Introduction to Transition Metal Definition Chemistry

Introduction to Transition Metal Definition ChemistryTransition metal definition can be used in many different ways. Definitions can refer to a single transition metal such as palladium, or they can refer to a group of metal alloys.Palladium has two transition metals, and all the atoms in palladium are made up of four transitions. These four atoms each have two valence electrons, but their opposite, or additional, electrons do not always match. For this reason, the two oxidation states of palladium are also made up of two different alloys.Another example of transition metal definition is Tungsten. The core of Tungsten is actually a manganese metal with the element named after the German chemist Victor von Konig. This element has been used in numerous different applications for metal machining and alloying purposes.The element leads to Tungsten Carbide, which is also known as 'jet.' Tungsten Carbide is widely used in electrical and electronic components for heat shielding. The uses of metal carbide continue to grow.Alloys are often referred to as 'alloys' because they are considered 'part of' a particular substance. The term can also be used to refer to products produced through the fusion of various materials into one. The term 'alloy' can also be used to refer to a material that combines two different metals.When referring to metal definition, the two elements that make up the alloy must also be mentioned. A specific metal composition is not complete without these two ingredients. It is important to keep in mind that the term 'alloy' can also refer to an element that is composed of other materials.A note about naming: Naming a material can be as important as understanding it. Because we cannot know exactly what something is, it is very helpful to simply use an acronym or other form of shorthand to refer to it. For example, the element palladium has been used to describe alloys for its all-purpose properties such as corrosion resistance and being extremely mall eable.The term is also used to refer to the shape of an iron body. To better explain the property, the alloys that are created are often referred to as 'pearls.' Also, because of the similarity between the two words, 'pearl' has also been used to refer to this type of alloy.

Considerations for Vocal Health Part II

Considerations for Vocal Health Part II Suzy S. Last week, Long Beach instructor Jim S. shared some tips to help ensure top performance when it comes to your vocal health.   However, there’s even more to it than just nutrition and keeping yourself hydrated. Read on for Part II of the article and even more considerations that will protect you from vocal challenges: Use a Neti Pot for nasal irrigation twice a day: A Neti Pot is the safest way of clearing out your sinus passages. You can find Neti Pots in most health food stores and pharmacies. This is a much better and safer way to keep sinus passages open compared to using ocean spray inhalers or over-the-counter nasal inhalers such as Afrin. Anything you shoot up your sinuses has the possibility of forcing mucous further into the passages, as well as causing sinus irritation or re-infection. I use a Neti Pot twice daily even when I feel great. You’d be surprised to find out the amount of pollution most of us are breathing daily! Even though I live oceanfront in Long Beach, CA, smog and brush fires are sometimes in the air, as well as pollution from the harbor and high pollen counts. Choose an ionic/ozone air filter for your home: I prefer Ecoquest’s Living Air Classic. HEPA filters can actually put pollution back into the air once they are filled up. Ionic filters zap particles out of the air and can help keep mold, dust and germ levels way down. This is especially helpful to singers suffering from respiratory illnesses, asthma or chronic allergies. Choose a good water filtration system for drinking and shower water: Our drinking water is especially important. Choose spring water with minerals, alkaline balanced or oxygenated water, or put a filter on your tap. I also suggest bathing in filtered water, as hot water can penetrate through pores, which means we’re getting low levels of chlorine, lead, mercury and other toxins. Over time this can build up in the body and cause challenges. Avoid yelling, screaming and excessive talking on the telephone. It is advisable to rest your voice, especially if you are in an opera or musical theater production and have long hours of rehearsals. Same would be true for those in school/university or church choirs, or soloists who work regularly. Of course, exercise is also an integral part of your vocal health, since as singers we rely on our lungs to provide support for our voices.   Consider these exercise tips to take it one step further: Yoga breath work and Meditation: I make all my singers do a bare minimum of 20 minutes of breath work daily. Gentle Hatha yoga is a great place to start. Yoga breathing techniques can be your greatest asset in strengthening your lungs, developing vocal power and projection, and preventing illness and injury. Here is a list of a few of my favorite breathing techniques to aid in your development: Gentle Hatha: Breathing diaphragmatically in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. This helps to slow your breathing and it also strengthens the diaphragm. Breath of Fire: This is a Kundalini yoga technique used to tone and strengthen the lungs and sinuses, as well as detox the whole body. Look for video illustrations on YouTube to help you get familiarized with the concept. Bikram Breath: This posture and breath has helped many of my beginning singers to double their power and sound in a few weeks. It also helped me in my early teens to completely rid myself of chronic asthma. Bikram is a form of hot yoga. You can find videos on YouTube, or simply Google Bikram to find studios that teach pranayama (breath work) in your area. Other great forms of exercise include swimming and brisk walks. Readers, what other ways do you supplement your vocal health, beyond the basics?   Leave a comment below, or stop by our Facebook page to join the discussion! Sign up for email updates here! Join thousands of other subscribers and get emails catered to your music interests with advice, tips and more! James S. teaches piano, singing, violin, mandolin, music performance, music recording, music theory, opera voice, songwriting, speaking voice, theatrical Broadway singing, acting and fiddle lessons to students of all ages in Long Beach, CA.   He joined the TakeLessons team in June 2012.   Sign up for lessons with James, or visit TakeLessons to search for a teacher near you! Photo by Unfurled.

Practice Makes Perfect, But Are You Doing It Right

Practice Makes Perfect, But Are You Doing It Right Suzy S. Yesterday we discussed some common excuses for not practicing and how to overcome them.   If youve already read that and corrected your mindset, the question remains:   How much do you really need to practice?   Theres a difference between mindless practicing and deliberate practicing read on to find out how to get the most out of your practice sessions, courtesy of this Bulletproof Musician blog post that we loved: Deliberate Practice So what is deliberate, or mindful practice? Deliberate practice is a systematic and highly structured activity, which is, for lack of a better word, scientific. Instead of mindless trial and error, it is an active and thoughtful process of experimentation with clear goals and hypotheses. Deliberate practice is often slow, and involves repetition of small and very specific sections of your repertoire instead of just playing through (e.g. working on just the opening note of your solo to make sure that it “speaks” exactly the way you want, instead of playing the entire opening phrase). Deliberate practice also   involves monitoring one’s performance (in real-time, but also via recordings), continually looking for new ways to improve. This means really listening to what happens, so that you can tell yourself exactly what went wrong. For instance, was the first note note sharp? Flat? Too loud? Too soft? Too harsh? Too short? Too long? Few musicians take the time to stop, analyze what went wrong, why it happened and how they can correct the error permanently.   Make that a habit during your practice sessions. 4 Keys For More Effective Practice 1. Duration Keep practice sessions limited to a duration that allows you to stay focused. This may be as short as 10-20 minutes for younger students (or if thats all you have time for), and as long as 45-60 minutes for older individuals. 2. Timing Keep track of times during the day when you tend to have the most energy. This may be first thing in the morning, or right before lunch, etc. Try to do your practicing during these naturally productive periods as these are the times at which you will be able to focus and think most clearly. 3. Goals Try using a practice notebook. Keep track of your practice goals and what you discover during your practice sessions. The key to getting into the “zone” when practicing is to be constantly striving to have clarity of intention. In other words, to have a clear idea of the sound you want to produce, or particular phrasing you’d like to try, or specific articulation, intonation, etc. that you’d like to be able to execute consistently. When you figure something out, write it down. As I practiced more mindfully, I began learning so much during practice sessions that if I didn’t write everything down, I’d forget. 4. Smarter, not harder Sometimes if a particular passage is not coming out the way we want it to, it just means we need to practice more. There are also times, however, when we don’t need to practice harder, but need an altogether different strategy or technique.   Think creatively. Make the time you do have count, and youll be well on your way to mastering the music.   Readers, do you have any of your own strategies to share?   As always, wed love to hear leave a comment below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe.

Can You Learn the Violin Online

Can You Learn the Violin Online What Are the Best Ways to Learn to Play the Violin Online? ChaptersWhy Take Your Violin Lessons Online?How Can You Learn to Play with Online Violin Lessons?YouTube Violin ChannelsSites with Online Violin LessonsEveryone loves music. What about you?Around 30% of teens in the UK have learnt to play a musical instrument though only around 18% of them have actually played musical instruments in front of audience as part of an orchestra, quartet, ensemble, or solo concert performance.A lot of people never learn an instrument because they think it’s too hard or isn’t cool.  The violin (or fiddle) isn’t the most popular instrument to learn. More people choose to learn to play the piano or the guitar than the violin.However, despite common opinion, violins are far more accessible than you might think. You can get a violin for a very reasonable price and work towards becoming a violinist.But how do you learn how to play the violin once you've got one?If music lessons aren’t really your thing, remember that there are also plenty of resources o nline for budding violinists studying how to play. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Take Your Violin Lessons Online?Would you like to learn the violin but don’t want to take traditional lessons?Scared of music theory or strict music teachers?Why not learn to play the violin on your own by teaching yourself?The internet is great for this.Choosing to learn to play the violin online means that you’ll almost certainly be teaching yourself. It can be difficult to learn to play the violin over webcam classes though some students do this.You can learn more creatively online than in a traditional class. (Source: Tom Swinnen)Learning on your own is also a great way to become more autonomous. Every musician should have some degree of autonomy. This is especially true if you want to learn to improvise.You can learn some important reflexes that you’ll end up instinctively using when you don’t have sheet music in front of you.  This will also help you gain confidence when playing violin music.You can choose when and where to you want to learn, too. This can be both an advantage and disadvantage depending on your motivation. Of course, teaching yourself can help you remain motivated.  You’ll never feel that you’re forced to adhere to a routine or class schedule.While you’re practising your instrument, you can choose how, when, and what you learn: fingering, posture, how to hold the bow, vibrato, etc. as well as the musi cal styles and pieces you want to learn.Whether you prefer rock, classical, or jazz music, you’ll be able to find tablature online. So regardless of whose music you want to play, our tips should help you out.How Can You Learn to Play with Online Violin Lessons?So how do you learn to play the violin online?The web is often so full of resources it can be hard to find good ones. If you search something like “violin lessons online” or “violin websites”, you’ll surely be met with millions of results. There are several different ways to learn to learn how to play a musical instrument online.Some sites have videos and virtual teachers. This helps divide lessons into several parts. Different parts have different difficulties. Lessons generally cover the following themes.finger placement on the fingerboardusing the bow and bowing techniquelearning to read musicvibrato, pizzicato, and intermediate and advanced violin techniquesviolin maintenance like tuning your violin and replaci ng violin stringsThe tutor is often a musician who taught themselves so they know exactly what you’re going through and which parts you’ll find difficult when they teach you. Furthermore, you can even get in touch with the violin teacher when there's something in your music classes you don't understand.Online courses don't tend to be as interactive as face-to-face lessons. (Source: Vojtech Okenka)However, some violinists broaden their repertoire just by watching YouTube videos and listening to their favourite songs. You can learn to play the violin by watching violinists play certain pieces and following along with tablature.Additionally, learning to play a song is a great way to stay motivated and improve your self-confidence.Here’s some advice to make sure learning to play the violin online doesn’t turn into a nightmare:Practise regularly. It’s important that you practise at least once a week. If you spend too long between lessons, you’ll start forgetting everything yo u’ve learnt.Practise as often as possible. This doesn’t mean just regularly but whenever you can. All violin players will tell you that practise makes perfect.Listen to violin pieces. To train your ear, there’s nothing better than listening to music that uses the instrument. There’s no way to overdo it.Stay motivated. Without motivation, you’ll not get anywhere when learning to play the violin. You need to ask yourself a few important questions before you start.Don’t forget that online lessons will never replace the advice of a dedicated tutor who can adapt their lessons to teach you how to avoid the most common mistakes.If you're looking for violin music, check out these violin greats:NameBornDiedAntonio Vivaldi16781741Johann Sebastian Bach16851750Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart17561791Niccolò Paganini17821840Pablo de Sarasate18441908Jascha Heifetz19011987David Oïstrakh19081974Yehudi Menuhin19161999Isaac Stern19202001YouTube Violin ChannelsYouTube is the most famous website f or videos on the internet.In addition to being useful for finding music for the violin, millions of violin teachers can share their video lessons and tips for playing certain songs.  To help you choose which videos to watch and not get lost, here are a couple channels you should check out for a free lesson or violin playing tips.Video tutorials will soon become your best friends. (Source: freestocks.org)Violin Lab ChannelThis channel provides quality videos covering a huge variety of different aspects of playing the violin. They have a variety of different playlists, too.Here are some examples:Bow geometryStiffness in the Wrist and Fingers of the Bow ArmThe Bow Hold in MotionSi Bheag Si MhorViolin HoldViolin Vibrato: Slow Motion Dos and DontsSpiccatoSchindlers ListShifting 101StringClubThe YouTube channel StringClub offers plenty of tablature for violin, cello, and bass. Whether you’re signed up or not, you can still enjoy these simplified versions of songs for violin players of a ny level.Here are some of the songs available:How to Save a Life - The FrayShape of You - Ed SheeranDangerous - David GuettaYou should also learn how to play the electric violin.Sites with Online Violin LessonsYou can also find plenty of sites on the internet for learning the violin from the comfort of your own home.These websites are like are like digital versions of brick and mortar music schools and while some come with monthly or yearly subscriptions, others are completely free.Imusic-schoolThe website imusic-school presents itself as the first online music school and offers lessons for various lessons (piano, guitar, violin, etc.) Whether a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, any student can sign up and take lessons in their chosen instrument.It costs around £8 per week. This is a reasonable price given the number of videos available.When it comes to the violin, Célia Picciocchi has over 546 videos on learning to play the violin:Holding the instrumentViolin terminolog yControlling the bowTreble clefHolding the bowPizzicatoBeats / measuresRests / pausesRestringing a violinLeft hand techniqueThe first finger on each stringExercises across several stringsThere are also several songs you can learn to play:MiloThanhUne Petite ValseBlues in ASweet SueTintinnabulumOrnicarDon’t worry! There are also sites for those on a budget. They offer lessons for all levels of violin player. You’ll soon learn what you need to know about playing the violin.Music theory, fingering, rhythm, the treble clef, etc. Everything you need to become the next Mozart. If you learn music theory with a teacher, you’ll soon be able to read sheet music.Violinonline.comThis site focuses on the violin for beginners and includes plenty of additional resources like fingering charts and exercises for anyone wanting to learn the violin.There are plenty of things to learn on the site. In particular:Tuning a violinPositioning your right hand and the bowNotes on the neckPlaying a melody VibratoPizzicatoGlissandoString techniquesThere's nothing stopping adults from learning to play the violin. (Source: Caio Resende)Violinist.comThis is the site to go to if you’re learning to play the violin. It has plenty of resources for techniques from teachers.You can learn things like:Restringing a violinHolding the bowUsing the bow effectivelyTuning a violinViolinlab.comThe site offers a variety of tutorials for different levels of violin player and tonnes of videos and accompanying literature.There are videos on topics like:SpiccatoHow to move from one string to anotherHolding the bow parallel to the bridgeHow to hold the bow correctlyIf you're teaching yourself to play violin, the resources you choose may define just how much progress you make and how quickly you learn. If you find yourself making very little progress, then it may be time to get in touch with a tutor  for one on one  violin lessons.

Circuit Training The Workout for Wonder Women

Circuit Training The Workout for Wonder Women Circuit Training for Women ChaptersThe Advantages of Practicing Circuit Training DailyWeight-loss Specific Circuit TrainingToning Muscles for a Healthier LifeImprove Your Cardio with Complete Circuit TrainingEveryone can agree that exercising isn’t the simplest thing to accomplish without being motivated to do so. Regardless of this fact, there exist many exercises methods that allow you to reap all the benefits of weight loss and muscle gain without becoming too routine. Combining cardio and muscle building exercises, this exercise program is perfect for everyone - but especially for women looking to tailor their individual goals to a workout that fits all their needs. Individualized workout routines can be fun and effective CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Advantages of Practicing Circuit Training DailyCircuit training, if you’re not familiar with it, is a type of interval training method that consists of a combination of strength training and resistance training. It is similar to HIIT, or high intensity interval training, except that there are no rest breaks in between each exercise move.Because circuit training involves weight training and cardio exercises engaging your upper body and lower body, you will be able to feel a total body advantage, improving things like your metabolism and bod yweight.The goals of circuit training are based on three specific points:Losing weight through both aerobic and anaerobic exercisesAmeliorating your endurance through cardiovascular exerciseOverall muscle gain by working muscle groups through exercises or light gym equipment (kettlebell, dumbbell, etc.)Because of this, circuit training can have many benefits: allowing you to burn calories and lose body fat in a short amount of time, not needing to complete your workout routine at the gym, having a body workout session that is always varied and always fun, letting you challenge yourself in ways you never thought possible before.In general, women and men tend to have different goals when it comes to working out because of societal pressures and expectations. For example, women can often seek out training exercises and methods for weight loss, abdominal muscle gain and, of course, butt sculpting. Circuit training is a high intensity program that can allow you to, through classic exerci ses like push ups and squats, gain muscle while reinforcing your respiratory system.Circuit training is an amazing way for everyone who wants to take up an exercise program regularly, especially if you’re looking to get toned. This is especially true of circuit training that is geared towards women and their specific body fat goals.Check here for a personal trainer near me.Weight-loss Specific Circuit Training“When I’m happy on the inside, those are the moments I feel the sexiest” â€" Anna KournikovaThis advice, geared towards everyone, expresses the fact that everyone should feel the most attractive when they feel comfortable in their own skin. While many factors regarding beauty standards tend to be getting better, society still, unfortunately, prioritizes physical appearance over other indicators of beauty such as mental health or personality traits.Having a fit body, however, has less to do with simply physical appearance and is more about being a signal for a healthy sy stem. Often, a high, whole body weight can lead to many chronic diseases or illnesses â€" which is why circuit training is perfect for those looking for a flexible program and to burn fat and lose weight.One example of a circuit training session geared especially for weight loss is:Jumping jacksLungesPush upMountain climbersBurpeesPlankIf you’re following this workout, take 30 seconds to do each exercise move. After you finish one round, take a 3-minute rest break in order to recuperate. You can adapt the time you take for completing each move, the rest break, or even the moves themselves to follow your specific body targets (increasing muscle in biceps and glutes) and skill level (beginner or intermediate).Circuit training can also be completed in combination with other sports activities and with a personal trainer near me. Some examples of the training workouts you can complete in tandem with circuit training are swimming, tennis and running. One important note to keep in mind i s to always cool down after a workout and keep in touch with your body to watch out for any injuries. High impact workouts can be done with a personal trainer, alone or with friendsToning Muscles for a Healthier LifeBeing in perfect shape is complicated, especially because everyone’s body defines a different level of what is “perfect.” Women, however, tend to search for a full body workout that tones their body and, most of all, helps them feel comfortable in their own skin. There are an infinite number of cardio workouts and bodyweight exercises out there that can help you tone your body.Some examples of workouts you can use for building muscle are boxing, swimming and weight-lifting. One of the most important aspects to pay attention to when choosing a fitness program that’s right for you is to take into account what environment it is, regardless of what program you choose. Whether it be in a group course at the gym or at home alone, always make sure that you feel comfortable.If you’re interested in adapting circuit training to toning your body, an example of circuit trai ning that’s geared towards building muscle mass and muscular endurance is:Push ups/ wall pushupsTriceps or tricep dipsJump ropeSquatsSupermanPlankMountain climbersWhether you’re practicing a cardio workout, aerobic exercise or weight exercises in your circuit, make sure that you take 30 seconds to complete each move â€" increasing or decreasing this time depending on your abilities and goals. Take 3 to 4 minutes between each circuit as a rest break â€" making sure that you don’t take a rest break between each move.Toning your body is a difficult mission but can be possible with motivation and sacrifice. From wanting to lose fat, incorporate cardio exercise, and learning how to use equipment such as a barbell or medicine ball â€" taking part and sticking to circuit training can help you accomplish your dreams.Improve Your Cardio with Complete Circuit TrainingCardiovascular fitness can be one of the common fitness goals for women looking to get stronger and improve their blood c irculation. Cardiovascular strength depends on much more than strength exercises like jogging, but a total body workout that includes any exercises that’ll increase your heart rate. In other words, any exercise that gets you breathing hard is a good sign that you’re on the road towards increasing your cardiovascular endurance.Getting into the habit of completing a circuit workout can give you the benefit of increasing your metabolic rate, working your major muscle groups and, all the while, improving your cardiovascular system. You can also incorporate fat burning and toning circuit sessions with body weight exercises that allow both your heart and body to get fit.Here is an example of a circuit training session geared towards improving your cardiovascular system:Jumping jacksJump squatsRowingPushupsCrunchesPlankJump ropeBurpeesThis is one of the many examples of body workouts for weight loss that are, for the most part, geared towards building up your respiratory and cardiovasc ular system. It is also a perfect example of how circuit training can be adapted to each individual. Your personal fitness should also involve eating a healthy dietIf you’re looking to challenge yourself even further, you can add lifting weights to some exercise moves like lunges and pushups. Weight lifting is a great way to reinforce your muscles during any cardio workout. The most important thing to keep in mind while weight-lifting is to practice good form in order to avoid any sort of injuries.Some other advice that you can follow if you want to make sure you get the most out of your workout is drink water and eat a balanced diet. While working out, make sure you always have a bottle of water nearby and to take extra precautions when the weather is hotter or more humid. On the other hand, while the definition of a balanced diet tends to be specific to each individual, a general rule of thumb you can follow is to make sure the majority of your diet comes from whole plant foods and proteins.Lastly, make sure to find your motivation, whether that be attaining your “summer body, ” getting in shape for your loved ones or to improve your health. Understand, however, that getting the motivation to exercise and eat healthily can be sustained on the long term if your motivations are dependent on long term ideas like living a health life and being able to still run when you’re seventy. Remember, one of the most important things you can do for your body is to love your body.

Easy Recipes for Beginners!

Easy Recipes for Beginners! The Beginners' Guide to Making Unmissable Meals ChaptersCooking Lessons: Easy StartersEasy Recipes for Main CoursesDesserts for BeginnersVocabulary“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” - Sophia LorenOver the years, people have started spending less and less time cooking.  With busier lives (between work, family, and leisure), we spend less time cooking and more time focusing on other things.However, you don’t need to spend 3 hours in the kitchen making a complicated dish in order to eat well and enjoy your meals.People generally think that simple meals can’t be tasty. If you're sick of jacket potatoes, cheesy beans on toast, instant noodles, or prepackaged sandwiches, here are a few examples of quick and easy dinner recipes that beginners can make. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Disc over all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCooking Lessons: Easy StartersStarters often seem complicated but they needn’t be.  There are quick and easy recipes that can impress your guests. They don’t require a lot of ingredients or time.It might be time to eat less pizza and start cooking your own food. (Source: joshuemd)Are you ready to impress the in-laws this weekend or do you just need something you can quickly make on a weeknight after work for the whole family?Basil and Lemon Sardine TartinesPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 5 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:4 large slices of farmhouse bread16 sardines in oil1 lemon1 teaspoon of dried basil or a few leaves of fresh basil1 shallot 100g of butterSaltRecipe for serving four people:Remove the skin and bones from the sardines.Work the butter into a paste in a salad bowl.Add the sardines, lemon juice, crushed shallot, salt, and basil.Toast the bread for a few minutes in the oven.Spread and you’re ready to go!Surimi TabouléPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 5 minutes.  2 hours standing time.Budget per person: £2Ingredients:180g of bulgur8 rolls of surimi1 tomato1/4 cucumber1/4 red pepper10 mint leaves1 lemonOlive oilSaltRecipe for serving four people:Cook the bulgur in 750ml of salted boiling water for 5 minutes.Take off the heat and let it swell in the water for 5 minutes.DrainDice the tomato, cucumber, and pepperMix with the warm bulgur.Add 50ml of olive oil, juice from the lemon, crushed mint leaves, salt, and minced surimi.Leave to stand for 2 hours.For a vegetarian alternative, you can replace the surimi with feta or tofu. Of course, if you prefer mushroom, carrot, spinach, or other veggies, you co uld always add them instead.Discover what foodies always keep on hand...Tomato Noodle SoupPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 25 minutes.Budget per person: £1Ingredients:3 tomatoes50g of tomato concentrate100g of vermicelli1 onion1 garlic clove1 cube of chicken stockOlive oilRecipe for serving four people:In a pot, brown the onion, garlic, and crushed tomatoes in 50ml of olive oil.Add the tomato concentrate, 800ml of water, the stock cube (you can replace this with vegetable stock if vegetarian)Bring to the boilSimmer for 25 minutesAdd the vermicelliCook for 3 minutes before taking off the heatThis filling and hearty meal can be can be served as a starter or as a main dish on a cold winter's day. In fact, most soups are pretty quick and easy to make.Easy Recipes for Main CoursesFor original pasta dishes, stuffed vegetables, and quick meals, follow this guide. You don’t need to spend several hours preparing them nor do you need a chef’s qualification. These recipes are af fordable, easy, and quick.They also make a change from mac and cheese, a burger from McDonald's, or meatballs out of a tin.Cooking blogs are great for ideas on what to make. (Source: RitaE)Ready to go?Shirred Eggs with HamPreparation time: 10 minutes.Cooking time: 10 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:4 large eggs4 soup spoons of thick creme fraicheA slice of ham1 small tomato1 demi baguetteOlive oilSalt and pepperRecipe for serving four people:Baste 4 ramekins with olive oil.Cut the ham into strips.Spread the crushed tomato, ham, and creme fraiche into the bottom of the ramekin.Break an egg into each ramekin.Season with salt and pepper.Bake for 10 minutes at 180 °C in a water bath (bain-marie).Serve with bread cut into soldiers.What cooking tools should you have in your kitchen?Salmon TagliatellePreparation time: 10 minutes.Cooking time: 10 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:400g of fresh tagliatelle2 skinned salmon steaks100ml of cooking creamCooking white wine Olive oilSalt and pepperRecipe for serving four people:Cut the salmon and sauté it in a pan with olive oil for 5 minutes.Add 50ml of white wine and reduce.Add the cream and reduce.Season with salt and pepper.Cook the pasta with the salmon sauce.Quiche Lorraine/Vegetable QuichePreparation time: 10 minutes.Cooking time: 35 minutes.Budget per person: £2Ingredients:Pie dough3 eggs400g of heavy cream200g of lardon strips125g of grated cheeseNutmeg, salt, pepperRecipe for serving four people:Place the dough in a cake tin and pierce it with a fork.Cook the lardons in a pan without adding anything to themWhip the eggs, cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a salad bowl.Place the lardons onto the doughSprinkle the grated cheese.Bake for 25 minutes at 200 °C.For a vegetarian option, you can replace the lardons with vegetables like courgette, peppers, broccoli, carrots, etc.Discover our beginner's cooking guide!Impress your friends with your cooking. (Source: rawpixel)Stuffed Goat’s Cheese To matoesPreparation time: 10 minutes.Cooking time: 20 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:8 tomatoes350g of fresh goat’s cheese50g of walnut kernels200g of wheat semolina30g of breadcrumbs1 tablespoon of honeyOlive oilSaltRecipe for serving four people:Cut the tops off the tomatoes and scoop out the insidesMix the goat’s cheese, honey, the insides of the tomatoes, a tablespoon of olive oil, nuts, breadcrumbs, and salt in a salad bowl.Insert into the tomatoesPlace the tops back on the tomatoes and add tablespoon of olive oilCook for 20 minutes at 180 °CServe with semolina prepared in advance.If you don’t like goat’s cheese, you can always replace it with ricotta or cream cheese with herbs.Buckwheat Pancakes with HamPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 15 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:4 buckwheat pancakes4 slices of ham4 eggsLettuce80g of grated cheese4 tablespoons of thick creme fraicheOlive oilVinaigretteSaltRecipe for serving four people:Fry the 4 eggs with a bit of olive oil and salt.Put to one sideReheat the buckwheat pancakes with a bit of oilPlace a slice of ham into the middle with the crème fraîche, egg, and grated cheeseFold the pancake into a squareRepeat for the over pancakesServe with lettuce and vinaigretteFor a vegetarian option, you can always replace the ham with mushrooms or sliced avocado.Sautéd Pineapple PorkPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 10 minutes.Budget per person: £1.50Ingredients:400g of pork tenderloin1 jar of sliced pineapple200g of rice1/2 a red pepper1 shallot1 tablespoon of cornstarchOlive oilSaltRecipe for serving four people:Dice the pork and sauté it in oil in a frying pan or skilletPut to one sideIn the hot pan, sauté the crushed shallot and diced pepper.Dilute the cornstarch in 3 tablespoons of pineapple juice and salt.Add this pineapple sauce to diced pineapple.Cook for 2 minutes.Serve with rice.If you're a big fan of pork, you could replace the pork tenderloin with tender pork chops, too.Desserts for BeginnersDesserts are far from a hassle!There are easy recipes. Feel like a homemade chocolate cake but you’re on your own or can't be bothered with baking?Mugcake it is!Forget complicated crumble, clafouti, rice pudding, or crème patissière. Let’s make things simple.You should only really get strawberries when they're in season. (Source: Engin_Akyurt)Chocolate MugcakePreparation time: 5 minutes.Cooking time: 3 minutes.Budget per person: £1Ingredients:1 egg20g of flour20g of sugar30g of butter40g of dark chocolateRecipe for one person:Place the butter and chocolate into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds.Smoothly mix and then add flour and sugar.Mix again.Add the egg and mix it in.Put in the microwave for 1 minute.I bet you didn't think that a cake could be baked in less than ten minutes, but there you have it! There definitely won't be any leftovers.Orange Blossom French ToastPreparation time: 10 minutes.Cooking time: 5 minutes.Budget per person: £2.50Ingredients:1 stale baguette (usually leftover from another meal)Orange blossom3 eggs140g of unsweetened condensed milk2 sachets of vanilla sugar2 tablespoons of powdered sugarRapeseed oilRecipe for serving four people:Whip the eggs with the condensed milk, vanilla sugar, and sugar.Add a tablespoon of orange blossom and mix it all together.Cut the bread into slices.Quickly plunge the bread into the mix and take it straight back out and put it onto a plate.Heat the oilBrown the bread on both sidesServe warmThe orange blossom adds a refreshing zesty and tangy addition to a traditional recipe and while we've put it down as a dessert, it's also great for brunch on the weekend.Speculaas and Strawberry DessertPreparation time: 10 minutes.Budget per person: £1.80Ingredients:300g of strawberries8 speculaas2 pots of vanilla puddingWhipped creamRecipe for serving four people:Wash the strawberries, keep four to one side and place the rest into a blender.Place the mix into ramekins and cover with half a pot of vanilla pudding.Sprinkle speculaas crumbs on top.Serve with whipped cream, a bit more speculaas on top, and half a strawberry.As you can see, you can get most of these on the table in 30 minutes or less and for those that take longer, it's just because you have to cook them for a little longer.If you're out of dinner ideas, don't forget there are books and websites with plenty of easy dinners you can make. Some websites even organise their recipes by ingredient so you can see what you have in your cupboards and make it.Whether you're looking for hearty casserole recipes, how to make a satisfying stir-fry, making some chilli con carne in a slow cooker, there are a number of great websites as well as books to get you started.Or you can search for a  cooking course  London and learn how to make more elaborate dishes.If you're willing to spend more time, there are also plenty of great resources on how to make a roasted chicken dinner. If you've got chicken in th e fridge or freezer, there are easy chicken recipes for your weeknight dinners or suppers, too!VocabularyIf a few terms were Greek to you, here’s a couple definitions. We've got a few definitions in our other articles on cooking, so make sure to read them, too!Kneaded ButterThis is butter at room temperature that has been worked with a spatula until it has a creamy consistency.DiluteThis means adding a substance to a liquid to weaken it. It’s similar to dissolving.Now discover the best cooking quotes to keep you inspired...

Guitar Lessons for Kids Choosing the Right Teacher

Guitar Lessons for Kids Choosing the Right Teacher Megan L. One of the most important factors in guitar lessons for kids is finding the right teacher. Guitar teacher  Raymond L.  shares his secrets for finding a great teacher for your child In my opinion one of the first qualities, you, as a parent, have to look for in a guitar teacher is that they inspire your child and help them develop a profound love for this beautiful musical instrument. If your guitar teacher does not inspire your child, very likely they wont be able to motivate your child or awaken in them a passion for the guitar, which is so essential to assure a progressive and sound development in your child’s musical and technical abilities. As a parent, you should ask yourself these questions to see if a guitar teacher is right for your child: Does the guitar teacher know how to stimulate a positive attitude in my child? What systems does he or she use to motivate my child? Does the guitar teacher have good teaching skills and experience? Stimulating a Positive Attitude It is crucial that your guitar teacher works with your child to create a positive mindset because many students get easily frustrated when they are taking beginner guitar lessons. So the guitar teacher has to help with the anxiety of the student, always making him or her feel at ease. They should tell your child, from the start, to avoid using the words “hard” or “difficult” in their vocabulary whenever they are experiencing some technical difficulty in playing a piece of music, but rather to substitute the word “challenging” for other words that have a more negative connotation. Your guitar teacher should encourage your child to never say, “I can’t”, but to say instead, “I will”. It is also essential for your guitar teacher to get to know your child’s interests: for example what kind of music they love in order to be prepared and able to teach your child those songs, or the type of music that most inspires them. Your guitar teacher has to establish long-term, intermediate- and short-term goals together with your child, by brainstorming with them and incorporate those goals in the curriculum. Your guitar teacher should never foster the feeling in your child that they are being punished, for example, making them repeat a song or a passage too many times. On the contrary, they should reinforce the child’s self-confidence by accompanying them, while repeating the song or music section, just enough to keep their interest and help them continue learning. Motivation When your child achieves one of their goals and is able to play their first song, riff, or piece of music satisfactorily, they will get what we call in psychology, “intrinsic motivation”. This type of motivation develops from inside your child, from the pleasure they get from the task itself, from their enjoyment of playing, or even the satisfaction of working with the music.  Many children are already intrinsically motivated because they simply love music or have an idol that they want to imitate or emulate. Your guitar teacher should also stimulate your child’s motivation by using “extrinsic motivation” by rewarding him or her for their progress, especially if they notice signs of discouragement or low motivation. This approach will help to compensate for any gaps in intrinsic motivation and keep your childs motivation at a high level. Your guitar teacher can use different methods and systems to reward and motivate, such as: Playing the guitar for your child Using encouraging words such as: “Good job”, “Perfect”, “Awesome”, etc. Rewarding them with stickers for their music book or notebook when they play a song correctly Practicing together with your child, accompanying them while they play the instrument Repeating and adding rhythm to the song or music if they have played the song correctly Giving out certificates of merit and achievement Organizing jam sessions with other students of the same level Organizing recitals together with students for parents, family and friends Organizing awards and competitions between students Parents should also use what I call the “Motivation Meter” that shows the measure of their child’s motivation. This is the intuition or feeling you get when your child starts showing lack of interest in attending guitar lessons.  Once the “Motivation Meter” sends the alarm signal to your mind, immediately you should start looking for the cause of this lack of motivation in your child. Youll want to be able to talk to their guitar teacher about the problem too. Teaching Skills Versus Technical Skills It is of vital importance for parents to know the type of education, preparation, musical background, technical skills, music knowledge, and even written reviews their childs guitar teacher has. Do not be impressed only by a guitar teachers technical skills (how well they play the guitar) because this aspect is not always a guarantee that they also possess the ability to communicate information clearly and with ease. It is important to distinguish a performing artist from an educator. Parents, you don’t want to have to struggle with your child to get them to their guitar lessons, neither would you like to see them dragging to practice.  I’m sure you would like to see your child enjoying their guitar lessons, so please consider these tips to evaluate and select your child’s guitar teacher with consciousness. Consequently you will contribute to a delightful experience for your child with the guitar. Interested in guitar lessons for kids? Search for a guitar teacher near you! Raymond L. teaches guitar, classical guitar, musical theory, ukulele, and Spanish in Jacksonville, FL. Raymond has been teaching for over 30 years and he specializes in pop, blues, modern, Latin, classical and popular music.  Learn more about Raymond  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  woodleywonderworks