Super Easy Ways to Save up for Music Lessons [Infographic]

Super Easy Ways to Save up for Music Lessons [Infographic] Why are Music Lessons so Expensive? Jessica Dais One common question asked by many aspiring musicians (and oftentimes, their parents) is: “Why are music lessons so expensive?” There are a few main factors that contribute to the cost of music lessons. In this blog post, we’ll uncover what those factors are and then share 10 clever solutions that make saving up for music lessons easier than you think. Why are Music Lessons so Expensive? The average cost of private, in-home music lessons is $31.50 for a 30-minute lesson, according to this nationwide study by TakeLessons. The average cost of online music lessons is a little more affordable, at $25 per 30-minute lesson. That comes out to $100 a month if you take one lesson per week. While these rates might seem high at first glance, they make more sense when you take the following factors into consideration. Music teachers are often self employed and don’t have the benefits of a salaried position Many teachers factor in the time and expenses it takes to travel to your home for lessons Music teachers take extra time to prep for each individual student prior to a lesson Some teachers pay for their own studio and additional instruments for students Teachers who are just starting out don’t have enough students to fill up a 9-5 work shift If you live in a bigger city, the cost of lessons will be higher because there is more competition in the market Now you know some of the reasons why music lessons are expensive. If the dream of becoming a better musician still seems distant because of your financial situation, keep reading for some easy ways to save up! 10 Easy Ways to Save Up for Music Lessons Save $150 a month brewing at home Are you an avid coffee drinker? If you find yourself making daily trips to your local cafe, one excellent way to save five dollars a day is to try brewing your coffee at home instead. Consider it an opportunity to try out some new roasts, and a small sacrifice to have to make on your way to musical success. After just one month, you’ll be able to afford six online music lessons (at $25 per 30-minute lesson).   Save $300 a month packing a lunch The cost of eating out adds up quickly. Did you know that waking up just a little bit earlier than normal to prepare a lunch can save you hundreds every month? Or, an even easier option is to make some extra food for dinner the night before your work day! At $10 a day in savings, you’ll have saved up the equivalent of 12 online music lessons by the end of the month. Save hundreds on your commute Driving your own car to work can cost you hundreds of extra dollars per month. Instead, try carpooling with coworkers, or if you live close to the office, try bike riding. Another great idea that will also save you money on parking is to use public transportation, such as a bus or train. Any one of these options will save you hundreds in gas money per month, which you can gladly put toward music lessons instead. Save $100 a month cutting cable Many people who have cable find that they don’t actually use it enough to warrant the high monthly cost. If that sounds like you, consider cancelling cable and spending more of your free time on your hobbies.   With $100 in monthly savings, you’ll be able to afford weekly music lessons after cancelling a cable subscription.         Save $50 a month skipping the gym No, we’re not giving you an excuse to stop exercising. Staying in shape is extremely important to your overall health. But instead of spending money on a gym membership, try going for a run or riding a bike at your local park instead. With all the workout routines available on the internet, it’s easy to get in shape in the comfort of your own home, too! An average $50 monthly gym membership fee equates to two music lessons per month. Save hundreds more with a rewards card If you have a credit card that allows you to accrue rewards points with every purchase you make, why not redeem those points as cash and apply them to music lessons? Rack up the points by using your credit card to pay for groceries, gas, and bills. Many credit cards don’t have a limit to how many points you can accrue or an expiration date on your points. SEE ALSO: Private Lessons Don’t Need to be Expensive Here’s How to Save Save $100 a month staying sober For some aspiring musicians, this saving strategy might seem like a lot to ask. But just like eating out, the cost of alcoholic beverages can add up very quickly. Drinking a bottle of wine each week for example, can end up costing you around $100 a month. If you simply cross wine off of your shopping list, you’d be able to afford weekly online music lessons. Save $50 a month doing your nails For the ladies, getting a monthly manicure and pedicure will cost you a minimum of $50 a month. Do your own nails instead, or go au naturel, and you’ll be able to afford two additional online music lessons every month. If you’re learning an instrument like guitar or violin, having short nails will help you hold down the strings much easier anyway! Bundle up to save even more! See if you can join a family plan if you currently just have a single line. Reevaluating your cell phone plan is an easy way to save money on your monthly bills. If joining a plan with relatives isn’t an option, consider getting a group of friends together on the same plan instead. Splitting the cost of a plan with unlimited data is much more affordable than paying for it all on your own. Pass on name brands Every grocery store has its own line of products, and they’re usually cheaper than the big name brands we all recognize. A lot of times the ingredients in these products are exactly the same. Skip name brand items at the grocery store to save up more money every week for music lessons. You can also apply this tip to shopping for clothes every little bit helps. Save the infographic below as a visual reminder and watch your savings add up! Share This Image On Your Site Please include attribution to TakeLessons.com with this graphic. a href=https://takelessons.com/blog/why-are-music-lessons-so-expensive-z15img src=https://takelessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ways-to-save-up.png alt=Why are music lessons so expensive/a With the right tips and tricks, anyone can afford music lessons. Yes, music lessons can be expensive. But don’t let money stand in the way of you reaching your goals and dreams. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible! Want one more way to make music lessons even more affordable? Start out with online group classes, as opposed to private lessons. At just $19.95 a month for new students, TakeLessons Live offers group classes in many instruments and skills, from ukulele to music theory. Plus, you’ll get a whole month’s worth of classes for free when you sign up. Try it today!

10 French Grammar Mistakes Youre Probably Making

10 French Grammar Mistakes Youre Probably Making Suzy S. Mastering all of the French grammar rules can be tricky for beginner students. Below, French teacher Carol Beth L. shares 10 French grammar mistakes youre probably making Making mistakes is inevitable when youre learning a new language. After all, youre learning  complex grammar rules, difficult pronunciation, and long lists of vocabulary words. Students  often make the same French grammar mistakes over and over again. Being aware of these common grammar mistakes will help you  avoid them in the future. Below are some of the  most common French grammar mistakes students  find themselves making, even when they are familiar with the rules. The first few mistakes relate to specific phrases that students have a tendency to misuse, while the rest deal with grammatical patterns that are quite  complex. 1. Greetings In English, when you greet someone in the early morning hours, you typically say “Good morning.” This English greeting doesnt translate literally in French. In fact, the phrase “Bon matin” does not actually exist in the French language. Rather, one would simply say “Bonjour!” when greeting someone. 2. Translations A number of other literal translations can also be tempting. For example, you might want to  express your interest in hobbies, people, and activities. Be careful not to  literally translate the English phrase “I am interested in” into French (eg, Je suis interessée dans). Instead, say “Ça minteresse” (That interests me) or “____ minteresse” (____ interests me). 3. Subject/Object To correctly state that you  miss someone, use the verb “se manquer.” If you want to say “I miss you,” say “Tu me manques.” To say “He misses us,” say “Nous lui manquons.”  Remember that  the English subject and object switch places when translated into French. 4. Agreement Remember to make adjectives properly agree with feminine or plural nouns. For example, the adjective amusant (funny) would be changed to amusante in the feminine singular and amusantes in the feminine plural. In English,  adjectives dont usually change based on the gender or number, so its easy for students  to forget this important French grammar rule. 5. Articles French has more articles than English. Both languages use a and the, but French has separate articles to denote masculine, feminine, and plural of each one. Recall, however, that no neuter exists among French pronouns or articles. For example, a table is most definitely feminine, whereas the wall beside it is quite masculine. In addition to having more articles, French also uses articles more frequently than English. In English, for example, you  would say that We meet regularly on Mondays, but French-speakers would use the appropriate article, saying on se rencontre régulièrement le lundi. 6. Prepositions Remember to use the  correct preposition and  include the appropriate article contraction when necessary. In theory, French prepositions are easier than English prepositions because there are fewer of the most common ones. For example, De translates to of or from, and à  translates to to, at, and sometimes other related location or movement prepositions. A few places to watch out are when youre talking about playing musical instruments (Je joue dun instrument) and sports (Je joue à un sport). Also, be extra careful with those  pesky articles! Relevant contractions include du (de + le), des (de + les), au (à + le) and aux (à + les). De, la, and à la do not contract. 7. Negative Articles Use “il ny a pas de” rather than  â€œil y a pas de”. When using “de” or “de” + an article in the negative, remember that French has lots of exceptions! This is one of them. If there is zero  of something, take out the article. For example, someone could say “Il y a du pain sur la table” (There is bread on the table). In the negative, this would become “Il ny a pas de pain sur la table,” not “Il ny a pas du pain sur la table.” 8. Conjugated Verbs Remember to conjugate your verbs. While we do this  in the English language, its  not as much or in as much detail as French-speakers. This is especially important when youre writing because all those silent final consonants and vowels need attention. The singular forms are the most similar in present tense, but are not always spelled the same, so watch out! 9. Passé composé/ Imparfait The  English distinction between the present perfect and the simple past isnt exactly the same as the French distinction between these two tenses. The passé composé is very commonly used for one-time events in the past. For example, Jai fait mes devoirs hier soir. (I did my homework last night.) The imperfect is used more often for something a person used to do over a period of time in the past. For example, Je faisais mes devoirs tous les jours. (I did my homework every day.) 10. Subjunctive The subjunctive is one of the most difficult verbs in French, if not the most difficult because we dont use it often in English. Many of us anglophones arent even aware of the fact that we use it at all. The first step is to understand the situations in which it is used, and then practice, observe, and correct oneself. Then practice some more, and observe some more, and correct oneself more. Give yourself time to perfect this French grammar rule, but also insist on understanding and using it correctly. Gradually, you will be able to use it successfully. These  arent  the only French grammar mistakes out there, but they are certainly worthy of attention. Keep your eyes open and your ears peeled for other mistakes, and correct them when you can. In no time, you will  be well on your way to excellent (and impressive) French usage! Post Author:  Carol Beth L. Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth 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

Add Flavor to Your Playing With These 7 Guitar Chords

Add Flavor to Your Playing With These 7 Guitar Chords The Major 7 Chord (maj7) Sign up successful Here is the chord progression I-IV-I-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works: Key of C: Cmaj7 â€" Fmaj7 â€" Cmaj7 â€" G7 â€" Cmaj7 Key of G: Gmaj7 â€" Cmaj7 â€" Gmaj7 â€" D7 â€" Gmaj7 Key of D: Dmaj7 â€" Gmaj7 â€" Dmaj7 â€" A7 â€" Dmaj7 Key of A: Amaj7 â€" Dmaj7 â€" Amaj7 â€" E7 â€" Amaj7 Notice that the V chord is a dominant 7 chord not a maj7 (i.e. G7 not Gmaj7.) The Add 9 Chord (add9) The add 9 chord, like the major 6 can be used to replace most major chords. Here are some examples of open position add 9 chords. The D chord in this example is actually a D2 chord because it is missing the 3rd of the chord, but it can function in the same way.   Here is the chord progression I-IV-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works. Key of C: C(add9) â€" F(add9) â€" G(add9) â€" C(add9) Key of G: G(add9) â€" C(add9) â€" D7 â€" G(add9) Key of D: D2 â€" G(add9) â€" A(add9) â€" D2 Key of A: A(add9) â€" D2 â€" E(add9) â€" A(add9) The Major 9 Chord (maj9) The major 9 chord is almost identical to the add 9 chord except we have both the 7th and 9th in the chord.   Here are some examples of open position major 9 chords. Here is the chord progression I-IV-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works.   I have mixed major 7 and major 9 chords so you can practice both. Key of C: Cmaj9 â€" Fmaj7 â€" G(add9) â€" Cmaj9 Key of G: Gmaj9 â€" Cmaj7 â€" D2 â€" Gmaj9 Key of D: Dmaj9 â€" Gmaj7 â€" A(add9) â€" Dmaj9 Key of A: Amaj9 â€" Dmaj7 â€" E(add9) â€" Amaj9 The Major 6 Chord (6) The major 6 chord can be used to replace almost any major chord.   Here are the six most common open position major 6 chords. Here is the chord progression I-IV-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works: Key of C: C6 â€" F6 â€" G6 â€" C6 Key of G: G6 â€" C6 â€" D6 â€" G6 Key of D: D6 â€" G6 â€" A6 â€" D6 Key of A: A6 â€" D6 â€" E6 â€" A6 You may want to compare this to the sound of the same progression using the major 9 chords above.   Also, if you replace the V chord with a V7 chord you will find the progression has a stronger pull back to I. The Minor 7 Chord (m7) The minor 7 chord can be used to replace most minor chords.   As an added benefit, the minor 7 built off from the ii chord can also be used to replace the IV chord.   Here are five open position minor 7 chords. Here is the chord progression vi-ii-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works: Key of C: Am7 â€" Dm7 â€" G7 â€" Cmaj7 Key of G: Em7 â€" Am7 â€" D7 â€" Gmaj7 Key of D: Bm7 â€" Em7 â€" A7 â€" Dmaj7 Key of A: F#m7 â€" Bm7 â€" E7 Amaj7 The Minor 9 Chord (m9) The minor 9 chord can be used to replace the ii chord or vi chord in major keys.   Here are some examples of open position minor 9 chords. Note: the Dm(add9) is not a true minor 9 chord because it is missing the 3rd of the chord and is therefore a little less dissonant, but it will function in the same way.   Here is the chord progression vi-ii-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works: Key of C: Am9 â€" Dm(add9) â€" G7 â€" Cmaj9 Key of G: Em9 â€" Am9 â€" D7 â€" Gmaj9 Key of D: Bm9 â€" Em9 â€" A7 â€" Dmaj9 Key of A: F#m7 â€" Bm9 â€" E7 Amaj9 The Dominant 9 Chord (V9) The dominant 9 chord can be used to replace a V chord.   Here are some examples of open position dominant 9 chords. Here is the chord progression vi-ii-V-I in a few keys to show you how it works: Key of C: Am9 â€" Dm(add9) â€" G9 â€" Cmaj9 Key of G: Em9 â€" Am9 â€" D9 â€" Gmaj9 Key of D: Bm9 â€" Em9 â€" A9 â€" Dmaj9 Key of A: F#m7 â€" Bm9 â€" E9 Amaj9 I hope this introduction into some common open position jazz guitar chords has sparked your interest in the beauty and variety available in these chords.   By using your capo you can take these chords and extend them into any key.   Or you may wish to study the moveable versions of each of these chords so you can use them in higher positions on the guitar.   Keep practicing and you will have mastered a whole new universe of chords, sounds and styles. Looking for one-on-one instruction? Whether youre a beginner, intermediate, or advanced guitarist there is always more to learn, and a great teacher can help guide you to the next level in your playing.  Search for a guitar teacher today! Jerry W. teaches classical guitar, composition, trombone and  trumpet  in Grosse Pointe, MI.  He received his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from  Cornerstone University and went on to receive both his Masters and PhD in Music Composition from  Michigan State University.  Jerry has been making music and teaching students for over thirty years.    Learn more about Jerry W. 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 Tom Marcello

Guitar Tips Tricks Our Best Advice from 2012

Guitar Tips Tricks Our Best Advice from 2012 Suzy S. This week were rounding up best of the best! If you missed some of our guitar tips and tricks from the past year, dont worry. Check out the most popular posts from 2012 here 5 Things That Challenge Even the Best Guitar Newbies Practice Tips: Exercises and Guitars for Small Hands Learn to Play 20 Songs Using 5 Easy Chords 4 Essential Guitar Chord Progressions for Beginners 5 Common Mistakes of Beginner Guitarists 5 Ways to Practice Without Your Guitar 10 Quick Guitar Exercises for the Busy Musician 4 Things You May Be Doing Wrong at Gigs 5 Guitar Gadgets That Will Change Your Life 5 Killer Tips for Mastering   Guitar Chords Photo by BrianYuen Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of prescreened teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

6 Things I can do when Im bored at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 6 Things I can do when I’m bored at Work - Introvert Whisperer 6 Things I can do when I’m bored at Work It’s one thing to be in a job that moves fast and has a certain amount of stress but when you’re bored at work that is something else entirely.  A boring job means that you don’t have enough mental stimulation to keep you and your mind active.      The days drag on forever and eventually, you feel like you’re going nowhere.  What do you do when your work has become too routine making it boring, uninteresting and something you dread going to? There are some things you can do to kick it up a notch and get reignited by what you do each day â€" but more than likely you’re going to have to be the one to make that happen.  Here are some tips for turning boring into brilliant: Improve things.  In most businesses, many things can stand to be improved.  Improvement can mean anything from a more efficient and faster way of getting something done all the way to automating something that was done manually.  Pick out a couple of things that could stand to be done better and be the champion for improvement. Change your routine.  Certainly, there may be some tasks that have to be completed at a certain time but many things can shift based on your own schedule.  Figure out a different timing.  Look to see if you could do certain things once a week versus daily and if not weekly then at a different frequency. Ask to do more.  Chances are if you’re bored, you don’t have enough to keep you working all day.  Look around to see if someone needs to offload their work to lighten the load or look for something that might be neglected that you could do. Learn new things.  There are functions in your business you may know little about.  Take it upon yourself to go learn what those functions are.  In the process, you may pick up a new skill or be positioned to take on some new activities.  You might also look into taking a class to learn new skills that would be useful in your company. Trade jobs.  You might work in an area where each person has a related position and work to do.  Check out these other jobs and suggest to a peer that you might trade jobs for a quarter simply to give the work you do a fresh set of eyes.  You will most likely need to run this by the boss but if you work out the details, it makes agreement easier to get to.  No matter how similar your jobs are, they will still be different enough to give you some mental stimulation.  Who knows, you might find it really interesting? Go the extra mile.  I’ve seen employees be bored and they can easily become lazy.  Don’t let that be you.  Anytime you are asked to do something, see what else you can do to help the person that asked.  Add value beyond the request.  This way you won’t slip into laziness and you will find trying to figure out how to go above and beyond almost like a game. You can’t rely on the boss to turn boring into anything better.  You have to do it for yourself.  You know your work better than anyone else and because you do, you can turn that boring job into interesting.  The bonus to your effort is that people who take initiative are usually rewarded. Want the fast track to your next promotion? I’ve developed a new, live training that begins in April called: “Lead Like You Mean It” Leadership Development Program.  You owe it to yourself to check this out now: https://introvertwhisperer.leadpages.co/leadlikeyoumeanitpilot/

Kissing Strangers - Listening Exercise

Kissing Strangers - Listening Exercise I watched this video and it made me smile, so I thought I should share it with our students. The kissers have a lot of interesting questions due to the awkwardness of the situation, so it makes a good English  listening exercise.It also is an interesting study in human intimacy.Try the listening exercise and the writing, enjoy!)1. Do we ________ do this anytime? 2. Can you ____ __ the lights? 3. Shall we ____ ___? 4. Since your an actor, _______ ____ this before? 5. What was your name, _______? 6. Are we good to ____? 7. Nice to ____ you. Yes, a _____. 8. _____ we make-out more?Writing Exercise: Would you ever do this experiment? Why or why not? Does it feel different because it is actually a commercial? How do you feel about the relationships between the kissers before and after their kisses? What do you think has changed?

Tips for Keeping Your Childs Brain in Shape Over Summer Break

Tips for Keeping Your Child’s Brain in Shape Over Summer Break Many parents have probably heard the term regression before, but what exactly does it mean? Regression is the loss of academic knowledge learned during the school year, also known as the summer slide. According to Co-Founder and CEO, Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center, with a little effort, parents can prevent their children from regressing over summer break. It is easier than most parents think to help their children engage in regular educational activities, Huntington says. Need ideas? Here are several tips to help children keep learning this summer: Enjoy summer reading. Its on every list of top summer learning activities for good reason. Reading is perhaps the easiest way to keep up those literacy skillsand the most fun. Let your child choose the reading material and make it a daily activity. Take regular trips to the library and consider giving small incentives for milestones reached (e.g. each book, every 200 pages, etc.). Review last years assignments. For subjects like math especially, one of the best ways to maintain those math building skills is to review/redo old problems. Before that final school bell rings, ask your childs teacher for copies of worksheets and other assignments completed during the school year. Sort them into labeled folders for each week of summer and have your child review something every weekday, or at least several assignments each week. Review last years textbooks. If you purchased textbooks for language, math, social studies, and science and theyre yours to keep, dont throw them into the recycling bin. A quick call to the teacher should give you what you need in terms of the chapters covered this year and what would be best to review over summer break, but if school is out already and you forgot to do so, simply divide the texts pages evenly and plan to have your child read sections each day. Embrace the something learned each day mantra. Keeping the brain in shape is like keeping the body in shape: daily effort adds up to a lasting difference. For some children, a more flexible approach to summer learning will work better than textbooks and worksheets. Encourage your child to spend 30 minutes a day learning something new and keep a journal about those experiences. This gives him or her the freedom to chase those curiosities while acquiring new knowledge. Provide your child a list of questions to spark ideas, which might include the following: What have I always wanted to know about a favorite book, author, subject, or city? How are a type of vehicle, a type of food, a musical instrument made? How was a type of technology or other invention first created or invented and by whom? Who discovered constellations, South America, sharks, how to make paper and how? Huntington reminds parents that the summer slide is preventable and can be reversed. What parents dont always realize is that summer tutoring is the best opportunity for children to overcome learning challenges or get ahead for the next school year, she says. With a more relaxed schedule and no pressure of homework and other obligations, theres time for children to pinpoint the subjects that are troubling them most and make big strides between now and the start of next school year. For more suggestions on how to help your child retain everything he or she learned throughout the school year and overcome any problem areas, call 1 800 CAN LEARN. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

What to do when you receive a job offer

What to do when you receive a job offer It’s an exciting time of the year at Teach Away. Plenty of interview sessions for positions beginning this summer are wrapping up, and schools overseas are weighing their hiring options. In turn, successful Teach Away applicants will be officially offered education positions abroad. In the case you’re a successful Teach Away candidate, there are some essential to-dos when you’re extended a job offer. In some cases, you may even be offered more than one position, so even though you may have a preconceived idea of where you want to live and teach, it will still be important to be thorough in considering each opportunity to make sure you’re making the right decision. Here are our job offer to-dos: Be excited. Getting word that you’ve officially been extended an offer to pursue a new career opportunity makes for a thrilling day. Soak it in and be relieved that all of your hard work has paid off, but make sure the offer is what you were expecting. Confirm that the offer’s details are in line with your career goals as well as the information you were given through the application process. Review the offer letter with a fine-toothed comb. Prior to signing anything, be thorough in checking over every section of your offer letter from salary to details about contract termination. You’ll want to make sure there are no surprises and that you understand the finer details of your potential employment term. See our Contracts 101 resource for more on what should be included in your offer letter and contract. Contact your Teach Away placement coordinator. You may have some questions or concerns to address after receiving your offer and having a look at the contract. Your PC is the best person to be in touch with. He or she is familiar not only with the Teach Away hiring process, but with the hiring organization as well. Keep in mind that Teach Away PCs are teachers who have been in your shoes - they’ve taught overseas themselves and will be happy to chat about the wonderful world of teaching abroad with you. Celebrate! I won’t tell you how to do this one, but make sure you give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the experience. Congratulations, you deserve it.