What Are Chemistry Cylinders?

What Are Chemistry Cylinders?A chemistry cylinder can be used for many purposes. They are also known as glass bottle lids. They are available in many shapes and sizes, depending on what you are looking for. If you are buying one to go on a board, such as the British Iron Board, then you will have to consider several things before you purchase it.Firstly, how big of a glass does it need to hold? How many test tubes or spoons do you need? When you purchase your bottle lid, you will need to check that there is room for it. You will also need to check that the size is what you require. A few sizes are available, but it can be difficult to tell them apart without having a standard.Do you need to have a chemical reaction going on inside the container? Some lids are meant for laboratory use, with many different chemicals inside them. This includes things like acetone and potassium chlorate. You might want to buy a bottle lid that has a mix of different chemicals that you will be using, to m ake sure that all the chemicals will mix together properly.Safety is very important. Check the labels on the bottle to make sure that the label matches the bottle. Safety pins are an essential part of the bottle to make sure that there is no risk of getting too much or too little of the chemical into the bottle. The amount of chemical is something that needs to be checked before you buy the container. If you buy one with a known amount, you will be able to keep track of the amounts that you have and you will not be put in danger.The chemicals used in the chemical reaction must be mixed correctly. You should not use just any mix. Check that the mix is compatible with the other chemicals that you have. If you mix up a chemical that is incompatible, then you can end up with unsafe concoctions that can harm you.Once you have purchased the right chemistry cylinder, you can start looking around. You can find them online, from an outlet in your local area, or through mail order. You should have a few different types to choose from.If you find the right online site that gives you the facts about each type, you can buy it, and you will not have to worry about anything else. You can get everything that you need for your project when you purchase a chemistry cylinder, which can be helpful in case you need to transfer the container somewhere for storage or to send someone else to the mixture.

How to Improve Language Listening Skills 5 Secrets for Success

How to Improve Language Listening Skills 5 Secrets for Success How to Improve Language Listening Skills: 5 Secrets for Success Listening  is the mother of all language skills.Okay, so traditionally its been treated more like the under-appreciated younger brother of language skills. But it should be the mother of all language skills.Remember at school, when you were supposed to be listening to the teacher and suddenly you got picked to answer a question and all you could do was muster a guilty “errrrrr”?We humans are generally poor listeners in our own language. While it may be embarrassing to be caught not paying attention to the teacher, listening is normally considered more of a given than something that needs to be focused on and cultivated.Were taught to read  and write. Were even taught to debate and give presentations. But no one really teaches us how to listen.So  mastering the art of listening in another language is bound to be an even bigger challenge! Its tough to figure out how to improve language listening skills to begin with.If we want to achieve fluency, we have to really make an active ef fort when it comes to this dimension of the language learning process. Why Is Listening So Important?First and foremost, one-way communication is just no fun. Its all well and good being able to put together a great phrase, but if youre lost when the reply comes your way, its useless. You have become the proverbial brick wall!And dont think this just applies to beginners. Even the more advanced can get caught out by the huge variety of accents and dialects contained within each language.I remember when I first went to Italy, confident after two years of classes and consistently good grades. As soon as I hopped off the plane in Rome and got to the bus station, I proceeded to spend the next hour sitting on the curb with my head hanging over my knees.The counter clerks fast regional accent had caught me out. I asked her to repeat herself three times, after which she made a heart-sinking I cant take any more stupid foreigners today face and started talking to the person behind me.We s hould always be aware that dialects and accents differ not only from country to country but also within a country. There are regional accents. There are even different accents within the same city, according to neighborhood, class or age.Topping up on listening practice with a wide variety of material gets us used to the differences AND helps us learn all sorts of other skills as well!Wondering what the best kind of material is to use and where to find it? Thats exactly what were going to provide you with here.The Best Resources for Listening PracticeYour experience of language listening may involve textbook dialogues that go something like this:“Hello, my name is Ronny.Oh hello, my name is Fred. Nice to meet you, Ronny.Where is the library?”Makes you want to bang your head on the table in boredom and frustration, right? Who can blame you? As this type of dialogue is clearly scripted, its most definitely not the best example of natural language.What we need is original, native s ources of language.These can include:Movies/TV Series. Check out  this guide to listening practice through movies and TV series  and the great resources included!Podcasts.  Entertainment Weekly offers a  list of recommended podcasts  from 2015 on their site. To find similar lists of recommendations for native podcasts in the language of your choice, try Google searching the phrase best podcasts in that language.Audiobooks. Instead of reading those books youre interested in, why not listen to them?News channels and radio stations often have great websites with plenty of videos and articles to go with them. Searching radio stations online in [country] will give you plenty of options. National Geographic is also a great multilingual resource with a TV channel, subscription magazines and websites in various languages.Talks and interviews. The advantage of listening to talks is that the speakers are generally experienced, speak more clearly and stay on subject. If you havent already hear d about TED Talks, get on the site right now! You can search by subject and language and listen to some of the best public speakers around the world give inspiring speeches on their subjects of expertise, with the advantage of subtitles in many languages and a written transcript if you ever get lost.Songs  (on Vimeo or YouTube, for example), with or without lyrics.People. Go out! Communicate, listen to conversations, etc. If you live in a city, find a language exchange partner who speaks the language you want to learn. You can do this through language exchange groups, such as  Mundo Lingo International, which are often organized through Facebook or on Meetup. Attend cultural events, such as cinema nights, theater or book clubs for countries youre interested in. If you are in a remote location, there is always the option of finding an online language buddy with websites such as  Coeffee,  Easy Language Exchange, italki  and  Babel Village.Finally, you can always find fresh native con tent on  FluentU,  an online immersion platform that takes  real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’r e learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.So now we know the why behind listening practice, and weve got the right tools. All thats left is the how. Check out these secrets for further listening success below.How to Improve Language Listening Skills: 5 Secrets for Success1. Make Listening Regular and FocusedLike anything worthwhile in life, theres no quick fix. Anyone telling you its pure talentâ€"or that you can push some buttons and voila!â€"is wrong. For me, language learning follows a simple equation:Interest + Motivation + Effort = Successful learning!Languages are vast and rich. There is no one (or hardly anyone!) whos going to be naturally excellent at all skills required to achieve full fluency. There are always parts that come more easily and others that youll have to work harder at.For some, that might mean grammar is a breeze, but producing the sounds of a language is an uphill battle. For others, underst anding what others say seems to come naturally, but which verb tense is used where is a mystery.No one listens to Russian and just immediately knows whats being said. Improving listening requires repeated exposure. Whether that means watching soap operas, documentaries, talk shows, podcasts, sports radio shows or your favorite bands, the all-important bottom line is that you DO listen, constantly, while paying full attention.For this, you need toRemove DistractionsYou know why.All of a sudden that video your friend posted of a puppy running into a glass window just seems so interesting.Were all prone to distraction.So turn off your email/Facebook/Twitter/WhatsApp/Skype alerts on your computer and phone before you start your listening practice.If you have kids, partners or housemates who love to barge in and start asking for things, let them know you need 15 minutes of alone time or, if that is impossible at home, find a silent workspace in your local cafe, on the train or in a parkâ €"wherever works best for you.In the same vein, try and leave aside your mental to-do list (I know, its hardâ€"theres just so much to do!) that keeps invading your brain space for just a few minutes.Listening with half a brain on what youre doing is only going to give you half the practice you need, and the chances of your brain remembering the material you listen to is minimal.Keep Your Interest Alive!We can learn through memorization, but to remember and internalize we need to puzzle over something that interests us and that we enjoy. So forget textbook boredom. Harness your interest by focusing on subject matter you like.Push Through!We all have good and bad days.The learning curve has a sharp spike at the beginning, where development is rapid (albeit with ups and downs of its own), and then theres a plateau where it gets harder to make progress. It can be a struggle, but getting stuck in is part of the fun and hugely rewarding when you finally do emerge from the tunnel.Proceed i n Small but Regular Bite-sized ChunksThis is the most effective way of  warding off boredom and keeping motivated.15 minutes every day is a hundred times better than a four-hour cram session every two weeks. Id say 45 minutes is the limit before concentration starts lagging. But for those who are time-starved, even a quick five minutes will help rewire your brain to the sounds of the new language.2. Set Listening GoalsSetting goals will help get you on the right track and feel good when you hit your target.Of course, dont get ahead of yourself: Start with small goals, and reward yourself as you go.For example, at first, aim for recognizing words, or even just sounds. Give yourself a point every time you hear a word beginning with the letter p or the sound [d?], for instance.Aim to learn one or a few new words each time you listen to something. Later, move up to bigger goalsâ€"understanding a whole conversation, perhaps, or listening to a song and learning to sing along with the chor us.If you already have a more advanced level, choose more complex material and aim to focus on expressions you havent heard before or perfecting your accent by imitating favorite sections of speech.Were all still learning in our own language, so in a new one there will never be a lack of things to improve on!3. See the Big PictureListen Purely for SoundThis is a good technique at the beginning.  It gets you used to the melody of the language. Staying speechless  and absorbing the sounds, syllables, pauses and rhythm of the language is exactly what babies do in their silent sponge period.Be aware of how language changes when it’s spoken. If you know how the sounds connect, when theyre deleted or inserted, youll need much less time to progress!In English, we dont necessarily pause between each word. In fact, we often link words and sometimes join sounds to make new sounds.For example, What are you going to do? becomes Whaddya gonna do?One of my favorite tricks is to try to separate the ongoing flow of words by pressing my fingers against a table (or engaging in some other physical expression) every time I hear that a word is accented. When I use this trick with Portuguese, I can actually understand much more. Somehow, attaching a physical representation to the mental process helps the brain to separate the sounds.Later, you can move on to trying to understand whole chunks of text.Get Used to Looking for ContextDo you ever find yourself finishing the sentences of someone you have known for a long time, someone with whom you feel very comfortable?Of course you do! You may not even realize youre doing it. We all naturally trail off at the end of sentences, but everyday speech patterns are so common that most of the time we unwittingly fill in the remaining parts in our heads.Well, with a new language, the situation is similar, but we have to get even more creative and imaginative.It takes too long to  translate every word in your head.  Use logic and good old cre ative guesswork to conclude what will follow.  For example, lets say I see a mother looking in a fridge, holding out car keys for her husband, and I hear this:goshopssome things wedinner?I can determine from the intonation that its a question, and from the context of the situation, I can guess the missing words:Can you go to the shops to pick up some things we need for dinner?Even if these arent the exact words, the context is there and I have understood.Use Tools to Get AccurateOnce youve understood the general context, its time to get more accurate.For example, if Im not 100% sure of something Ive heard and want to check, I can  repeat that section as many times as I need to.If Im still not sure, I can  record the section on my phone and download an app such as Audacity  (audio only) or VLC  (audio and video files) to slow down that section for more clarity. If there are still comprehension problems, I can  use a native-speaking friend or find a buddy on a language swap website to ask for help.4. Add in Cross-trainingNone of the skills we need to learn a language can be taken in isolation. Theyre a giant web of interlocking strings.So we must listen in combination with reading and speaking.What does this mean, and how can we do this?Use subtitles. First,  in your native language to gain an idea of whats going on.Then switch to subtitles in the same language as the program youre watching.Use lyrics. For songs, listen once without lyrics to get used to the sounds. You can then listen again with the lyrics. You can look up the words you dont know and repeat sections as many times as you need to recognize the sounds. Then listen all the way through one last time without lyrics, this time trying to recognize all the sounds and words you have just read.Use listening as a way to learn new vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Aim to find new words or expressions each time you watch or listen to something. Look them up in the dictionary, find them in contextâ€"in ne wspaper articles online, for exampleâ€"and try to make some sentences of your own.Use mimicking to better understand sounds and sound combinations, and to improve pronunciation.Use your inner voice. We all have a voice in our head that provides us with a running commentary of life. Dont forget to use that, too (in the language youre learning).The great challenge is to be able to think in that language. So repeating things youve heard that you liked in your head is practice, too! Chat to yourself about what you just listened toâ€"but try, as much as possible, to think those thoughts IN that language.The wonderful thing is that in your own head, theres no one judging you!5. Crank Up the Difficulty ProgressivelyChoose your material carefully. It needs to be comprehensible. If you understand nothing, you will simply not listen. Generally, a slight step up from your current level will be stimulating enough for you to learn new things but not so hard that you end up confused and dejected. Listen to short sections at first, and repeat many times. Listen to a recording once. First to understand the gist, then again (and again, if necessary) to get the details. Slow the recording down if you need to.You can move on to larger sections of speech once you feel comfortable, repeating the same process. Here are some resources to check out for finding level-appropriate material for yourself:Songs, programs and computer games for kids contain the simplest language and often come with very explicit visuals, making them easy to understand.Documentaries are great as the speakers are often chosen for their slow, clear speech. The narrator is also often describing something that is happening on screen, so you have visuals to provide you with context.Talks, talk shows and interviews can be found on YouTube, TED, online radio channels and podcasts. You can find almost any subject, so you will always be able to listen to something that interests you.TV series provide great entertainme nt and come mostly in nice short episodes that often have a repetitive formula.Finally, we mustnt forget about films. We all love them! There is so much we can learn about other cultures through films, so get curious and get watching!  As a rule of thumb, slapstick comedy tends to be a simpler genre. You can start there and move on to action, and then drama and dark comedy on the more advanced end.Of course, if youre tired of watching strange cultures and unknown actors and just want to relax, you can also always find your favorite Hollywood films dubbed into almost any language out there. Another advantage here is that the speech used for dubbing is often clearer than in original-language films.Keep these five secrets for how to learn language listening skills in mind, and youll be reaping the benefits of awesome language listening skills in no time!

How to maximise your GCSE maths result

How to maximise your GCSE maths result Maximising your GCSE maths result is essential not only for access to A-Levels but also for university and beyond. While revision is fundamental, so too are several other elements, and it's these that will make all the difference between a low and high mark. You have to have a positive maths mindset Having a positive maths mindset is everything when it comes to maximising your results. If you feel you are innately bad at maths or you don't have a maths brain, then you need to work on changing your view. Nothing will hinder your grade more than having negative thoughts about your ability. Thankfully maths is a subject that rewards hard work. Which means if you revise, practice, and get the support you need (speak to your teacher or a maths tutor) you will get better at it. You need to be practising daily to get ahead Maths revision has to be about more than revising your notes. The practice is critical here, because, unlike other subjects, you need more than a good memory to do well in maths. Past papers are your ticket to practising and a better mark. Start by trying examination questions and papers but ultimately work towards doing these papers in timed conditions. Try to work through them without referring to a revision guide or your notes, as the whole point is to see how much you can remember. With each past paper you do, you are potentially increasing your grade by a small percentage. Also, get into the practice of checking your answers and looking for mistakes that will cost you marks. If you do this every time you do a practice paper, you will become adept at finding these in your actual GCSE paper. Past papers will also help you to identify your areas of weaknesses. Keep a list of these areas handy and practise them over and over until you know them as it's these weaknesses that will stop you from attaining the highest mark possible. You need to revise the whole maths specification Math is a cumulative subject so you can't miss any of the building blocks or you will have gaps that will cost you marks. This means, learn your basic arithmetic to help you will pick up the more advanced concepts. As ever, it's all too easy to work to your strengths, thinking these will make up for the areas you are weak in. However, you need to know how to do it all, so ask for help if you need it. To ensure you cover everything, list every single topic from your maths specification and do practice questions until you feel confident about the topic and sub-topic. Then tick it off your list and move on. Above all remember, it's never too late to tackle concepts you don't understand. A teacher or a maths tutor can help here and potentially help you raise your grade significantly, so do seek them out. If you're looking for more revision tips, look at our blog posts on the Top GCSE Maths Resources and How to pass maths GCSE.

Raffles American School

Raffles American School Raffles American School RAS was envisioned by Raffles Education Corporation (REC) of Singapore to address the increasing demand for American Education in the region. REC contracted International School Services (ISS) out of Princeton, New Jersey to provide the American curriculum, instructional materials and international leadership and faculty for the creation and realization of RAS. Dr. Rob Mockrish, founding Superintendent of RAS brought more than 20 years of overseas school experience to the initial formation of RAS and subsequent accreditation by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). The 2015-16 School Year finds RAS with over 20 highly qualified international teachers, an Elementary Principal, a High School Counselor, an Assistant Middle/High School Principal and over 120 students from 16 nations. Our school currently serves students from Prekindergarten to Grade 11. The Master Plan for Raffles American School, Johor outlines the vision for a contemporary Pre- Kindergarten-Grade 12 school that will be unlike any that has preceded it in the region. Set amongst the lush rolling hills of Iskandar, Malaysia in Johor, the school is envisioned as a holistic learning environment where educational facilities, and athletic and performing arts spaces will comprise an open network that is seamlessly interwoven into the beautiful outdoor landscape. RAS will have a series of educational amenities, enhancing students’ experience. An indoor athletic complex will include a single and a double gymnasium, gymnastics, several free activity rooms, and a weight room. A fully equipped performing arts center will house two venues for student productions: a state-of-the-art black box theater and a 700 seat traditional performing arts theater. At the northern head of the school, a dramatically terraced library and media center will contain a digital media lab, a stacks area, as well as a variety of “reading room” spaces that will offer students inspiring atmospheres in which to study, research and collaborate. At the southern end of the library, a 50 person planetarium will give teachers an immersive educational tool with which to expand on classroom lessons. A series of outdoor courtyards, 6 acre undeveloped hill and160 sqm greenhouse will allow students to interact with the natural environment for both academic and leisure pursuits. Please visit the website links to learn more about our future and current developments: http://www.raffles-american-school.edu.my

4 Things College Students Can do to be Successful Entrepreneurs

4 Things College Students Can do to be Successful Entrepreneurs Tips From a Costa Mesa College Tutor: 4 Things College Students Can do to be Successful Entrepreneurs As high school seniors are pondering which college or university they would like to attend next year, they should be thinking ahead about the big picture and how they want their college education to help them succeed in the career field of their choice. Emerging graduates are choosing to be entrepreneurs; either theyre starting their own business from scratch or using entrepreneurial skills as part of their contribution to a larger corporation. We are living in a time of innovation, and its important for young entrepreneurs to be efficient and practical as well as creative throughout their careers. Many college students dont even begin to think about their careers until they reach their second semester of senior year. However, its important for underclassmen to start thinking about how they can become a successful entrepreneur now rather than later our private Costa Mesa college tutors are here to help you succeed. 1. Participate in the campus community When students join an organization or even start one of their own, they begin to understand the complexities of building something from the ground up. They have to get people to help them fulfill their vision, refine a mission statement, and compromise with others. Students who spread themselves too thin will find they accomplish almost nothing at all. Participating in a campus organization on a regular basis is an excellent way for students to understand the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur. College is, after all, a place for students to learn what works and what doesnt so they can refine their skills and apply them appropriately once theyre in the working world. 2. Learn the traditional way Students can also gain leadership skills by simply taking a class. They dont have to be majoring in business or entrepreneur skills to take a course on the subject. In fact, a student in any field benefits from what theyll learn in a course on entrepreneurship. Students who arent exactly sure how to get started on their own will find the structure of a traditional learning environment to be comforting and familiar with what theyve been used to the last several years. They will have access to an experienced educator as well as classmates who have similar interests. This is a great place to start for any college student (READ: Irvine Tutoring Tips: 4 Finals Week Pitfalls to Avoid). 3. Student politics Anyone who has served in student government will know that people skills are essential. To be an entrepreneur, learning how to get along with different personality types is just the beginning. Young entrepreneurs need to rally investors to their product or service and advertise their product on what will likely be a very low budget. Students can learn these things ahead of time by participating in any form of student politics while on campus. Many of the people skills students need in the future will be learned, likely through trial and error, in a safe and supportive environment. 4. Start a side business Many new entrepreneurs start out by testing their skills on a small side business. Whether theyre providing a physical product or an intangible service, students learn a ton by running their own small business. They might be improving upon something that already exists or inventing something out of thin air, either way, students will gain valuable skills they can use after graduation. The business might be related to something that specifically benefits college students, it could be something that is supported by the college through an official organization, or it might be something separate from the student’s academic life. College finals will be starting in a few weeks. Make sure youre prepared to end the year on a high note with the help of our Costa Mesa college tutoring. Call TutorNerds today for more information. Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

The Advantages of a Students Choice

The Advantages of a Student's ChoiceThe Peer Tutoring service at Webster University is an excellent choice for some adult students who are struggling with a busy schedule and don't have time to complete their assignments, or who are still adjusting to school and need extra help. However, if you are already in college and have completed your first semester of studies and you are hoping to graduate this year, there are some other choices that you may want to consider.Once you complete your first semester at Webster, the second semester will be available to you on a part-time basis. This is a great option because it allows you the flexibility to use your time wisely. You can help your friends and family if you choose to help them, or you can help yourself by completing your schoolwork.One of the perks of completing your bachelor's degree online is that you can choose which courses you would like to take on a part-time basis, as well as which subjects you want to pursue. There are classe s offered in a variety of subjects and specific areas such as nursing, personal development, music, law, and general education, among others. You can also find courses on college life, career exploration, and financial management.Once you complete your bachelor's degree online at Webster University, you will likely be looking for part-time employment in order to supplement your income. There are many companies that will hire you on a contract basis for the following summer or year, especially in these hard economic times. As long as you meet the requirements of the company, you can expect to have great opportunities for employment.Another option for earning extra money while you complete your bachelor's degree online at Webster University is the construction industry. If you are interested in becoming a plumber, electrician, or other tradesman, you can take classes on these subjects while you are studying at Webster. In addition, you can take classes for further education in busines s administration or economics.As you can see, there are many options for earning money while you earn your bachelor's degree at Webster University. With flexible schedules, you have plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors or focus on other aspects of your life. Webster University offers several scholarships and financial aid programs that can give you the opportunity to earn a Bachelor's degree at a low interest rate and complete your degree in less than one year.For many people, completing their Bachelor's degree is a part of a way of life that they will look back on for years to come. If you are considering completing a Bachelor's degree online at Webster University, take a few minutes to explore the financial aid opportunities available. You may be able to find a scholarship that fits your educational and personal needs.

Awesome Reasons Why People Like Math Tutoring Mesa Community College

Awesome Reasons Why People Like Math Tutoring Mesa Community CollegeIt is always good to see a positive side of a problem and Math Tutoring Mesa Community College offers many students an excellent choice. Mesa is one of the fastest growing colleges in Utah, Utah. There are many things that make the college stand out from the rest.There are many good things about Mesa and you should consider them before taking a test. First, the school is located in the heart of the mountains, with great scenery. People that live and work in the area would always have fun at the camp and on the slopes of the mountain. The beauty of the place and the people makes the college a popular choice for many students.When you go to Mesa, you will notice some great activities. You will also find a perfect place to get to know some of the people that live in the area. It is important that you find a place where you can relax after a hard day of work. Your next day classes will be fun to take as you enjoy the sce nery and the activities.The teachers at Mesa will help you with many things. They are skilled with new technology and will teach you how to use it properly. You will see that teachers here are passionate about teaching and helping people in the community.Most students will find that learning math online at Mesa Community College is a lot easier. You won't have to go to a class to learn the basics. You can learn with online tutors anytime you want and in the comfort of your own home.When you think about all the ways that Mesa Community College can benefit you, you will have to admit that the advantages will make it worth while. You can also find something online that will help you with your credit cards and other loan payments. If you are worried about paying the price of tuition, you don't have to worry any more. Mesa offers student loans that can help to cover all your tuition.One of the many reasons that people like to go to Mesa Community College is because of its location. This is one college where you will find everything you need and then some. Being in a college that is close to the world, you will be able to stay busy while you are waiting for exams to come back.

6 Resources for Creating Your Own Sheet Music

6 Resources for Creating Your Own Sheet Music Suzy S. As you develop your musical skills, you may become interested in writing your own music. While learning to play an instrument and being able to play others music is a wonderful skill, nothing compares to creating sheet music full of your own compositions! As a budding songwriter, you’ll need to add some additional skills to your repertoire. Writing music can be as simple as putting a pen to paper, or you can take advantage of the many songwriting tools technology offers. Whether you’re sketching out notes for yourself, writing the next pop hit, or creating sheet music of arrangements for a big band, the most important step is to just get started. First: Where to Find Free Blank Sheet Music The easiest method is the oldest! Nothing beats a crisp blank piece of staff paper as you pick up your pen and begin your musical journey. There are many free resources online for printing blank staff paper. Here are two of the best: Blank Sheet Music This website allows you to print any kind of blank sheet music for free. No matter what instrument you’re writing for, you can find pre-designed sheet music for it here. They offer blank pages set up for piano and keyboard (grand staff), blank guitar tab, bass clef, blank mandolin sheet music, and even sheet music set-up for choir. Music-paper.com Music-paper.com is a site that not only offers more than 100 different downloadable and printable PDFs of blank staff paper, it also offers information on how to write music! Whether you’re looking for paper to jot down your next pop song or orchestral opus, you’ll find it here for free. Next: Apps Programs for Writing Music Technology has changed the way we do almost everything, and writing music is no exception. Today, there are hundreds of applications and programs that can get you started composing on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone.  They range in price from free to several hundred dollars. Here are some of the best: MuseScore MuseScore is a free program that allows you to create, play, and print sheet music. It’s a great alternative to professional notation programs like Sibelius and Finale (see below). Muse Score is available for Mac and Windows along with various open source systems like Linux and Fedora. When you visit the MuseScore website, make sure to take advantage of their online video tutorials to help you get started. Music Composer  (Android) Available for free on the Google Apps store, Music Composer works on your Android smartphone or tablet. It’s an intuitive, easy-to-use application that helps you notate your musical ideas on the go, whenever and wherever inspiration strikes! It features a notation editor (that supports chords), and easy options to change tempo, clef, key signature, time signature, keys, and instruments. Also, Music Composer comes with 128 instrument sounds built in so you can hear your music played as you write it! When you’re finished composing, you can then export your sheet music as a printable image file or a playable audio file. Sibelius ($599.95) Sibelius is the world’s best-selling music notation software used by professional composers, publishers, and advanced music students. It allows you to quickly express and promote your music, allowing you to share both audio and video of your work. It is the fastest, smartest, and easiest way to write music for performance, film, television, or the classroom. It’s a professional tool worth considering if you are serious about composing. Finale ($600.00; $350.00 for students and educators) Finale is another professional-level music notation program. Many music programs are drag-and-drop interfaces where you select items from a menu and drop them on the staff, but Finale offers complete freedom and flexibility. It offers extremely realistic playback of your compositions and allows you to print charts and scores. Finale also offers several lower-priced, upgradable products, including Printmusic (a “lite”version of Finale, at $119.95), which can print up to 24 staves. Another option, Songbook, is a free digital sheet music app for your tablet great for bringing all of your music to rehearsal on your tablet! Composing is natural next step as your music skills advances. Whether you take the simplest approach of putting pen to paper, opt for free notation apps, or invest in a professional-level notation program, the key is to just get started! A great way to learn about composition is to work with a qualified teacher. If you already study with one, ask your teacher to help you. He or she can offer insight into the best way to get started and can help you with the learning curve if you choose to use software. Good luck! View all Takelessons.com Free Sheet Music Resources. 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  basheertome

What is Creative Writing

What is Creative Writing What Do We Actually Mean by Creative Writing? ChaptersHow Creative Writing Differs from Other Kinds of Writing.Some Different Forms of ‘Creative Writing’.Is Creative Writing Something that Can be Taught?So, you’ve heard about creative writing courses. Courses on which you learn to write creatively â€" and which train you to become this thing we call a ‘creative writer’.Yet, do we know what this term creative writing actually refers to? Maybe you already write a blog in your spare time. Does that count as creative writing? Maybe you dabble in poetry writing, novel writing, or screenwriting as a hobby. Are these things that we can call creative writing too?And then, what about nonfiction writing, copywriting, or memoir writing? Do these deserve that title creative writing?Funnily enough, the lines between creative writing and other forms of writing are pretty blurred. And whilst we can say fairly confidently that writing a novel is creative whilst writing an email to your boss perhaps isn’t, there is a lot of stuff in the middle that isn’t so clear cut.In this article, we’re going to be answering the question, what is creative writing? We’ll be doing this with the eye to helping you in figuring out what you might learn on the creative writing programs you may be interested in enrolling in.Because whilst a creative writing course will, theoretically, hone your writing skills, it may not do very much for your ability to write an email.So, let’s get cracking â€" and see what sorts of things you will be producing when you are engaged in creative writing. You can check out our introduction to creative writing too! Why not take a creative writing degree? 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Writing poetry or sending a text to your mum. Writing a play or writing marketing copy for a website.What are the differences between these different types of writing? And what makes what we call creative writing more creative than other forms of writing?The Purpose of Creative Writing.The differences here are all about the purpose of written texts. A text or an email has a particular purpose that a poem doesn’t â€" namely to give information. The purpose of a report of a meeting is to record the things discussed. Copywriting, meanwhile, aims to persuade an audience to buy a particular product.Creative writing differs from all of these things. Its purpose is to entertain, to give pleasure, to inspire or enlighten. Or, if you ask someone interested in literary theory, they’ll say that creative writing â€" or literature â€" doesn’t have a purpose in the same way that other types of writing do.Purpose is probably the primary difference between creative writing and journalistic writing, say. Or creative writing and academic writing.The Features of Creative Writing.As a result of this, the features of creative writing are necessarily different from journalism, academia, or technical writing. Compare any piece of English literature with any article from a newspaper and you will see this immediately.Because where the purpose of journalism â€" as an example â€" is to convey information, or to report through language, creative writing ta kes interest in language itself: in the writing process, in the written word, and in the play of language across the page.Consequently, creative writing uses more writing techniques that draw the readers attention to the language itself: metaphors and similes, say, or interesting word choice. Journalists â€" to continue the example â€" are less inclined to do this: the language should not get in the way, as such, of the ‘objective’ reported facts.However, you will notice, as we said above, that creative writing is not confined to the spaces of literary magazines, prose fiction, or poetics. Journalism can be creative too â€" as can academic writing or copywriting. These forms can take on many of the features of ‘creative’ writing â€" thus blurring the line between forms and producing genres like literary journalism, or travel writing.What, then, is Creativity?All of this goes to show that, really, creative writing is one of the most poorly named disciplines in existence.‘Cr eative’ is not an adjective that accurately describes what creative writers do â€" nor does it adequately distinguish this field from other forms of writing. Because what really does creativity have to do with it?When we say creative writing, what we really mean then is literary writing â€" writing that draws attention to its language and that has no further purpose than to be enjoyed.With a creative writing program, you will learn the skills required to excel in this field, joining other students in a writing workshop to try out different techniques to see what works. Maybe, in this experimentation, creative writing gets its creativity.Find out about jobs in creative writing! Check out creative writing courses!Some Different Forms of ‘Creative Writing’.Whilst we have considered the different ideas that inform creative writing workshops or writing classes more generally, it’s time to turn to the different forms of writing that tend to come under this umbrella, ‘creative writing’.These, as you will see, are as different from each other potentially as chalk and cheese â€" requiring different techniques, priorities, and ways of writing. Writing a poem is not the same as writing for the stage, for example. And, consequently, knowing which particular forms you are most interested in pursuing will make your choice of creative writing classes a little easier.Let’s take a look at what you might be learning on a creative writing course.Fiction Writing.Writing fiction is probably the most common topic of creative writing courses in the world â€" with the novel having come to be seen as the literary form par excellence.And surely you know what a novelist does. They write in prose, developing character and action through narrative. The aim here is the story â€" however, this can come in many forms. Think of the difference between a book like James Joyce’s highly experimental Finnegan’s Wake and a much more political novel like George Orwell’s 1984.It’s quite interesting to think that these are both considered to be of the same form.Poetry.The reserve of Romantic dreamers and language obsessives, poetry has a reputation for being obscure, inaccessible, and hard. It really isn’t any of these things â€" or at least doesn’t need to be.There is many a poetry workshop available in the world of creative writing, which will help you to develop your critical reading whilst being given constructive criticism on your own work.Poetry isn’t required to have narrative, character, or action; it is much more about the nature and play of the language itself. But, like the novel, poetry comes in so many different forms that, as you learn how to write, you will need to discover your own voice.Creative Non-Fiction.Whereas the imaginative work required to develop a story is something that is conventionally been seen to be the creative element of prose writing, this isn’t actually true. Creative nonfiction is a form that has seen something of a renaissance in recent years.Writing, of course, can be creative without being fictional. And this form takes in everything from memoir writing and personal essays to travel writing, journalism, and history writing.It can indeed be any form of writing â€" as long as it demonstrates those literary qualities that we identified above. (By the way, it is important to remember that maybe not everyone agrees about whether a particular book might be literary or not.) Someone's been busy with their creative writing...Writing for Stage and Screen.Scriptwriting for stage and screen is the last of the conventional forms of creative writing. As you will know, this form is intended to be performed â€" and, as a result, it is fundamentally a dramatic writing.Creative writers don’t always excel in every different form of creative writing â€" and the history of literature is littered with figures who, following success in one form, have been seen as failures in another.For this, your way of writing changes â€" with much more emphasis on the natural cadences of speech and the visual potential of the narrative and scene construction.Find out how to develop your creative writing skills!Is Creative Writing Something that Can be Taught?Finally, it is worth pointing out that many people â€" particularly those in the literary industry â€" can be a bit snobby about creative writing programs.For this, there is a simple explanation. And that is that people often believe that the process of writing is not actually something that can be taught. Rather, they implicitly hold, it has to come from within in a way that is sort of spontaneously creative.However, it is difficult to see why a painter might be entitled to a lesson whilst a budding writer would not be. In fact, this is the result of the very problem we identified earlier: creative writing, as a name, does not do the job that it should.Find a creative fiction course near you!