Why Would I Need a Guitar Strap

Why Would I Need a Guitar Strap Advice for Guitarists on Selecting the Right Strap and Properly Holding Your Instrument ChaptersFive Parameters to Think about When Choosing a Good Guitar StrapChoosing the Material of the StrapChoose a Guitar Strap of the Right SizeThe Fastenings and Attachments of the Guitar StrapChoosing a Guitar Strap According to Aesthetics“To master the guitar, it takes ten years per chord,” according to a Spanish proverb.It is often said that learning to play the guitar is the work of an entire lifetime.For there is always something to learn, even for virtuosos like B. B. King (1925-2015), Chuck Berry (1926-2017), Paco de Lucia (1947-2014) or Biréli Lagrène. Be it a Gretsch that you play or a Stratocaster, or even a mandolin, it's a lifetime of pleasure.Nevertheless, even if we can always continue to progress, everyone can have fun even at the beginner level, as soon as we manage to string together a few basic guitar chords.Whether we are novices, experienced, or professionals, every guitar player has already had to confront the difficulty of choosing a guitar and its acces sories:PickCapoStringsTunerMetronomeAmplifiersJack plugs for electric guitarHeadsetA book for practicing and tablaturesThere is guitar accessory that is often skipped over: the guitar strap.However, this part is fundamental: without it, no one can play the guitar standing up, nor perform concerts for those who are in a music group.Buying a guitar strap can become a crucial challenge, almost more important than choosing the guitar itself.The strap must be high quality. To put it crudely, having good “stuff” allows for good playability as well as musical comfort. Imagine stand on a stage for two hours with a strap that is too short or not comfortable. What would Joe Satriani do without one, for example?A guitar without a strap quickly becomes unplayable.Superprof lists here all the criteria to take into account to choose a good guitar strap and properly holding your instrument before your first guitar lessons.playing on a beginner guitar, the strap won’t come undone during a con cert, a jam session, or a rehearsal.Choosing a Guitar Strap According to AestheticsString instruments undoubtedly reflect a certain style: the guitar player is often at the front of a stage, everyone watching him or her although there are numerous instruments behind them, such as brass instruments, percussion, wood, wind instruments, etc.With the guitar or bass strap, the musician gives himself a certain look depending on the different patterns, inscriptions, and colors of the strap.Personally, I wouldn’t opt to wear, for example, a pink guitar strap decorated with skulls or flags.It’s a matter of personal taste.None of the guitar straps for sale at the music store are attractive? Are they too colourful? Not original enough?And does the array of guitar strings on display boggle your mind?There is a site, Strap Graphics, where you can design your own strap that matches your particular look. Cool, right?Start taking guitar lessons for beginners today with Superprof!

Pattern-Making Basics for Fashion Design

Pattern-Making Basics for Fashion Design Mastering Fashion Design Basics: Pattern-Making ChaptersWhat is Pattern Making?How Can I Make My Own Dress Pattern?Where Can I Learn to Make Patterns?How to Adjust My Patterns?Where Can I Buy Sewing Patterns?There is simply no way around it: for humans, clothing is essential.So is looking decent â€" not that your Superprof is deeply concerned about appearances but, in these times so dominated by social media influencers, looking shabby is looked down on.The idiom The clothes make the man  has never been truer!Doesn’t that make you wonder why the clothing industry seems determined to only outfit people of average height and weight?It’s true! If you are tall, more than, say, a size 16 and/or irregularly shaped, you have to either shop for clothes at speciality stores or resign yourself to an ill-fitting wardrobe. Unless…Unless you know how to sew, in which case you can make all of the clothes you want, tailored to your exact measurements.Of course, you could always go to the dressmaker’s or tailor every time you need a wardr obe addition but have you seen the price of bespoke clothing?That is a great reason for you to engage in dressmaking â€" or tailoring, if you are male.Other great reasons are that you have a unique sense of style that you would like to express through your clothes, you are interested in fashion but not quite sure you want to make a career out of it, or you might be looking for a new outlet for your creativity.Whatever your reasons for entertaining the idea of home sewing, we applaud you.So, whether you are a student contemplating a career in fashion design, looking for your next ‘new thing’ or fed up with clothes that never seem to fit right, it’s time to gather ‘round.Your Superprof is about to tell you all about pattern-making and how you can make it work for you. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Pattern Making?If you have ever made an article of clothing, you know that it is not a simple matter of clipping fabric, sewing it together and applying appliques to the finished garment.Those sewing projects start with a desire to create but begin in earnest once the pattern is selected, adjusted and pinned.If you are a seamstress, you are familiar with that part of the process, but what comes before it? Clothing patterns start with a sizing template called a sloper Image by Maatkare from PixabayHow do patterns get made?Basically, it all starts with a sloper â€" a block, in industrial terms.A sloper is an unadorned template that pattern drafters use as a guideline to draw patterns; you might think of them as stencils.Most garment makers have several slopers/blocks: a top and a bottom for menswear â€" for shirts and trousers. For women’s apparel, they would have a top, a trouser and a skirt sloper. Both male and female slopers come in a variety of sizes.When it is time to draft a new pattern, the pattern drafter selects the appropriate sloper, traces it on pattern paper and then starts marking it with solid lines for the garment outline and dashed ones for the seam allowance.S/he then goes on to include notches to match the panels up; darts and pleats if the design calls for them. They will also draw in pockets, buttonholes and, if the garment is supposed to be ruffled, s/he will dr aw in the ruffle placement.Much like house builders follow blueprints, dressmakers use patterns to ‘build’ clothing. In that sense, you might call pattern drafters the architects of the garment industry.Now, find out if pattern making has always been so prevalent…How Can I Make My Own Dress Pattern?Perhaps, as a child, you loved to sit around on rainy days, colouring pad on your knees and pencil gripped tightly in your hand. What did you draw?It’s not uncommon to engage in fanciful drawing at a young age so, if you drew knights and warriors in full battle dress or maidens in shimmering gowns or a tunic dress, you already have an idea of what it takes to plan a pattern.You chortle: “It’s a far cry from a child’s drawing to pattern drafting!” We beg to differ.Would you be surprised to know that legendary designers like Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld never went to art school? And Michael Kors dropped out after only nine months. What did they do that you can’t?Whether you have an art education or not, the best way to start a dress pattern is to visualise it. Will it be a maxi dress? What fabric will it be made of? Will it have any embellishment â€" bows or ruffles? What about the bodice?How about dreaming up an open-backed summer dress?Once you have a good idea of the dress you want to make, sketch it out in as much detail as you can… and then, explode it.To get those explosive details, you have to read our step by step account of pattern drafting to learn exactly how to make that dress pattern. Store-bought patterns are pre-cut but, once you start making your own patterns, a rotary cutter is a must! Image by Gábor Adonyi from PixabayEventually, you too may mass-market the patterns you make but, for now, focus on making one-sized patterns; patterns to your measurements.To make your own patterns, you will need:a roll of pattern paperpencils and coloured pencils; having a rubber handy is a good ideascotch tapea tracing wheela 30cm see-through straightedgea French curve (you may also consider a Vary Form curve)an L-squarea fabric tape measurescissors or a rotary cutterIdeally, you should have a large table to work on; a sewing table with lines imprinted on it would be aces!As you might have noted from the shopping list above, you don’t necessarily have to have an artistic hand to guide your pattern drawings; most every mark you make will be guided by a straightedge or a curve.Now that you’ve got your shopping list, you only need to discover the best places to learn pattern making.You may choose between open sewing courses hosted by your local university or college, head to the library to check out some sewing books, or you could take a course in pattern making online.Don’t forget to stop by your local sewing shop to see if they offer courses, too!How to Adjust My Patterns?It’s a paradox: the clothing industry should cater to its buyers; if they don’t, people will simply stop buying… right?Wrong! For years, garment factories have been turning out cookie-cutter clothes that fit only averagely-proportioned people.  Curiously enough, it’s been only recently that the industry has conceived the idea that not everyone fits in a standard size.Thanks to independent designers with a strong online presence, activists and ongoing social media campaigns, there is a growing awareness that limiting sizing is seen as discriminatory.Those are steps in the right direction. Unfortunately, they are baby steps because it simply is not profitable for garment com panies to make a greater range of sizes.Where does that leave those of us who do not fit in that average mould?For the most part, we are still altering the clothes we buy and making our own clothes if we know how to adapt a pattern to our unique body type.You might think that messing with a professionally drawn sewing pattern is a recipe for disaster but, if you follow the hacks we outlined to adapt your patterns, you will marvel at your success in turning out that cute skirt or wrap dress in time for your next night out! Unlike many free patterns you can download, store-bought patterns provide a range of sizes Image by Katja Kuitunen from PixabayWhere Can I Buy Sewing Patterns?Of course, there is nothing wrong with buying a Simplicity or Butterick pattern, especially if you are just starting down the road to making your own patterns and/or designing your own clothes.In fact, it would be a good idea for you, at the outset, to work from patterns so you can get the feel for them.The big names in dress patterns â€" the two mentioned above and others, like Vogue, Lookbook, Kwik Sew, New Look and Burda Style pretty much all follow the same guidelines in making their patterns.Each pattern envelope offers the possibility of up to four designs and comes with instructions, sizing guidelines and, more often than not, fabric recommendations.You might know that not every fabric flows and falls the same way, and some are decidedly more difficult to work with than others.In that same vein, we might say that not all pattern makers are the same, either.For instance, independent designers offer free sewing patterns that you can get as a PDF download; they are a lot less 'crowded' than name-brand patterns you find in stores.Whatever you decide, perhaps it would be best if you spent some time in your local sewing shop, talking with people who have experience in the needle arts.They may be able to give you some pointers on the best patterns for beginner sewing; they may even offer you sewing tutorials.If you’re not sure where your local notions shop is, you may refer to our full-length article on the subject; if you’re certain there are none near you, surely you have a Hobbycraft store somewhere close.Those shop assistants may not be as knowledgeable as an independent shopkeeper would be but, rest assured: Superprof has sewing tutors if you need a sewing tutorial…

The 30-Day Challenge

The 30-Day Challenge In 2015 our most popular lesson in our 1-on-1 English classes was 30-Day Challenge, a lesson about goals and trying new things. Its a good lesson for starting off a new year, and it inspired me to try something for 30 days. Ive given up eating sugar for the month of January. Im 20 days in now, and its really not bad at all, although I really have the urge to buy some chocolate chip cookies right now.In the past Ive also given up alcohol for 30 days, which was easy, and caffeine, which was horrible. Although, coffee never tasted better to me than it did after 30 days without it.Below we have a TED Talk that we also used in the lesson. Its about 30-day challenges, and was inspired by  Spurlock, perhaps the king of these challenges, who ate nothing but McDonalds for 30 days in Super Size Me. Watch the video below and see if you can answer the listening questions.Answer the questions in comments, and well respond.A few years ago, I felt like I was ___ in a ___.What does the above sentenc e mean?What is Morgan Spurlocks actual profession? How does the speaker refer to him?It __ __ 30 days is just  about the right amount of timeHow did the speaker perceive time while doing the challenges?What were some of the challenges the speaker did?Did the speaker write a novel?Are small or large changes more likely to stick?

Huntington Learning Center Shares Latest SAT Happenings

Huntington Learning Center Shares Latest SAT Happenings Latest Update: Feb. 16, 2018When it comes to the SAT college entrance exam, the last several years have been largely focused on the College Boards redesign of the test, but Huntington Learning Center is up on the latest news and information. Eileen Huntington, CEO and co-founder of Huntington Learning Center reminds parents of the importance of staying up to date. Last year brought a great deal of change to the SAT, but the College Board is still adjusting processes and other aspects of the SAT, she says. Huntingtonshares the latest SAT happenings that may impact your college-bound student: Students can now take the SAT in late August. For the first time since the mid-1970s, the College Board is offering an August exam date, based on feedback from students, K-12 and higher education professionals, and test center staff. This date provides students about to begin their senior year with earlier opportunities to take the exam before submitting college applications. Other benefits of an August SAT date: It will be it easier for students to dedicate themselves to an SAT prep program over summer break since school is not in session. A summer date should help minimize problems caused by issues such as delays in score reporting and weather-related test cancellations in late winter. Students heading into senior year will have two opportunities instead of one to take the SAT (August and October) before early admission application deadlines, which are usually in early November. The January exam date has been eliminated. Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, the January SAT date will no longer be offered. This means that the SAT continues to be offered seven times per year: in August, October, November, December, March, May and June. The process for requesting test accommodations is much simpler. In December 2016, the College Board announced a much simpler request process for testing accommodations for students currently using them at their schools through Individualized Education Programs and 504 Plans. Testing supports are available for English language learners (ELL), effective January 1, 2017. ELL students taking a state-funded SAT during the school day will now have access to testing instructions in several native languages and approved bilingual glossaries. The College Boards overall goal is to level the playing field for all students. Following the redesign of the SAT, the number of students taking the new exam in 2016 jumped to 1.36 million (compared to 1.18 million in 2015). This indicates a show of support among students and parents alike, says Huntington. The College Board has greatly increased its efforts to make the SAT and all of its exams reflect what students are learning in class. she says. Huntington is apprised of the latest changes and incorporates any and all adjustments into our prep programs. For more information about Huntingtons individualized SAT prep programs, contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Whats better for the Classroom, Tablet or Laptop Pros and cons to help you decide what to bring to college

What's better for the Classroom, Tablet or Laptop Pros and cons to help you decide what to bring to college Photo by viagallery.com on Flickr.com Tablets computers are popular due to the fact that light, easily portable (they slip into a purse or backpack), and boast intuitive, touch-based controls. They also provide a screen that’s much easier for reading than a laptop, which is a plus for arts majors. In fact, if your coursework requires purchasing e-books for English Lit or History class, youll find that you suffer less eye strain with a tablet compared to a laptop. The only reason you would ever choose a laptop for reading over a tablet is in rare cases when you need to purchase e-textbooks via a service that’s not available for tablet users. In the end tablets feature basically the same basic, on-the-go Internet access and serve students well on campuses offering free public Wi-Fi. When it comes to roaming around campus, tablets take the cake because of: Light weight Lengthy battery life Speedy, instant power up Work-friend from just about anywhereâ€"a bench, bar stool, building steps, or lapâ€"with little or no space available Cons of tablets for college students However, if you do a lot of typing, a tablet might not be a first choice because they don’t feature a traditional keyboard to type up reports and papers like a laptop or ultrabook (such as the thinkpad x1) does. Tablets are typically cheaper than laptops and ultrabooks (or netbooks), however, that also means they are often less durable without the full capabilities of a laptopâ€"DVD/CD, imbedded camera, etc. Pros of laptops for college students Laptops are obviously the better choice for students who need to write a lot of papers. Plus, most offer CD or DVD playing capabilities for students whose coursework requires viewing a lot of videos or audio recordings. Sure, a laptop is more expensive than a tablet, but it’s also a lot more durable and provides hard, protective casing for on-the-go use of a college campus. Plus, if you’re low on battery or want a larger keyboard, a laptop can be hooked up to docking station for full-sized keyboard use and extra battery life if you’re burning at both ends to get a paper finished by morning. When it comes to viewing videos, listening to CDs, and typing capabilities, laptop make the grade because of: Storage capabilitiesâ€"photos, videos, documents Editingâ€"both Word documents, photos, or long videos They offer external or cloud-based storage that tablets don’t This is a guest post by Rebecca Keller. She is a graduate of the Arts and Technology program at the University of Texas. An admitted tech-junkie, freelance writing about Android devices for AndGeeks.com offers the perfect outlet for a tech geek like Rebecca. When shes offline, which isnt very often, Rebecca enjoys volunteering for her local animal shelter and off road mountain biking.

5 Great Science Courses You Can Get For Free Online

5 Great Science Courses You Can Get For Free Online We are very fortunate to live in the 21st century the era of the Internet, technology and progressive changes. Getting knowledge has never been easier or better. If you want to know how many stars in our galaxy or why people cannot tickle themselves you just need your tablet and Google search. There is lots of information available on nearly any subject imaginable. You can expand your knowledge and develop your skills with one click. So, if you feel an urge for science, here are the most interesting science courses you can take online absolutely for free. Check them out: Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe If you want to know why the Big Bang happened, what most of the universe is made of, whether there is life out there in space or how black holes get so big, this course will certainly quench your thirst for knowledge. Introduction to Computer Science This course teaches you how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. You will learn languages of programming: C, PHP, JS, HTML and more. The Chemistry of Life Great course for those who are interested in chemistry and biology. You will learn how to read and write chemical structures, control biological events by chemical means, and how to integrate chemistry and biology. Astrophysics: Exploring Exoplanets For those who think that  discovering life on other planets is only a matter of when, not if. Explore the universe with this course. College Algebra and Problem Solving This course will help you to develop skills in linear and quadratic functions, general polynomial functions, rational functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. If you’re looking for more, why dont you take a look at other online courses by edX? And if you don’t mind paying for knowledge, you might consider  searching for a Tutor at TutorZ. Our team of tutors covers all subjects and grade levels. We are here to help you to succeed!

How to Find the Right University Abroad

How to Find the Right University Abroad If you're feeling a bit of wanderlust as school comes to a close, you may be looking to find a unversity that will take you out of the comfort zone of your hometown. Applying to universities across the country is one option, of course. However, if your love of travel leaves you yearning for a more worldly experience that allows you to completely immerse yourself in a different culture, then heading off to study abroad may be the right choice for you. But where do you start? Here are 4 tips on how to choose a university that best fits your interests, budget and personal comfort level. Consider the Cost In the past two decades the amount of students who study abroad has tripled, according to a study conducted by the Institute of International Education. Certainly, one of the reasons for this trend may be the rising costs of a UK university education. In searching out alternatives to pricey universities, students may have discovered that there are many well-respected colleges and universities abroad where tuition is either free or very low cost. If finances are a huge concern, looking into an overseas education may be the right choice. Keep in mind, however, that not all International universities offer free tuition. Additionally, even if you're able to attend tuition-free, you'll need to take into account all of the other expenses you'll incur, such as plane fares, daily transportation, housing expenses, stationery supplies and food. Are You Looking More for a Degree or a Cultural Experience? When considering overseas colleges, try to think about what you really want to gain from your time abroad. Just as in the U.K., each university you're interested in has a reputation for a certain kind of atmosphere. A university may not have all of the programmes or courses you wish to take, but maybe the culture and neighborhood looks interesting or stimulating. If you make a list of exactly what you're looking for in an overseas experience, you'll more easily be able to make a choice based on personal preference rather than solely on price. Will Your Degree Allow you to Work in the UK? Consider what you plan to do with your degree when it is complete. Does the degree you're getting overseas fit into those plans? How will an International degree be viewed by any jobs you might want to apply for? Some fields require you to take certification courses or exams prior to or after graduation. You need to ensure that any test or course that you take outside of school is transferable and usable in the UK. Alternatively, if you're planning to stay overseas after you graduate, you'll want to get clear answers on how to set up residency and secure employment in that country after you are no longer a student. Know Your Language Options Many universities abroad have courses that are taught in english, but some do not. If you know that you're looking to immerse yourself in a culture and want to take on the challenge of learning another language, choose a university that teaches courses in both english and other languages. You may also want to choose one that has a lower percentage of International students to increase your chances of making friends with native students who can help you to learn the target language faster.