6 Showstopping Audition Songs Perfect for Tenors

6 Showstopping Audition Songs Perfect for Tenors Suzy S. Looking for the perfect tenor songs to show off your voice in an upcoming audition?  Selecting the right song and learning how to sing tenor parts that truly showcase your vocal type is key. Here are a few tenor  audition songs  in a variety of styles. Any of these pieces are  bound to impress if you’ve got the technique! Tenor Songs Yesterday The Beatles Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran Somethings Coming West Side Story Bring Him Home Les Miserables Passeggiata The Light in the Piazza Una Furtiva Lacrima Elixir of Love Nessun Dorma Turandot Tenor is a wonderful voice type to have, but finding vocal repertoire in a baritone-heavy world is not always easy. Keep reading to find out which of these tenor audition songs is best for your unique voice and audition! Top 6 Tenor Songs for Auditions 1. Yesterday The Beatles This is one of the most popular go-to tenor pop songs. The Guinness Book of World Records says it’s the most covered song in the world. But only true tenors can sing Yesterday in the original key, as composed by Sir Paul McCartney. In fact, any Beatles song would be an excellent choice if you’re auditioning for a pop singing competition or a band. Lots of baritones would love to be able to sing these songs in their original keys, but lucky for you: you can! 2. Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran Looking for more modern tenor songs? Check out Ed Sheerans music for some great ideas of tenor pop songs. “Thinking Out Loud” is a well-loved, moderate-tempo song that can work for a variety of auditions, shows, or events. Its definitely a crowd pleaser if you can hit the notes just right. 3. Somethings Coming West Side Story There are just as many tenor musical theatre songs,  and it can be very hard to narrow down your selection! However, “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story is always a good choice, as it truly shows off a performers musicality, range, AND acting skills. Remember that a good audition goes beyond vocal technique. The audition panels want to see that you are confident and know what you are singing about, too. SEE ALSO: 400+ Songs to Sing for Every Occasion   4. Passeggiata The Light in the Piazza For more current tenor musical theatre songs, check out “Passeggiata” from The Light in the Piazza. Its a graceful number for a young singer learning how to sing tenor parts. A classically trained tenor wanting to “crossover” into musical theatre could easily pull this off, but so could a more pop-ish tenor. 5. Una Furtiva Lacrima Elixir of Love When we think “tenor songs” in the opera genre we usually think of powerful, ringing high notes in heroic sounding arias. “Una Furtiva Lacrima” is a gorgeous aria from Donizetti’s Elixir of Love. This is suitable for a first aria for young lyric tenors. Not only will it show off your understanding of “bel canto,”  but it’s another opportunity to demonstrate your acting skills. The performer is pining for his love here! (No surprise this IS opera, after all). 6. Nessun Dorma Turandot Another one of the best tenor audition songs for operas is “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot. Note: this aria is ONLY to be attempted by tenors who have been studying seriously for a long time. This is a heavier aria by Puccini that requires impeccable technique. This aria is a real crowd pleaser that will get the audience on their feet if you can really nail those high Cs. Youre one step closer to your next audition with these top tenor songs! Keep in mind that the most important resource for learning how to develop and perfect your sound is a  voice teacher. An experienced vocal coach can assess if youre ready for any of these tenor audition songs, and prepare you for the audition panels. Good luck, and break a leg! 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 Barbara Müller-Walter

Teach Yourself to Sing on Key With These 5 Tools

Teach Yourself to Sing on Key With These 5 Tools Sign up successful 4) Work With a Voice Teacher Back to the trusted pair of ears advice, there is no substitute, electronic or otherwise, for a good voice teacher who can check your posture and correct any bad habits that might be affecting your tone and your ability to sing in tune. Your singing teacher will help you train your ear alongside your voice, and ensure that your musical skills advance alongside your vocal progress. Ear training is probably the most important part of your development as a musician, and should be considered an essential step as you learn to sing. Even at a fairly basic level, a singer that sings in tune will be pleasant to listen to and get the kind of listener feedback that encourages them to keep going. Anyone can improve their ear, and hopefully a combination of the above options will work for you! 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 Javier Ignacio Acuña

What Are Fractions Online Physics Tutors Tutorpace

What Are Fractions Online Physics Tutors Tutorpace Fractions are described as a part of a whole. Fractions have a number written on top and a number written in the bottom. The top part is known as the numerator and the bottom part is known as the denominator and it is written in the form of a/b where a and b are integers and b 0. Fractions form a very important section of numbers in math and operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication or division can be performed on them. Example 1: Add the given fractions, 1/2 + 3/2 + 5/2 The first step is to add the first two fraction numbers. We can directly add the fractions because they have the same denominator 2. This gives: 1/2 + 3/2 = (1 + 3)/2 = 4/2 Now, add the third fraction 5/2 to the derived answer 4/2. This implies we get: 4/2 + 5/2 = (4 + 5)/2 = 9/2 Therefore, adding the three fractions together we get: 1/2 + 3/2 + 5/2 = 9/2. Example 2: Evaluate the given fractions, 2/3 4/3 + 7/3 The first step is to subtract the first two fraction numbers. We can directly subtract the fractions because they have the same denominator 3. This gives: 2/3 4/3 = (2 4)/3 = -2/3 Now, add the third fraction 7/3 to the derived answer -2/3. This implies we get: -2/3 + 7/3 = (-2 + 7)/3 = 5/3 Therefore, evaluating the three fractions together we get: 2/3 4/3 + 7/3 = 5/3.

Sequences and Series Tutors

Sequences and Series Tutors A sequence is a set thing in a certain order Example: 2, 4, 6 (Sequence of even numbers) A sequence contains list of values in an ordered way. All these values are called as terms. A finite sequence is that which contains a finite number of terms. a1, a2, ,an( n is some finite value) An infinite sequence is that which contains an infinite number of terms. a1, a2, ,an, ( n is an infinite number) Different types of sequences are Arithmetic sequence or progression (A.P) d Common difference A.P is of the form a, a+d, a+2d ....... l Last term Last term = tn = a + (n-1) d a First term Sum of n terms = 2a + (n-1)d or a + l n number of terms Geometric sequence (G.P) r common ratio G.P is of the form a, ar, ar..... Last term = tn = ar(n-1) Harmonic sequence (H.P) H.P is of the foxrm 1a , 1(a+d) , 1(a+2d), tn = 1(nth term of corresponding A.P) Harmonic mean of two terms a and b is 2ab(a+b). A X H = G Here A stands for Arithmetic mean H stands for Harmonic mean and G stands for Geometric mean Example: Find the first three terms of the sequence tn = (-2)n/( n+1) Answer: First term = n = 1 t1 = (-2)1/( 1+1) = (-2)/( 2) = -1 Second term = n = 2 t2 = (-2)2/( 2+1) = 4/( 3) Third term = n = 3 t3 = (-2)3/( 3+1) = (-8)/( 4) = -2 The first three terms are -1, 4/3, -2

Italian Alphabet Pronunciation Chart Memory Games to Practice

Italian Alphabet Pronunciation Chart Memory Games to Practice Suzy S. Mastering the Italian alphabet is an important building block in your learning process. Are you just starting  Italian lessons? Learning Italian can seem difficult, but the alphabet is actually very easy to memorize. This is because the Italian alphabet is very similar to the English alphabet, except for a few key differences. Most notably, the Italian alphabet doesnt have the letters J, K, W, X or Y. It’s important that you learn how to pronounce the letters of the Italian alphabet, as this will eventually help you form words and phrases. So lets get started! Reading the Italian Alphabet Take a look at the chart  below  to see how each letter in the Italian alphabet is represented. Remember, there are only 21 letters in the standard Italian alphabet, as the letters J, K, W, X or Y arent represented. SEE ALSO: Interesting Facts About Italy Pronouncing the Italian Alphabet Now take a look at the video below to listen to how each of the letters in the Italian alphabet are pronounced. Practice the correct pronunciation along with the video. Italian Alphabet Practice To help you memorize the letters and pronunciations of the Italian alphabet, use the two practice exercises below. Exercise 1: Matching Game What youll need: flashcards and markers. Gather a pile of flashcards. On one side of each flashcard, draw the picture of an object; for example, a dog, hat, chair, soccer ball, etc.  Shuffle all of the cards together and lay them out on the table or floor facing up so you can see all of the objects clearly. Next, quiz yourself by asking which objects start with a designated letter in the Italian alphabet. You could say, for example, What object on the table starts with the letter acca?” Acca is Italian for the letter H, so you would then point to the card with a picture of a hat on it. This is a fun exercise to do with friends! Exercise 2: Eye Spy What youll need: flashcards and markers. First, gather a set of index cards. On one side of each card, write down a letter in the Italian alphabet.  Next, choose a card from the pile at random. After choosing a card with a letter on it, you will have to identify an object in the room that starts with that particular letter and form the sentence, “I spy a ______.” If you choose the letter P, for example, you can form the sentence, Vedo una porta  (I see a door). Once you have mastered the pronunciation of the Italian alphabet, you will be ready to move on to common Italian vocabulary words! If youre having difficultly mastering the alphabet, you may want to work with an experienced Italian tutor. A tutor can develop a learning curriculum for your particular learning style and goals. Hope you have fun learning the Italian alphabet! Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches music and Italian lessons in Brooklyn, NY.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in vocal performance and has a graduate certificate in arts administration from New York University. Learn more about Liz 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 Monica H.

What Makes a Sonnet a Sonnet

What Makes a Sonnet a Sonnet Sonnets: Shakespeare's Favourite Poetic Form ChaptersSo, what is a Sonnet?The Most Important Features of a SonnetThe Main Types of SonnetThe Main Types of Sonnet: A SummaryPlaying with the Form: Other SonneteersWriting Your Own SonnetA Step by Step Guide to Writing a SonnetFind Out More about Different Poetic FormsIf you are studying poetry, Shakespeare, or English literature at any level, you will inevitably have to grasp with this thing called the  sonnet.  Any idea what this might be? No worries if not, because we are here to walk you through all aspects of this poetic form. By the time you have finished this article, you'll be able to identify the main features - metrical, thematic, and rhymed - of this literary form, and you'll be able to consider how to write your own!We hope you find it helpful!Find some fun poetry lessons on Superprof.Secondly, the sonnet, given its brief length, is great for expressing a feeling, thought, or idea. The brevity facilitates the communication of a strength of feeling that can be lost in lo nger forms.Thirdly, whilst the sonnet is traditionally known for focusing its attentions on the theme of love, the form allows for a great flexibility in its content. You will these days see sonnets written on everything from politics to war to ice cream. What makes this possible is the form's argumentative structure, which, as you will see below, is an essential part of the sonnet.The Lady of Shalott, though not a sonnet, makes use of the iambic pentameter Source: Pixabay Credit: MZ Matuszewski0The Most Important Features of a SonnetAs we saw above, a sonnet is simply a poem written in a specific form. But to recognise a sonnet when you see one, you need to know the specific characteristics of that form. So, to summarise, here are the need-to-know features of a sonnet.The Sonnet's Main FeaturesFourteen linesGenerally, all sonnets have fourteen lines. You will find some exceptions, but the poets will do this deliberately.VoltaThe fourteen lines are divided into two sections, usually of eight lines and six. The break between the two parts is known as the volta.Iambic pentameterThis is what we call the metre of the poem: the number of syllables in each line of the poem. An 'iamb' is a set of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed. 'Pentameter' shows that there are five of these 'iambs' in a line. So, you have ten syllables: unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressed, etc.Rhyme schemeDifferent types of sonnets have different rhyme schemes, and some don't rhyme at all! You'll see more about this below.Let's Add a Little More Detail...So, to flesh this about a bit, let's pay a bit more attention to each feature.Lines and StructureWe've just noted that a sonnet has fourteen lines. But what you need to remember is that depending on the type of sonnet, these lines are arranged in different ways.So, in a Petrarchan sonnet (we told you he'd come up again!), the lines are grouped into two: an octave (that means a group of eight lines) and a sestet (a group of six).In Shakespearean sonnets and Spenserian sonnets, on the other hand, you have three quatrains (four lines) and a couplet (two lines). You'll find more on how these lines rhyme in the sections on each type of sonnet below.The VoltaWhilst you will find a volta in many other forms of poetry, they are really quite important to the sonnet. What do we mean by the volta, then? In Italian, this word means 'turn' - and, in the sonnet, this is the moment at which a change occurs in the poem. This change might be in tone, argument, or thematic focus - but it is very rare to find a sonnet without one.As we note above, these usually occur after the eighth line of the poem - for Petrarch, after the octave, whilst for Shakespeare and Spenser after the second quatrain. You'll notice this change quite easily, as they are usually signaled with a 'but', 'however', or 'and'.Iambic PentameterThis may look like a scary poetry word, but don't worry about it too much. Let's break it down.'Met re' refers to the rhythmic structure of a line in poetry: how many syllables, how these are grouped together. 'Penta-' comes from the Greek word for 'five'. So, from 'pentameter' you know that the metre of a sonnet has something to do with five.As we said above, the word 'iamb' refers to a group of two syllables, one unstressed and one stressed.  There are five of these in each line when we talk about iambic pentameter. As all English literature teachers will tell you, the line will scan like this: dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH.To see this in action, look at this line from Shakespeare's famous Sonnet 18, in which we have highlighted the stressed syllables:Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Count the syllables in the line (there are ten!). Now, count the stressed syllables (there are five!).But if we switch the stressed syllables with the unstressed ones, we can see how the line becomes a little clumsy:Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?The Sonnet SeriesOne of t he main historical conventions of the sonnet is that they usually come in series. Think about Shakespeare's poem above. Why is it called 'Sonnet 18'? He didn't name it that. Rather, because he wrote 154 sonnets, each individual one is known by its number.A lot of people have written sonnets in sequences. The most famous early sonneteers all wrote series: Philip Sidney's Astrophil and Stella; Shakespeare's  Sonnets; Spenser's  Amoretti.  This convention has remained with us, as, in the twentieth century many other writers have composed sonnet sequences: Rainer Maria Rilke's  Sonnets to Orpheus,  John Berryman's  Sonnets.  These are the things that have developed the association of sonnets with the theme of love - as all of these sequences deal with a passionate speaker talking to a loved object.The Main Types of SonnetIn the English-speaking world, we usually refer to three discrete types of sonnet: the Petrarchan, the Shakespearean, and the Spenserian.All of these maintain the featu res outlined above - fourteen lines, a volta, iambic pentameter - and they all three are written in sequences. The primary difference is the rhyme scheme.We'll look at these three types of sonnet, and then finally consider some of those that don't really fit into the structure we have all been taught.Petrarchan SonnetThe first sonnet is the Petrarchan, or Italian, sonnet. Named after one of the form's greatest practitioners, the Italian poet Petrarch, the Petrarchan sonnet was the earliest strict sonnet form (he lived from 1304 to 1374).As we noted above, the Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two stanzas: the octave (the first eight lines) followed by the answering sestet (the final six lines). Let's take a look at a Petrarchan sonnet, by the English poet William Wordsworth (as this is easier than reading medieval Italian!).London, 1802(A) Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: (B) England hath need of thee: she is a fen (B) Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, (A) Fire side, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, (A) Have forfeited their ancient English dower (B) Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; (B) Oh! raise us up, return to us again; (A) And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.(C) Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: (D) Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: (D) Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, (E) So didst thou travel on life's common way, (C) In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart (E) The lowliest duties on herself did lay.So, here, in the first line, we've added markings to highlight the stress of the iambic pentameter (try it for yourself in the rest of the lines!).And we've neatly highlighted the volta after the eighth line (do you see how the poem's tone changes - from a critique of England to a celebration of Milton?). In Petrarch, the volta usually separates the shift from an argument or question in the octave to a resolution in the sestet.But what do those letters mean before each line? This is how we refer to rhyme scheme, in which A rhymes with A, B with B, and where each new sound requires a new letter. So, what do we have here? ABBAABBA, CDDECE.The Petrarchan sonnet will almost always begin with that ABBAABBA octave. However, the rhyme scheme of the sestet can change - so watch out. Here, Wordsworth uses CDDECE, but the most common rhyme schemes in Petrarch are CDECDE or CDCDCD.After the Petrarchan sonnet was first brought to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard began translating and writing his own versions of Petrarch. His works were considered more faithful to the original than the work of his English counterparts. He made modifications to the Petrarchan sonnet which then became the structure of what we know as the Shakespearean sonnet.This structure was established to better suit the English language which was somewhat lacking in the rhyming words that Italian boasts.The Shakespearean SonnetShakespeare's sonnets are famous worldwide (Source: Pexels)The Shakespear ean, or English sonnet, follows a different set of rules. Here, there are usually three quatrains and a couplet following a rhyme scheme like this: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG. This is the primary difference between the Petrarchan and the Shakespearean sonnet. Let's take a look at Shakespeare's Sonnet 130:(A) My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; (B) Coral is far more red, than her lips red: (A) If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; (B) If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. (C) I have seen roses damasked, red and white, (D) But no such roses see I in her cheeks; (C) And in some perfumes is there more delight (D) Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. (E) I love to hear her speak, yet well I know (F) That music hath a far more pleasing sound: (E) I grant I never saw a goddess go, (F) My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: (G) And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare, (G) As any she belied with false compare.Much like in the Petrarchan sonne t, the Shakespearean sonnet contains a volta. There is a difference here, however. The volta can either come after the first eight lines or, as in Sonnet 130,   at the beginning of the couplet. Here, it is used to signal a conclusion, explanation, or counterargument to the previous 3 stanzas.In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 the first twelve lines focus on the speaker’s mistress, comparing her unfavourably to nature. But the final couplet changes the tone completely, that despite all of her flaws he does love her.Shakespeare uses Sonnet 130 as a satire of other poets who compare their loves to nature’s beauty. In fact he takes it to the extreme nearly leaving the mistress completely unlovable!The Spenserian SonnetA contemporary of Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser lived from 1552 to 1559. His sequence,  Amoretti, was his main engagement with the sonnet form - and his other works included  The Faerie Queene, an allegory about Elizabeth I, and  The Shepherd's Calendar, a poem about shepherd s, surprise surprise.The Spenserian sonnet has a similar structure to a Shakespearean one, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. The interesting thing about the Spenserian sonnet is, of course, the rhyme scheme. Let's take a look at Spenser's Sonnet 75.(A) One day I wrote her name upon the strand, (B) But came the waves and washed it away: (A) Again I write it with a second hand, (B) But came the tide, and made my pains his prey. (B) Vain man, said she, that doest in vain assay, (C) A mortal thing so to immortalize, (B) For I myself shall like to this decay, (C) And eek my name be wiped out likewise. (C) Not so, (quod I) let baser things devise (D) To die in dust, but you shall live by fame: (C) My verse, your virtues rare shall eternize, (D) And in the heavens write your glorious name. (E) Where whenas death shall all the world subdue, (E) Our love shall live, and later life renew.So, what do we have here? Remembering that Shakespearean sonnets follow the ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG form, the Spenserian sonnets are slightly different: ABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EE. So, the second rhyme of the first quatrain is taken to be the first of the second quatrain. Again, it ends with a couplet.Where's the volta? Look at line nine, the first line of the final sestet. 'Not so', says Spenser, introducing a contradiction. As in Shakespeare, the volta either appears here or at the beginning of the final couplet.After first octave.ShakespeareanABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GGAfter first octave or beginning of final couplet.SpenserianABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EEAfter first octave or beginning of final couplet.Playing with the Form: Other SonneteersWhilst what we have just covered are the main historical types of sonnets, lots of poets have decided to take the basic structure of the form and change its content. Consequently, whilst these above are important to know, it is worth stressing that they are not the only forms of sonnets around.Let's take a look at just a handful of different sonnets that play w ith the conventions of the form.Carol Ann Duffy's  Anne HathawayA poem which, if you are studying literature in the UK, you will definitely confront is Carol Ann Duffy's  Anne Hathaway.  Take a read and see what she does with the sonnet form.The bed we loved in was a spinning world of forests, castles, torchlight, cliff-tops, seas where he would dive for pearls. My lover’s words were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme to his, now echo, assonance; his touch a verb dancing in the centre of a noun. Some nights I dreamed he’d written me, the bed a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste. In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on, dribbling their prose. My living laughing love â€" I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head as he held me upon that next best bed.So, what's important here? What is one of those key features of the sonnet that is missing here?You should have notic ed: it is the rhyme scheme! Does the poem rhyme? Only in the final two lines. Other than that, the iambic pentameter is still there, as well as the volta.Elizabeth Bishop's  SonnetCaught -- the bubble in the spirit level, a creature divided; and the compass needle wobbling and wavering, undecided. Freed -- the broken thermometer's mercury running away; and the rainbow-bird from the narrow bevel of the empty mirror, flying wherever it feels like, gay!Now, how is this a sonnet? Is it a sonnet, and why? The poet, Bishop, clearly intends it to be so, entitling the poem the way she does. What do you think?E.E. Cummingshere's to opening and upward,to leaf and to sap and to your(in my arms flowering so new) self whose eyes smell of the sound of rainand here's to silent certainly mountains;and to a disappearing poet of always,snow and to morning;and to morning's beautiful friend twilight(and a first dream called ocean)andlet must or if be damned with whomever's afraid down with ought with b ecause with every brain which thinks it thinks, nor dares to feel(but up with joy;and up with laughing and drunkenness)here's to one undiscoverable guess of whose mad skill each world of blood is made (whose fatal songs are moving in the moonBesides the lack of capital letters and spaces (all of which are intentional), E.E. Cummings is known for his experiments with poetic forms. Can you recognise what he has done here to the form of the sonnet?Writing Your Own SonnetOf course if you’re writing your own sonnet you can choose any style you like. But seeing as it lends itself better to the English language and we all know many of them, our guide will stick to writing a Shakespearean-style sonnet.When writing a Shakespearean-style sonnet, there are several rules you need to keep in mind. This style of poetry follows a specific format including length, rhythm, and rhyme scheme.To write a sonnet according to these rules, follow this process: - Select a subject to write your poem about (Shakespearean sonnets are usually about love). - Write your lines in iambic pentameter (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH. - Structure the sonnet using 3 quatrains followed by 1 couplet. - Compose your sonnet as an argument that builds up as it moves from one metaphor to the next, until you counterargue this argument in the concluding couplet. - Make sure your poem is exactly 14 lines long.Try your hand at writing your own poem (Source: Pexels)A Step by Step Guide to Writing a Sonnet1. Find InspirationWhereas Shakespeare’s sonnets generally revolve around love, you could, in fact, choose any topic for your sonnet.  You could even look to modern pop songs for inspiration!Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off is a prime (and fun!) example of iambic pentameter usage in a modern context.Other songs sung in iambic pentameter include:One Direction â€" HistoryAlessia Cara â€" Here (a particularly good example as she gives each foot’s downbeat extra stress)Halsey â€" New AmericanaG-Easy/ Bebe Rexha: Me, Myself and IGranted, not one of these songs is a sonnet but they do provide you with a way to get the feel of the iambic pentameter and different ways it can be used.If you wanted to see popular songs in sonnet form... some ingenious and creative soul has taken lyrics from the likes of Beyoncé and The Backstreet Boys and turned them into sonnets!2. Master the Iambic PentameterInternalising the iambic ‘beat’ is no chore; you could practice it while walking â€" left foot unstressed/right foot stressed, by clapping your hands (soft-LOUD soft-LOUD), drumming your fingers... any type of rhythmic activity.Mastering the iambic pentameter is vital to writing a sonnet with proper flow.Once you have found a topic to write about and internalised the iambic beat, writing a sonnet is a breeze!Remember that the first quatrain introduces the situation and, at least as far as Shakespearian sonnets are concerned, follows an ABAB pattern â€" meaning that the third line should rhy me with the first and the fourth with the second.Here is an example of just such a quatrain:Ago, I saw you walking fair one day Though fear forbade my presence should come near. Froze, the words that I could never say Though in my heart remain so very dear.Does it meet all of the criteria for a proper iambic pentameter quatrain and the opening verse of a sonnet? Let’s see:Each line contains five iambic feet (in other words, five duh-DUMs).Line three rhymes with line one and line four rhymes with line two.It outlines a situation (we wonder why the speaker fears approaching and what s/he wanted to say)3. Play with Words.You’ll note that there are several words in this stanza that generally would not be used in normal conversation, at least not in the form or in the place they are used here.Poetic license gives you permission to convey meaning by bending common language rules and expanding word meanings.Our great bard Shakespeare was famous for perverting the meaning of words; his frequent use of anon is the perfect example of such.The word anon dates back to 12th century English. Its original meaning was straightaway, or forthwith. Through Shakespeare’s persistent misuse of this word, it has come to mean the exact opposite: soon, or in a while.We can see why he loved that word: it is compact and convenient, subjecting itself neatly and repeatedly to the iambic pentameter. And it’s easy to rhyme!Make Ample Use of Poetic License â€" so long as you don’t completely vandalise the language!Poetic license permits the use of  froze instead of frozen to describe those unuttered words. Doing so even lends urgency to the situation by implying the words froze upon the sight of the person in question.4. Depict a Complete Scene in 14 Lines.To do that properly and effectively, you should use as many words and phrases that would call up visual imagery as you can.The phrase ‘fear forbade my presence to come near’ conveys so much more than ‘I had an anxiety attac k and couldn’t approach you’, even though they represent essentially the same concept, right?This stanza causes us to see fear as a looming, frightening, domineering entity denying the speaker the privilege of approaching the person in question. By contrast, ‘anxiety attack’ sounds paltry, doesn’t it?The QuatrainOur first quatrain has us off to a great start! We have the right number of feet and the right rhyming pattern; we have visual language that has outlined a situation. Now it is time for quatrain #2:Delight in how the sun kisses your cheek; Tortu’r in how I wish that it were me! Mere audience with you is what I seek As though your heart were once again trusting.Can you identify the components that make this a valid quatrain?Now we know a bit more about the situation: the speaker has apparently broken the subject’s heart and is well aware of the fact. S/he is bitter about the supposed lack of potential trust; we see this in the last line. Imagine that line spat out with self-loathing!And we know that it is a sunny day.This build-up of information leads us directly into the next quatrain and, finally the couplet; the denouement of the situation:Ago, I saw you walking fair one day though fear forbade my presence should come near. Froze, the words that I could never say though in my heart remain so very dear. Delight in how the sun kisses your cheek; Tortu’r in how I wish that it were me! Mere audience with you is what I seek As though your heart were once again trusting.Ne’er! Your cry strikes such a cruel blow! Ne’er! Your mien doth passion-tly aver! How did I force love’s door on me to close When soul and mind, it all I gave to her?And then, Divine, the hand that turns your face! Our eyes, searing, questing, entwine, embrace.Note the rising passion throughout; the third quatrain full of fury and agony until the last two lines; a conclusion in direct contradiction of the rest of the poem.Also, there is an escalating use of poetic l icense. In fact, the more ardent the situation becomes the more license is given to express it all!Feel free to use helpful resources to find just the right words for your sonnet! Source: Pixabay Credit: Truth Seeker08A Helping Hand in Sonnet WritingInternalising the iambic pentameter and employing poetic license is child’s play compared to mastering the vocabulary necessary to write in this manner.Fortunately, in most cases you only need to know the words for what you want to say; a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary can help you find the right words to tell your story in sonnet form.Some of the better ones we know of are:https://www.rhymezone.com: perfect for finding just the word you’re looking for! https://www.synonym.com: you can also find antonyms, should you know the opposite word of what you’re trying to express https://dictionary.reverso.net/english-synonyms more than just a dictionary; it also offers meanings for common phrases! https://www.thesaurus.com: the simples t and perhaps easiest to use!Fortunately, we don't have to write with a quill pen, as Shakespeare did! Source: Pixabay Credit: Andreas160578Find Out More about Different Poetic FormsThe benefit of poetry is that there are lots of different styles  once you have tried sonnets poems. Give the other styles try, Limericks are light-hearted poems, historically  Japanese Haiku poetry is traditional, to show a feeling  an Epic style poem  would work well, Adding music? then the Ballad poetry style is  for you, If you are looking for a show of Friday night  visit a slam poetry  show or  listen to free verse poetry style. So many kinds of poetry, meaning you will find your best style of poetry.

The French Revolution

The French Revolution What Were the Causes and Consequences of the French Revolution? ChaptersFrench Revolution TimelineHow the Revolution Changed Modern-Day FranceThe French Revolution of 1789 is perhaps one of the most famous events of French history.Many of the outcomes and consequences of the revolution have led to several key characteristics that define the political running of modern-day France as well as the values held by the French people.The Revolution marked a key point in French and European history as France transformed from a kingdom to a republic ruled by its people.But what are the circumstances which led to the beginning of the revolution? And what were the results of it?Superprof is here to explain all you need to know about the French revolution and how it laid the foundations for modern-day France! AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFrench Revolution TimelineThe French Revolution of 1789 occurred for a variety of reasons, one of the main ones being the fact that the majority of the French population was unhappy with the way the country was being run in terms of economics and politics.Let’s take a look at a rough timeline of events which took placed before, during and after the French Revolution. ·                 A Difficult Financial ClimateA larger population and an economic boom meant that the 18th century was, for the most part, a period in which the French people enjoyed a higher standard of life than previously.Unfortunately, this period of pro sperity didn’t last long, and the end of the 1700’s saw a sharp downturn in the country’s economic stability as France’s leaders were faced with the debts accumulated whilst embroiled in various wars against the British in the American Revolution.The conflicts in which France took part were responsible for the country's debt ¦ source: VisualhuntThe reigning monarch at the time was King Louis XVI, who was to become the last monarch of France.In an attempt to solve his nation’s financial issues, the King turned to his financial advisors, whose opinion he could not have disagreed with more: that the French taxation system should be reformed.Louis was sure that there must have been another way for him to save his country from bankruptcy, so he sacked his advisors and turned to Charles de Calonne, his controller general, instead.Calonne advised King Louis that in order to raise funds to pay off the national debt, the French nobility and clergy â€" two groups of people who were previously exempt from tax â€" should now be liable to pay it.Once again, this advice was badly received by King Louis, but Calonne went ahead and tried to impose this new tax. As predicted, this did not go down well, and the aristocracy rejected Calonne’s demands.As King Louis XVI and Calonne scratched their heads, the country was driven further into economic crisis. In addition to the financial hardship, there was a feeling of frustration present within every sector of society. ·                 The Questioning of the Ancien RégimeWhile the aristocracy took offence at Calonne’s attempt to use their money to pay off the national debt, the rest of the population had already had enough of the way the country was being run.Years of poor crops made food expensive and drove France’s peasantry (known as the Third Estate), which made up the vast majority of the population, further into poverty under the feudal system while wealthy landowners contributed little to the state.In thei r confusion, King Louis XVI and Calonne arranged to meet with the Estates-General in 1789, a body representing the three sectors of French society, to discuss a solution: the clergy (First Estate), nobility (Second Estate) and the peasants (Third Estate).During the time before the meeting, each estate put together lists of their issues which were to be raised with the King. For the Third Estate, one of these issues was representation in the assembly. Although they accounted for ninety-eight percent of the population, the vote of the Third Estate could still be overruled by that of the First or Second.The importance of social status drove the call of political reform and set the scene for revolution, and the meeting did not go as the King has envisaged. Following the rejection of the Third Estate’s call for equal voting rights, they left the Estates-General and formed the National Assembly, which, given its popular advantage, was able to declare itself sovereign ruler of France. ·                 The National AssemblyThe formation of the National Assembly was the first major step towards revolution, and once its members had taken the Tennis Court Oath, revolution was on the cards.By taking the Tennis Court Oath, the National Assembly vowed to not disband until France had a new constitution. The Oath is so called because it took place on a tennis court near the palace of Versailles as the Assembly had been locked out of their usual meeting room there by King Louis XVI.The National Assembly continued to meet at Versailles while it was drafting a new constitution, but while there was a feeling of hope among French citizens, the population was also fearful that the King would attempt to regain control by mobilising his troops.This fear was addressed by acts of violence against symbols of the monarchy and power in the capital. The most notable attack, and the one which is believed to have signalled the beginning of the French Revolution was the storming of the Bas tille. ·                 The Storming of the BastilleThe Bastille was a fortress which had been built to protect Paris during the Hundred Years War which was being used as a prison. It was seen as a symbol of the abuse of power of the French royal family and aristocrats, and, knowing that it housed arms, the disgruntled Parisians attacked it, taking cannons and gunpowder as well as setting the prisoners free.The rebellious atmosphere also took hold of those outside of the city, and as the storming of the Bastille signalled the end of feudalism, rural peasants left their restrictive contracts and vandalised their landlords’ property.France’s debt problem was eventually solved by nationalising the land owned by the Church.Not only did this save France’s economy, but it also gave the lower-classes the chance to own property of their own.Bastille Day is celebrated every year on the 14th July ¦ source: Visualhunt - stephen.boakThe anti-feudalist fever which had swept the nation wa s put in writing with the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen. This Declaration was a document which inspired much of France’s post-revolution constitution.The document stated that all French citizens would have equal rights regardless of social class as well as free speech. One of the most important parts of the Declaration was the article on the end of feudalism and tax immunity.Several aspects of the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen can be seen in the French constitution of today.However, although it seemed that the National Assembly was successfully implementing their ideas, new problems had come to light within the Assembly itself, when it came to addressing the controversial topic of the monarchy which left the National Assembly divided. ·                 Controversy Around the Role of the MonarchyThe groups of each side of the argument, the Girondins (who were in favour of giving the monarchy some constitutional power) and the Jaco bins (who wanted to abolish the monarchy altogether and form a republic) were at loggerheads.The first constitution reflected both sides of the argument, and the King was given the power to veto decisions made by the government.A Legislative Assembly was elected to run the country, and war was soon declared on Prussia and Austria as the Assembly feared a counter-revolution by the noble Frenchmen who had fled there. While they were dealing with this potential threat, the Jacobins started a campaign of violence against the King.This ended in the replacement of the Assembly by the newly-named National Convention. This was the government which abolished the French monarchy and ordered the execution of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, his wife in 1793.The monarchy has been abolished and the Jacobins had reached their goal, but the threat of a counter-revolution was too much for the Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre, who condemned 15,000 people to death in what was known as the R eign of Terror.Robespierre’s life was also brought to an end when the court ruled that his killing spree was no longer helping to secure the safety of France.My Superprof tutor was really great about touching on French history during our French classes London!How the Revolution Changed Modern-Day FranceThe French Revolution completely reshaped the country’s political and social landscape.Signs of the Revolution of 1789 are everywhere in French life. For instance, the 14th July is a national holiday in France, known as Bastille Day, as it marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. French citizens celebrate the event which signalled the beginning of the French Revolution which made for a fairer society in which all men are born equal.The French motto, too, has its origins in the French Revolution. The phrase ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ (liberty, equality, fraternity) was first used in a public context by Maximilien Robespierre in 1790 and has become a promin ent feature of French life in all aspects.If you enjoyed this article, why not check out our blog on French military history?

Does Speed Reading Spoil the Pleasure of Reading

Does Speed Reading Spoil the Pleasure of Reading Alex G has been teaching Speed Reading since 2006 and he has developed a new methodology that has worked for thousands of people. Alex is also a learning difficulties practitioner and a practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Alex has written a piece on whether speed reading spoils the pleasure of reading! There are many misconceptions about speed reading and I want to help you understand what to expect if you hire a speed reading tutor. Your mind processes information very quickly. When you read slowly your mind tends to drift away, you end up wasting time by re-reading a paragraph that you didn’t understand and become demotivated to read or study. Pay attention whilst reading these lines to the voice inside your head, saying the words back to yourself. This is called” inner speech” and people are not always aware that they have this little voice pretending to say the words to themselves to understand the text. When you read in this way your reading speed will be limited to the speed that you can talk, which varies from 150 to 250 words per minute. Once you learn how to speed read you will silence this inner speech and will be reading silently. Your speed will increase to 500 words per minute or even 1,000 words per minute. It will depend on the complexity of the text. You will learn how to change gears, read at the right speed to have the best comprehension and avoid becoming distracted or having to skip back to re-read something you’ve already read. After all, there are no set standards to measure your reading speed, until now. How do you know how fast you are reading and who are you comparing yourself with? Contact Alex G today to discuss speed reading tuition and training.