The Advantages of Partnering With a Private Tutoring Agency

The Advantages of Partnering With a Private Tutoring AgencyThe advantages of partnering with a private tutoring agency, especially if you are dealing with a child who has special needs, can easily be identified by the fact that they offer both the best quality and in-depth instruction. However, this does not mean that your child is wasting his or her time, or that they are going to be overworked in their lessons, if you do not have your own initiative to provide the best education possible. There are some key elements that you need to look for when choosing the right tutor for your child's lessons, and in turn, the best fit for your child.It is not an easy to identify which tutors are good and which are bad, and therefore it is important to take advantage of a particular process in this regard. When you want to find out more about the aptitude of the tutor you are searching for, the first step is to send your request to the company and state the reason for contacting them. Also, you should state the criterion you will be looking for when making your choice of tutor.You need to remember that all tutors charge fees before delivering their services, so be sure to ask them to quote the rates before beginning the process. The fees are usually associated with the qualifications and experience of the tutor, as well as the length of time he or she has been doing the tutoring. It is also good to know the student, how long he or she has been attending classes and whether there are any previous failures with the tutor. In other words, it is important to know how the individual tutors have performed in previous tutoring experiences, which is usually disclosed by their previous clients.You can also do a bit of background research by visiting the website of the company you are interested in hiring from, or consulting a parent or a relative who has done some of the tutoring services for the child who needs help. They can provide you a good idea of the professional standards t hat are expected from the tutor in general, as well as the reputation of the individual tutor.With some of the individuals who offer peer tutoring, it is also common for them to have a unique skill that will make them stand out from the rest. If you know of any such individual, you can contact them to find out more about the tutor. Also, check if the individual has a good rapport with the parents, since parents are often the best judges of what the child needs. This is because parents have experience in their parenting tasks, which is usually put to the test during times of special tutoring.Another reason why it is good to seek assistance from a tutor, regardless of what type of peer tutoring you are engaging with, is that they will allow you to avoid all kinds of misunderstandings and controversy, something that may not always be acceptable if the tutoring service was your own child. While you could find it easy to sign up your child for one tutor, it will be important to get some positive feedback on your child from different tutors.Whatever type of peer tutoring you are engaged in, it is important that you hire a tutor with an impeccable reputation and excellent personal qualities. There are many people out there who only offer cheap peer tutoring services, but you need to know that it is vital that you engage in a firm and solid service.

Like Duolingo Here Are 7 Similar Apps Youre Sure to Love

Like Duolingo Here Are 7 Similar Apps Youre Sure to Love Like Duolingo? Here Are 7 Similar Apps Youre Sure to Love In the world of language apps, Duolingo seems to have it all.It’s fun.It’s fast paced.It’s flashy (well, flashcardy).And if you love Duolingo, chances are you can’t get enough of it. It’s one of the more  popular language apps  for a reason.Sometimes, though, it’s nice to branch out.  Innovative language learning apps  keep things fresh.  Language learning game apps  can help you play your way to fluency.  Language learning apps for kids  bring the fun. Even  translation apps  get in on the act with some quick language help.But it’s hard to try a different app when you know your tried and true love is still there. Luckily, there’s a way to try new apps without leaving what you love best about Duolingo behind. Whether you’re in it for the fun, the pace or the flashcards, there are other choices out there for you! Here are seven apps that have a few of the popular traits of Duolingo. Why Use Apps Like Duolingo?The first and most obvious reason why you should use app s like Duolingo is  you already know you like Duolingo. There are a lot of different language apps out there, and it would take a lot of time to try them all. If you can pinpoint what exactly you like about Duolingo, though, you can narrow your search and find another one you’ll love.Additionally, using a similar app can provide a unique  approach to the language, while maintaining the things you like about the app. Using a different approach can help you see the language in a new light, which in turn makes it easier for you to understand the language in other contexts.Finally, using multiple apps can  break up your studying. If you’re using the same app all the time (particularly for longer study sessions), it can be easy to tune out. Varying your apps more will help keep you focused and engaged.Like Duolingo? Here Are 7 Similar Apps Youre Sure to LoveLike we’ve already said, you should think about what you really like about Duolingo.Then, try to find apps that have some of t hose same characteristics.To cut down the time you spend on this hunt, we’ve found some that share a few of the unique qualities that have made the app so popular.FluentUAvailable:  iOS  |  AndroidIf nothing floats your boat more than watching entertaining videos, FluentU will be right up your alley.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.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 track 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.Available languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, KoreanMindSnacksAvailable:  iOSWant to play your way to fluency? Try MindSnacks!Each MindSnacks app offers eight or nine games, depending on the language. Games include matching words with their meanings, spelling games and more games that reinfor ce learning in a fun, addictive way.To pack an even harder punch, MindSnacks apps also feature 50 lessons and approximately 1,000 vocabulary words. Audio clips can help you nail down the pronunciations, while quests can help keep you motivated. Plus, MindSnacks uses learning algorithms to help aid retention. If you still don’t feel like you have a firm enough grasp on the material, though, you can replay previous lessons.Available languages: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, JapaneseAnkiAvailable:  iOS  |  AndroidCan an advanced algorithm speed up your learning?Anki developers think so, and they’ve employed that advanced algorithm to determine how well you recognize each flashcard and prioritize them for you.Anki offers you the option of creating your own flashcard sets or selecting from pre-made sets. With over 80 million pre-made flashcards, you should have plenty to choose from.Study sessions are quick (a minute or less), so its easy to cram Anki into eve n the busiest schedule. Plus, your progress is displayed after each session, allowing you to see and assess your progress.Since you can create your own cards, Anki works with any language you might want to learn. With so many existing cards available, theres also a strong chance that someone has already made cards for your target language.BrainscapeAvailable:  iOS  |  AndroidBrainscape applies cognitive science research to its flashcards. You can’t argue with that.Using spaced repetition, Brainscape exposes you to each flashcard at set intervals for efficient learning.If you choose to create your own flashcards, you can upload media like images and sounds for a more immersive learning experiencePlus, Brainscape can be synced between devices so its easy to study wherever you are. You can even make Brainscape social by giving people editing privileges for your flashcard sets.Brainscape lets you create your own flashcards, so it works with any language. However, there are also plenty of existing sets for common languages and even some sets for less common languages.LingvistAvailable:  iOS  |  AndroidLingvist bills itself as “the fastest way to learn French, Spanish, German and other languages.”And, in fact, Lingvist is built on strong principles that are likely to speed up your learning. For instance, it focuses on teaching you words that are commonly used. Additionally, an algorithm tracks your learning and the system adapts to suit you so that you don’t waste time studying material you already know.Lingvist also allows you to track your learning to ensure you’re getting the speedy results you crave.Available languages: English, Spanish, French, German, RussianLanguage Course S.L.Available:  iOS  |  AndroidHave only a few minutes a day to dedicate to language learning? Language Course S. L. has options for you!While this company might specialize in finding quality study abroad language courses for clients, they also have some killer resources for those who are conducting their language studies from their phone or computer.Their app is designed to be used for 10 minutes a day. If you can’t spare that, though, this app also has a listening-only option you can use while driving, cooking, showering, etc. Language Course S.L. also offers a sleep learning function to reinforce vocabulary as you sleep.Each language has approximately 10,000 words with images and audio pronunciation. If that’s not enough, you can also add your own vocabulary words.Language Course S.L. works offline also, so you can even use it without burning data.Available languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Hindi, Bengali, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, MalaysianMemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidBased on science, Memrise is designed to help you learn a language efficie ntly.The app incorporates games and 30,000 videos by native speakers. Plus, there are chatbots that give you conversational practice without the intimidation factor of interacting with a native speaker.Memrise also offers an offline mode to save your precious data.Available languages: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, KoreanLoving Duolingo doesnt mean your relationship has to be exclusive. Give one of these apps like Duolingo a try!

Her Musical Performances Transform Audiences, but Her Academic Abilities Will Change the World

Her Musical Performances Transform Audiences, but Her Academic Abilities Will Change the World Her Musical Performances Transform Audiences, but Her Academic Abilities Will Change the World Rin, 12-years-old, Level L  Math   At just 12-years-old, Rin is wise beyond her years. She’s not only gifted in the classroom, but she’s also received accolades that many aspiring adult musicians dream of achieving.     After enrolling in  Kumon when she was five years old, Rin quickly obtained a strong foundation in math and reading, and to this day, she continues to  advance further beyond her grade level. She’s participated in  a local university’s gifted and talented program since the third grade and recently  competed  in the  Crescendo International Competition.  Her violin skills took home “Best Performance Prize” at Carnegie Hall.     “Sometimes, people ask me why I work so hard to get first place in a music competition or why I spend extra time studying,” said Rin. “They don’t understand that I’ve set goals to help me achieve my dreams.”   One of those dreamsâ€"becoming a scientific doctor and contributing to scientific research that could impact future generations.   Rin was one of 56 students selected from thousands of applicants from the United States, Canada and Mexico to attend Kumon’s 2018 Student Conference. She talks about her journey with Kumon.       Rin shaking hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has helped me learn how to organize my work and how to study better. What I appreciate the most about Kumon is that I never get bored with math. Kumon allows me to study at my  own  pace and  advance beyond my grade level.     What’s the biggest benefit you have received from Kumon?   Kumon has really taught me how to concentrate better and not get easily distracted. Kumon has also taught me independence and to look to myself before I ask any questions.  I know that I can solve problems on my own.   What do you hope to accomplish with Kumon?   I hope to complete the entire Kumon Math Program by the end of  the  8th  grade. This will allow me to continue to study above grade level and focus on other subjects in high school.     What advice do you have for other Kumon Students?   Take the time to set goals and concentrate on yourself. Focus on what you want to achieve and then set a plan to achieve it. Don’t get frustrated when the work gets hard. It’s important to be confident in yourself and know that you can do anything if you have a plan.   Discover even more Kumon success stories.     You might also be interested in: Future Leader is Inspired to Change the World With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change Aspiring Food Critic Hopes to Travel the World One Day Wanting To Make A Difference In The World, This Young Student Has Her Sights Set On Politics Her Musical Performances Transform Audiences, but Her Academic Abilities Will Change the World Her Musical Performances Transform Audiences, but Her Academic Abilities Will Change the World Rin, 12-years-old, Level L  Math   At just 12-years-old, Rin is wise beyond her years. She’s not only gifted in the classroom, but she’s also received accolades that many aspiring adult musicians dream of achieving.     After enrolling in  Kumon when she was five years old, Rin quickly obtained a strong foundation in math and reading, and to this day, she continues to  advance further beyond her grade level. She’s participated in  a local university’s gifted and talented program since the third grade and recently  competed  in the  Crescendo International Competition.  Her violin skills took home “Best Performance Prize” at Carnegie Hall.     “Sometimes, people ask me why I work so hard to get first place in a music competition or why I spend extra time studying,” said Rin. “They don’t understand that I’ve set goals to help me achieve my dreams.”   One of those dreamsâ€"becoming a scientific doctor and contributing to scientific research that could impact future generations.   Rin was one of 56 students selected from thousands of applicants from the United States, Canada and Mexico to attend Kumon’s 2018 Student Conference. She talks about her journey with Kumon.       Rin shaking hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has helped me learn how to organize my work and how to study better. What I appreciate the most about Kumon is that I never get bored with math. Kumon allows me to study at my  own  pace and  advance beyond my grade level.     What’s the biggest benefit you have received from Kumon?   Kumon has really taught me how to concentrate better and not get easily distracted. Kumon has also taught me independence and to look to myself before I ask any questions.  I know that I can solve problems on my own.   What do you hope to accomplish with Kumon?   I hope to complete the entire Kumon Math Program by the end of  the  8th  grade. This will allow me to continue to study above grade level and focus on other subjects in high school.     What advice do you have for other Kumon Students?   Take the time to set goals and concentrate on yourself. Focus on what you want to achieve and then set a plan to achieve it. Don’t get frustrated when the work gets hard. It’s important to be confident in yourself and know that you can do anything if you have a plan.   Discover even more Kumon success stories.     You might also be interested in: Future Leader is Inspired to Change the World With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change Aspiring Food Critic Hopes to Travel the World One Day Wanting To Make A Difference In The World, This Young Student Has Her Sights Set On Politics

5 Types of Jobs That College Students Really Want

5 Types of Jobs That College Students Really Want Pixabay.com 1. Administrative Assistant Median Hourly Pay: $12.34 Working as an administrative assistant for a company you’re interested in can be a great way to break into the field. You get to meet virtually everyone working at the company (especially if it’s a smaller company). This is a good chance to make connections in your work field and start to learn the ins and outs of the business. Hands-on experience will also give you an edge when and if you’re ready to move up the ladder and try for a higher-up position within the business. Another good thing is that many places offer this job as a part-time position, which means it won’t eat away at your study and class time. Another perk: You will most likely have your own desk! 2. Restaurant Worker (Host/Hostess, Waiter/Waitress, Cook, etc.) Median Hourly Pay: $9.09 Working at a restaurant gives you a flexible schedule and the chance to work for tips. Tips often outweigh your paycheck, especially if you do a great job and you don’t have to split your tips with the rest of your coworkers that night. If you’re planning on living off of your tips, I would advise asking a few questions to the hiring manager or, if you know someone working for the restaurant that you’re planning to apply to, asking that person. Ask what their policy on tips is and if you get to keep the tips that you earn from a table or if you’re expected to turn in your tips to your boss so that they can later be split amongst you and your coworkers. Then decide if you’re okay with splitting the tip. Besides pay and the flexible hours, you’ll get a chance to meet many new faces and bring a little happiness into the lives of the people that walk into your restaurant. If you’re passionate about the food industry, this could be a great job for you. 3. Lyft Driver Median Hourly Pay: Up to $35/hr, according to the  Lyft website Being able to pick and choose when and where you work sounds like a pretty good time, doesn’t it? Well, this can be made possible for you if you choose to sign up and join the thousands of other people that made the choice to become a Lyft driver. To become a Lyft driver, all youll need to do is have a decent vehicle in your possession (one that you dont mind putting a lot of miles on). Then all you have to do is go to their website and sign up. This is another job that will work well with your class schedule. You can choose to work nights if you take classes during the day or you can choose to work during the day if your class schedule has you on campus at night. With Lyft, any tip that you earn from your passengers goes directly to you and only you. That means a few extra bucks in your pocket. And as any college student knows, a few extra bucks can be made to go a long way. 4. Private Tutor Median Hourly Pay: $18.02 As a private tutor, you will be allowed a lot of freedom. You are free to choose which subject youll be specializing in and advertise how much money you will be willing to work for per hour in your chosen area. The number of hours that youre willing to work during a single tutoring session is up to you. Many students get their start being a tutor by working for a local school or even for a family member or friend. Word-of-mouth will get your services known by more people. In this way, you are going to be able to build up your list of clients over time. Once you get a good amount of clients, you can figure out a weekly schedule that works with classes. Being a tutor is a rewarding job. Youre going to help students that are struggling in certain subjects break past their barriers and push forward in school. Pixabay.com 5. Freelance Writer Median Hourly Pay: $24.25 If you love to write and to research, then you might consider looking into freelance writing. As a freelance writer, you get paid to write up knowledgeable, well-written articles for whoever hires you. For lovers of words, this kind of job could be a dream come true. You can work from home, develop your skills as a writer, and gain some experience. There are a number of blogging websites you can visit to get your start in freelance work. A good place to begin your hunt for gigs would be the Upwork.com website. (All median hourly pay numbers were taken from Payscale.com)

Calculus Help - The Best Way to Learn Calculus

Calculus Help - The Best Way to Learn CalculusOne of the best ways to learn Calculus in a fun and interactive way is to obtain Calculus Help. The assistance and resources on offer will help you understand a complex subject in a more manageable manner. You can learn at your own pace, making sure that you do not overload yourself with information.As in any problem, one has to approach the problem of solving it as a task rather than an idea. A great way to ease the pressure is to work at a problem that you know is not too difficult. You might also find a better solution to a problem if you did not give it too much thought beforehand.Use terms that you are familiar with when you are learning something like calculus. Most textbooks are written in technical terms and you should be able to read them well enough. For example, in mathematical expressions, two numbers mean different things when written with a sign and a zero, as they would if they were not reversed. In other words, two numbers could have a common denominator, but one of them has the sign of either of the other numbers.Take your time when learning a problem. If you try to get ahead of yourself, you might go off track and be unable to find the solution you were looking for.Pick the topics you are most interested in and start studying the math equations that you find the most difficult. It is important to understand how a problem is solved so that you can put it into practice. Start by solving a problem that is easy and then take on more difficult ones as you gain expertise.Do not make the mistake of thinking that learning math means memorizing formulas. Calculus Help and algebra help have the tools necessary to help you understand math and help you apply what you have learned.All of this information can help you learn to think of problems as fun and not as a chore. This way, you can find yourself progressing in the realm of the highest level of algebra knowledge. When you know that algebra can be fun, you know that you are on the road to learning mathematics in a more enjoyable way.

What Is a Chain Reaction in Chemistry?

What Is a Chain Reaction in Chemistry?What is a chain reaction in chemistry? A chain reaction is an evolutionary process that is the result of chemical reactions which occur continuously, which help to break down substances and elements. However, a chain reaction in chemistry is often used in academic circles to explain the process that occurs in the manufacture of certain substances.Chemicals, organic compounds and organic solvents (often referred to as hydroxyl radicals) are just a few examples of organic compounds that occur on their own. But often times when we see a chemical compound, for example, benzene, we think of it occurring naturally. However, benzene itself, is a compound consisting of two atoms each of oxygen and hydrogen and is also known as chloroform. The name 'chloroform' is from the fact that chloroform acts as a gas when it comes into contact with air.It is believed that a chain reaction can take place through a combination of molecules in a certain combination. H owever, when it comes to a chain reaction in chemistry, each molecule must come into contact with another molecule in order for the two molecules to combine into one molecule. A chain reaction in chemistry can be described by the basic structure of the chemical equation, where a particular group of atoms all combine with another particular group of atoms to create a new compound.An example of a compound with the same chemical formula but different atom grouping can be given. For example, sulfur has three atoms and nitrogen one atom, while carbon is made up of one atom and oxygen has two atoms. We can say that carbon is a compound consisting of three atoms and nitrogen of one atom.So what is a chain reaction in chemistry? At first glance, it might seem that when two atoms combine together, they will create a compound; however, the question is: how long does this reaction take? How long does it take for a molecule to pass through each stage in a chemical reaction before the next stage begins?Generally speaking, the chemical reaction that we use to breakdown molecules takes place in a reaction medium. The reaction medium is what allows the reactions to happen, as it can carry out the chemical reaction without any external input or waste products.In most cases, the reaction medium consists of a gel, which contains chemicals that react to make an intermediate compound that will either complete the chemical reaction or be converted into a waste product. This intermediary compound is known as a product. There are many types of chemical reactions in which products will either complete the chemical reaction or be converted into waste products. For example, in the treatment of various drugs, the reaction of drugs with various enzymes in the human body may be used to generate useful drugs.

Getting the Best of the Best

Getting the Best of the BestThe Klein Organic Chemistry Test Bank PDF is a professional and easy to use testing software system. The user of this testing software system is the one who is in charge of taking the test; there is no need for an administrator to do it for you.The Klein organic chemistry test bank PDF is very simple to use and even easy for an average person to navigate the different sections. This testing software is available for free download on the Internet.The Organic Chemistry Test Bank PDF is available with various language versions. You can take the test from any other country, if you wish to. There are no geographical restrictions on these tests. If you want to try and know if you're good at chemistry, you can also try taking tests online.The system is user friendly so that even a layman can use the test bank PDF. For example, you can select from hundreds of tests to be done by selecting a test module, a set of test material to be used for the test, a pre-test mo dule and a post-test module.The Klein testing software has many advanced features. In fact, it is being called as one of the best performing electronic testing software available today. The features include multiple choice, multiple answer, paragraph, data entry, multiple choice, multiple answer, multiple answer with a cross check, multiple choice with a cross check, data entry, test state changer, laboratory report generator, package management, clickable materials, drawing area and text box.These testing software packages are created by experts who know their job and how to make the software work efficiently. Many users say that the software works faster than the conventional test software.Klein testing software is very much user friendly and you can easily download it from the Internet. These testing software are very affordable so that anyone can afford them and use them to take his test.

A Day in the Life at DePaul University

A Day in the Life at DePaul University Joseph is a current senior at DePaul University. He is majoring in computer software engineering, and specializes in C++ tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at DePaul University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Joseph: DePaul has two campuses for students to take advantage of. The campus in downtown Chicago is only a 15-minute train ride from the more suburban campus located in Lincoln Park. Both are great campuses where students attend classes. How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants? Joseph:The professors are very available. They are all required to have a minimum amount of office hours weekly. I highly suggest seeing professors outside of class and getting to know them because, at the end of the day, those professors are the greatest assets the school offers. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students, etc.? Joseph:DePaul dorms are located at the Lincoln Park campus. Most school events take place at this campus, as well. While there arent university dorms at the downtown campus, students who live near this campus share housing with students from other area schoolsincluding Roosevelt University, Robert Morris University, and Columbia University. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Joseph:I came to DePaul to study game programming, though I feel other majors are better represented. The most common major at DePaul is business. Game programming, however, does fall under the computers and digital media school, which is generally well supported and a favorite among students. 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? Joseph:It was extremely easy to meet other students my freshman year. Theres a lot of diversity at DePaul, so it's easy to find where you fit in. There is Greek life, but it's not very large. How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services? Joseph:The student support centers are located at both campuses and serve both appointments and walk-ins. Those that staff these services are almost always very helpful and can point you in the right direction. The Career Center also has a website where students can post their resume and search for jobs. How are the various study areas, such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Joseph:By far a favorite of students is to go to the library located at the Lincoln Park campus. This library has spaces for both group study and quiet work. Describe the surrounding town. Joseph:Lincoln Park is a nice area for exploration. It's a quiet area, but there are plenty of things to do. During the warmer months, many students will walk about a mile to go to the beach and relax.The downtown campus is much more business oriented. This area has many large buildings and shops. Many tourist attractions are also in this area and lots of students love to spend time by the river. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Joseph:The student body is about 23,000 undergraduate students. Each class has about 25 students, while the large lecture classes have around 40 students. This way, students have a better opportunity to interact with their professors. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Joseph:I remember one class that really set the tone for me was a game engine class with one of my favorite professors. It was a time when I first felt that I was becoming a programmer, seeing how all I had learned was coming together into a large project that I was very proud of. Check out Josephs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

6 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Musical Instrument

6 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Musical Instrument Suzy S. Thinking about buying a new instrument? Its a big decision, as an instrument is truly an investment especially if youre spending several hundred dollars (or more, for higher-end brands and models) on it. Before making your purchase, youll want to do some research. But where do you start? With so many brands out there, how do you know which ones are worth the money? What do you  really need to ensure years of playing and practicing? We came across a great article  over on Donna Schwartzs blog  that we think hits the nail on the head for what to consider before handing over your cash whether youre looking at new or used musical instruments. Donna writes: Whether you are a beginner, hobbyist or pro, here are 5 questions to ask yourself when trying out different musical instruments: Does the sound of this instrument match my concept of how I want to sound? Is the instrument free-blowing enough to allow me to get my “perfect sound”? (Or maybe I want a little resistance on this trumpet to help out with high notes?) Is it easy enough to play in all registers of the instrument comfortably? Can I control the intonation in all registers of the instrument? Are the keys placed in such a way that I can perform rapid passages comfortably? The above 5 questions are important and vary for every performer. This next question though is absolutely necessary for every musician that wants to perform at their best for a long time. When you are comparing a few different brands and have found some you really like, before you pull out the credit card, it is crucial to ask this question: If my instrument breaks, do you have the parts to fix it, and if not, can you get the parts? Donna continues to point out that an instrument like the saxophone has more than 600 moving parts so if you end up with an instrument with sub-standard parts that cant be replaced you may be out of luck if it breaks. Moral of the story? Do your research. Ask questions. Get help from your music teacher, and have him or her try out instruments with you. Make an informed decision! You can read the article in full  here. For even more tips, we also like this article from the Tampa Bay Music Academy blog.  As part of their steps for buying an instrument, they offer some additional pointers regarding instrument quality: Instrument quality can generally be assessed using three categories: student quality, intermediate quality, or professional quality. Your 5th grader doesn’t need a professional quality instrument yet, but should you go the cheap route with a student model or shell out a few more bucks for the intermediate? Ultimately, that depends on your goals for your student. Is this a “try it and see if you like it” endeavor, or have you and your child committed to this instrument for the long haul? Student quality instruments are usually made of cheaper materials and won’t produce as nice a sound, but they are good for students who don’t know if they will stick with it or not. They’re also good starter instruments if money is tight. If your child (and you) have committed to playing this instrument throughout middle and high school, however, go ahead and invest in the better quality option if possible. Continue reading the article here. And finally, if youre opting for the used musical instruments route, Get-Tuned.com has a great article on how to evaluate a used instrument. Readers, how have your experiences been buying new or used instruments? What other tips would you add? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Image by Vincent Diamante 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