimize your learning with its spaced repetition.Some of SuperMemos materials are free, though others are only available with a premium membership.VocAppAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking for a vocabulary app designed specifically for language learners that uses a spaced repetition system, look no further! VocApp is intended to help language learners expand vocabulary quickly through spaced repetition.This flashcard system allows you to access existing sets or create your own with texts, translations, images and audio.The app itself is free, and you can create your own sets for free. While course samples are free, in-app purchases are available to enjoy the whole course.AnticipationThe principle of anticipation asserts that having the opportunity to anticipate a correct response can trigger new connections. In the Pimsleur program , this means that learners are prompted, theres a pause to allow learners to respond and then a correct response is provided. Similarly, these other programs give you an opportunity to respond.Rocket LanguagesRocket Languages is a learning program that also uses the principle of anticipation.Rocket Languages features hours upon hours of audio lessons. But rather than merely playing examples for you, these audio lessons are interactive, engaging you more actively and inviting you to anticipate responses.But Rocket Languages is so much more than audio lessons alone. The program also offers grammar lessons, cultural lessons, voice recognition, flashcards and additional features.Rocket Languages is available for the following languages:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishLinguaphoneLinguaphone offers a simple method that uses the principle of anticipation to the learners advantage.The method is a simple sequence: listen, understand, speak.First, a nativ e speaker speaks a sentence slowly as you read along. As the course progresses, the speakers rate increases to a more natural pace.Then, you begin to understand what youre hearing and reading.Finally, youre invited to speak. Early in the course, this means trying to replicate what native speakers say, but later youll actually be invited to participate in simulated conversations.Additionally, Linguaphone plays on the principle of organic learning by presenting material in a realistic context.Michel ThomasMichel Thomas courses feature audio-based learning.In this system, you simply listen and repeat. The idea is that over time, youll build confidence and skills that you can use in real life. In fact, youll be saying complete sentences right off the bat.An added benefit of the Michel Thomas course is that its audio-based, meaning you can listen to it on your commute, during your next boring meeting or even in the shower. Just be sure to whisper your responses if people are around or yo u may get some side-eye.Focus on Core VocabularyIts no secret that some words are much more common than others. Because of this, Pimsleur and many other programs focus on core vocabulary, which means focusing on a small number of high-frequency words before expanding on that vocabulary. Pimsleur purposely limits the total number of words youre exposed to early on so as not to overwhelm you, aiming to give you a strong foundation. Other programs that provide a strong foundation in core vocabulary include the following.Mango LanguagesMango Languages is another program that focuses on building a strong foundation through relevant vocabulary.Lessons feature realistic phrases that youre likely to want to use in real life. Then, phrases are broken down into vocabulary and grammar rules. These basic phrases give you the foundations you need to start using your target language right away, but they also provide valuable skills you can build upon down the road.And, because vocabulary is intro duced in realistic conversations, Mango Languages also uses the principle of organic learning.Living LanguageLiving Language courses focus on all the essentials: the essential vocabulary, the essential grammar and the essential cultural information.And when it comes to the principle of core vocabulary, focusing on these essentials is helpful. Beginning courses will introduce you to the basic words you need to start communicating, but Living Language courses also offer something special for more advanced students: There are specialty courses related to travel, business and particular professions, meaning you can also build a core vocabulary in a more specialized category.LanguagePod101.comLanguagePod101.com offers podcasts, audio and video for tons of different languages, and many of these materials focus on teaching core vocabulary.One major benefit of the LanguagePod101.com series is that most vocabulary materials are grouped by theme, meaning you can easily learn core vocabulary b ased around your needs. For instance, you might find podcasts, audio and/or video covering things like airport vocabulary, phrases to introduce yourself and phrases to use in restaurants.Additionally, the materials from LanguagePod101.com are usually short, so learners are less likely to get swamped down by massive vocabulary lists.LanguagePod101 has programs available for the following languages:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishSo try these Pimsleur alternatives to shoot your language learning into the stratosphere!