Finding Online Tutor Sites in India

Finding Online Tutor Sites in IndiaThe online tutoring system has been coming into the market for a while now. The idea behind this system is to help students in studying and learning, thus they were expecting some good results out of the online tutor systems. There are several different programs to choose from.Now, the question arises: How do you find the most effective online tutor sites in India? Well, to be honest, it's actually not that hard. It is just a matter of knowing how to do it.One of the first things that you need to do is to look for a reputable internet site. Do this by visiting the popular search engines like Google and Yahoo and entering the term 'online tutor sites in India'. After entering the term, check the results. This will help you get a better idea of what is available on the net.Once you have identified a few good sites, you should then look for a reliable information provider. The best way to find this is to ask other students for their recommendations. Th e best thing about the internet is that you can be as specific or as general as you want.Most of the sites provide free membership and charge a small fee when you want to access their tutoring services. In fact, there are quite a few sites that do not require a membership. So, if you really want to get started with your online learning, you can opt for these free tutoring services.To find the best tutoring services, the best option is to look for a website that offers multiple choice questions. The biggest advantage of this type of site is that it allows you to gauge the proficiency of the tutors quickly. Also, this method is alot more affordable than the others.Another way of finding the best online tutor is to check on websites that offer the same quality of service. However, there are certain sites that offer a better service and cost a bit less. These are generally the ones that require a small fee and give the best quality results. Look for these sites and you will surely get t he best value for your money.At the end of the day, it is up to you how much you spend on your online tutor. The important thing here is to get the best deal possible.

6 Best Laptops for First-Time College Students

6 Best Laptops for First-Time College Students isorepublic.com 1. Lenovo Flex 4 I’ll admit it, I’m partial to the Lenovo flexible laptops because it’s the one I’ve had throughout my three years of college thus far. In these three years, I have had no issues with my laptop; plus, it doubles as a tablet and has an awesome touch screen. The only downside (for some people) is the size. They can be pretty small, but I love it because then I’m not breaking my back carrying them around all day on campus. Overall, a great quality laptop for any new student. 2. Apple MacBook If you just can’t make yourself like Microsoft products, the MacBook is probably the way to go. Some MacBooks come rather light, like the MacBook Air, but they can also cost a pretty penny. They’ll probably last you throughout college, but be prepared to spend a lot at first. MacBooks are said to be great for design students, but really they would work for any type of student looking for something reliable and stylish. 3. Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft Surface Pros are sort of like the flexible Lenovo I talked about earlier, except just a little bit fancier. They’re smaller, lighter, and on some of them, you can take the screen off completely and just use it as a tablet. Plus, you can draw on their touchscreens. That’s right. Draw. This is the laptop to choose for any incoming art or architecture students. 4. ASUS Chromebook The ASUS Chromebook seems to be a well-rounded laptop. Just a heads up, if you’re an avid beverage drinker, but can get a little clumsy at times, this may be the right laptop for you. This laptop advertises itself as water resistant. Of course, this doesn’t mean waterproof so don’t go dumping a whole can of soda on it. But, if you’re worried about ruining an expensive laptop with just one wrong move, you’ll have to worry just a little less with an ASUS Chromebook. 5. Acer Aspire R 15 The Acer Aspire can get a little bit heavy and might not be the best to lug around campus if you’re doing lots of walking. If you don’t mind the extra weight, it looks like the Acer Aspire is one of the top performers in every computer category. In fact, the extra bulk may make the laptop even more durable if you happen to bump it around a little bit. It’s likely that this laptop would last you all four years. 6. Acer Chromebook If you’re looking for something with the sleekness of a MacBook without the Apple interface, look no further than the Acer Chromebook. It has a beautifully chic design that isn’t going to cost you nearly as much as a new MacBook might. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest options on this list! I hope this list has helped you narrow down what you’re looking for in the perfect college laptop. Remember, there are many other choices beyond these, and your best fit may not be on this list. Make sure that you’ve thought about what you foresee being your biggest needs throughout college. List in hand, visit your local tech store and ask for some help. If you’d rather not, there are many, many articles online detailing the pros and cons of every laptop out there. After a little bit of research and maybe a little bit of help, you’re sure to find the right fit for you.

7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths

7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths 7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths Want to create your own world using nothing but 3D blocks? Theres a game for that.Want to help a plumber rescue a princess? Theres a game for that.Want to smash cute candies into smithereens? Yeah, theres a really addictive game for that, too.Looking to improve your language skills?  Game on!With so many cool video games out there, its no wonder that language learners  have gotten in on the gaming trend.After all, playing gamesâ€"anything from board games to party gamesâ€"is one of the best ways to learn a language.Foreign language games can provide you with a fun study break while youre still studying.It should come as no surprise that, of the many popular apps out there, some of the most exciting options for foreign language learners are game apps.Foreign language game apps pack a lot of learning into fun games that youll want to keep coming back to. Youll hardly even notice youre learning until you see your skills improve.So, give these seven fun game apps a try and level up your language skills! How to Get the Most Out of a Language Learning Game AppTo get the most out of language learning game app, its helpful to use it in addition to other learning options. Game apps are wonderful for additional practice and reinforcement of skills, but when used alone, you may miss out on valuable grammar rules and other skills. Pairing game apps with more structured or formal learning materials provides a well-rounded learning experience that fuses conventional study with fun practice. Its the best of both worlds!Its also helpful to use game apps to break up conventional learning methods. If you study for too long in a stretch, you may get a sort of learners fatigue. Studying for long periods of time is exhausting, and all the material can start to blur together. However, playing games is a good way to break up conventional studying while still keeping the learning train on the tracks. Plus, games will help you look at words you may already know with fresh eyesâ€"and in a whole new contextâ€"which will make them more memorable.Another key to success with game apps is to find a learning game you really enjoy. If your language learning game app is as addictive as Candy Crush, youll never forget language practice again.7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your StrengthsBefore you dive into these awesome game apps, we have a bonus for you: FluentU! FluentU gamifies the learning process by pairing it with entertaining videos and fun quizzes that adapt to your learning progress.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos f or you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.LingioAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking to build your vocabulary quickly and painlessly, look no further th an Lingio!The Lingio app features 12,000 words organized into 300 topics. Since the words are organized thematically, its easy to choose an area in which you want to build your vocabulary and start learning more.The app features audio along with written words to ensure that both your spelling and your pronunciation are on point.A variety of games, tests, quizzes and flashcards encourage you to learn words and perfect your spelling. Plus, theres a lot of incentive to keep you motivated. Games are scored, and some pit you against the clock. As you succeed in games, you can also level up. A competitive streak will definitely keep you motivated, even if youre just competing against yourself.With three difficulty levels, Lingio is appropriate for any level of language learner, and its free to download!At the moment, Lingio offers English, Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic and Farsi/Persian.LangoAvailable: iOS | AndroidLearning vocabulary without any interferen ce from your native language is a helpful way to learn the actual meanings of words rather than merely translating between languages.If this is the kind of learning youre after, Lango is a great game app for you.The various Lango apps for different languages all feature photo-based games. Youll be shown a selection of photos along with a word in your target language. Then, all you have to do is select the image that corresponds to that word. This will allow you to immerse yourself in your target language without having to lean on your native language for support. Along the way, youll also improve your spelling, build your vocabulary and memorize noun genders.Lango offers English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Russian, Italian and Portuguese.The initial app is free to download with in-app purchases available to unlock additional material.WordUp!Available: iOS | AndroidWord games are fun in any language. Thats a fact.And the WordUp! app offers a fun word game that wil l help you build your vocabulary in any foreign language.Youll be presented with a grid of letters and a blank space in which to spell a word. Its up to you to figure out which combination of letters makes a word thats the correct length!There are three levels, so the app is appropriate for beginning through advanced students.If you like the WordUp! app but need more word games, you might also try FlashAcademy (available for iOS or Android) from the makers of the WordUp! app. The FlashAcademy app contains additional games, including quick-fire word games and matching activities.WordUp! and FlashAcademy both offer Spanish, French, German and Italian.The apps are free to download with additional in-app purchases to unlock more material.StudyCatAvailable: iOS | AndroidSometimes, you just want to feel like a kid again. StudyCat has you covered on this one.While StudyCat apps are designed for children ages 3 to 10, theyre also fun for beginning language students.StudyCat apps offer an ar ray of colorful learning games and activities. In total, there are six different games per lesson. These games are quite varied, including mazes, matching games, spelling games, coloring activities, whac-a-mole style arcade games and so much more. These games will teach you basic vocabulary like colors, numbers, animals and the like. Plus, since theres such a huge assortment of games, youll never get bored!StudyCat offers English, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.Apps are free to download with in-app purchases to unlock additional material.Overpass Apps Bubble Bath GamesAvailable: iOS | AndroidWho doesnt enjoy a good bubble bath?Overpass Apps Bubble Bath games might not be quite as soothing, but they certainly provide more language education than your standard bubble bath (and bonus: no finger pruning).Each app has over 600 words divided into over 60 themed categories. These include useful phrases, verbs, numbers and more. The goal of the game is to pop the bubble with the correc t word.  As you play in each category, the levels get more and more difficult as more and more options are presented. Additionally, some levels contain only audio while others contain only printed words. This way, you wont inadvertently lean on just reading or just listening.Overpass Apps offers its Bubble Bath game in dozens of popular languages in addition to less common options like Somali and Bengali.Apps are free to download with in-app purchases available to unlock additional content.MindSnacksAvailable: iOS  MindSnacks is the perfect app to feed a language-hungry mind.Each MindSnacks app offers nine fun games, including balloon games, spelling games and more. While most language game apps focus on building vocabulary, the MindSnacks apps focus on building both vocabulary and conversational skills. Sure, youll learn over 1,000 vocabulary words, but youll also learn how to conjugate verbs. With upgrades, there are a total of 50 lessons and up to 40 hours of material designed by Ivy League instructors.MindSnacks offers apps for beginning to intermediate Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese learners.The apps are free to download but require additional in-app purchases to unlock the full array of games and lessons.QuickLearnrAvailable: AndroidEverything is more fun with friends, so why not try learning a language with friends?QuickLearnr is a language game app that allows you to play against friends and other learners around the world. The game offers rankings and special achievements, which are great motivation for competitive learners.This app focuses on teaching and reinforcing vocabulary words. Youll be shown an image and need to identify the associated word. The game offers voice recognition, so you actually say the word into the app, getting valuable pronunciation practice along the way. A personal dictionary also tracks your progress to help you see which words youve mastered and which words you need to study more.QuickLe arnr is available for English, Spanish, French and Italian learners.The QuickLearnr app is totally free to download.Dont get pwned by lackluster apps that dont improve your language skills.Upgrade your fluency with these enjoyable language learning game apps!

One on One ESL Tutoring Lesson Plans

One on One ESL Tutoring Lesson PlansOne on one ESL tutoring lessons can help you greatly to learn the language, but they will need the right amount of dedication and time spent. If you do not put in the effort to learn, you will not be able to get the skills needed for the various tests that you will face in your life. If you do not practice daily, then there will be no way to keep up with the test schedule. The right knowledge, however, can make all the difference in terms of the tests that you take, and you can't do anything about that unless you want to spend the rest of your life trying to find out ways that other people have learned how to beat the test, don't you?One on one ESL tutoring is great for a couple of reasons. For starters, if you are an ESL tutor, you have the full support of the ESL schools in your area, and many of them will also help you out. These institutions also help you teach students and help them learn English.It is always better to teach in a classroom env ironment, as opposed to teaching in a home. Students learn better in a classroom setting, which can help you in three ways. First of all, it can help you communicate more clearly with your students, as well as help you learn the skills that are required for various tests that they may have to take.Second, students who are in a classroom setting are often more focused and disciplined, which can give you a competitive edge over the other students. Third, and probably the most important of all, students will learn in a classroom environment, which can give you a chance to teach them the proper way to behave. This means that in order to win a test, you will have to be effective, and if you try to use rules only, they will not be effective.One on one ESL lesson plans are good for teachers as well as students. Since you will not be teaching in a class, you will not have a large group of students to handle at once. Instead, you will have one or two students, and then you will have a large group of students to handle. However, by teaching one on one, you will also be able to interact with the students, which can help you learn the language in a more effective way.By keeping your teacher's attention and your own attention focused on the student, you will learn quickly. If you are not aware of a word being said, then chances are, the student who is speaking is not quite paying attention to what is being said. This can cause problems for the student, and if they do not know how to respond properly, then their learning ability can suffer.If you are planning to give one on one ESL lessons to students, be sure to pay attention to some of the following tips. Learning the language is easy, and learning one on one lessons is even easier, but only if you keep yourself on top of the learning curve.

Houghton Mifflin Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Help Students Make the Most of Their Grade Level

Houghton Mifflin Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Help Students Make the Most of Their Grade LevelHoughton Mifflin's Algebra 2 and trigonometry help students to make the most of their grade level. Each course provides students with both a number of challenging lessons and a whole lot of help that will improve their grades.The Algebra 2 series offers students a number of useful, helpful materials that they can use to enhance their performance in the material. A course in the Algebra 2 series uses algebraic functions to explain many concepts and using the terms provided, students can easily apply the ideas to their own work. There are many different ways to tackle the concepts of Algebra 2, each one will give students a unique experience.In Algebra 2, students can learn the basic concepts of numbers and angles, which allow them to understand how to solve simple problems. There are also several different ways that students can proceed from the concepts learned through the Algebra 2 course. St udents can take a number of math classes and by taking one of the Algebra 2 courses, they will have a wide variety of ways to make sure that they understand what they are learning. The extra guidance is important to make sure that students don't get distracted, and that they are not left hanging at the end of the class.As students make progress through the Houghton Mifflin math courses, they will be provided with helpful resources that will help them understand the concepts. Courses like Algebra 1, before the first chapter of Algebra 2, are designed to familiarize students with the important concepts. After completing one course, students will be ready to move on to the next course. As students progress through the Algebra 2 course, they will start to look at problems using the tools provided by the course. By doing this, students will begin to develop their own sense of how to use algebraic concepts to solve problems. By taking courses in the Houghton Mifflin math program, students will also have access to several other courses that are aimed at increasing their confidence in their math skills. Courses such as Trigonometry are designed to help students with their trigonometry problems, and there are several ways to solve these problems. By reading some of the exercises found in the course, students will find that they can improve their problem solving skills while also getting a broad understanding of the concepts taught in the Algebra 2 course.The most important thing for students to do when studying at a school such as Houghton Mifflin is to stick with the course. Studying at such a school will allow students to learn from professionals who are well experienced in the subject, and this allows students to quickly grasp new concepts and knowledge that they might not have mastered as quickly or effectively if they were studying at a school that had little experience in the subject.Algebra 2 and trigonometry will help students understand and use algebraic conce pts that they need to tackle difficult mathematics problems. By studying at a school such as Houghton Mifflin, students will be able to learn what they need to know about algebra and trigonometry without being distracted by other concepts that they may not understand. Through help from the hands-on classes offered at Houghton Mifflin, students will learn faster and improve their grades.

Should I Take Voice Lessons in My Home or at a Studio

Should I Take Voice Lessons in My Home or at a Studio Suzy S. Ready to learn to sing with a professional teacher at your side? Many teachers offer in-home lessons as an option, so you may need to decide between that or going to their studio. Read on as Hayward, CA teacher Molly R. offers her advice for making your choice So you want to learn to sing! You’re searching through TakeLessons to find the perfect voice teacher for you, and see that a few teachers offer the option of lessons in their studio, or lessons in your home. Which option will work for you? Everyone’s needs are different! Some of us lead more hectic lives than others, and sometimes your personality and goals may be a factor. Here are some things to consider when deciding between the two options: Logistics are an important matter. There are students that have transportation concerns or major time constraints, and would prefer to learn to sing from home. Or you may have physical limitations and would be more at ease taking lessons at home. In that case, you definitely want to find a voice teacher willing to travel to you. Do note that some teachers will charge more to account for travel time. Should you choose in-home voice lessons, youll need to have the right set-up and equipment. Many voice teachers prefer that you have a tuned piano (or quality keyboard), so this is yet another important thing to consider! You must also make absolutely sure that there is a room where you can work without distraction; family members and pets need to be out of your way so you can make the most of your lesson time. On the other hand, there are those who will prefer taking voice lessons at a teacher’s studio. Some of the reasons may include better access to professional materials (piano, sound equipment, sheet music, etc.), lack of distractions, and perhaps a lower lesson rate. Plus, some students just like getting out of the house for their activities and like a change of scenery! In short, there really is no “right” or “wrong” when choosing between in-home or in-studio voice lessons. Do what feels right to you the only way to find out is to try a voice lesson out for yourself! Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  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 Milkka Skaffari

3 Things Guitarists Must Practice Every Day

3 Things Guitarists Must Practice Every Day Megan L.   With so much music in the world to play, how do you figure out how to practice guitar? Guitar teacher  Jack C.  breaks it down to the basics One of the most common questions Im asked by students, whether they are total beginners, or seasoned veterans who have been playing for more than ten years, is: How exactly should I practice guitar in order to get the most benefit from my time? As my explanation, I always like to break down guitar knowledge in three basic categories. 1. Technique Technique is the actual mechanical movement of your hands which you use to create the sounds coming from your guitar. It entails training the muscles in your hands so you can develop the strength and muscle memory to pull off the actual chords and scales we use when playing the instrument. 2. Music Theory Music theory is the mental aspect of learning any instrument. It is the act of breaking down the sounds we hear in to names and formulas. Its the science behind the sounds. 3. Creativity I believe, like any skill set, musical creativity CAN be learned and taught. Some people are brought to believe that youre either born with that creative muse or youre not. This simply isnt true. Lets say we have a 2 note per string pentatonic scale (you can use any of the scales found here). A great practice exercise would be to pick each note in ascending order from the low E string to the high E string, then descending using strictly alternate picking (up and down only). Start very slow, then gradually increase the speed at which you do this exercise. Then, once that movement is mastered, and the scale can be played by memory, you can then try creating a simple melody using only those notes found within the scale. This exercise kills three birds with one stone! You are practicing your technique by working on your alternate picking, youre learning a portion of music theory by memorizing the scale, and youre exercising your creative mind by applying the scale you learned in creating your own melody. By combining all aspects of learning guitar in to one exercise, you are now making the most out of your practice time. This approach to practicing is used by some of the greatest players in the world, and has proven to be one of the most efficient ways to practice the instrument. As you progress in your skill level, this approach can be applied to different scales, chord progressions, and picking techniques. In review, we know that if a guitar exercise can cover these three aspects of guitar playing: technique, theory, and creativity, all at once, then we know it is an exercise that will serve us well in our guitar journey! Thanks for reading and if you have any questions for me, Im more than happy to answer your questions. Learn more about the guitar by taking lessons with a private instructor. Search for your guitar teacher now!    Jack C. is a guitar instructor in Huntington Beach, CA. A professional gigging musician, teacher, producer, and session player, he  earned  degree in Music Theory and Guitar performance from Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California.  Learn more about Jack 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 J. Pitt

Know About Few Steps to Write a Brilliant Essay writing

Know About Few Steps to Write a Brilliant Essay writing While at school we always had to go through the process of writing up an essay during our exam times. Not only during the exam times but also during normal class sessions as well we had to write different essays in our English language classes. With brilliant write ups we used to get good grades during our exams as well and with bad write ups, scolding by our teacher and by our parents as well. School is not enough to teach you with every single thing. Private tuitions are also not that much efficient and to help you in each and every step possible of writing up an essay. In such problems only one way can be helpful to you and that is the help from the online teachers. Online teachers helps you to get the best way through which you can write up on a much better way in a good manner as well. Essay writing is something in which you have to explain in vast a particular subject or a topic. It can be interesting if you write it in that manner and if you write up in a boring manner then it will never help you get good reviews at all. 1.              Some Steps for writing good essay Let us now discuss some of the steps through which you can get to know the ways through which writing an essay can be easier and also fun. Note down few of the steps so that you can get help through it. 2.              Framing of the essay This is the first and the most important step. On this step the entire essay stands up. You have to make this while keeping lot of concentration. Decide the entire essay in your mind as how you want to make it. This helps in making the writing of the essay smooth and easy. Create an outline that will help you to know from where to start and where to end. This will help you to form the structure of the essay you write. 3.              How to write the Introduction part? Introduction part is the main part of an essay. In the introduction part you have to keep in mind that this part is the main eye catcher which will attract the readers to a large extent. You have to give a brief idea about what the entire essay is all about so that the readers can be able to connect with the essay and know what the essay is all about. This helps the reader to set up their mind with the essay. 4.              Construct your argument The essay comprises of three main segments and they are the introduction, the body and the conclusion. This step is about expanding the points that have been arrived before. The outline has already been set up and thus you have to explain them with your information and on your basis of arguments. This helps in forming the body of the essay. Try to provide as much evidence to your argument as possible. This can be said as the biggest part of the essay. 5.              Frame the conclusion The conclusion part is to describe every little thing in brief whatever have been said from the introduction to the body of the essay. Keep in mind not to make it too long as the conclusion part is never too long and try to wrap up everything with a few compelling points. 6.              Recheck and edit After you have penned down the essay you have to read it again and again and find that it does not involve any error. If it has then kindly correct it and also check for the arguments that are found in the essay are correctly said or not. Whatever has been said should be judges again and again so that the readers are not left with any confusions or problems. After so many steps it can be said that one being a student can write a good and formatted essay. If an essay appeals a person then it can be said to be a good essay. If you follow the skills very minutely and briefly then you can write up a good essay. These steps will not be available to you that easily. You have to hire or enroll yourself with an online teacher and then only you can avail the benefits of it. TutorPace and its benefits revolving around online tutoring TutorPace is an online learning institute in which you can easily enroll yourself and get the best facility with ease and perfection. The teachers involved in the process are unique and have lot of knowledge about the particular subject that they are teaching. Being a student you can get lots of help through such an online teacher. You can save your time, your extra energy and also your money to a large extent. People can feel that online teaching is not up to the mark and they can have less faith on the entire process but it is up to the student to decide after getting admission that what they feel about the institute. The care that is found in such institute towards a student, no other school or private teacher can provide you this. The entire process is conducted through the help of individual student and individual teacher. This helps the student to open up to their teacher and not to feel shy as sometimes in any private tuition classes as well the students cannot open up to the teacher as they feel shy and feel ashamed to bring out their weaknesses. The time limitation is not there in such classes and the students can fetch the classes anytime they want. The availability of the teachers is found all round the clock. Last but not the least, the online platform also offers you the services at a very less charge. Tutor Pace offers  essay writing help  to your kids to develop skills for evolving a bright future

4 Singing Exercises to Practice Dynamics

4 Singing Exercises to Practice Dynamics Suzy S. As a singer, understanding and utilizing dynamics can turn a mediocre performance into a great one. Read on to learn some singing exercises to practice, as shared by Augustine, FL voice teacher  Heather L... Dynamics is a word that comes from the Greek word dynamo, meaning power. In the context of general music, we use it as a term for how loud or soft sounds are. Dynamics can make or break a song. Frankly, in the world of singing, sometimes the lack of or presence of dynamics can make a difference in whether a singer is regarded as great or not. Think of the best singers in the world and Ill bet that many have a tremendous sense of dynamics. The improvement of the use of dynamics in our singing voices comes right down to a word that I dont typically like to use as a voice teacher: control. The simple passing use of this word can often, maybe subconsciously, cause a singer to tense and strain. Control, however, is truly the thing that enables us to do much with our voices. Just make sure to maintain a free and open sound as you incorporate the concept of control in the following singing exercises. Learn and Practice Messa di Voce Perhaps the best singing exercise to help improve your vocal dynamics is messa di voce, an Italian phrase meaning place the voice.  To sing a messa di voce, you sustain one single pitch, getting louder, then softer.  The proper musical terms for getting louder and softer are crescendo and diminuendo, respectively.  Decrescendo is a word created in modern times to mean become softer, but it is not an Italian word or a proper musical term.  When using this exercise, be sure, as always, to use a warm, resonant sound and to stay connected to your breath. Remember, your sound begins at the bottom of the pelvic floor. Keep your shoulders floating in place; do not allow them to rise. Lip Trill Like a Revving Engine Another singing exercise to practice dynamics is singing lip trills, or lip bubbles, using messa di voce.  This is a great one that I learned from Celine Dion. Begin with a low breath, filling up your torso all the way around. Start at a comfortable low/middle position in your voice, trill up to a comfortable high point, and begin to sail down to your lowest register. As you slowly sail down in pitch, make stops along the way. On those stops, crescendo and then diminuendo. Itll sound a lot like a old drag car revving its engine! Not only does this singing exercise improve your ability to sing dynamically, but it will also help to warm up and strengthen your singing muscles. Laugh Out Loud Speaking of strengthening exercises, its essential that the muscles of your torso are strong enough for the control thats needed for great dynamics. Sing short ha, ha, ha sequences on a descending scale, making each ha very short, but warm and round. Youll notice quite a jumpy motion from your tummy as you instinctively work to produce short bursts of air. Yow-wow-wow In this exercise, youll sing a single pitch on yow-wow-wow with a loose, open jaw, as if youve just touched a hot stove. This loosens the face, especially your joints, which is vitally important in preventing tension. Lastly, remember that singing dynamics comes not only from phonationthe pitched sounds that our vocal folds producebut also from articulation. Our articulators are our teeth, our tongue, and our lips. To be clear, crisp articulation should be an inherent part of your singing voice.  You can use it, though, to sound even louder or softer than your phonation is. And as always, be yourself and sing with your own voice. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in Saint Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather 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  whartonds