5 Singing Auditions Gone Wrong - And How to Bounce Back

5 Singing Auditions Gone Wrong - And How to Bounce Back Suzy S. Weve all had one at some point or another a bad audition. You prepare like crazy for that singing competition that you swear up and down youre going to nail. However, despite 30 minutes of scales first thing in the morning and an entire day in line spent practicing, you walk into the audition with your head held oh-so-high only to walk out feeling like your head was handed back to you on a lovely silver platter. Below are a few singers who didnt quite measure up to the singing competition they auditioned for. No worries though there is something to take away from each of these auditions that have gone horribly, horribly wrong. The Singing Souls What they lack in vocal quality, they sure make up for in confidence. They might say anybody can outsell the Spice Girls, but these girls really could have learned a thing or two about performing with stage presence had they had a chance to attend a Spice Girls concert. Although, the Singing Souls were most likely belting in diapers while the Spice Girls were out touring the world. Rhonetta Anybody can learn how to sing, but anybody cant be like me. Unfortunately, if youre going to want to compete with JLo and Mariah on the charts, youre going to need to know how to sing. One out of two aint bad, eh Rhonetta? J Star Valentine   Picking the right audition song can make or break your audition. Hes definitely got the look, but sometimes you just have to stick to what you know. Mary Roach The moral of this story: if all your friends tell you that youre a great singer get a second professional opinion. Qualtrel Daan Smith Looks can be highly deceiving. OK, so this audition wasnt actually that bad at all. We wouldnt suggest auditioning for a singing competition in this outfit, but Qualtrel captured the essence of what it means to get up on stage and own your performance. Baby, you were born this way! All jokes aside, an audition gone wrong is merely a practice test better preparing us for our final exam. Every singer loves a good singing competition, but not every singing competitor knows how to sing. Like Rhonetta said, though, anyone can sing. Prepare your material months in advance, set aside plenty of time to practice every day, and power through your audition with confidence and poise. You may find yourself in the middle of an audition that has suddenly  gone south, but if you buckle down, re-focus and remain true to yourself, you can show those judges just how determined you are to win, and you may be able to bounce right back up like our superstar in the making, Qualtrel! 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 Sheryl Pouls

A Guide to Home Gym Equipment

A Guide to Home Gym Equipment From Pull up Bars to Smart Watches: Basic Gym Equipment for Every Need ChaptersWhat Gym Machines Should we use in Personal Training?Fitness Gadgets to Get the Most out of your TrainingThe Best Sports Watches 2018 for Getting FitWhether you are an expert personal trainer or beginner, this article will help you to meet your students' demands and get them to meet their fitness goals.  Are you a fitness amateur looking to see results and learn the right movements?  Superprof is here to help you choose the best gym equipment according to your fitness goals (muscle gain, weight loss or cardiovascular reinforcement).Going to the gym and not knowing where to start can be completely discouraging. However, with the right personal trainer and gym machines, you will become a pro in no time. (Source: Visual Hunt)Certain personal training sessions can be done with very little or no fitness equipment.  This will give you even more excuses to avoid the judgemental stares at the gym and do your own at home exercises. This article will give you all the secrets to get bac k in shape without spending loads of cash.  Of course there  are many other versatile exercises to tone that bottom, however, they require other kinds of  fitness accessories  such as squat racks, and  steppers  that can be found in most gyms. Such  exercises include kick-backs with the help of dumbbells and step-ups  that can be done on any sort of elevated platform.If you want more exercise ideas and the best assets around, take a look at Fitness Magazine's  Top 10 Exercises to Tone Your Butt. You'll have the best bottom in no time!Superprof's exercise pick:  Swimming! When people ask me what my favourite physical activity is, I always say swimming. You do not need to be an elite  Olympic  athlete to enjoy swimming. It's liberating, effective and free of any traumatizing injuries. Swimming is a total body workout  that helps you burn that cellulite, works a great number of muscles and relieves tension thanks to the massage-like feeling of water on the body.Swimming is a love of mi ne that deeply works your muscles and helps you shed the extra pounds without many aches and pains after. (Source: Visual Hunt)Should a Personal Trainer use Home Gym Equipment?We saw it above,  gym equipment  and  weight machines are interesting because they permit us to isolate and work out certain muscle groups. If we told you could become your own personal trainer and have your our own home gym using everyday objects, would you believe us?Personal trainers are physical training experts. Many have attained a BTEC National Vocational Diploma and achieved a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification. Trainers also possess the First-Aid Certificate in case any clients suffer from an injury while training. They are extremely experienced in the physiology and anatomy of the human body. They are there to help you reach your fitness objectives and teach you what sports equipment is best for your situation. They are also instructed to show you useful movements without the use of commercial fitn ess  equipment.Many fitness classes (abdominals, muscle gain and toning, cardio), water aerobics or pilates can be done without the use of any training  equipment.  In most cases, all you need are some a good floor or yoga mats, a towel and your favourite energy drink. Let us never forget that a good fitness program needs good quality nutrition and hydration to keep you in shape and give you the rest you need in between training sessions.The following low budget home gym equipment can produce amazing results:A skipping ropeResistance bandsAbdominal crunch machines; to help you do efficient abdominal exercises without the back painIt is also very possible to use everyday objects such as a bed, dining chairs, a bench or even a wall in your flat to do your exercises. Greatist has released an amazing article depicting  50 bodyweight exercises you can do anywhere. These exercises are designed for at home personal training without using specialized  gym equipment.Personal training: the pe culiar case of the abdominalsAbdominals should be treated on their own because they can easily be done with or without fitness equipment.Crunches  are the most popular abdominal exercises done in personal training or fitness classes. They are usually done with your own body weight, without any gym weights.  It is crucial to hold your head up with both hands as you lift your chest up and down.Another effective abdominal exercise is the sit-up.  It is an easy and effective movement to tone those abs. It consists of moving your upper body up and down while lying on your back with your legs folded.Sit-Ups are great because they can easily be done without the use of gym equipment. (Source: Visual Hunt)Men's Journal recommends doing  Flutter Kicks  as an interesting and effective abdominal workout. Flutter Kicks are not violent and they get you that six pack you've always wanted. Caution needs to be demonstrated during this exercise because if you lower your legs too far you could easily hurt your back.There you have it, whether you use equipment or not, there is a little something for everyone's personal training style. What makes a good personal trainer? Adaptability, realizing that every single client is unique and has their own needs.Fitness Gadgets to Get the Most out of your TrainingProposing a high-quality personal training program with effective exercises and realistic objectives requires planning. But sometimes, what separates a decent personal trainer from a FANTASTIC personal trainer is the material they use and the data they have at their disposal...Therefore, for an even more effective training program, why not use all the statistics that fitness trackers can offer?Calories burntRunning timeAverage speedHeart rateSleep quality...The data provided by these fitness trackers are very diverse and allow you to get the best out of your workout. They also permit you to retrieve all the useful and  functional  training information you need on an app. Everything is then transferred to your smartphone, tablet or computer.This allows any gym trainer  or fitness enthusiast, keep track of their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. A fitness tracker is an ideal complement to an enhanced  workout that makes  exercising more fun!No need to go to the gym anymore, get an online personal trainer.Gadgets and Wearables has a great list of  best fitness trackers and health gadgets for 2018.Apple Watches and Fitness Tracking Bracelets can help you get the most out of your workout.The Best Sports Watches 2018 for Getting FitAlright so you get the point: fitness trackers are a great complement to a complete workout.  However if you a little extra cash and want to invest more (you can never invest enough in good quality products), you should go ahead, treat yourself, and buy a smartwatch!Buying one, for the simple love of watches and the latest technology, can be a good idea, but a smartwatch is more sophisticated, precise and advanced than a fitness track er. Smart watch functions include:GPSPedometerGyrometerBlood oxygen sensorIntegrated sports programsCompassAltimeter...Many technology brands now specialize in smart watches, such as Garmin or Fitbit (we cannot neglect to mention the Apple Watch or even Samsung for that matter). Nevertheless, if you like an old classic and are afraid of buying from a brand you've never heard before, don't fret because well-known watch companies now offer a wide variety of models:Fassil,Casio,Tag Heuer...Now if you want more effective fitness training, it's completely up to you to discover the various functions of your new smart watch!

GMAT Combinatorics 1.2 Problem Solutions

GMAT Combinatorics 1.2 Problem Solutions GMAT MBA Admissions Blog 1. Suppose you perform the following experiment - You flip a coin 5 times and record the results. How many different outcomes are there? (A result being a 5-character long string of H's and T's, such as HHTHT) Solution: For every flip of the coin, there are two possible outcomes. Because we flip the coin 5 times, according to the fundamental principle of counting the number of possible outcomes is: [latex]2 imes 2 imes 2 imes 2 imes 2 = 32[/latex] Note that this calculation can also be expressed by [latex] 2^5 [/latex]. In fact, if you flip a coin [latex] n [/latex] times, the number of possible outcomes is [latex] 2^n [/latex]. __________ 2.0 You receive a new debit card in the mail and you are asked to create a new PIN (Personal Identification Number) for your debit card. The PIN must be 4 digits long and each digit must be one of the numbers 0 - 9. You can use the same digit more than once. How many possible PIN numbers are there? Solution: Each number in your PIN can be one of ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. One digit must be assigned on each of four places. So, by the fundamental counting principle, the number of outcomes is: [latex]10 imes 10 imes 10 imes 10 = 10,000 [/latex] __________ 2.1 Same as 2, but now you can use each digit only once. Solution: Now that we cannot reuse digits, once we assign a digit to the first place, we will only have 9 options for the second place, then 8 options for the 3rd place and so on. As I mentioned before, this is a permutation - the ordering or a subset of elements taken from a larger set. But, as you'll see in the course of these posts on combinatorics, all the technical jargon and formulas you get in other prep material just reduces to a single principle - the fundamental principle of counting. The number of possible PIN numbers is now, [latex] 10 imes 9 imes 8 imes 7 imes [/latex] = 5040 __________ 2.2 Same as 2, but now you can use each digit only once and you cannot begin the PIN with a zero. Solution: This is very similar to the last problem with one exception. We only have nine possibilities for the first digit. So the number of possible PIN numbers is [latex]9 imes 9 imes 8 imes 7 = 4536 [/latex] __________ 3. Sam, Sally, Xanthar, and their parents drive to the park in their Prion (a Prius that has been modified by Xanthar for hydrogen ion technology). If the front of the car has two seats (the drivers seat and the passenger seat), the back seat will hold three people, and the two parents sit in the front and Sam, Sally, and Xanthar sit in the back seat, how many ways can the family be arranged in the car if each seat contains only one passenger. Solution: The total arrangements in the car depends on the arrangements of two groups - the kids and the parents. We will take the product of these two arrangements because they are not mutually exclusive. [latex]Kid Arrangements = 3 imes 2 imes 1 = 6[/latex] [latex]Parent Arrangements = 2 imes 1 = 2[/latex] [latex] Total Arrangements = 6 imes 2 = 12[/latex] __________ 4.0 You roll two die. How many possible outcomes are there? Solution: You can think of the outcome of one roll as an ordered pair or numbers [latex](x, y)[/latex]. For instance, the ways to roll a sum of seven are [latex](1, 6), (2, 5), (3, 4), (4, 3), (5, 2),[/latex] and [latex](6, 1)[/latex]. Obviously, there are six options for the first number in the ordered pair, and six options for the second number in the ordered pair. So, according to the fundamental principle of counting the number of outcomes is: [latex]6 imes 6 = 36[/latex] __________ 4.1 Same as 4.0. How many ways can you get two even numbers? Solution: We can use the same thinking as before. However, this time, because we are only considering even numbers, there are only 3 options for each number. Thus, the number of possibilities is [latex]3 imes 3 = 9[/latex] __________ 4.2 Same as 4.0. How many ways can you get two odd numbers? Solution: This is the exact same problem as the one above. See the solution to 4.1. __________ 4.3 Same as 4.0. How many ways can you get one even and one odd number? Solution: This may seem somewhat complicated as we don't know in what order the even number and odd number appear in our ordered pair. However, if you were paying attention when you read my original combinatorics post, you might be thinking about the 'complement method.' In fact, it's perfect for this problem. On any given roll, one of three things will happen: You'll get two odds You'll get two evens You'll get an even and an odd We already know the number of ways in which the first two outcomes can happen, and we know the total number of outcomes. So, we can use the complement method: Even Odd = Total - Two Odds - Two Evens Even Odd = 36 - 9 - 9 = 18 __________ 4.4 Same as 4.0. Now take the sum of the two upward facing numbers. How many ways can the sum be an even number? Solution: We can only get and even sum in two ways: Even + Even = Even Odd + Odd = Even Using the problems we already solved above, we know that there are nine ways to roll two evens and nine ways to roll two odds. Since these are mutually exclusive events we add to get the total number of outcomes, which is 18. __________ 4.5 Same as 4.0. Now take the product of the two upward facing numbers. How many ways can the product be an even number? Solution: We proceed as above. We get an even product in one of two ways Even X Even = Even Even X Odd = Odd X Even = Even The number of ways the first even can happen is nine and the number of ways the second event can happen is 18. Since they are mutually exclusive, we add, and get 27. 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English Business Idioms - Learn English with Harry ??

English Business Idioms - Learn English with Harry ?? Here you will learn English business idioms or should I say English idioms related to business. Neck and neck, in the drivers seat, to move the goal posts, and many more. English Idioms about Business Every ESL student would like to speak English fluently and confidently. In order to develop good speaking skills in English you not only have to speak properly and correctly but also to use certain English phrases and expressions in your speech. Native speakers use English idioms in their speech all the time, even in a business conversation.  Today, lets look at some English business idioms or English idioms connected with business. 10 English Business Idioms 1. NECK AND NECKto be level with or at same stage as a competitorex.Both businesses were performing well, their profits were neck and neck.You can also use this idiom in relation to competition in life or in sportex. The two teams at the top of the league had the same number of points. They were neck and neck.2. IN THE DRIVER’S SEATto be in control of a situationex. The CEO retired due to ill health. His deputy was appointed to replace him. He was now in the drivers seat.3. TO MOVE THE GOAL POSTSto change the rules or the targets at any time without consultation.ex. The Director gave the sales manager his sales target for 2020. However, after 4 months he increased the target by 20%. He moved the goal posts without discussion. 4. TO THROW SOMEONE IN AT THE DEEP ENDto be given a difficult task without having much experienceex. The business was struggling. The competition was very strong. The directors took a decision and appointed a young man to try and recover their business. He was thrown in at the deep end as he had no previous experience in management.5. LIKE FLOGGING A DEAD HORSEpointless exercise as it is not going to workex. The retailer went into liquidation (bankrupt). It owed the supplier a lot of money. They had no chance of getting the money back. Chasing them for the money would be like flogging (beating) a dead horse. They decided to give up.6. A LEVEL PLAYING FIELDwhen everything is equal and fair to all competitorsex. The economic situation was the same for everyone. Interest rates were high. The banks were not eager to lend money to anyone. It was a level playing field.7. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALLto stay alert and watch what your completion are doingex. He always looked at his competitors p roducts and advertising campaigns. Although he thought he had a better product he always kept his eye on the ball.8. MY HANDS ARE TIGHT  not being able to behave freely or in the way you would like to due to some existing restrictions (rules, laws)ex. Id love to help you and get this deal over the line but my hands are tight.9. SMOOTH SAILINGliteral meaning is when the sailing conditions are smooth, there are no winds, no clouds, the stars are extremely clear. If were talking about business, it is a situation where something is achieved without difficulties, when everything goes according to plan.ex. Wed been preparing this deal for several weeks now, and everything was smooth sailing so far.10. SHOOT ONESELF IN THE FOOTto cause oneself difficulty, to make a situation worse for yourself without intentionex. The ABC company has just shot themselves in the foot for losing the best sales manager ever!Learn the Ropes meaning.

4th of July Celebration in North Carolina

4th of July Celebration in North Carolina When it comes to celebrating the birthday of the United States of America, no one does it like a southern state. North Carolina, the birthplace of the first flight, has been known for celebrating America with a diverse variety of events, ranging from fireworks at Lake Norman or at the Great Smoky Mountains to a colorful night of fireworks along the outer banks. Enjoying the breath-taking Carolina blue skies, families and friends gather on this special day to celebrate the birth of the nation that gave a whole new meaning to the word freedom. As the scorching heat of the first days of the southern summer reach that boiling point where everybody is stocking up on beer and kegs, large retailers, such as Wal-Mart, lure customers with hard-to-resist deals on the 4th of July favorites; all kinds of meat and poultry, sodas and apple pie are just some examples. Also, during this time of year is very common to see large groups of Harley Davidson enthusiast that cruise the streets of Charlotte on their bikes that, needless to say, are a great American icon. At the same time, local authorities, including Police and State Troopers, inform communities that check points will be placed across towns and cities to ensure that people take proper precaution  when driving. DUI is a major problem during these festivities due to the excessive alcohol consumption by minors and irresponsible adults alike. Other than that, celebrating the birth of America in the Carolinas is an experience that will linger in your mind for many years to come. Another well-known tradition for the 4th of July is a cook-out at sunset. As I mentioned earlier, people swarm to get their essentials at the closest grocery or convenience store, enticed by low prices and appealing packaging. This, of course, is dwarfed by the ongoing desire of youngsters and adults to have a good time and blow off some steam. Finally, the crowning point of this day is the firework display around 8 pm. Bright colors blaze up the summer night with hundreds of explosions that can be seen and heard for up to 3 miles, if fog and loud, indistinct music isn’t already spoiling already all your fun.

Three Family-Friendly Educational Activities in Irvine

Three Family-Friendly Educational Activities in Irvine Irvine Tutoring Tips: Three Educational Family Day Trips in Irvine Irvine Tutoring Tips: Three Educational Family Day Trips in Irvine TutorNerds has been serving the Irvine community for many years. In fact, a lot of our private Irvine tutors were born and raised here. We are proud of our community and all of the fantastic activities and experiences it offers. Thankfully, many of these are educational and perfect for a day trip in the summer. Summer is an excellent time for families to have fun all while encouraging their kids to learn and be creative. Unlike being stuck in a classroom, educational activities in the summer allow children to interact and explore. Doing so will help them develop a healthy curiosity about the world. From museums to nature preserves, there are too many options to list in one blog post, which is why we decided on three to get you started. None of these activities are endorsements, just suggestions! 1. The Irvine Museum Save this one for our next inevitable heatwave. Art museums are a great day trip that is indoors, air-conditioned, and educational. According to Google, The Irvine Museum is a “Museum of rotating exhibits dedicated to American Impressionist art depicting the CA landscape.” Check the museum’s website to see what special exhibits it is showing and plan your trip around that. Art can be a great ambassador to a whole world of knowledge. For example, a painting can pique the interest in a particular era, culture, or worldview. Encourage your kids to write down paintings they like and research them when they get home. 2. Pretend City An interactive museum designed for children to learn how the real world works. Pretend City is a nonprofit with the goal of developing critical educational skills in children including critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. According to Pretend City, young children learn best when they play, which is why they developed a “city” where learning is fun. Exhibits include an art studio, bank, beach, and amphitheater. 3. Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab This outdoor classroom, located in Cadence, Irvine, offers a unique outdoor experience for all ages perfect for everyone in the family to enjoy. According to the official Farm + Food Lab website, the classroom includes, “themed raised-bed gardens, fruit trees, vertical gardening, a worm compost bin, and solar and wind-powered lights.” The best part is that you can learn all about gardening and take it home and start one of your own! How great is that? Farm + Food Lab is opened Tuesday-Sunday: 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Hopefully, this will get you started for a fun and education filled summer! Another great way to keep your kid’s education progressing over the summer is to book a private Irvine tutor. Call TutorNerds today for more information. Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

5 Tips to Write a Unique Personal Statement

5 Tips to Write a Unique Personal Statement 5 tips to write a unique personal statement High school seniors are busy writing their personal statements for their college applications. In fact, most college applications are either due November 1 or December 1, so its important that students get this finished straightaway. One thing students find challenging year after year is how to write a unique and original personal statement. College admissions officers read thousands of personal statements every year so its important that an individual can display themselves as a unique contributing member of that academic community. Many students simply dont know where to get started and that can make the college admissions process more stressful than ever. However, there are some things students can do to get started and get rid of that writer’s block and reach their college dreams our Orange County college admissions consultants are here to help you get into your dream college. 1.     Be real Its so important that a student is true to themselves when writing their statement and that they project who they truly are on the inside. What admissions officers want is to learn about the person who can contribute greatly to a diverse educational environment. One way students can do this is to sit down at their laptop or with a pencil and paper and just write about themselves. They can talk about what they love, what they dont love, where they want to be in 10 years, what they do in their free time, and so on. They can then use this as a pre-writing exercise to help them with the specific prompt. 2. Fully answer the prompt Many students will respond to a prompt in a very general way. This is a common reaction for students who are not comfortable writing about themselves. Unfortunately, when students dont fully answer the specifics of the prompt, they prevent the reader from learning about them as a unique individual. Perhaps they volunteered at the same place as many of their classmates, but their takeaway from the situation might be very different. Its important for writers to talk about what they learned, what went well as well as what went wrong â€" and how they were able to fix it â€" as they respond to the assignment (READ: 5 ways to streamline the college application process). 3. Admitting failure is okay Many students refuse to write about something unless it had a fantastic ending. For example, perhaps they started a club at their school that only lasted a year and a half before they lost funding. Many high school students view this as a failure that they shouldnt discuss with potential colleges. However, colleges want to know how students can respond to a setback. Every university student will experience a bump in the road at some point. One of the greatest things a student can talk about is how they responded to their setback and what they learned from it. Perhaps the student can discuss what they learned about the importance of fundraising, coordination and teamwork, and perseverance. 4. Proofread every single final draft With deadlines pressing, many students want to write one cookie-cutter essay and simply change a few words to fit each university. This can be very tempting but is almost always a bad idea. Many students have accidentally left identifying information about one college on an essay that they sent to a different college. This dampens the student’s chances of success. Its imperative that students proofread every single final draft that goes to a different university or, even better, ask a family member or educator to read their final draft and look for any errors or omissions. 5. Research More often than not, a universitys website and application materials will give some great insight into what theyre looking for in their student body. If students take the time to do plenty of research, they will discover what it is about them as a unique individual that fits with what the university is looking for. When students are applying to 10 or more universities, this level of research can become exhausting, but its one of the most integral parts of the college application process. If students are indeed becoming overwhelmed, they should enlist the help of family members or an educational consultant who can help complete some of the busywork. Get into the college of your dreams with the help of our experienced Orange County admissions consultants. Our consultants have a 97% success rate! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.