Watch Now How to Play Pumped Up Kicks

Watch Now How to Play Pumped Up Kicks Suzy S. The song Pumped Up Kicks has been a huge hit for indie rock group Foster the People, spending eight consecutive weeks at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., and even earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.   Following the breakthrough success of the song, Foster the People have now earned their place alongside similar genre-defying bands like Phoenix and MGMT. And best of all, this catchy song is easy to play.   There are four main chords youll need to know, and you can be on your way to leading the karaoke with your friends and family.   Join TakeLessons staff member and guitar instructor Aldo B. as he shows you the four Pumped Up Kicks chords youll need to know below: Did you find this tutorial helpful?   What other songs would you like to learn how to play?   Leave a comment below or stop by our Facebook page to sound off! Looking for a guitar teacher near you? Click here to search by your zip code and lesson type! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like Watch Now: How to Tune a Guitar Videos We Love: Man With No Hands Plays Guitar Videos We Love: Walk Off the Earth Thinks Outside the Box

Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Is it Really Possible

Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Is it Really Possible Suzy S. There are a lot of resources available to teach yourself to play guitar. Whether youve found an online cache of instructional videos, or a book for beginners at your local music store, there are many ways to become a self-taught guitar player. But how effective it is? Read on as we review two of the ways you can teach yourself to play guitar, and how far each can take you: Online Learning A quick Internet search will turn up tons of websites that boast claims of being able to help you learn guitar through video tutorials. These are good resources that allow you to quickly reference a specific topic. When youre trying to master a certain technique, or need to look up an obscure alternate fingering of a chord pattern quickly, you can usually find these without too much difficulty online.  You can also easily find printer-friendly charts for easy guitar chords. The downside? It can be all too easy to get stuck. When youre watching videos and repeating what you see, youre missing one critical thing feedback from a professional about your technique. That chord may sound right, but is your posture off? Is there a certain technique youre just not understanding no matter how many times you rewatch that video clip? Without a guitar teacher there to answer your questions on the spot, you may find yourself hitting a wall. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Books Any brick-and-mortar music store will have a wide selection of books available for purchase.  These books are quite similar to the online learning  resources, in that there will be photos of each technique, and diagrams for chord fingering patterns as they are discussed in the lessons. The advantage of a book over online resources, of course, is that you dont need an Internet connection or a computer to teach yourself to play guitar. You can practice outside on a nice day, or in the car while on a family vacation. The downside to using a book to teach yourself to play guitar is that you wont have any of the technological advantages on your side. A book wont be able to play videos of the techniques, so you will have to rely on the photo and the description alone to help you understand the concept. And although most books will contain a chart of all the common guitar chords, with primary and alternate fingering patterns, nobody is there to check your technique or offer tips for getting the finger placement correct. How to Really Improve While it might seem exciting to teach yourself to play guitar, the truth is, its not the best method for learning. Sooner or later you will run into a situation where your resources, whether online or in print form, cant help you completely understand the technique. In the end, there really is no substitute for learning with a private guitar instructor. A private instructor will guide you through the basics of guitar, cater the lessons to your individual learning style and goals, and show you the best exercises to practice in between lessons as well. Most of all, they can provide an important source of motivation, holding you accountable and keeping things fresh. After all, even the most dedicated guitar players sometimes need an extra push! So keep on strumming and 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  tudor-rose

Calculus Made Easy

Calculus Made Easy Calculus made easy is an effective tool which helps in solving problems of calculus very easily. It basically involves differential calculus and integral calculus. It works as an input given and output generated function. Calculus made ease tool use step by step method to solve highly complicated problems. Step by Step procedure is explained in such a way that it actually removes the complicacy of the problem. The below mentioned two examples will help us in understanding the same in better way. Example 1:- Find the derivative of the x. x3 Solution 1:- Given function is x. x3 To find: - d/dx (x. x3) We know that, d/dx (xn) = nxn-1 Therefore, d/dx (x. x3) = x. d/dx x3+ x3d/dx (x) So d/dx (x. x3) = x. d/dx x3+ x3 d/dx (x) Therefore, d/dx (x. x3) = x. 3x2 + x3. (1) = 3x3+ x3 = 4x3 Hence d/dx (x. x3) = 4x3. This example shows the step by step method of differential calculus. Example 2:- Find the integration of x100 dx Solution 2:- Given function is x100. Here we have to find the integration of x100. Now we know that, xn. dx = xn+1/ n+1 + c, Here c is constant of integration Therefore, x100 dx = (x100+1/ 100+1) + c= x101/101+ c So the integration of x100 dx = x101/101+ c In this example c is constant of integration. In this example we have seen that the above example with detailed step by step method makes calculation very easy.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation There are seemingly endless parts to your college application, but the comforting thing is that you have total control over them. You have the power to write a beautiful personal statement, to get the ACT score you need, to fill out every last blank of required information perfectly and neatly; its just the drive and discipline that is necessary to put that power to successful use. However, there is one area that pops up that you may feel you have far less control over, and that is the infamous letter of recommendation. This can certainly be nerve-wracking since its the one part of the application you cant write up on your own or study for to make it top-notch. You wont know what that person is saying or how well theyre saying it; youre just going to have to trust that it was great and turn it in. But thankfully, what you can do is control the way you go about asking for it. Obviously the first step would be to pick out the person you are going to ask. Most often, you will be going to a teacher for this letter, so you must identify what teachers you have the appropriate relationship with for this. This is one of the most crucial steps of the process because if you spend your time asking and counting on a teacher who you really dont have that strong of a relationship with, youre either going to get a no or a very generic letter that lacks a sincerely personal perspective. Since neither of those are options you desire or have the time for, its clearly best to just get your choice right the first time. To make this easier, lets go over the criteria for this esteemed teacher-student relationship. To start, this needs to be a teacher that easily remembers you by name. It is no secret that teachers have tons of different students throughout the years and although they may recognize your face and say hello when they pass you in the halls, they may not always directly remember who you are. A teacher who you are planning on asking for a letter of recommendation must not fall into that category. This teacher needs to be someone who when they see you, remembers your name and what kind of student you were in their classroom. Good teachers pay attention to their students and if you stand out to them for whatever reason, you will leave a lasting impression on them. It doesnt necessarily mean you will be on their mind forever, but their specific memories of you will immediately return when they see you. Hence, this is the kind of teacher you want writing this letter. Secondly, this teacher should ideally be someone who you worked with in some way outside of the scheduled class hour. This could mean a lot of things; you made consistent efforts to show up early in the morning to get help on the class material, you were part of a school organization they sponsored or coached, you consulted with them on your class schedule, etc. Whatever the specifics may be, it is pivotal that you had some sort of personal connection with them that made you more than just one of the kids in the many rows of desks. It just wouldnt make sense to ask a teacher for a recommendation letter if they never had a conversation with you that didnt involve you raising your hand amongst twenty other students. Finally, its probably obvious that this teacher likes you since youve made it this far in considering them as your letter writer but make sure you are really certain about that. Nine out of ten times, youre probably right and they do genuinely like you, but this is the kind of thing you would hate to overlook and have hurt you later. Never assume a teacher is crazy about you unless you are completely, utterly confident about it. Any doubts in your mind, no matter how tiny, should be well-evaluated before you make this decision. In regards to the process of actually asking for the letter, you should write a simple, polite, and informative note its the way you go about writing it that can make or break your chances of success, however. So, look at this as another opportunity to control a portion of your overall application. Put your best effort into this note as you have with all of the other areas. This note must begin with a very kind reminder of who you are, as well as a sincere interest in how the teacher is doing. Relate back to the reasons you know them outside of the classroom and touch base. This is an extra reminder of why you two have a good relationship and also a way to protect yourself from immediately diving into I need a favor. Next, when you actually ask them for the letter, it is incredibly important that you give a good amount of significant details about the school and program youre applying to, as well as what the admissions staff is looking for the letter writers to address, and of course, your deadlines. The more information you give right away, the better idea the teacher will have of whether or not they can do it and with you being considerate enough to give the information so promptly, they are very likely to agree to your request. Top off the note with an honest thank you and this inquiry of yours will be very hard to turn down. Lastly, give the teacher plenty of time. Nothing could hurt you more than sending this note only a week or two before you need the letter. Make sure you are asking well in advance so the teacher does not feel pressured or rushed. Most teachers, especially the ones you feel comfortable enough to go to for this type of thing, are happy to write these letters. So as long as you show them you are respectful, helpful, and deserving of one, you are sure to get one.

Whats different about AJ Tutoring

Whats different about AJ Tutoring One of the most common questions we’re asked is what sets AJ Tutoring apart from its competitors.   Silicon Valley and the Bay Area in general are crowded with test preparation and tutoring companies, each claiming to have the best approach to the test.While I may be slightly biased, after years working for AJ Tutoring and other tutoring companies, I do think AJ Tutoring has what it takes to help students succeed!   There are several major differences between AJ Tutoring and other tutoring centers:1)           AJ Tutoring prepares students for the test in fewer hours.   Many other tutoring companies recommend packages of 20 hours or more.   Students at AJ Tutoring typically complete 8 or 9 sessions, for a total of 12 to 13.5 hours, before the test.   We know that high school students don’t have much free time, and we respect that by being as efficient as possible and still achieving the same results.2)           At AJ Tutoring, you’ll have the same tutor for the entire process.   Many other companies have tutors who specialize in math, reading, and writing, and your instructor for the day changes based on the topic.   All of our tutors are trained to be proficient in all parts of the SAT and ACT, so you can develop a close working relationship with the same tutor all the way up to test day.   Of course, if you feel like your tutor isn’t the right match for you, you can change tutors at any time.3)           AJ Tutoring doesn’t require you to pay up front.   We know that tutoring is a significant financial investment, and many people are understandably wary of spending quite a bit of money up front for a full tutoring package.   AJ Tutoring will only bill you for the tutoring sessions you’ve completed, and you’re welcome to stop tutoring at any time.   We don’t think you’ll want to, though!4)           AJ Tutoring’s test-prep methods are common-sense, reality-based, and easy to implement.   As a tutor who’s helped many students prepare for the SAT and ACT, I’ve heard some amazing stories from students who have worked with other tutoring companies.   Students have described incredibly complicated strategies, which include techniques such as memorizing sentences word-for-word for the essay and picking which reading comprehension questions to answer in a very specific order.   These complicated strategies take up a lot of brain space on test day and can actually increase students’ anxiety.   They also don’t work particularly well!   Our strategies rely on common sense and sound educational methods.   In fact, I often use the same reading comprehension strategies with my SAT and AP US History students.There are many good tutoring companies out there, but we here at AJ Tutoring believe that we offer the most efficient and effective way to achieve your educational goals.   We’d love to talk with you about your plans!

Importance of the SAT and ACT

Importance of the SAT and ACT Does my SAT/ACT score really matter that much? Thats a question we get a lot when working with exam prep students who are early in their journeys to apply to college. The answer isnt totally simple, however. Lets explore it from a few different perspectives: For the most selective colleges, the SAT and ACT support the overall story of how academically prepared a candidate is for college. For example, consider Dartmouth College, which has an acceptance rate of just 8.7%. Dartmouths required application components include SAT or ACT scores, but the admissions website states that while testing is required, it isnt the ultimate factor in evaluating an application. Test scores are considered in conjunction with students academic record/transcripts and recommendations. For colleges that are less selective, SAT and ACT scores matter, but theyre taken into account alongside other criteria such as class rank, recommendations and perhaps a personal essay. At these schools, its safe to assume that students GPAs and rigorous high school curriculum are at the top of the list of things considered. For colleges that do not require the SAT or ACT, students have greater control over how they present themselves as candidates for admission. Take the University of Puget Sound for example, which leaves the choice of whether to submit standardized test scores up to each applicant. Their stance is that students might have the academic preparation and commitment to excel in college, even if their SAT or ACT scores indicate otherwise. That said, if a student feels that their SAT or ACT score would bolster their application, it might be wise to include it in their application materials. Generally, here are a few things to keep in mind regarding SAT and ACT scores and their importance: Its a good idea to visit a colleges website for details about their admissions requirements. Each college has their own methods for evaluating applicants. When in doubt, visit the admissions website to get an understanding of how they assess students application packages. Check out the class academic profile, if available. Many colleges provide a snapshot of their most-recently admitted students. This is by no means a list of requirements, but can give your teen a sense of the typical student who attends that college. Here, you should be able to find the mean SAT and ACT score as well as other information about the individuals who make up the student body. A holistic admissions process means other factors are weighed. Poke around a colleges admissions website, and you might find a section titled What Were Looking For or something similar. Many colleges explain that admission is a holistic process, which means that all documentation a student submits is reviewed and considered when the college makes its decision. That could include standard criteria like high school curriculum (and rigor) and GPA as well as things like the essay, demonstrated leadership and recommendations. Your teens SAT or ACT scores do matter if he is trying to get into college, but their weight might be impacted by the other factors a college considers in the admission process as well as each colleges selectivity. Bottom line: earning strong scores on the SAT or ACT can only help your teen. It pays to prepare! Questions about the SAT or ACT and how to prepare your teen for success on either exam? Contact Huntington today.

6 Facts You Probably Didnt Know About Saudi Arabia

6 Facts You Probably Didnt Know About Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is much, much more than vast desert, camels and oil. The Middle East’s biggest nation is a vibrant hub for Arabian culture and is a highly significant location both religiously and historically. Here are some of our favorite recent facts about Saudi Arabia!1. Saudi Arabia is one of the most generous countries in the world, donating over $4 billion in aid each year to developing and disaster-torn nations.2. By 2018, Jeddah will be home to the world’s tallest building, the Kingdom Tower, which is planned to rise more than a kilometer into the air.3. The Arabian oryx, native to the country, was once classified as extinct in the wild. However, thanks to a government conservation project, the species has been reintroduced in to the desert from captivity and is making a comeback. This is the only documented case in history of an extinct animal being restored.4. The Saudi flag is completely green because of its significance in the Islamic faith. Most Islamic states incorpor ate green into their flag. The color represents peace, life and fertility.5. Riyadh, the capital city, is the 30th biggest city in the world by population and is home to over 5 million people.6. Most milk on sale in Saudi Arabia is produced by sheep, goats or camels.

Back at Home for the Summer 5 Ways to Adjust

Back at Home for the Summer 5 Ways to Adjust 5 Ways to Adjust to the Transition of Going Home For the Summer Being back home presents a huge transition for a college student who has just completed their freshman year. For the most part, new college students hit the ground running and dont get a chance to stop until the year is over. Sometimes, students will arrange for an internship or part-time job while other times students simply need to rest and recuperate from the previous semester. It can be difficult to adjust to being in a different town or state, but there are several things students can do to keep their summer at home productive and prepare themselves for their sophomore year as a university student. 1. Short-term internships Students who would like to participate successfully in an internship but also want to have some rest should consider getting a short-term internship. Many internships are only a week or two weeks long and allow students to get a sneak peek into what a longer internship would be like down the road. For the most part, these positions simply allow college students to see the office environment they might be working in while they help out with support tasks. Students who are feeling overwhelmed after their first year of college are encouraged to consider a short-term internship and enjoy the remainder of their summer (READ: 5 ways to learn about art this summer). 2. A Paycheck Getting a paycheck over the summer can make the school year a whole lot easier. Many students work part-time every week throughout the school year, but others will only work during the holiday break and summer. If this is the case, every dollar becomes more important, and summer work allows students to have more fun and flexibility during the year. Additional funds give students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as clubs and organizations and avoid additional part-time work during the year so they can focus on academics. Students may even save up a little bit of money for a study abroad opportunity. 3. Volunteer work in your field Another excellent way for students to make a summer at home productive is to do some volunteer work within their major field of study. This is a little bit more complicated than filling mandatory volunteer hours to graduate high school in that the student will have to do a fair amount of research to find the best fit for them. There are many websites that help match potential volunteers with appropriate organizations, and once students turn 18, there are more things they can participate in within a professional environment. Some volunteer work is casual, and students can just attend a few hours a week while other positions are full-time and require an application similar to that for a paid job (READ: Why you should get a test prep tutor over the summer). 4. Road trip Another great way for students to fill their time while living at home during the summer is to go on an educational road trip. Depending on where a student lives, there are tons of things from natural habitats to state parks to national monuments that are of educational and historic interest. If a student travels to a neighboring state, they will be able to broaden their horizons and view life a little bit differently. Road trips are often ‘just for fun’ but they can also hold educational and cultural value. 5. Rest and recuperate Freshman year of college can be extremely draining because students need to adjust to the advanced academic rigors that are required. In many ways, just resting and relaxing after the first year of college can be of great benefit to students so they can fully participate in their sophomore year. Hopefully, college students will show up to their second year on campus with a renewed interest in education and ability to participate in more advanced educational courses. Now that youre back home for the summer, catch up and get ahead for the next academic year with the help of an Irvine summer tutor from TutorNerds. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.