Learning Chinese With a Chinese Tutor

Learning Chinese With a Chinese TutorIf you are considering a Chinese tutoring service for your child in Salt Lake City, you will find that the best ones are located in this city. The rest of Utah is far away from the main attractions in this beautiful city. Most of the individuals who live here have a full-time job that makes it very difficult to travel and come back for an afternoon lesson.Not many people know how to cope with being away from their children and their family members for long periods of time. The practical part of life makes it hard for the parents and grandparents. You will find that the stress of not knowing what happens next is getting worse. One good thing is that there are some good alternatives for a Chinese tutor in Salt Lake City.These are top people who want to make things easier for you and your family. With a little bit of time and effort, you can make a connection with one of these people who will give you the best possible Chinese tutoring experience. So me of them are willing to drive to your home if you do not have time to make the trip and they will also be able to pick up your child whenever he or she wants to.You will find that there are many classes that they teach, and the topics are varied and interesting such as the Christian Bible, religious topics, the history of the world, the philosophy of life, etc. They will also help to make sure that your child gets the correct pronunciation and grammar of any word that he or she does not know. You will find that the most important part of learning the language is the ability to make your child speak the way you want him or her to speak.You will find that there are a large number of talented and knowledgeable people in this city who love to help others. You will find that many of these tutors speak English as their second language, but they still maintain their ability to understand and interact with their students. With a Chinese tutor, your child will learn a new language and have fun at the same time.If you live in Utah, you will find that the main attractions in this city are the popular tourist spots. This means that you may spend a great deal of time driving around and trying to get to the attractions in this beautiful city. You will find that it is easy to lose your concentration if you are running late to get back to your home.You will find that there are many things to do and see with your child, and it is a challenge to get him or her to concentrate on all of them. You will find that your child will be tired and grouchy when the day is over. However, with a Chinese tutor in Salt Lake City, this doesn't happen.The good thing about these tutors is that they will focus your child's attention and your focus is directed at teaching your child to speak Chinese. You will find that there are many things that you will enjoy doing with your child. You will learn so much from the Chinese lessons and many of the other activities that are included.

The Beginnings of a New Career - Tutoring in Garden Grove

The Beginnings of a New Career - Tutoring in Garden GroveThe term tutoring in garden grove is becoming more popular in the industry. This is because not only is it a convenient term to use, but it has great meanings and positive suggestions of what people can expect.Tutoring in garden grove means that you are the tutor for someone who is quite an advanced level of learning. It also means that you will work with a person who has difficulties with the language skills they have, but who can also communicate their ideas well in the face of communication problems that they may be having.The tutor will work on building their confidence and self-esteem and this will also help them learn to function more effectively in life. After all, who doesn't want to help someone in need?A professional tutor in garden grove should provide you with a tutor assistant who is very knowledgeable about language and communication, but most importantly it should be a person who really cares about helping others . They must not only be interested in helping others, but they must also care about helping people in their own life as well. Some may see this as being a real challenge for this type of mentor, but most of these professionals are great at helping others in many different areas.If you choose to be a tutor in garden grove, then you will be able to help others in some form or another. These could be at school, university, the workplace, a hospital, a daycare centre, or even in the community. You may be given a job which involves helping to tutor, which makes this career so much more practical for everyone involved.Tutoring in garden grove has come a long way since the days when tutors sat in a classroom to give lessons to students who couldn't speak English. Nowadays there are tutors in many different fields and professions who are able to give a tutor service, whether that be helping someone with their personal or educational needs. Many people are now taking advantage of the teachin g and learning benefits of tutoring in garden grove by finding a way to gain more skills in the field of education.As a professional tutor in garden grove, you will usually find yourself working as part of a team. This is a good thing, as teamwork is usually the best way to get things done. There will also be many times when you may need to find out more information about the qualifications and experience that you may have before you start your career, but in most cases this will be fairly easy to find out.

The Ohio State University A Student Interview

The Ohio State University A Student Interview The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Shane received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fine Art and his Master of Arts in Education from The Ohio State University. He is currently a tutor in Columbus specializing in Art History, GED prep, PARCC prep, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at The Ohio State University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Shane: The campus is huge, with its own bus system that students use to get around. I sold the car I had in high school before I started college, and I didnt need another car until I graduated. I did have a bike for getting to class every day, but for long distances, the buses were reliable enough. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Shane: It depends on the class. My art and education classes were small, and the professors spent a lot of time with individuals. My biology class had hundreds ofstudents in it, so the professor had no time for individuals, and the teaching assistants didnt always know the answers to questions. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Shane: I enjoyed living in the dorms. The food was excellent. I was placed with two roommates by the housing program. We didnt get along, but I met someone in my first class who disliked his roommate too. We lived together for the next three years, and that made college much more fun. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Shane: The Ohio State University has a program of distinction in almost every area. I went for Art Education. The art school is highly ranked among public universities, as is the art education department. The Ohio State University also has top-ranked law, business, psychology, social work, engineering, and math programs, among many others, Im sure. The Ohio State University is a public Ivy. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Shane: Greek life is common at The Ohio State University. I didnt involve myself with Greek life in any way, and I still had friends. The people in my program were like me, so we became close. I made friends with people in my dorm, as well. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Shane: I didnt get recruited, and I dont know anyone who did. The Career Center didnt help me one bit, but thats okay. A goal is more meaningful when achieved alone. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Shane: All of these spaces are available, easy to get to, and big enough to accommodate many students. The library is the best place to study. The student union is more like a mall food court. Dorm lounges can get noisy, but every dorm has a study area in the basement. Describe the surrounding town. Shane: Columbus, Ohio, is the Paris of the Midwest. It was recently ranked as a Smart City by the Intelligent Community Forum, and it is a place of endless diversity and progressivism. Anyone can do anything they please in public, as long as its legal. No one will bat an eye, probably because they saw something weirder five minutes ago. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Shane: In my program, class sizes were small, but I know many of the more profitable programs have fewer professors and many, many students. The student body is very large. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Shane: I took a class on art criticism from Terry Barrett, who has written quite a bit on the subject, and it totally changed how I look at art. It was comforting to know that all this crazy, new stuff I was hearing was coming from the man who changed how art is taught in every classroom in the country. It was like learning physics from Isaac Newton. Check out Shanes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Guitar Moves That Sound Hard But Are Actually Easy

5 Guitar Moves That Sound Hard But Are Actually Easy Megan L. Have you ever heard a guitar lick that sounded crazy complicated? Guitar teacher  Christopher S.    explains how some of the hardest sounding techniques can actually be easy once you try them When taking up the challenge of learning to play the guitar, I strongly recommend finding the skills and techniques that you are best at and using them  to create the music you love. There is an endless amount of sounds which you can create with the guitar, and if you have the skills to produce them, you will have so many options literally at your fingertips! Below,  I will discuss different techniques that sound hard to play on the guitar, but with time and discipline, they are actually quite simple. I want to emphasis that some of these techniques may come naturally to you, and some may not. In my experience, it is better to take the ones that come naturally, as you will make the best music with them, and to give the others more time for practice. For example, you may be great at fingerpicking guitar licks  on the guitar right away. Or, you may be incredibly fast at picking with a pick after just a few hours. Whatever the technique, I say learn as many songs as you can using that technique. Make the music that works best in your fingers, and don’t fret too much over  a technique that is giving you frustration. So, lets buckle up and get ready to do some “wood-shedding.” 1.  Power Chords (Drop-D Tuning) A power chord is one of the most common  chord shapes on the guitar. It is easy enough to create, it is easy to move on the neck, and it sounds good in almost any style of music. The shape of the power chord looks like this, with your index finger on the low E string and your ring finger on the A string. This happens to be a G power chord. You can also put your pinky on the D string, right below your third finger to give it some more “power.” The rest of the strings are muted. This chord shape is important to learn on the guitar, because it is used to play millions of songs. However, your fingers can get tired in some kinds of music (such as  punk rock or heavy metal) when trying to imitate and play the songs of these experienced guitar players. To help you in playing those quick power chord changes on the guitar, here is a trick that you  can use to make changing power chords a breeze. Known as “Drop-D tuning,” you literally take the low E string and “drop” or tune it down a whole-step, so that it becomes another D string. By doing this, you can play your power chord shape with one finger instead of three! The shape now looks like this. On the recordings of bands that use this tuning, such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, or The Foo Fighters, these  chords sound complicated. However, little did you know that they  were actually playing all of those chords with just one finger! An example of a song which uses a power chord shape with this drop-D tuning is the song Hollywood by Nickelback. This song would be quite difficult if it were all played in standard tuning; however, in drop-D tuning, it is really quite easy to play! Here is the tab to help you learn  it. 2.  Fingerpicking Fingerpicking is something that always boggles people. It is really not as hard as some make it sound; however, it does take some disciplined practice if you want it to sound good. To develop  this technique, I often recommend to my students to learn  songs by The Beatles. Although sometimes they say, “Oh, that song is way beyond my skill level,” the songs are really quite simple to play. Take the song Blackbird, for example. The tune sounds like it is quite a difficult fingerpicking pattern; however, because you rarely change the strings that you are picking, it is actually quite simple to play.  The majority of the song is picked on the A, B, and G strings. The right hand always uses the pattern of thumb  and middle  finger together and then index  finger after. That is the whole picking pattern throughout the entire song. Beyond that, all you have to do is move the left-hand position. Here is the tab to Blackbird.  Try the  picking-pattern, and see how it works throughout the entire song. 3.  Alternate Picking This is a technique that will take some time to really master, but after you learn it, you will be playing the guitar faster than ever! The technique is basically how it sounds. When you are picking a crazy-fast solo on the guitar, your notes will come out much faster if you pick alternatively, rather than picking in one direction all the time. When you pick one note in a downward direction, the next note you should pick in an upward direction.  See the diagram below for a representation of this movement. Snow (Hey Oh)  by The Red Hot Chili Peppers is a good song to see how fast your picking can be, after you get the hang of alternate picking by practicing with scales. The guitar line sounds difficult; however, if you have the alternate picking technique down really well, then this song will be as easy as pie. Here are the tabs to start learning how to play the main riff! -I-I -I-I -44h6h4-444h6h4I-66h8h6I 666-666-I44h6h4488-8-I 67-I-666-6/9-I -I-7I Here is a  link to the entire tab. 4.  The “Pick Squeal” Also known as the “Pick Harmonic,” this  is a common guitar technique that came out of the music from the 80s and 90s and from the abundance of guitar solos in this time period. The sound is a high, screechy sound, but it sounds great if you’ve got the right amount of distortion  when  playing rock’n roll music. Hold  the pick so that there is only a small section of the tip showing. Then, as you pick the note in the same stroke, touch the side of your thumb on the string, but dont hold it there. Continue the stroke so your thumb only touches the string for a second. Where you pick the string has a big effect on the sound that comes out, and every guitar has a different hot spot. Experiment a bit to find your guitars best location. Generally the hot spot is near the pick-ups of your guitar. It will take some time to learn this technique, so dont get discouraged trying to make the sound in the beginning. Just have some fun, and your guitar will soon be squealing! One group that frequently used this technique is the infamous Eddie Van Halen. You can hear Eddie squealing away on the song Jamie’s Cryin’. Here is a video of some awesome pick-squealing solos. Here is also the tab for this song. 5.  Sweep Picking This guitar technique sounds difficult, and in fact it is a bit difficult, at first. However, with the right amount of practice and a loose wrist, you can actually begin  to play awesome-sounding fast sweeps before you know it! Sweep picking is a technique used mainly in heavy metal music, in which you play arpeggios at an incredibly fast speed. This makes your music sound awesome and really makes you sound like a pro with really very little effort. To achieve  this technique, lets begin  with the right hand. Simply take your pick and pick up three, four, or five strings (however big the “sweep” is). Then, when you get to the lowest string, simply pick downward until  you are back at the high string (high E string). And that is it! You are simply  moving the pick upward and then downward on three, four, or five  strings. These are known as 3-string, 4-string, or 5-string sweeps. In the left hand, you make an arpeggio shape, and you generally have a pull-off on the high or low string of the arpeggio. A great example of sweep picking  can be heard in the song  Altitudes by Jason Becker. Here are the tabs to his solo, which occurs at 2:05 in the song. He plays them very fast, and I know they look intimidating, but just take them as exercises. Try playing the first arpeggio very slowly with the right hand technique I described above, and don’t forget to include hammer-on’s and pull-off’s on any consecutive notes on the same string (unless otherwise marked with a slide “/“ marking). Do the exercises slowly at first, and then gradually build up speed and you will soon be sweep picking just like Becker! You can find a site to the complete tab here. Think youve mastered these moves on your guitar? Getting some feedback and advice  from a qualified guitar teacher can be the key to taking your guitar  skills to the next level.  Search for your teacher  today! Post Author:  Christopher S. Christopher S. teaches bass guitar, guitar, and composition in Jamaica Plain, MA. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University  and is currently atttending New England Conservatory for his Master of Music degree. Christopher has been teaching students since 2004.  Learn more about Christopher S. 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

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Video Guitar Lessons

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Video Guitar Lessons Sign up successful Perhaps the most important aspect of in-person lessons with a guitar teacher is that you have an informed pair of eyes watching you play. When something isn’t going the way it needs to, you have an outside observer who can point it out to you. With a teacher’s guidance, you’ll begin to learn to correct mistakes on your own. Lessons Arent Tailored to Your Individual Needs Pre-recorded video guitar lessons are specifically made to be applicable to thousands of students with different learning styles. But the most effective guitar lessons aren’t one-size-fits-all, cookie cutter plans taken one after another. Each student has different ambitions and will need different “stepping stones” to achieve them.   What one student finds impossible to overcome, another student might breeze through with little thought.  Without a good teacher to help plan a course of action, students frequently jump between pieces that are either too easy or too difficult. They have trouble gradually building their skills.  A teacher will notice where a student’s struggles lie and recommend music to practice that will build those skills. You Might Pick up Bad Habits When learning a new chord or song, beginners tend to play however it feels “right” to them. If playing with a certain fingering feels correct, a student has no reason to think they should be playing it differently. Even if they notice something is off, on their own, they rarely know what to replace the incorrect habit with. This is another reason why it can be dangerous to learn the guitar without any feedback from a live instructor. A teacher is often the sole voice of clarity for students who naturally revert back to motions that their hands are familiar with. If you’re learning from video guitar lessons alone, it can be easy to fall into the habit of playing something the wrong way, just because it “feels easier.” When working with a private teacher, you’ll learn new ways to to master tricky concepts more efficiently. SEE ALSO: 10 Things to Look for in a Guitar Teacher You Might Become Discouraged When attempting to learn the guitar from videos alone, self-taught students are more prone to choosing a song that is too difficult for their skill level. These students often get frustrated and discouraged when their playing doesn’t sound as good as they want it to right off the bat. In the rare case that a student begins with something easy, they frequently move on too soon and jump to something much harder right away. Ninety percent of the time when you speak to people who have given up the guitar, it’s because they tried to teach themselves.   Dont Miss Out on Music Theory! Music theory is a necessity when learning how to play the guitar. Most video guitar lessons either focus on a specific technique, or exclusively on theory. But to really understand music theory, it has to be tied into the music! Students understand theory best if it’s a part of their musical language and expression from the beginning. If as a beginner, you focus on watching YouTube tutorials for all your favorite songs, you are bound to miss out on a deeper understanding of the music itself. Learning music theory is like learning a foreign language. Because music theory can be difficult to understand, it’s best to learn in an interactive environment where you have the ability to ask questions. Try taking online music theory classes from a live instructor and you’ll find yourself learning much quicker than with pre-recorded lessons. In Conclusion With the help of a guitar teacher, you have a much greater shot as musical success. Video guitar lessons are best when used as a supplemental tool in between private lessons. Your teacher can help protect you from bad advice, which is abounding online (some of which can even cause injury). Don’t keep trying to press forward on your own when excellent, reliable help is so readily available! Find a trusted and qualified guitar teacher near you and start your guitar learning journey on the right foot. Post Author:  Kirk R. Kirk is a classical and acoustic guitar instructor in Athens, GA. He holds a Bachelors and Masters of music in Guitar Performance, and has been teaching guitar since 2011 to students of all ages.  Learn more about Kirk  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

English Spelling Rules for ESOL Learners

English Spelling Rules for ESOL Learners The Most Important Spelling Rules in English to Help You Progress Faster ChaptersThe Logic of English Spelling RulesThe 10 Most Common Spelling Mistakes in EnglishRules of English SpellingLearn English Spelling: UK vs the USChoosing the Right English Dictionary for YouWith its international status and easy conjugation, English is a brilliant language to learn, whether you learn english online or face to face.Gaining reading and writing skills with the possibility of achieving fluency in any language is highly beneficial for the future prospects of the learners, as acquiring valuable language skills is a small step in promoting healthy intercultural relations.However, there is one particularly tricky aspect of the English language, which causes all manner of problems for those learning English as a second language, as well as native English speakers.The offender is English spelling.With its silent letters making new words difficult to pronounce, and several different pronunciations for words ending in o-u-g-h, English spelling is anything but phonetic.The way that ‘tough’ rhymes with ‘rough’, but it doesn’t rhyme with ‘though’ is enough to make anyone dizzy.English also features silent letters, which appear in the spelling of a word but are not said aloud.Some examples of silent letters include the letter ‘K’ in ‘knife’ and ‘knead’, as well as the ‘G’ in ‘gnarl’ and ‘gnat’.Even the many English dictionaries on the market can’t seem to completely agree when it comes to the spelling of certain words, and whether compound words like ‘makeup’ should feature a hyphen to become ‘make-up’.From Westminster to Washington DC and beyond - English is an international language ¦ source: Pixabay - derwikiThe interestingness of English spelling is largely due to the early origins of the English language, as well as more recent variations that have surfaced with English being spoken in North America.English started life as, and still technically is, a part of the Germanic family of languages.But the N orman invasion of 1066 brought a Latin influence across the channel, which had a lasting impact on English language and how language was used within society at that time.When you learn to speak English as a foreign language, it is about more than your conversational English skills, listening comprehension and getting the hang of the latest slang to make an impression in your English lessons.Being able to speak English fluently isn't the be-all and end-all of acing your English course.As a non native English learner, knowing how to read and write in good English is an essential part of using English in every aspect of communication, and will stand you in good stead if you take any written exams in English.Its rich yet somewhat rocky history is what makes some aspects of English challenging, but it is nevertheless a truly unique language and a joy to learn!Shoe ? ShoesPhotograph ? PhotographsAngel ? AngelsHowever, this rule is only general, and there is a whole host of exceptions.Than kfully, since most of these exceptions follow the same pattern, you can easily learn how they work.Rules are made to be broken, and they definitely are in English spelling! ¦ source: Pixabay - MoneyforCoffeeLet’s start with words ending in ‘Y’.For words ending in a consonant followed by ‘Y’, you remove the Y and add ‘i-e-s’:Pony ? PoniesCompany ? CompaniesParties ? PartiesThe exception to this rule is the less common words which end with a vowel before the Y follow the usual rule or simply adding an ‘S’.Bay ? BaysKey ? KeysPlay ? PlaysSo, even though, as a speaker of another language, English spelling may seem to make people bend over backwards with its traps and inconsistencies, they’re not always too difficult to get the hang of.Another exception to standard pluralisation is words which already end in ‘S’, like ‘bus’, for example.The rule for pluralising these words is that you add ‘es’ instead of just ‘S’, and it applies to words ending in ‘ s-s’, ‘Z’, ‘c-h’, ‘s-h’ and ‘X’, too.Bus ? BusesKiss ? KissesWaltz ? WaltzesMatch ? MatchesBrush ? BrushesTax ? TaxesThis part of the pluralisation rule isn’t so difficult to remember since these words are nearly impossible to pronounce without the additional ‘E’ to facilitate a consonant.Learn English Spelling: UK vs the USAs English has become so widely spoken, there are areas where populations have adapted and added to the language to create their own version of English.This is particularly notable in the USA, where variant spellings have gained status as a standardised version of English.According to Oxford Dictionaries, these differences have arisen because British English has kept the original spellings of the words it has acquired from other languages, such as French in particular, whereas American English has adapted spellings to better reflect the way words are pronounced.One of the most noticeable of these variations is in words ending in ‘r-e’ in English, which American English spells ‘e-r’.The reason for this is exactly as Oxford Dictionaries explains: British English has stuck with the French spelling.FrenchBritish EnglishAmerican EnglishCentreCentreCenterThéâtreTheatreTheaterMètreMetreMeterOther examples of spellings that have been altered by US English are words which feature the vowels ‘O’ and ‘U’ side by side British English, but where the ‘U’ has been omitted in the American versions of these words.British EnglishAmerican EnglishColourColorHonourHonorNeighbourNeighborRegarding this phenomenon, BBC America explains that, just like the change in spelling of words ending in ‘r-e’, the omission of the letter ‘U’ was a deliberate change to make words better reflect their pronunciation.Removing the ‘U’ from words such as ‘color’ was to help differentiate them from words containing ‘o-u-r’ but which were pronounced differently, as ‘ower’.For example, ‘colour’ and ‘flour’ end with the same letters, but the ‘o-u-r’ in ‘flour’ is pronounced as ‘ower’.Other words which have been altered to make spelling more phonetic for the American English speaker include ‘plow’, which is spelt as ‘plough’ in British English, ‘catalog’, which was originally ‘catalogue’, and ‘ax’, which the Brits spell with an ‘E’, as ‘axe’.UK spelling vs. US spelling: the great debate ¦ source: Pixabay - ErikaWittliebThe variation in spelling between British and US English is always recognisable, however, it rarely gets in the way of reading comprehension.This is why to learn English is to open up a whole world of reading opportunity, as you can enjoy literature from both sides of the Atlantic!Choosing the Right English Dictionary for YouWhen you’re learning to speak English, you’ll undoubtedly need some kind of dictionary to help with practicing your literacy, vocab and spelling.But dictionaries come in all shapes and sizes: monolingual, b ilingual, rhyming, prescriptive, descriptive, electronic, comprehensive or pocket.However, being spoilt for choice can sometimes be overwhelming.So how do you choose the right English dictionary for you?Since each type of dictionary serves a different purpose, the one you choose will depend on your needs as a learner.Some dictionaries are simply for looking up the spellings of words, and may only have a simple definition, whereas others will have definitions accompanied by related words and their usage.It may surprise you that the dictionaries we know today started life as bilingual glossaries in medieval Europe, which were used by churchgoers to translate biblical texts between Latin and their native language.Similarly, the earliest English dictionaries in Great Britain were used to define Latin, French and Spanish words in English, and later developed to only contain English words with detailed definitions.The alphabetical dictionaries we know today came about in the year 1755, wi th the publication of ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’ by Samuel Johnson.Dictionaries, glossaries and word lists offered a standardisation of English spelling at a time when there were few reference resources.This made the dictionary a powerful tool when it came to influencing the way in which the English language developed, as Noah Webster, as American compiler, realised.Webster began making subtle changes to the spellings used by the Brits to make words better reflect their pronunciation, and these changes subsequently became responsible for what we know today as ‘US English’.The world of dictionaries is far richer and more interesting than anyone ever imagines, and every publication is much more than a simple book of words.The pros and cons of learning English as a native speaker of a foreign language are mainly due to the expanse of the English speaking world, but rest assured that help is never far away and from day one, you can reap the rewards.

Why Learning Piano Theory is Important for All Musicians

Why Learning Piano Theory is Important for All Musicians Suzy S. Struggling to understand music theory? Try heading over to the piano seeing a visual representation can help a ton! Here, Lowell, IN teacher  Blake C.  shares how to get started Many musicians avoid learning music theory altogether because it can feel much like learning a foreign language; as a result, many musicians enlist in the anti-music theory organization. I will admit it â€" I was a member of the anti-music theory organization in my early years, declaring that music theory corrupts the instinctiveness of musical ability and creativity. In time, however, Ive uncovered numerous reasons why music theory is a necessary evil. The three top reasons are: composition, improvisation, and rehearsals. The first two reasons came about because I was fed up with not understanding which notes worked with other notes when I was trying to write a song, and even more frustrated when I tried to improvise on the fly. The third reason I realized when I began to feel like a knucklehead during rehearsals when the keyboardist and bass player were discussing chord progressions, and I had no idea what the heck they were talking about. Still, it can be difficult for some instrumentalists especially guitar players to comprehend music theory. One thing that helped me along the way, though, was putting down my guitar and taking my music theory books to the piano instead.  Within minutes, my understanding of music theory began to expand rapidly. No matter what instrument you play, if youre struggling with learning music theory, take a step back and head to a piano for a quick lesson. An Introduction to Piano Theory To begin, take a look at the keyboard image below and notice the repeating notes in each octave. Music theory is a way to explain harmony, melody, and rhythm. Using the piano keyboard to learn simplifies it because of the instruments layout. A piano keyboard is divided up in half steps, octave after repeating octave, which instantly eliminates the guess work. There are no surprises found on a piano keyboard â€" each octave repeats the exact same format. Piano Theory and Range Another factor illustrating the importance of piano theory is the range of the instrument. Think about  chord progressions, for example.  As you develop your skill on your respective instrument, youll eventually be able to identify these chord patterns quickly. However, many instruments do not offer a range as great as the piano. Youll be able to  aurally appreciate chord progressions in a wide range of octaves with the piano. Those chord progressions also represent harmony. The piano, unlike other instruments, offers you a chance to more completely understand the music theory behind harmony. A flautist, on the other hand, often begins with a more limited understanding of harmony than a pianist does, since the flute is a single-line melody instrument. Using Piano Theory to Understand Enharmonic Notes Similar to harmony, using a piano will help you understand how enharmonic notes â€" two note names with identical pitch â€" align in music. In the image below, one octave of the keyboard is provided and includes the note names for the white and black keys. The keyboard notes on the piano are easily understood because they are repeated in the exact same pattern from one octave to the next. Having a visual representation of these enharmonic notes makes it much easier to understand (and then apply to your own instrument). Using Piano Theory to Understand Key Signatures The final point I will cover is how the piano simplifies learning the key signatures.  Early on in your music theory studies, you will learn the formulas to create scales. You read correctly â€" formulas. For instance, the formula for a major scale is whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. To visualize this, using the image below, begin on the first ‘C” on the left and then move up one whole step to the “D” note. Continue using the formula for a major scale to continue up the keyboard until you end on the next “C” note. If you correctly followed the formula, the only notes you would have landed on were natural notes, without accidentals (sharps or flats). The key of “C” has no sharps or flats in the key or the key signature. Next, using this last image below, begin on the first “D” note and follow the same formula. If you followed the formula correctly, you would have landed on two black keys during your progression up the scale â€" F# and C#. For this reason, the key signature for the key of “D” has two sharps â€" F# and C#. Simple! Taking into consideration the simple layout of the piano keyboard, the wonderfully large range, and the piano’s ability to produce harmony, youll see these are three big motives to learn piano theory. Best wishes in your musical endeavors, and remember â€" a quality TakeLessons.com music instructor can help you reach your musical goals more quickly and correctly. Blake C.  teaches songwriting, singing, and  guitar lessons  in Lowell, IN. He specializes in classical guitar technique as well as modern rock and blues styles. Blake has been teaching for 20 years and he joined the TakeLessons team in July 2013. Learn  more about Blake  here!   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 Photo  by  Caitlinator