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make your personality pop characters in a movie are so important because of who they are in the plot , so make sure to make your personality a big thing and dont let it be something that is a part of you , make it who you are , have charisma you cant make it big with your personality without charisma , so try being a better version of yourself if you want to act like a character , not an extra . make sure to sometimes be the main character , not the main characters something every character has a key - scene , which is an important scene for the character or the plot in general , so its okay to have something being about you . dramatics movements are the key this takes some time to get use to , cause its when theatricality comes in . the eyes are the window to the soul its not only about your body movements , eyes can tell a story too , your voice is extremely important you know how in theatrical movie trailers the voice - over gives you chills , looks matter it doesnt matter if you are ugly or pretty , make your personality show over your clothing , they express who you are .
how to act like youre in a movie
, try talking about yourself more even if people dont care , youre the focus youll need some will to do this , but it becomes simple like breathing after a while . bigger movements in general and intense gestures are what characters use to express their emotions in a scene . so , try copying their mannerisms when they receive big or sad news and youll take your day to a whole new theatrical level . its fun make dramatic stares and bring intensity to your eyeballs moves . apply that to your everyday routine and everyone will start paying attention to whatever you say . and its not only the wardrobe , hair and makeup for girls , obviously count too
place small snacks into a bag . put snacks into a sealed container . cover the food with other items . dont overstuff the bag .
how to sneak food into a movie theatre 1
use a bag , such as a backpack , messenger bag , or purse to hide outside food and beverages . for example , you could hide small snacks such as candy , chocolate bars , chips , fruits and veggies , popcorn , or bottled beverages inside your bag . this way your snacks wont spill inside of your bag while you are transporting them into the theatre . a sealed container will also mask the smell of popcorn or other snacks in your bag , making them less noticeable . place a wallet , day planner , or any other item overtop of the food you are sneaking into the theatre . that way , if someone looks inside your purse , theyll just see your personal belongings , not the food . make sure to choose a bag that is large enough to fit all the snacks you want to sneak into the theatre . you should not stuff your bag so full that some of the snacks are sticking out of the top . this is a sure way to get caught . make sure that the snacks fit into your bag and are not visible .
hide a small snack or two in your pockets . conceal food youre carrying with a sweater or jacket . hide food in your sleeves . act natural .
how to sneak food into a movie theatre 2
wear large and baggy clothing and then hide small snacks in your pockets . for example , you could wear a pair of cargo pants , preferably a pair with plenty of pockets and hide candy or chocolate in the pockets . take a look in the mirror before leaving your house to make sure that none of the food is visible . in some instances , the food you want to sneak in may be too large to fit into your sweater or pant pockets . if this is the case , you can roll up your coat or jacket and hold it over your arm . wrap any food items inside your jacket . it will just look like you are carrying your jacket and no one will suspect that food is hidden inside alternatively , you can hide food up the front of your jacket . you may look larger than normal , but chances are an employee will not ask you to lift your shirt unless it looks very suspicious . this works best with long skinny items , such as chocolate bars . hold your arms casually at your sides and no one will look twice . you can tie the food to your arm using an elastic band or string . this way the food will not fall out while you are walking and swinging your arms . no one will look twice if you dont give them a reason to be suspicious . act normal and do not keep checking your bag or pockets . if you do get caught , apologize and admit that you were bringing in food . chances are they will just confiscate the food and allow you to stay and watch the movie .
pick items that are sold at the concession stand . select items that are not loud . choose food that doesnt smell . select snacks not meals . dont eat smuggled food in front of the staff .
how to sneak food into a movie theatre 3
most theatres sell candy and other snacks that can be purchased at any convenience or grocery store . you can easily smuggle these items into the theatre , because no one will suspect that they were not purchased from the concession stand . it is highly unlikely that you would ever be asked to provide a receipt . some large movie theatre chains also sell food such as hot dogs , pizza , and burgers . if this is the case , you could try sneaking in larger items . some foods can be loud to open and eat . for instance , most movie theatres do not sell soda in a can . the sound of a can of cola being opened will surely draw attention . if you want to bring your own soda , pour it into a water bottle so you wont disturb others watching the movie by opening the can . similarly , you can leave loud wrappers at home by opening up your candy in advance and transferring it to a resealable baggie . this will be much quieter and you can eat the food without drawing attention . when sneaking food into a theatre , avoid foods that have a strong scent . this may cause you to stand out and could increase your chances of getting caught by the theatre staff . stick to scentless foods , such as trail mix , candy , or bottled water . dont try to sneak in a burger or onion rings . not only will the person next to you be extremely jealous , but the scent may draw the attention of the staff . as a general rule , you should never eat anything in a dark movie theatre that requires cutlery . aside from the fact that you will likely make a huge mess , it is also inconsiderate to the other people trying to watch the film . cutlery is loud and can distract from the movie . leave your leftovers at home and stick with small snacks and finger foods . once you are inside the theatre , be discreet . keep your smuggled food hidden and avoid eating these items in front of the theatre employees . this way you are less likely to get caught .
wear shoes that are a size or two too big . fill pockets of pants and sweatshirts . bring a purse . if you wear top hats , especially high ones , you can hide your contraband in there . if your have a sweatshirt , wrap it around your candy .
how to sneak candy into the movies
place loose candy in a plastic baggie and sneak it into your shoe . make sure the candy doesnt create visible bumps in your clothes . pack only your essentials money , keys , id in your purse and fill the rest of the bag with candy . you can also slip a bottle of water or soda in a purse , too . men can do this too society is becoming more and more accepting of men with purses . , carry it at your side , and no one will suspect a thing .
decide on what to watch . know how to get the tickets . the movie schedule must be at your fingertips . buy snacks and be prepared to pay more . most movie theaters like it if you buy food from them , but they normally dont enforce the rule . if youre bringing your own snacks , wear cargo pants - its far easier to stash snacks in cargo pockets just dont stuff them to the gills . pick your seats . discuss the film .
how to go to the movies
choose something you think youll enjoy to avoid getting bored . go online and look at reviews on large sites like rotten tomatoes or imdb to see if its a good movie . you may have to buy them in advance at an online site , or go to the box office early to make sure its not sold out . normally , theater lobbies will be jam - packed with people on weekends , so allow 20 - 30 minutes to get your tickets , get snacks , and then get good seats . allow extra time for blockbusters , like a harry potter film or the hunger games . if you have kids with you , limit how many extra items they can have . try not to buy a lot of snacks the movie seats are generally small , and you won´t focus in the movie if you have to rescue that falling super - size stack of candy . a great way to save money on snacks is if you put a box of candy in your purse and pockets . buy drinks at the theater if you put them in your bag , they may leak . no theater in their right mind is going to ask to search your pants pocket for snacks - too much risk of a sexual harassment lawsuit . if you planned ahead and arrived early , you might be able to sit at a desirable seat . the best seats in most cinemas are at the back of the room because you won´t have those annoying seat - kickers , or in the middle as you will have the best view there . try not to arrive late , or these seats might be occupied by people . after you have watched the movie , you can discuss the movie with friends or family that you went with .
read the book . write a brief summary . write a script . cast characters that fit the description of the book . budget . storyboard . start filming . the best way to see all of this is to visit the movie set . if you shoot your own movie , the dailies will never look as good as dailies from a television drama which is filmed fast and efficiently after years of practice for both the cast and crew . communication .
how to adapt a novel to a movie
if you dont , the movie wont make sense and the people who have read the book will be very angry with the filmmaker . if you read the book , put tabs on it and make notes , so you will be less likely to bomb the movie . read it over and over , regardless of its length . you really need to be familiar with the storys plot and its characters . if you can condense an entire book into a few pages then you are ready to make a movie . try to keep the main things in it without having the film drag on . put only the best quotes into your script . try not to include everything in the book , as that would get boring very quickly . the actors are very essential . they have to deliver their lines or else no one will take them seriously . hold auditions somewhere with enough space . while the budget and schedule will change constantly throughout prep , into production , even up to delivery , you have to start somewhere . the initial budget and schedule will be source of much discussion and compromise , but it gives all the departments a common ground from which to plan . storyboards are drawings of the sequence of shots for a script . it helps to pre - visualize how the director wants the screenplay to be shot and it communicates the directors ideas to the crew and the producers . storyboarding is mainly there to get a first idea of what the film will look like . it is rarely followed exactly but it is a helpful guideline during the shooting of a film . keep the book with you at all times . the main cast members should read the book as well . independent filmmaking filmmaking also takes place outside of the studio system and is commonly called independent filmmaking . filmmakers can conceivably shoot and edit a movie , create and edit the sound and music , and mix the final cut on a home computer . most independent filmmakers rely on film festivals to get their films noticed and sold for distribution . the internet has allowed for relatively inexpensive distribution of independent films many filmmakers post their films online for critique and recognition . although there is little profitability in this , a filmmaker can still gain exposure via the web . if you dont have the time to become a production assistant , take the tours of movie studios . some tours can be very interesting . hollywood studio tours while the universal studio tour is more entertainment than actual examples of filming , you can pick up tickets to filming as you leave universal studio tour area . most are for sitcoms which are filmed totally different from a motion picture . yet they are very educational and entertaining to watch . your first day of filming on a low budget movie with a new crew and inexperience actors will look more like a disaster movie than a motion picture set . give the cast and crew as much information as possible , especially when things are going wrong . if you can then print and distribute the schedule to every crew member at the start of each day , if not far earlier . if youre going run over schedule then first explain the situation to your crew , then ask very nicely if they mind working longer and then tell your crew the new estimate wrap time .
decide who you are going to the cinema with . decide which movie you are planning to attend . pick out what you are going to eat if youd like while watching the movie . pick which cinema you will use to watch this movie . decide between 2d and 3d films . plan the time at which youll be leaving the house to get to the cinema on time . figure out your arrival time . make sure to turn off any cellphones , beepers and other electronic devices including any tablet pcs that you may have in your possession but concealed , as sometimes they may beep and annoy other guests sitting near you . dont be afraid to gasp or laugh . let the story captivate and move you . try not to think about anything else .
how to enjoy the cinema
its fine to go alone you dont have to take someone , especially if you dont like them . but if you have wanted to hang out with a friend recently then you could go with them . maybe you could plan a group trip there . remember to make sure that your friends if youre at school dont talk about the trip to prevent unwanted guests showing up unexpectedly or people you havent invited getting jealous . remember to pick people that you want to go with , and people who will get along with each other . if they start arguing , it could turn the trip into a nightmare , or get you kicked out of the cinema for being too loud . pick a movie you like its no fun sitting through an hour and a half long film and being bored to death , or worse , scared to death . have a look at the choices and pre - plan the film you want to see , especially if it hasnt come out yet . if youre going in a group , maybe get together beforehand to see what everyone thinks because you dont want them not enjoying themselves . you dont have to eat , but its sometimes fun to break out the popcorn or pick n mix . only choose one of the options , because it can be uncomfortable being full and trying to focus on a film at the same time . you could go for a meal before , but that means that you probably shouldnt eat everything at the cinema . make sure that what you are eating is what you want to eat because if the food is absolutely horrific then no one will be very pleased . if youre an indecisive person and are travelling with a group you should make the decision a few hours before to stop the rest of the group from getting bored , agitated or angry from waiting too long . although cost can be a factor , time at which the movie is planned to be shown is yet another factor . true , a cinema is a cinema , but some cinemas are better quality or more local to your area . look at the cinemas in your area and see which one is the best . if youre taking a group out then you should see which one is the most local to all of you - travelling long distances can cause various problems . although some 2d movies have been made for 3d now , 3d will generally be more expensive , can make some people feel sick , not to mention the glasses making your nose feel funny and being just not the right size . with a group , see who doesnt like 3d . if even one person says they dont like 3d then go and see 2d instead . you dont want them vomiting in the middle of all the seats . if you have decided to see 3d , then remind everyone to take their own glasses . a lot of times during the day arent suitable to go to the cinema in . dont go before 1130 , and dont go after 600 unless its a date . if you or a friend youre going with cant make it between these times then its fine . you can either go at a different time or schedule for the holidays or a weekend . even though the first part of every film is always trailers , you should get there 15 minutes before the film starts if youre going with a group so you can get any sweets or popcorn , tickets and other things before the film starts . besides , missing the start of the film can cause confusion later on and is annoying to the people already in the cinema . if youre with a group , make sure they and you all turn off their phones . and seriously , not just because the cinema tells you to . bright lights from the phone distract people from the film and sounds can make people miss a dramatic statement or a witty comment . this also why you should refrain from whispering . try to ignore any distractions around you and eliminate distractions so you can have a proper experience . if you are , the chances are that people around you are too . this just means that youre having a great experience of the film . if youre with a group tell them so they can feel it too . the story is the basis of the actions youll see , and which should drive the point home of whether or not a repeat performance should be attained . if you start crying , its ok . just try not to make a big noise . let the movie on the cinema screen drive what you want to do with the movie till the end , if planned just right .
get a high - quality camera . decide how youll edit the film . find a place to film . find people willing to help . dream up a visual story . expand your idea into a story . write a screenplay . storyboard your film . develop an aesthetic for your film . do you want your film to feature smooth , expertly - edited shots , or a rough , handheld camera look , design the costumes and sets . consider lighting . dress the sets , or scout a location . choose someone to direct . choose a cinematographer , or director of photography . assign someone the set design . put someone in charge of sound and music . cast your film . gather and test your equipment . plan meticulously . film your movie . edit your film . sync sound effects and music . create the title and credits sequences . export the film to a digital format dvd .
how to make a movie
lots of diy filmmakers have used cheap cameras to make professional - looking films . often , though , the homemade aspect of the footage is directly related to the story , marrying the form to the content . decide what kind of camera you need and what kind of camera you can afford . they can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars . if you already have access to a relatively cheap camcorder , consider filming a story that would work well with a homemade - look . in the 100 - 200 range , youve got lots of commercially available home recorders . companies like jvc , canon , and panasonic have relatively cheap cameras that are mobile , effective , and look great . even something like an iphone , ipad or ipod touch works great especially because its easy to transfer videos recorded on your ios device to imovie . ios devices have very astonishing cameras for what they are , and since most people have a phone already , then you dont have to go out and spend extra money . you could also attach an accessory over your iphone camera like an ollo clip , which hovers around 60 - 100 . the ollo clip comes with four lenses . cheap cameras can look great , for example the blair witch project was filmed on an rca camcorder bought at circuit city for very little money . in the 500 - 900 range , youve got really solid panasonic and sony models that have been used to make films like open water and lots of documentaries . if youre serious about making films , and making more than one film , consider investing in a solid camera . on an ipad , iphone , ipod touch or macbook , there is an app called imovie 4 . 99 for ios version . it lets you make quick , easy films , yet still look professional . unless youre going to go quick - and - dirty and only edit on the camera , which would involve filming everything in order and filming only perfect takes , which is very time consuming . youll need to import the footage onto a computer . mac computers come with imovie and pc computers come with windows movie maker , basic types of editing software that will allow you to edit the footage together , mix in the sound , and even add credits . you can upgrade to more complex and professional editing software like video edit magic or avid freedv . if these are not available two free but very professional movie editing tools are available open shot and light works which you can get for free and use . filming an outer space epic in your dorm room would be difficult , as would filming your gritty film about a street hustler in the mall . look at what locations are available to you , and consider what stories might evolve from that location . the film clerks revolves around a bunch of apathetic guys working at a convenience store , and hanging out . without access to said convenience store , it would have been difficult going . businesses and restaurants are often hesitant about letting amateur filmmakers use their property for filming , but you can always ask . often , people will be excited about the idea of being included . with very few exceptions , producing a film involves a large group of people who come together to serve a common goal a great visual story that deserves telling . youll need people to act and people to help film . cast your friends in these roles , or place a callout on facebook or craigslist to get people interested in your project . if youre not going to be able to pay anyone , make that clear right off the bat . if you live in a college town , consider putting up flyers in the drama buildings to see if any local talent might be interested . you might be surprised at how excited most people are to be included in a project like this . because most movies are essentially visual stories , the first step is coming up with an idea that you want to turn into a movie . whats something that youll have to see to believe you dont have to have every detail in place , but you should have a basic idea of the premise . think about the movies you like to watch , or the books you like to read , and consider what makes them so interesting . is it the characters , the action , the visuals , or the theme whatever it is , keep that element in mind as you plan your movie . write out a list of all the props , locations and actors which are currently available locally then develop a film around this . keep a dream journal , dreams like films are visual stories and dreams . keep a notebook with you for writing ideas down . read the news stories in the papers . have a basic idea , and work with that . narrow it down as you go along while writing the plot . the essentials for building a story from your idea have to do with character . who is your protagonist what does your protagonist want what keeps them from getting it how will the protagonist be changed if you can answer all these questions , youre on your way to a great story . its been said that all stories have one of two basic premises a stranger arrives and shakes up the normal way of things , or a hero departs and goes on a journey . make sure your story has a beginning , in which the scenario and the characters are introduced , a middle , in which the conflict builds , and an ending , in which the conflict is resolved . a screenplay breaks every moment of the story into an individual , film - able scene . while it may be tempting to want to costume - up and start filming every scene as it comes , youll be in much better shape if you can plan things out before hand and think of your film scene - by - scene . a screenplay writes out all the dialog , attributed to each character , along with some physical directions , exposition , and camera movement . each scene should start with a brief description of the scene i . e . interior , night . think cheaply as you write . for your purposes , it may be much better for the story to cut out the epic 30 minute car chase and instead cut straight to the aftermath . maybe your lead protagonist is laid up in bed , bandaged , wondering , what happened a storyboard is a comic - book - like version of the film that youll create , but without the dialog bubbles . it can be done on a large scale , drawing only each major scene or transition , or , if youve got a very visual story , it can also be done at the micro level , planning every shot and camera angle . this process makes a long film go more smoothly , and will help you anticipate difficult scenes or sequences to film . you can try shooting without storyboarding , but it will not only help you visualize your movie , it will help you explain your vision to the other members of the crew . because movies are visual , its a good idea to spend some time on the look and feel of the movie . consider two films as an example matrix again , with its monochromatic , yellow - green tone throughout , which heightened the sense of being digitized , and a scanner darkly by richard linklater , which was rotoscoped and had a unique and memorable cartoon reality look to it . here are some other areas to consider . its all there to do . for example , look at melancholia by lars von trier the opening scenes were shot with a super high speed camera , which renders as a fluid , graceful slow motion . most of the rest of the movie is shot with a handheld , or shaky cam , setting the tone for the emotional and spiritual conflicts that ripple through the movie . how do you want the setting of your film to look can you film it in a real location , or will you have to build a set the sweeping panoramas of the big screen epics of the 60s and 70s relied on a combination of wide open spaces and studio - lot sets . scenes from the shining were shot at a ski lodge in oregon . dogville was shot on a bare stage , with only suggestions of buildings as props . films rely heavily on the costumes to communicate essential character traits to the viewer . men in black is a key example . some movies feature soft , almost gauzy lighting that makes the actors and the sets look significantly more appealing , and the entire film more dreamlike others favor a lighting style that looks closer to reality , and some people push the edges and go for a really hard light that is almost cutting . check out domino with keira knightley . if youre going to shoot on - location , find the area you want and make sure its available for filming . if youre working on a set , start building and dressing or adding props them . if possible , using actual locations is easier . green screens can look very fake in certain locations but you can use one if you want . its simpler to film in a diner then make a room look like one . the director controls the creative aspect of the movie , and is a key connection between the crew and the cast . if you have an idea for movie and know exactly how it should look and feel , it would be a safe bet that the director is you , but if your not good at directing people and your not comfortable bossing people around , then , you can take a different approach on directing or just hire someone else and try to give them the full picture . youll cast the major players , oversee the filming , and offer creative input where you see fit . this person is in charge of making sure the lighting and actual filming of the movie go smoothly , as well as deciding with the director how each shot should be framed , lit , and shot . he or she manages the lighting and camera crews , or operates the camera on a small film . this person is in charge of making sure the sets correspond with the directors creative vision . he or she might also be the props master in charge of the items that fill the set . costume , hair , and makeup design could be in the same category on a very small production . on a large production , this person would choose and maybe even sew every costume used in the film . on smaller productions , this position is usually merged with another job . the sound man may be one or more people . dialog needs to be recorded either in scene , or looped in later during production . sound effects , like gunshots and grenades or an explosion , all need to be created music needs to be sourced , recorded , and mixed and foley footsteps , leather creaks , plates broken , doors slamming all the needs to be generated . the sound also needs mixed , edited , and lined up with the video in post - production . and remember , the music doesnt have to be very loud , it can be quiet in a quiet scene to the point where people arent focusing on it as it now just acts an aid to capture the scene . people in your community might work for screen credits in low - budget films . of course , it would be advantageous to have a well - known name starring in your movie , but learning to play to the strengths of the actors you do have will ensure that youve got a great filmed product . if you need a cop character in your film , call one up and ask if hed be willing to film a couple scenes some afternoon . just make sure that the movie doesnt involve anything illegal while the police officer is there , as this could not end well . if you need a college professor , contact the school . test the range of your actors . if you know that one of them will have to cry in a sad scene , make sure he or she can do it before you contract for the project . avoid scheduling conflicts . make sure your actors can be available on - set when you need them . be careful of stunts that may injure your actors . at the very least , youll need a video camera . you will probably also need a tripod — to mount the camera for steady shots — lighting equipment , and sound equipment . filming some screen tests would be a good idea . give your actors the chance to practice while being filmed , and give the crew a chance to coordinate their actions . keep track of which take is the best take for each scene , to help yourself in the editing process later . if youve got to comb through multiple missed takes and bad takes every time you want to find the scene you wanted , the editing process will be a drag . make sure everyones on the same page at the start of each day for filming each scene . it can get a lot to get a whole case , crew , and location appointment together at once , so it might help to write out and distribute an itinerary at the beginning of the process . the decisions you make will result in the difference between a home movie or a professional looking movie . some people say to shoot multiple takes from multiple angles because it will be more interesting in the end , giving multiple options for the editing process . as a very general rule , professional filmmakers shoot each scene in a wide shot , medium shot and close up of important elements . take your footage to your computer , upload the files , then log them , identifying what shots work . put together a rough cut using these shots . the way that you edit your film drastically affects the way the film ends up looking and feeling . making jump cuts will hold the viewers interest and set the tone for an action movie , but long , lingering shots have a powerful impact as well , but done badly this can be very boring . consider the beginning of the good , the bad , and the ugly . you can also edit to music , which is a fast and effective way of editing you can also edit to music on a quiet section of the film , by choosing music which provides the right mood . editing between various angles can quickly show multiple things going on in the same scene . use your editing systems split or razor tool to create smaller clips from multiple shots , and then mix and match . youll get the hang of it quickly , and with digital movie making , your mistakes are always saved by undo . make sure that your music flows with what is going on during the movie at that second , and that the live sound you recorded with the film comes through loud and clear . re - record any parts that are important . remember that if you are planning on distributing a film using found music can cause problems , so it is best if you can get music specially composed for the film plus there are many skilled musicians out there who would love to get experience . youll want to name your cast and crew at the end of the film . you can also include a list of thank yous to any organizations that were willing to let you shoot in their establishments . most importantly keep it simple . make a teaser or trailer . if you want to promote your film online or in other theaters , select pieces of it for a promotional trailer . dont give away too much of the plot , but do try to catch the viewers interest . also dont forget to upload your movie to youtube or vimeo , or if your movie gets accepted into a theatre , dont upload the movie to youtube as you wont make as much money on youtube vs . the box office , just upload teasers and stuff like that , and dont forget to advertise other places than youtube
ask about the theaters policy . go to your parent . hit up that favorite aunt or uncle . appeal to an older sibling . go with older friends . ask an adult outside the theater . look for someone whos young enough to have only recently turned of age , who may be more sympathetic than older adults , since they were in your shoes not too long ago .
how to get into a movie youre too young to see 1
find out how restrictive they are . ask if they admit children to age - restricted movies as long as an adult purchases their ticket for them . if they dont , see if theyll admit you if youre accompanied by an adult into the theater . ask them to see the movie with you or to simply buy the ticket for you when they drop you off . if they immediately say no just because of the movies rating , argue that the rating system is very inconsistent . think of a movie that you are allowed to see better yet , one that your parent made you see and point out how its just as bad as the one you want to see now . for example , look at the star wars or indiana jones franchises or any other movie thats marketed toward kids despite featuring torture , dismemberment , and high body counts . know your parents tastes and policies beforehand . if you already know that the movie contains more sex , violence , or other material that theyll object to you seeing , dont bother asking , since this will tip them off that you intend to see it . if you have one of those aunts or uncles who love to let you do things that your parents wouldnt normally allow , go to them instead . ask them to take you to the movie or to purchase your ticket for you . if you or your friends have any brothers or sisters of age , ask them to take you to the theater . judge how best to ask them based on your relationship . if the two of you have a strong relationship , play to their sympathies , since they too were probably in your position not so long ago . if the two of you dont get along most of the time , barter with them . offer to do their chores or even provide an alibi or some other form of support the next time they want to sneak something behind your parents back . if you have any friends of age , or who even just look like they are , go with them . invite as many as you can , the more , the better . go as a group and blend in with them . ask them to purchase your ticket . if needed , offer a few extra bucks to pay for their popcorn or whatever as an added thank you . if the ticket window is located outside , stay out of view of theater staff , but stay in view of everyone else when approaching strangers . dont barter with anything more than a little extra money , if even that . regardless of how young they may seem , dont agree to do any other favor for a strange adult , even if it sounds innocent . dont be afraid to ask . unlike buying alcohol for minors , no ones going to get arrested or fined for buying you a movie ticket unless its to an nc - 17 rated film . the worst that may happen is a simple no .
bluff your way in . dress the part . add subtle touches . talk the talk .
how to get into a movie youre too young to see 2
if no one of age will take you , buy the ticket yourself . be confident . remember all youre doing is going to see a movie–no big deal . ask for your ticket the same way youd order your favorite meal at a restaurant that you go to all the time . act a little bored by the transaction . keep in mind that youre not going to get into any sort of trouble for this the worst that may happen is no ticket . leave any clothes that make you look young at home . style your hair and choose clothes that older kids wear . dont overreach and try to appear too old , though . aim to look like youre exactly the minimum age permitted to see the movie . if its for 13 year - olds and up , try to look 13 if its for 17 year - olds and up , aim for 17 if its for 18 year - olds dress like 18 . if an older sibling has a varsity jacket that fits you well , borrow it . choose clothes that fit your form instead of clothes that youre supposed to grow into . wear shoes or sneakers that give you a little extra lift to appear taller . stuff your bra a little . apply a touch of makeup , but remember less is more . dont overdo it and appear like youre trying to look older . do the math beforehand and know your fake birthdate in case anyone asks , so you can answer immediately , without having to think . if youre going with a group of friends , mimic older kids conversations while youre waiting in line . talk about subjects relevant to the age youre pretending to be . for example , if you play baseball or softball , tell a true story about a game youve played , but substitute your team with that of the school youre pretending to attend .
use plastic . avoid human contact . wait for the line to back up .
how to get into a movie youre too young to see 3
if you already have a credit or debit card , go get it . if not , use cash to buy a pre - loaded debit card from a convenience store or pharmacy , or buy a gift card from the theater . to avoid suspicion , dont buy the gift card from the theater the same day you try to see the movie . purchase your ticket online or at an automated kiosk at the theater . deal with one less person who may wonder how old you are . remember that once youre inside , youll still have to present your ticket to a staff member who will direct you to the particular theater in which your movies playing . wear clothes and accessories that are appropriate for the age youre pretending to be . once you have your ticket , wait until a few other people approach the staff member whos collecting tickets . the busier it is , the more likely the staff member will wave people through without glancing at anything but the theater number printed on their tickets . if theres no line , dawdle by the concession stand or pretend to text somebody on your phone until a line builds up .
use a ticket stub . buy a ticket for another film . sneak into the theater . have an inside man let you in . go to a private screening .
how to get into a movie youre too young to see 4
if an older friend or sibling is willing to buy you a ticket but the theater still wont allow accompanied children into the movie , have your friend or sibling buy a ticket for themselves . ask them to head inside to have their ticket torn by staff . after they sit in the theater for a few minutes , have them leave the theater and find you outside so they can give you the torn ticket stub , which you can then show the staff inside for re - entry , as if you had already gone in but then ran back out to take care of something outside . scope out the staff ahead of time . see if they make a point of inspecting ticket stubs when people reenter , or if they just let people in when a ticket stub is shown at all . if they let people breeze by , you could possibly try using an old stub that youve saved from a previous movie . use this trick at a multiplex with multiple ticket collectors . avoid theaters that only assign one staff member for this job , since they may have a good memory for faces and thus know who has and hasnt presented a ticket already . wait for the line to back up , since staff will be more likely to wave stub - holders through while dealing with tickets that still need to be torn . pick a movie that youre allowed to see . choose one that starts a little before the one you intend to see . give yourself time to switch theaters without missing the beginning of the movie you want to see . if your multiplex has ticket collectors at the door to the theater that you want to sneak into , go watch the movie that you just bought a ticket for . wait for the movie that you want to see to start playing . leave the first theater and , if the ticket collectors are gone , sneak into the second . if theyre still there , go the restroom or concession stand as if thats all you meant to do , and then try again in a little bit later . if your multiplex collects tickets at the front of the house and then lets you find your own way , just say thanks and sail right into the theater you want to go to once you find it . use this trick at multiplexes rather than small , two - screen theaters , since youre more likely to attract attention at the latter due to the lack of space . wait for a movie to let out . go to a large multiplex , since these often have extra exits located throughout the building . since these doors are exit - only , wait for a movie to let out , when a crowd will most likely exit all at once through these doors . join the crowd as it spills out and act like youre part of it . then pretend youve left something inside . head inside as though youre going back in to find what youve supposedly lost . get your timing right . avoid loitering outside the doors , since there may be security cameras . search online ahead of time to find out what movies in which theaters are letting out when . this way youll know exactly when to be in place . dont go in as a group . be believable one kid running back inside to find something hes lost is plausible , but a bunch of kids doing the same looks like a bunch of kids sneaking into a theater . if youre going as a group , have only one person go inside while the others wait for him to come back , which adds credibility to your cover . once the crowd disperses , have the inside man come back and reopen the door for the rest of the group . be aware that this is technically theft . if youre caught , you may be in more serious trouble than you would be if you tried to buy a ticket for a movie thats not meant for you . have them purchase a ticket for any movie and enter through the front . wait outside an exit - only door . once the coast is clear inside , have them open the door for you . know the layout . keep an eye out for security cameras that may catch you loitering outside or opening the door from the inside . be careful not to use a fire exit that triggers an alarm when opened . remember , this is technically theft , so you may get in trouble for this . some theaters screen movies privately for staff after closing - time the night before a premiere . since these screening are informal , ask anyone you know who works there if you can tag along .
eat before you go to the theater . bring gum or mints to the movie . go to the movies at an off time . at the store , the day before you plan on going to see a movie , buy candy that you like . bring a certain amount of cash for snacks . be realistic about the expense . call the theater ahead of time and ask for a copy of the menu . reflect on what youve purchased in the past that was particularly delicious or cost effective . consider if you could save money by purchasing a ticket for a cheaper priced performance and then offset the cost of the higher priced ticket with snacks . calculate which food size is the best value .
how to save money on movie snacks
avoid rushing to the movie theater on an empty stomach . not only will you be more inclined to head to the snack bar , being hungry may interfere with your overall enjoyment of the film . dieters have reported that chewing gum can help curb cravings . instead of munching on popcorn , try a stick of gum with long lasting flavor avoid the kind that loses its flavor right away , prompting you to keep adding a fresh piece . avoid movie times that occur at lunch or dinnertime . also , if the movie is playing when you typically have a craving , meet that craving before you go such as a need for caffeine or sugar . bring the candy into the theatre in your purse , or if youre a guy , your coatjacket . you can save a boat load of money this way , and you can also buy the candy you like without paying 3 times as much for it at the movies . only allow yourself to spend a certain amount of money on snacks - - if you only have 5 then you know you may have to reconsider sizes and amounts . if you can purchase a package of licorice at the grocery store for three times less than what the movie is selling it , refrain for making the purchase . overpriced items will eat away at your budget and put you in a position to pay far more than you should . make sure you request that the menu includes prices , that way you can survey what is offered and what you can expect in terms of money . sometimes the best way to determine the best route is trial and error . ask about discount days or specials such as 1 popcorn , etc . theater personnel are trained to up - sell the larger size , however decide if its truly worth the money andor if consuming more of the product is in your best interest .
pick a movie you think you will love . get whatever snacks you want . decide when you want to get to your seat . let yourself get lost in the movie .
how to enjoy going to the movie theater alone
since you are going by yourself , you dont have to argue over which movie to see or try to find the best flick to appease multiple tastes in movie . revel in the fact that you get to be the only decider no need to share popcorn or candy treat yourself to your favorite theater food and think of it as a reward for getting up the courage to see a movie alone if you want to arrive in time to see the trailers or not , this one is totally up to you since you are there by yourself , you wont be interrupted by friends wanting to talk or ask questions about the plot . take the opportunity to fully let go and be consumed by the story .
head to the fandango website . enter your zip code . check if your theater accepts fandango mobile tickets .
how to check if your movie theater accepts fandango mobile tickets 1
using your favorite web browser internet explorer , google chrome , mozilla firefox , etc . go to www . fandango . com . below the banner , you will see a search box with an orange go button to the right . type your zip code in that search box , then click go . a list of movie theaters with their showtimes will come up on the next page . scroll down through the list of movie theaters until you find the theater you want to go to . each movie theaters name is in a black bar . movie theaters that work with fandango have icons at the far right of the bar showing what fandango services they support . if your movie theater takes the fandango mobile ticket , you will see a white icon of a smartphone silhouette on the black background .
get the fandango app . launch the fandango app . navigate to the list of theaters . check to see if your theater accepts fandango mobile tickets .
how to check if your movie theater accepts fandango mobile tickets 2
searching for movie theaters that accept fandango mobile tickets is even quicker using your ios or android phone . if you dont yet have the app , get it through your phones app store . open the app store by tapping on its icon on the home screen or app drawer . search for fandango using the search bar . the app should appear first on the list of results click on it . for android users , the apps name is fandango movies . tap the install button to install the app to your device . tap the fandango app icon on your phones home screen or app drawer to launch the app . on the iphone , tap the button labeled theaters in the middle of the bottom gray bar on your android device , tap the blue all theaters button at the top of the screen movie theaters that accept the fandango mobile ticket will have an icon to the right of an orange box with 3 smaller boxes in the middle of it . the smaller boxes are in the top - left corner , top - right corner , and bottom - left corner of the larger box .
search for movie theaters online . select a movie . select a showtime . specify the number of tickets you will need . choose your seats . enter your payment information . check your order confirmation . print the order confirmation . bring the confirmation to the movie theater .
how to buy movie tickets online
go to a search engine and type movie theaters near me . you can also simply type in the tile of the movie you want to see if you are using google . then select the theater of your choice by clicking on the name . after searching nearby theaters there will be a list of your local movie theaters and their locations . on some search engines , there may also be a list of movies that are currently in theaters . if you searched a movie title using google there will be a list of showtimes for the movie at nearby theaters . you can also go to a third party movie ticket website like fandango and enter your zip code to find a list of theaters near you . be wary of third party websites that are unfamiliar to you . purchasing a ticket from an unauthorized seller may mean your ticket gets refused by the theater . if you arent sure if a site is authorized to sell the tickets , contact the movie theater before purchasing your tickets . if you arent sure what movie you want to see , you can click on the title in the movie listings to view imdb data , trailers , and reviews to help you decide . find the movie on the list , then you will need to specify which showing you want to see . check the list of upcoming times listed below the film . click on the showing you want . the movie times should all appear as clickable links in your browser . some theaters use third party sites to handle their online ticket sales . you may be redirected to one of them when you click on the showing time . be sure to select a showing that will allow you enough time to get to the theater . most theaters offer discounted matinee showings at times when the theater is not busy . matinee times can vary depending on your location and the movie , but are usually showings earlier in the day . consider going to an early movie if you want to save a few dollars . you will also need to specify how many children , adults or seniors will be with your group because they will generally get lower ticket prices . typically , child tickets are for children under 11 , and senior tickets are for viewers over 60 . these age policies may vary at theaters so be sure to check the age policy on the ticket page to be sure . most theaters also offer discounts for students , however you will have to have your current student identification card and bring it to the theater when you pick up your tickets . many theaters now have seats that are labelled with rows and numbers , and sell tickets with assigned seats . this helps make sure everyone in your group will get a spot and can sit together . you will usually need a major credit card to purchase your tickets . type any required personal billing information , the credit card number , expiration date and security code as indicated in the text fields . if you have any gift certificates or vouchers you will be able to enter those apply those on the payment screen as well . be aware that most theaters charge a convenience fee for allowing you to purchase tickets in advance . this will appear at checkout . a confirmation page will usually appear once your payment has been processed . you will also likely receive a confirmation email . some movie theaters and ticket websites can even send a text message link to the confirmation to your phone . you can click on the print button on the web page or go to the email and print the information from there . most movie theaters have a barcode included on the confirmation that can be scanned to verify your purchase . if you had the confirmation sent to your phone , click on the link to pull up the barcode . you will need to show up a few minutes before the show to check - in and get your snacks . usually you can skip the ticket sales line and bring your confirmation directly to the usher . the usher will scan a barcode on your confirmation and direct you to the location of the theater . some theaters may have an electronic kiosk that scans your confirmation or allows you to type in the confirmation number and prints your tickets .
search online for nearby theaters . call the cinema . have your credit card handy .
how to buy movie tickets early 1
oftentimes , theaters will list their phone number online as well as their current and upcoming movie showings . choose which showing you would like to go to from their online schedule . if you are going to larger theater chain , such as amc , be sure to obtain the number of the theater that is located nearest to you . once youve chosen your theater and showing , jot down their phone number . let them know exactly which movie and what time you would like to go . some theaters only allow you to buy your ticket a certain number of days ahead of time so be sure to inquire about any specific regulations . if the theater requires you to wait to reserve a ticket then be patient and call back as soon as you are allowed to for some theaters , this may be the day of the showing . you can even set a reminder on your phone if its for a movie you think will be particularly crowded and difficult to get a ticket for . blockbuster releases that are in high demand may have available tickets and showtimes up to a month in advance , so dont be afraid to ask if theres an upcoming movie that youre dying to see and want to reserve tickets for far in advance . some theaters will allow you to reserve your ticket ahead of time and you can pay when you arrive while others will require your credit card information over the phone to charge you at the time of calling . its best to have that information readily available so that you dont lose your spot . if you dont have a debit or credit card , ask to borrow a friend or family members and then pay them back in cash .
choose a website to buy your tickets from . enter your zip code in the search bar . enter in your information . enter in your payment information . buy your ticket .
how to buy movie tickets early 2
there are many online ticketing websites , such as fandangoand movietickets . com . some of these websites even have special perks for those who sign up and use their service regularly so if youre a film buff , consider signing up as a member . be aware that not all of the theaters in your area will have online ticketing available . smaller theaters in particular are less likely to use online ticketing services . luckily , these websites will tell you if that is the case so you can call the theater directly or go to their website . this step will show you all the theaters in the area and you can browse to see which are showing the film you would like to see . once you have chosen the movie and location , you can enter in the date and time you want to see the movie . depending on the film and theater , you may be able to buy your ticket far in advance or you may have to wait until it is closer to the actual showing date . most online ticketing services accept a variety of credit or debit cards along with online payment services , such as paypal . most theaters will allow you to simply show your receipt on your phone and print out your tickets just before entering the movie . you can also print your ticket at home if you have a printer . just be sure to save the email confirmation that you have bought your ticket as this will serve as your proof of purchase .
go directly to the theater . specify which showing you would like tickets for . pay . go in early .
how to buy movie tickets early 3
there are some benefits to doing it old school , particularly if you are trying to reserve tickets at a small art theater or if you want tickets for a showing later that day . the person at the ticket booth is likely to give you better service and less likely to turn you down if you have a specific request such as buying a ticket far in advance . because many people buy tickets online or just before a movie screening , its important to emphasize that you want a ticket for a later showing . another benefit of buying your ticket in person is that , unlike the other methods , you can pay in cash if desired . theaters generally accept most credit and debit cards as well . you can either leave the theater and come back before the showing or you can also wait in the general area . that way , you can head into the screening room early and get the best seating possible . some theaters now have lounges and even bars or cafes that you can relax in before heading to your movie . if this is the case , be sure to check them out . be aware that theaters are paid to play trailers before the featureso you could be watching these for up to twenty minutes before your movie begins . if this will bother you , consider entering the screening room a little after the official starting time .
find a location for your outdoor theater . choose seating . consider the elements . consider where you will set up your movie projector in relation to where your guests are sitting .
how to create an outdoor movie theater 1
identify a place in your yard that will accommodate the screen and your guests . if you plan to project the film onto a screen or white sheet that you hang on the side of the house , take that placement into consideration . you could either arrange lawn chairs around the screen or you could get funky and place hay bales or large blankets and comforters on the ground . it can get buggy at night so you should have bug spray handy as well as lit citronella candles placed around the perimeter of your theater .
hang a clean , white sheet on the side of your home for projection . create a framed screen . purchase a large piece of wood to be used as the screen .
how to create an outdoor movie theater 2
this may be the most homemade but is also the most inexpensive and easiest to implement . consider ironing the sheet to avoid wrinkles and attach with tacks or a substance that wont damage your home but still hold the sheet in place . tack sheet on all four corners and along the top . consider using white vinyl instead of a sheet . you can obtain a sheet sized to your specifications , which may be smoother than using the sheet . measure the area where youd like to hang the screen and then head to the home improvement store . purchase plywood planks to fashion into a wooden frame sized to fit the screen specifications . fit plywood with white butcher paper or a stretched white sheet or vinyl . paint it with reflective white paint and either mount or prop the piece of wood against the wall or chairs , positioned in front of the projector .
use a stool , chair or blocks to prop projector so it is in line with your screen . test drive the projector you plan to use . wire audio to an outdoor audio system .
how to create an outdoor movie theater 3
you may also need to play around with distance to determine the best resolution between where the projector is placed . the bigger the screen the better resolution youll need so consider using a high definition projector . do a test run before showing the movie so you know how it will appear on the screen . unless your backyard is pre - equipped with sophisticated audio system , consider using a stereo receiver and any speakers you have at home .
go for twizzlers , milk duds , or starbursts . buy a protein bar . look for swedish fish . ask about the theaters food policy .
how to choose healthy movie snacks 1
while such snacks are not necessarily healthy , they do tend to be lower calorie than other candy options . if you want to buy snacks in the theater , these are generally your best choice of candy . in addition to being lower calorie than other varieties , they are chewier . this means theyre more difficult to eat . if you take longer to finish your candy , youre less likely to return to the concession stand for a second helping . twizzlers have the lowest calorie count , containing only about 165 calories . milk duds contain 370 calories , while starbursts contain 480 calories . keep in mind , if youre on a specific diet plan that restricts sugar , this is not the best route for you . while these snacks are lower calorie , the bulk of the calories come from sugar . many movie theaters now sell protein bars at the counter . you can also sneak one in from a nearby gas station or drug store . lower calorie protein bars may contain some ingredients youre craving , like nuts and chocolate , while still having some nutrients . remember to read nutritional labels . some protein bars may be misleading . in general , its best to skip bars with a lot of added sugar . swedish fish are much lower in sugar than the average movie snack . they also tend to have a tougher texture , making chewing them difficult . if you slow down the pace of your eating , you will eat less overall . a serving of swedish fish is about 19 pieces , roughly a large handful , and contains only 140 calories and 29 grams of sugar . movie theater containers tend to be smaller , so you may find a container that has a single serving . if you cant find a smaller container , try splitting one with a friend . as it can be tricky to find candy thats lower calorie at the theater , consider bringing in your own snacks . some theaters allow this , so ask ahead of time . if the theater does not allow it , you can sneak in food in your purse , bag , or pockets if healthy eating is really important to you . you can bring very healthy snacks from outside , which you would likely be unable to find in a theater . you can try things likedry , lightly sweetened cereal granola bars fruit
ask for a small popcorn without toppings . have a pretzel . have a hotdog . skip the nachos . bring in savory treats from home .
how to choose healthy movie snacks 2
popcorn can actually be a relatively healthy snack when made at home . movie theater popcorn , however , is notorious for extra calories from things like butter and oil . if you want to go healthy at the movie theater , ask for a small popcorn without butter . serving sizes at movie theaters tend to be large , so you may be surprised how big a small is . splitting your popcorn with a friend can help you cut back on calories . if youre really watching what you consume , ask about how the popcorn is prepared . the healthiest popcorn will be prepared with heart healthy canola oil rather than things like coconut oil . while pretzels are not necessarily low calorie , they do come with less calories than things like popcorn and nachos . movie theater pretzels , or pretzel bites , tend to have somewhere between 300 and 500 calories in a serving . if you love pretzels , this may save you some calories if you choose a pretzel over popcorn . in general , dipping sauces should be avoided as they contain a lot of calories . however , if you really want a dipping sauce , go for mustard over cheese - based sauces . mustard only contains about 5 calories per serving . while hotdogs are not a health food , they do have some protein . this can make you full faster , preventing overindulgence . also , hotdogs are pretty low calorie . they usually only contain about 210 calories in a serving . make sure to watch what you add to your snack . adding things like nacho cheese or chili will send calories from hotdogs skyrocketing . nachos are generally the worst treat at a movie theater . nachos can contain as much as 900 calories and tend to be very high in fat . while a serving of nachos may be tempting , its not the treat for you if youre looking for healthy movie snacks . if you want a healthy snack , ask about the theaters policy regarding outside food . some theaters allow you to bring in food from home . if its not allowed , see if you can sneak in some treats from home . you may be able to bring in some healthy treats not offered at a theater . ideas includevegetables , such as carrot sticks 100 - calorie bags of popcorn lower calorie pretzels low - fat string cheese
drink water during the movie . select chewier snacks . opt for food you need to unwrap . bring treats you can suck on . eat a big meal ahead of time . share food with others . chew gum .
how to choose healthy movie snacks 3
opt for water over soda or diet soda at the concession stand . you can also bring in a bottle of water on your own . drink water throughout the movie going experience . if you fill up on water , this will help you resist the temptation to overindulge on snacks . aim to take a sip of water between every bite of food . the longer you take to eat something , the less you will be able to eat . things like milk duds and gummy snacks are more difficult to eat . if youre naturally chewing slower , this will slow down the pace of your eating . this allows you to notice when youre feeling full and stop eating . treats like starbursts come in individually wrapped portions . if you have to stop and unwrap your candy between bites , this will also slow down your eating . its easy to overindulge at the theater , as youre distracted by the movie , but having candy on - hand you need to unwrap helps you be more conscientious of what youre consuming . the longer your food lasts , the less youll eat . therefore , bring foods you can suck on into the theater . if the movie theater sells popsicles , grab a popsicle . if they sell hard candy , opt for a bag of something like peppermints . if you go to a movie feeling hungry , youre likely to overindulge on snack foods . have a big , healthy meal prior to going to the theater . this way , youre less likely to overeat as youre feeling full from healthy foods . opt for a meal with healthy proteins . these can help you feel full longer . if possible , split the calories with a friend . sharing with others can greatly cut down on the overall calories you consume , leading you to eat less . if youre going to the movies with someone else , ask if they want to split a bowl of popcorn or box of candy with you . bring a stick of gum into the theater . chew it after finishing a small amount of your snacks . this will give you something to chew on , lessening the temptation to overeat . dental gum works best here . its better for your teeth , and if youre chewing gum that leaves your mouth fresh you may not want to ruin that feeling with snacks .
arrive early to avoid entering the theater after the movie has started . use the bathroom before entering the theater . let friends and family know where you are . make calls and end text message conversations before entering the movie theater . offer to stand in line for snacks and drinks .
how to behave in a movie theater 1
make sure to get to the movie theater with enough time to park your car , buy snacks , use the bathroom , find your screen , choose seats , and get settled . adjust your arrival time if you are seeing a recently released movie or if youre attending at peak hours . this means longer lines and a crowded theater . , getting up to use the bathroom in the middle of the movie is disruptive . make sure to locate the bathroom closest to your movie theater before entering . even if you use the bathroom beforehand , you may need to go again during the movie . knowing the quickest route will get you in , out , and back in your seat quickly . notifying your friends and family that your phone will be turned off for the next few hours shows respect and maturity . it also helps to avoid disruptions during the movie . place any last - minute calls and end unfinished text message conversations outside of the movie theater . talking or texting on your mobile phone during the movie is irritating and rude . this is especially true in 3d movies that require the use of special glasses that react to certain bright lights . , if youre seeing a movie with a group of friends or family members , offer to stand in the concession line . this shows your generosity and helps keep the group organized . while you stand in line , your companions can use the bathroom , save seats in the theater , and get settled . it also makes their experience more enjoyable and they will be more likely to invite you for another movie . make sure to take the group order and ask for money before getting in line . trying to organize while in the concession line will slow down other movie goers who already know what they want .
treat movie theater staff with respect . enter the movie theater quietly and choose a seat quickly . turn off any electronic devices . release saved seats when the lights dim . dont talk during the movie . exit the movie theater silently and respectfully during the movie . share your space respectfully with strangers . pick up any trash . wait for the lights to turn back on before exiting the movie theater .
how to behave in a movie theater 2
this applies to all interactions including purchasing tickets , buying snacks and drinks at the concession stand , and acknowledging cleaning staff as you exit the theater at the end of the movie . how you treat the staff is a reflection of your own maturity . you will enter the theater at the very bottom or very top of the seating area . find your seat respectfully without pushing , running , jumping , or talking loudly . if you sit next to another patron , always ask if the open seat is actually available . they may be saving it for someone . this is one of the biggest behavior faux pas you can make during a movie . make sure your mobile phone is turned completely off . the light from your screen can be incredibly irritating to the other movie goers . , if you are saving a seat for a friend or family member , release the seat as the lights dim and before the trailers begin . seats are generally available on a first come , first serve basis . it is rude to hold a seat for someone who is late over movie goers who have arrived on time . , the sound of your voice may disturb other patrons who are trying to listen to the movie . if you absolutely have to make a comment , make sure to speak in a quiet whisper . , if you have to leave the theater while the movie is still showing , try your best to crouch to avoid blocking other peoples view . be as quick as you can , while also keeping safety in mind . dont talk while leaving the theater and try your best to time your departure with an appropriate part of the movie . be aware of shared armrests and dont let your personal items stray into another seat . be careful not to kick the chair in front of you . if you experience disruptions , such as a movie goer kicking the back of your seat , address the situation calmly and politely . you can also find a different seat . keep in mind , everyone has a right to sit where they want , so try to make the best of the situation without disrupting the movie . leaving empty candy boxes , greasy popcorn bags , and emptied soda containers is disrespectful and immature . by cleaning up your seating area , you are treating the movie theater staff with respect . remember , they have to clean up the theater after every movie for their entire shift . unless its an emergency , wait until the lights have turned on before standing up . this shows respect to other movie goers who are still watching the screen . it is also safer as you can easily see where youre walking .
start an itunes account . look for the free song of the day . look for other itunes offers . load a gift card into the itunes store .
how to download free music to itunes 1
if you want to upload and download content , free or otherwise , you need to make sure you have an itunes account to browse the store and select among your options . load your payment information and other necessary data into the homepage , and include the necessary information . update to the most current version of itunes . its always best to use the most updated version of itunes , especially if you want to look for deals and free songs through the itunes service . under the itunes tab , select check for updates and update the software , if necessary before you begin . once youve opened itunes , navigate to the itunes store by clicking on the tab in the top right corner . on the right side of the itunes homepage , you should find a list called quick links , toward the bottom of which you may select free on itunes . select it and browse the options . each day , itunes updates this list , making it a great way to find out about new content and start downloading things for free . from new music singles to music - related free podcasts , this page is an excellent way to download music and other content that will load directly into itunes . free music is available in other ways on itunes , from promotional offers that include free album downloads u2s songs of innocence was released for free exclusively on itunes , to the free itunes radio features , theres a variety of content that you can listen to without paying for it . make sure youre signed up for the itunes mailing list so that youll be aware instantly of new updates and free songs that you can download while youve got time . while this isnt strictly - speaking free , if you get a gift card as a gift , it might be free to you . on the right - hand side of the homepage , click on redeem gift card and upload the information into the window to earn store credit for your gift . then , keep track of how much is left on it and make your selections . the payment will come directly from your credit with the store .
visit websites that offer free mp3 downloads . download free mix - tapes . find up - and - coming artists . subscribe to music podcasts . download the audio tracks off of youtube videos . get music from your friends . download torrent files using a client .
how to download free music to itunes 2
many music blogs offer free downloads of mixtapes , singles , or ep tracks as a promotion for the bands and artists coming out with new records . doing some exploring in the world of music journalism can help you come up with some promotional singles and free downloads . pitchfork , aquarium drunkard , and the collection are good sites for finding out about new music and picking up the occasional free downloads . these websites generally make their music available in the form of mp3s that you can directly drop into your itunes library . although the quality of the tracks are sometimes questionable , theyre a quick and dirty way to get the songs you need quickly and for free . these tracks are already mp3s , so they can definitely be played on itunes . just open itunes , open your library , and drag and drop your tracks into the window , or right - click and open them in itunes . after a few moments , they should be processed and available for listening . hip - hop acts , both mainstream and underground , have embraced a new digital way of networking , revolving around free downloads of album - length projects called mix - tapes . as old analog mix - tapes were once passed from artists to record execs , new mix - tapes are available for free online as a way of advertising new music and keeping buzz around established artists . some artists choose to release mix - tapes directly from their own websites or bandcamp pages , but the website datpiff is the home of mix - tape culture on the internet . the featured mix - tapes tab allows unregistered users to download as many featured tapes as you want , at no cost . while the site caters to unsigned artists and underground acts like mick jenkins or action bronson , established rappers from lil wayne to t . i . to raekwon also frequently release free mix - tapes to keep the buzz going around their next record . there are limits on unfettered tapes , though for - pay memberships will allow you to download as many tapes as you want . if youre a hip - hop head , datpiff is an essential free shopping place . radiohead changed the way the music business works by releasing their record in rainbows based on a pay - what - you - want scale . the idea that many music listeners will listen to anything , as long as its free , many undiscovered artists are eager to get their music out to listeners , and are less concerned with immediate revenues , so they release tracks and eps or even full albums without charge on websites such as soundcloud or bandcamp . explore these websites based on genre descriptions or popular featured artist pages to find out about free tunes you might be able to nab and explore . pay - what - you - want pay scales often look as if youre going to be required to pay , but you can just insert a zero in the payment window . you wont be charged anything . many online radio shows and podcasts will play music that allow you to essentially listen to music for free . while you wont be able to download the individual tracks , you can subscribe to the podcast and listen to free tunes as much as you want . free music podcasts available for downloading to your mobile device or desktop computer include country classics . hosted by joe bussard , the man with the largest collection of 78 rpm records in the world , this podcast features pre - war country , blues , and hillbilly music . its a wonderful collection of oddities hosted by a total weirdo . and its free nprs tiny desk concerts . short concerts held in the npr studios and made available for free download . a great way to hear your favorite artists in an intimate setting , for free . theme time radio hour . originally included on sirius xm radio , you can download all of bob dylans radio show , featuring everything from koco taylor to the beastie boys , for free online . you can find an enormous collection of music on youtube , and many websites offer video - downloading services that allow you to download a file that contains the stripped audio track of a youtube video , allowing you to paste in the url of a youtube video , itll give you an mp3 track of just the sound . listen to youtube , tube to mp3 , and youtube to mp3 , and all2mp3 are freeware programs that will all accomplish this for you . download the software , install it , and copy the link into the browser . these will produce mp3s , so you can put them right into itunes . the best trick is to find artists on youtube first and then browse their profiles for links to other media - sharing sites , where they may make available more extensive discographies of their music , check out their bandcamp pages or other social media for options and for new artists . ask friends whose taste you trust to make you mix cds of their favorite songs and then upload them into your itunes list . better yet , there are many file - storing and sharing services available for free , like dropbox , which allows you to store documents , files , and folders online that you can share with others . make your own separate accounts , and then simply have them drop any good tracks they have into a shared folder that you can retrieve from your own computer and onto itunes . torrents are large , encrypted files that need to be unpacked after downloading , using a torrent downloading client , such as utorrent or frostwire . use online torrent finders like pirate bay to find specific files and unpack and download them using the torrent client , or just search directly on the client itself . once downloaded , drag and drop the files directly into itunes to listen .
drag and drop to open songs in itunes . right - click and select itunes as your default program . unzip files , if necessary .
how to download free music to itunes 3
after youve downloaded your free music , the next step is opening it up in itunes and listening . itunes is fairly easy program to negotiate , making this a relatively easy step in most cases . if youve just downloaded a file or two , you can open itunes first , and drag the files directly into the open window of your library . the file should open in a few seconds . if the file doesnt open , right - click on the file icon and go to get info to find out what kind of file it is . if its other than an mp3 , you might need to reformat to open it in itunes . if your files ended up in your download folder , you can also open the files by double or right - clicking on the files and selecting itunes as your default program to open them . on most computers , itunes should already be selected as the default . many larger files such as mixtapes may be packaged in the form of zip files that you must unzip . many newer operating systems come pre - equipped to zip and unzip files , but older oss may require third - party software such as winzip in order to do so . reformat other file formats to mp3 . occasionally , you might end up with mp4 files , aac , . wav , or other varieties of sound files that you may not be able to open instantly with itunes . each file may need to be reformatted before youll be able to play it in itunes , which only plays a limit variety of sound files .
watch other directors . make yourself a cheat sheet of signals . go big . watch yourself directing . practice frequently . decide whether or not to hold auditions . plan the auditions . hold the auditions . select your choir members . notify those chosen of your decision . select music that is appropriate for the occasion . select music that is appropriate for your choir . be sure you have appropriate permissions to advertise and perform your selected music . interpret and study music selections . prepare a detailed rehearsal plan . begin holding rehearsals . hold sectional or solo rehearsals privately as needed . decide what type of clothing or uniform your choir will wear on performance night . teach your choir that details are important . advertise your performance . hold a brief warm - up session prior to the performance . begin the performance . after a performance , praise your singers privately .
how to direct a choir
modeling your hand signals , body language , and facial expressions off of other directors is the best way to understand the kinds of signals to which experienced singers are already accustomed to . watch videos of other choir directors online . watch live performances of professional choirs and focus on what the director does and how the singers respond to each signal . go to live choir performances and watch the director . be sure you choose a seat that enables a clear view of the director . take notes about what seems to work especially well . sit in on a choir rehearsal and watch the director from the singers points of view . writing down the signals that you plan to use will lead to more consistency when used . most signals must be exaggerated for your singers to see them clearly—particularly with a large choir or with children . however , try not to exaggerate so much that the audience would be distracted by your movements . direct in front of a mirror or videotape yourself directing and determine whether your signals are clear . the more you practice using your directing body language , the more comfortable you will be doing it in front of an actual choir . play your favorite choral music and pretend that you are directing it . if you know another choir director , ask if you can borrow their already trained choir for a part of a rehearsal . then ask for feedback or tips from the singers or the choir director . while holding auditions may lead to a more skilled choir , some choir directors choose to give all those interested an opportunity to participate . if you decide to have auditions , be sure to do the following steps . if you do not plan to hold auditions , you can skip ahead to the next part . secure a time and place for your auditions . for consistency it may be best to hold auditions in the room you in which you will be rehearsing or performing . advertise your auditions . think about the types of singers you wish to recruit and plan your advertising accordingly . you may want to start advertising several weeks to a month before the auditions will take place . decide whether to have singers prepare their own piece of music for the audition or sight - read on the spot . this information should be included in the advertisement . listening to each vocalist sing and taking thorough notes about their performance will help you in your selection process . evaluate the vocal ability of each singer by noting the range and quality of each voice . you may want to develop a short questionnaire for singers to disclose experience , describe vocal range , ability to read music , etc . maintain a neutral facial expression during each singers tryout and be sure to remain professional and polite . someones feelings may be hurt by a frown or other reaction to a poor performance , or you may get up someones hope by seeming excessively pleased . determine the number of singers you need , as well as the voice mix you desire then select those singers required . if you have very experienced , strong singers , you can form a small group , whereas less skilled singers do better in a large group . ensure that you have the appropriate balance in vocal parts soprano , alto , tenor , and bass . you may make other balance considerations as well . be sure to consider other aspects such as gender , age , and race to maintain diversity . you will need to notify those who auditioned whether or not they were chosen for the choir by writing a letter or posting a list or phoning . be sure to write a short note of thanks to those who were not selected . there are many considerations that influence music selection is the choir religious or secular what season is it if the choir is performing as a part of a larger event , what is the tone of the event , music selections should be based on the skill level of your choir , and should be easy enough that they can be successful but complex enough that they will be challenged . , you may want to find music that is in the public domain if you do not have a budget for royalties . , it is important that you know how you want the music to sound before you begin working with pieces with the choir . meet with the accompanist to discuss the music and your interpretation of it . become very familiar with the music , including all of the individual vocal parts , and how you will conduct it before going into rehearsal . do not try to learn it as you go . the plan should include an attendance policy with repercussions for missing practices . include date , time , and place for each rehearsal . your accompanist should be at all of your rehearsals . if your chorus is a cappella or if you are using pre - recorded accompanying music , you do not need an accompanist . when introducing new music , be sure to discuss in detail the musical piece you have chosen . break each piece up into manageable sections . you do not need to work an entire piece in one rehearsal . be consistent with the format of your rehearsals . start with a warm - up , then move to the sections that are to be rehearsed . be clear about your goals for each rehearsal . working with individuals or small groups can be as important as rehearsing with the entire choir . work with soloists to perfect eachs part to make their performance more polished . during sectional rehearsals , split the choir into individual voice parts and rehearse each part separately . this way , more time may be devoted to ensuring that notes and rhythms are mastered . reassemble the sections and soloists back together as an ensemble after you are satisfied with their work in sectionals . all of the members of your choir should have coordinated outfits that do not distract from their performance and that look professional . church choirs may already have choir robes . be sure to communicate with the church organizers about choir expectations . other types of choir groups , such as school or community choirs , may not have preexisting uniforms , but may wear white shirts with black pants or skirts . while secondary to singing , skills such as taking a bow together at the end if applicable or sitting and standing in unison can make the difference between an amateur and professional looking performance . be sure to include detail such as time , date , and place of performance , featured singers , and hosting organization . include ticket prices or suggested donation if applicable . warming up will ensure that your choir is ready to sing , and you can be sure that everyone is present . try not to introduce any new information before a performance instead , try to fine tune things that you have already worked on . give a few last - minute reminders if necessary , but try not to overwhelm your choir with different things to remember . be sure to communicate with the director of the event about how and when to begin the performance , as well as where the choir should sit or stand both before and during the choral performance . while directing , be consistent . use the cues , hand gestures , and facial expressions that you used during rehearsals . save any constructive criticism for the next rehearsal tonight , let them shine
keep an eye peeled for advance screenings . look for rsvp codes . follow film marketing companies on social media . sign up for theater newsletters . show up to advance screenings early . leave your phones in the car .
how to get free movie tickets 1
the most exciting free movie is a free movie that hasnt even been released yet , which are often shown in advance to generate hype and get feedback . look for these opportunities as frequently as you can , since tickets usually disappear fast . more opportunities are available in population centers . check getscreening . com , like their facebook page , and follow the twitter announcements for your area . to find screenings for a specific movie , go to advancescreenings . com . us only visit gofobo and enter your zip code . many of the other websites will lead you here , so you can save some time by creating a free account in advance . us only like the wildaboutmovies facebook page , or visit cinemit . com visit this fatwallet forum thread and go to the latest page to see recent deals found by other searchers . if one of the sites above asks you for an rsvp code , search online for the name of the movie , the location its being screened in , and rsvp code or access code . searching on twitter is also a good idea , since companies will sometimes give away these codes to followers . one of the largest of these is allied integral marketings 43kix , which has many local twitter accounts in the united states . to find more of these companies in your area , look at the brand names on the advance screening advertisements or passes found through the sites above , or ask the people running an advance screening event . these tend to include a lot of promotions and advertising that dont include the magic words free movie . if youre willing to sift through these for advance screening deals , sign up for the theater chains with a location in your area regmovies amc theaters there are usually more tickets given out than there are seats in the theater . show up at least 45 minutes early to minimize the chance that youre turned away . some screenings even have receptions before the movie , so youll definitely want to show up early for those . some people in san francisco report the theater filling up as early as 1 . 5 hours before the movie begins . some advance screenings do not allow mobile phones or cameras into the theater , to prevent competing studios from recording the film for the purposes of plagiarism . this practice is less common for screenings closer to the release date .
pay attention to local newspapers . listen to local radio , or join the membership club . look for movie deals online . join reward programs with movie ticket rewards .
how to get free movie tickets 2
scan the arts and entertainment sections of your local newspapers , both daily and weekly , for ads announcing sneak previews or other movie deals . sneak previews are like advanced screenings , but typically still charge for access . they are sometimes part of extra deals , however , such as 2 - for - 1 tickets . most major stations receive promotional tickets to give away , especially for long - awaited blockbusters . it will take some luck , but as they say , if you dont play , you cant win for a better shot at a ticket , make an account on the radio stations website and sign up for the newsletter . most of these sites are filled with promotions for discount popcorn and other less exciting news , but you can get lucky and find a free ticket sometimes , or sign up for a free movie ticket lottery fandango book my show gofobo sweepstakes these are usually temporary arrangements between a theater or movie studio , and a company in a different line of business . because of this , these arrangements could disappear at any time , and are hard to predict in advance . there are two promotions that have been going on for years , though the details may have changed since they were described here donate blood through united blood services to get hero reward points . 1 , 000 points gets you two free movie tickets . if you make online appointments and donate three times a year , you can get 200 points per donation . this means two free tickets every year and a half — not impressive , but youll be helping a lot of people while you earn them . purchase coca - cola products with bottle caps or multi - item packaging to get mycoke reward points . search the online catalog for movie deals . one example is 2 tickets and 2 drinks at amc for 1100 points , which typically represents about 44 to 110 six - packs . hopefully , you have a use for all that soda
call theater management . get a job at a movie theater . become a film critic .
how to get free movie tickets 3
contact the corporate headquarters of your local theaters . some viewers are allowed free movies in exchange for rating the quality of service , choice of movies , customer service , and , in some cases even the quality and selection of the snacks . once you are on the inside , sit back and enjoy after your shift is over , of course this is probably your best option for being able to see free movies on a regular basis . just be aware that you are at work , not vacation , and keep that popcorn flowing . this takes a bit of skill and training , and a bit of luck . but writing for a small paper or website will get you a seat for almost every movie that comes to town . be aware that jobs in this area are often very competitive , and even in small communities you will need to have a degree in journalism or communications before most papers will even consider you . contrary to popular opinion , becoming a paid critic is difficult work . if youre having trouble breaking into the traditional media outlets , try starting your own movie blog , and start reviewing movies on your own . youll have to pay at first , but if you provide quality content and earn a lot of followers , you may have some leverage in getting into more and more movies for free .
select . listen to j majik and wickaman - dubplate killas then listen to tc - wheres my money both of these tunes are in b - flat minor , or have camelot mixing code 3a . cueing - how you go about cueing your tunes will depend largely on what medium youve chosen to dj through . nb - cd mixing - unless you are in the privileged position of owning cdj 1000s , which give you a vinyl - esque readout of the drops in a tune , it can be difficult to judge your drops by section . using these values can be useful for forward cueing a tune , for example if you want to drop a beat with a four 16bar section intro in quickly , you would search to 1 . 06 secs , then move around a bit until you find a cymbal or the end of a drum roll that usually signifies the start of a section . mixing - this is pretty much down to preference .
how to dj drum and bass
make sure the two tunes youre going be double dropping are keyed correctly . you can pick up key analyzers relatively cheaply these days try mixed in key or if youre a musical bod you can probably do it by ear with a keyboard . the thing is , if youre going to be playing two tunes together they , need to compliment each other musically or all the dj skill in the world wont make them sound good together . for the sake of example , two tunes with the most drum n bass that djs should have kicking around this means both of these tunes could be played from start to finish and there would not be a key clash anywhere . if youre using vinyl you should already know that you can see the drops on your record . in the case of dubplate killas , it can be seen that there is a dark section at the beginning of the record , followed by a smaller , lighter section , followed by a large dark section that makes up the main body of the tune . to plan the mix out , it needs to be broken down into 16bar sections . so if we listen and count the beats , you will see that there are have two 16bars sections of beats , then one 16bar section of build before the bass comes in . where the bass comes in is the most important part of the record as far as double dropping is concerned as its this point on both records that you will want to occur simultaneously . if you now look at wheres my money , you can see there is a smaller , lighter section before the dark section of bass comes in . listening and counting , you see this tune has two 16bar sections before the bass comes in . so , if you start playing dubplate killas , you will wait for one 16bar section to play before starting wheres my money . now the tunes will both play through their remaining two 16bar sections and both of their basslines will come in together it is recommended to use the time display to judge drops . the time that sections come in roughly on a 175bpm tune are as follows 1 16 bar section 0 . 21 secs 2 16 bar sections 0 . 42 secs 3 16 bar sections 1 . 06 secs 4 16 bar sections 1 . 28 secs set this as your cue point , then mix in from here for rapid fire beat dropping as you approach your mixing point , for example , the part when both basslines come in together , make sure the gains on your tunes are pretty much level , cut the bass on dubplate killas and pump the bass on wheres my money . boom you now have two tunes playing as one , creating a bespoke live remix on the spot from here , you can have a bit of fun , cutting bassline phrases in and out of one another , creating a mash up
know how intervals are named . use reference songs . practice solfege . try the nike method . focus on the most important intervals .
how to develop relative pitch 1
an interval is described by its quality and degree . the degree of an interval can range from one to seven . these numbers refer to the seven notes that are in a major or minor scale . the quality of an interval can be major , minor , or perfect . there are 13 main types of intervals . for example , an interval may be minor third or perfect fifth . major intervals usually sound more upbeat compared to minor intervals . identify songs that you already know that start with an interval that you want to learn . the interval should be the first two notes of the melody . when you hear the melody , you are teaching your brain to recognize the interval . there are online tools earmaster . com , vcu music theory , audiojungle . net , and horninsights . com to help you find reference songs that you know . trainear . com is a free tool that allows you to practice and test your skills . apple has also developed an app called interval recognition that you can practice and test yourself with . this is a good method if you are new to relative pitch training . she will be loved by maroon 5 can be used for minor 2nd . poker face by lady gaga can be used for minor 3rd . rolling in the deep by adele can be used for perfect 4th . the star wars theme song can be used for perfect 5th . solfege is a system used to sing notes . the solfege note names are do , re , me , fa , so , la , and ti . learn which pairs of solfa syllables correspond with each interval . the syllables allow to associate singable words for different notes . this gives your brain a context for understanding intervals . for example , do - re is major second ,   and do - lesi is minor sixth . this method is difficult if you are not already familiar with solfege . if you are already familiar with solfege , this method will come naturally to you . in this approach , you will not use solfege or reference songs . you simply listen to different intervals until you can recognize them and compare intervals to see if you can recognize the differences . you will do this repeatedly until you are able to identify and differentiate between intervals . you are treating intervals as abstract sounds that are not part of real music . it can be difficult to recognize the intervals within music when you have only learned them as isolated sounds . use an online interval trainer like intervaleartrainer . com or a mobile phone app e . g . relativepitch , perfect ear 2 , or complete ear trainer to help you . you can also work with an experienced musician or singer to play notes for you and test your recognition . this approach is a nice addition to using reference songs . if you play an instrument , you can play the notes on your instrument and use a tuner to make sure that you are in tune . it can be overwhelming to learn all 13 intervals . focus on the intervals that are the building blocks for developing your relative pitch . start by learning the major and minor seconds , major and minor thirds , and perfect fourth and fifths . the major and minor seconds are the most common used intervals used in between notes . the major and minor thirds and perfect fourths and fifths are important for harmony , chords , and chord progression .
know the basic triads . play the chords . sing the chords .
how to develop relative pitch 2
a triad is three different notes that are each a third apart . triads form most of the harmonies you will hear in music . the four basic chord triads are major triads , minor triads , augmented triads , and diminished triads . each tried is formed by combining certain intervals . major triads are formed with a pitch , a root , and a note that is a major third above . for example , the c major triad includes the notes c , e , and g . minor triads are formed in the opposite of order of a major triad and include a minor third interval and and a major third . for example , c minor triad includes the notes c , eb , and g . the middle note determines the difference between a major and minor triad . a diminished triad only uses a minor third interval . for example , a c diminished triad includes the notes c , eb , and gb . an augmented triad only uses major third intervals . for example , c augmented triad includes the notes , c , e , and g . complex chords are made by stacking triads . if you learn the basics , you will be able to progress to more complex sounds . use an instrument , another person , or a website to play chord tones . as you listen to the chord , try to decipher the three different notes that make up the chord . try to isolate the different sounds in each chord . visit playingthechanges . com or download mp3 tracks of the chords if you are working on your own . after you listen to a chord , sing the notes in each triad . then , play a different triad and sing the notes . next , play two triads at the same time , and then sing the 6 notes that you hear . when you begin to combine triads , always break down the sounds into smaller chunks . for example , it may help to play two triads , and only try to find the root note . then play the same triads and listen for the top note .
practice daily . set a time limit for your sessions . focus on one skill at a time .
how to develop relative pitch 3
the more you practice the better your relative pitch will become . you also need to practice consistently . practicing every single day one week and then only practicing twice the next week is not good practice . it would be better to have short sessions every day of the week . try to do 10 minutes of training each day . this is the absolute minimum . if your sessions are too long , you run the risk of overtraining . your ears will become tired , and you wont be able to hear the notes as you normally would . if your ears get tired or you are no longer progressing in your training session , take a break or stop for the day . a training session may consist of 15 minutes of listening and singing chords and 15 minutes of interval and chord practice with your instrument . ear training should be part of your life no matter how good you get . be sure to spend enough time on each skill instead of going back and forth . write down a study plan that you will follow . your study plan should include the skill you plan to work on and the length of the training period . for example , you may spend january and february learning major intervals using reference songs , and then spend march and april learning minor intervals using reference songs . using computer software like earmaster and transcribe can also help you outline your sessions and track your progress .
listen to music and learn to play along . write music . practice , learn and record . find a teacher . pay attention to what is happening around you . stay away from the temptations of partying . surround yourself with like - minded people . play live as much as possible . keep trying to improve your live show .
how to develop as a musician
make sure you are practicing regularly with a solid goal in mind . playing scales and arpeggios are quite helpful because if you listen , youll sooner or later notice that scales and arpeggios form basic building blocks for any melody . one of the best ways to find your sound is to play along with , and learn , different styles of music that you enjoy listening to . the transposition of melodies and chord progressions can give you insight into a professional musicians perspective as well as open up your repertoire on your instrument . now that youve explored some of your favorite kinds of music you can try writing parts . dont limit yourself to just writing blazing solos , rather try writing chord progressions , lyrics or melodies . gaining insight into all aspects of songwriting will help you develop an ear for the subtleties of music . you may benefit from recording yourself as you begin to grow and develop a coherent sound and voice on your instrument . acquire a simple 4 - track or handheld recorder and record your ideas . melodies or other sounds that pop into your head that you might want to remember . having access to a recording device to capture these moments will greatly improve your ability to develop ideas into a solid piece of music . practice your instrument as much as possible , but it is important that you practice with your mind and not with your fingers . 8 hours of running scales is far less beneficial than 2 hours of concentrated technique and melodic articulation . once you have found out what kind of music youre influenced by , it is time to find a good teacher . it would be best not to settle on the first 1 you meet . try multiple teachers out until you find 1 you can communicate with verbally as well as musically . it is necessary for the teacher to push you and stretch your limits . without a dedicated teacher you have to rely on self - motivation and self - discipline , which can be challenging . once youve developed your voice , you might want to start sharing the music youre playing with other people . it is very important to be in touch with what is happening in the music industry . take note of how other performers behave on stage and read biographies . excess consumption of alcohol and drugs can lead to countless problems and , in particular , reduce your focus and motivation . you should stay away from the partying lifestyle if you really want to develop as a musician . being in a band of musicians that has a common goal is very beneficial for your musical development . you may not be in the right group if you find yourself around people that are not goal - oriented and focused . let go of attachments to friends who may be on an entirely different path . it may be hard at first , but , if your goal is to develop as a musician , you should surround yourself with musicians . up - and - coming musicians and professionals will play as much as possible . do not worry about getting paid . remember , you didnt start playing music for the financial benefits . you may not get paid for a long time , but playing before an audience will help you develop your stage presence and sound . focus on what needs to be improved . write your mistakes down after the show and practice until you eliminate them .
connect a digital piano to the usb of the computer . start the music program of your choice and create a new composition . create the leadtrack . add lyrics to the leadtrack . create the chordstrack . create the drumstrack . create the basstrack . save the project . start instrumentchamp and play your new song using your favorite instrument .
how to create an instrumentchamp song
make sure that your computer supports the version of usb that piano uses . set the right tempo of the song look for a box or slide that says bpm or tempo . create 4 tracks , and name them leadtrack , chordstrack , drumstrack and basstrack . select the leadtrack and start recording using the digital piano . listen and adjust notes . nudge and transpose are two time - saving commands . when creating classical songs , pianoleft hand should be placed in a separate track named pianoleft . go to score - view and select the text tool . click the first note that shall have a lyric and insert the first lyric text . make sure the lyrics checkbox is checked in the parts - box in logic . press tab to get to next note and continue until finished . select all notes of the track select the first note and select all the following notes with shiftf , or cmda mac ctrla pc and set channel nr 1 this is done by opening the list editor or midi - events window , then - with all notes selected - writing the channel number under ch in any of the marked notes . note in logic pro x to enter lyrics , press a under part box customized then lyric and simply click - and - drag to the first note that is sung with lyrics , enter the first lyric text and then continue to the next note by pressing tab . select the chordstrack and start recording . play the chords using one finger . play d for all variants of d chords . select equal chords and move them updown according to the translation picture below . advanced repeated chords are displayed as strumming . even velocity in the midi e . g . v100 shows strum up . odd velocity e . g . v101 shows strum down . select all notes of the track and set channel nr 2 . select loops and filter so you only see drum loops for the right signature 44 or ¾ . select a drum loop and drag it to the drumstrack . double - click the track to open up all the notes in edit mode . adjust notes to get your personalised drum pattern and repeat so it covers the whole song . you may want to add some flavour by adding fills . recommended drum numbering kick 36 . snare 37 or 38 , 40 . hi - hat 42 or 44 , 46 . tom3 41 or 43 . tom2 45 or 47 . tom1 48 or 50 . crash 49 or 57 . ride 51 or 59 . select all notes of the track and set channel nr 10 . select the basstrack and start recording using the digital piano . play a typical bass pattern . review and adjust . insert a program change before the first note 0 prch ch3 p33 to make sure the final sound will be a bass sound this is also done in the midi - event or list editors view . select all notes of the track and set channel nr 3 . select all the tracks and export as midi file to your instrumentchampsongs directory downloads standard folder . upload to a midi web archive and make sure to write somewhere instrumentchamp , midi and the name of your composition so other people can google it .
sign up for soundcloud . choose your favorite kinds of music and audio . verify your account . edit your basic profile . modify your advanced profile . start uploading your sound . get noticed .
how to create an account on soundcloud
go to www . soundcloud . com and click the orange sign - up button on the top right corner of your screen . a pop - up screen will appear . youll have three options for creating an account you can sign up using facebook , google , or email . if you want to use facebook , click that option , and youll be redirected to an authorization screen , where youll choose whether you want to receive email updates from soundcloud and agree to the terms of use and privacy policy . fill out the form , then click sign up . if you want to use google , click that option , and youll be prompted to authorize soundcloud to access your google account . as with the facebook option , youll also have to agree to soundclouds terms of use and privacy policy . fill out the form , then click sign up . if you want to use email , click that option , and youll be prompted to type your email . choose a password , confirm it in the next box , and then agree to the terms of use and privacy policy . click sign up . if you choose this option , youll also need to choose a username . once youre signed up , soundclouds welcome screen will ask you to choose genres you want to hear from the categories available . if you dont want to bother with this task right now , you can choose skip and finish to bypass it . check your email for a message from soundcloud regarding the verification process . click the link provided in the message . your account is now created go to your settings and choose to modify your basic profile – its the first page available . on this page , you can add a profile picture , enter your real name and location , and note your occupation or occupations theres a maximum of three . go to your profile and choose edit under your profile picture . you can add a description of yourself or a link to a website or alternative profile . to add music to your stream , click upload . youll have two options you can choose the files of your existing recordings . you can record a sound directly on your soundcloud account . once youve uploaded some of your music , make sure you use tags , add artwork , and interact with as many other people as possible . this will increase your visibility on soundcloud .
size up . measure . build . detail .
how to create a pedal board
determine how many pedals you want to include as this will determine how much wood or other material you will need . space the pedals apart at a width allowing enough room to be connected properly , and measure accordingly using your eye or a measuring device . most pedal boards are made up of plastic or wood with rubber feet , it may be best to make something similar or you can create a shape or size of your own . buy some industrial self - adhesive strength velcro the kind you could use to mount things on walls and stick it to the back of each pedal and stick it down . doing this will make sure your pedals will stay put but be aware that velcro adhesive may take the sticker off the back of a pedal or any loose markings .
examine the musics time signature . understand the differences between note values . decipher the note symbols on the page . decipher rest symbols . count the notes . use a metronome to practice .
how to count rhythms 1
if you have some sheet music , look for the time signature first . the time signature is listed on the left side of every bar row of music . when looking at a time signature , the top number indicates the number of beats in each measure or the space between the vertical bars as you read across the music score . think of measures as ways of grouping the number of beats in the music into equal parts . the bottom number of the time signature tells you which type of note counts as a single beat . youre likely to encounter one of three bottom numbers 2 , which signals that a half note counts as one beat 4 , the most common option , which signals that a quarter note counts as one beat and 8 , which signals that an eighth note counts as 1 beat . some examples 44 , the most common time signature , means there are four beats in every measure , and each beat is a quarter note long . 34 is also common , and means that there are three beats in every measure , and each beat is a quarter note long . 78 means that there are seven beats in each measure , and each beat is a quarter note long . different notes cover different lengths of time . the standard note is the quarter note . for most time signatures , the beats are measured in quarter notes . a half note is the length of two quarter notes . a whole note is the length of four quarter notes . an eighth note is half the length of a quarter note . a dotted quarter note is the length of one quarter note and one eighth note . a sixteenth note is 14th the length of a quarter note . notes in sheet music are represented by symbols that consist of vertical lines , open and filled circles , horizontal lines , and flags on the vertical lines . in order to count rhythms on a sheet music , you have to know what note value each symbol stands for . quarter notes look like vertical lines with a solid circle foot . half notes look like vertical lines with an open circle foot . whole notes look like open circles . eighth notes look like vertical lines with a flag coming off the top and a solid circle foot . when two or more eight notes come after one another , theyre connected by a single horizontal line instead of having flags . dotted half quarter notes look like quarter notes with a dot in front of them . sixteenth notes look like eight notes with another flag . when two or more sixteenth notes come after one another , theyre connected by two horizontal lines instead of having flags . rests are simply pauses in the rhythm , when no note is being played or held out . their values correspond with normal note values . theres quarter rests , eighth rests , etcetera . they have their own set of symbols that you need to be able to recognize . quarter rests look like squiggly lines . half rests look like small bars that lie on the bottom of the staff line . whole rests look like small bars that hang from the top of the staff line . eight notes look like slanted lines that have a small circle near the top . sixteenth notes look like slanted lines that have two small circles near the top . rhythms are commonly counted out loud as numbers , with each number representing a beat . for notes in between the beats , other words and sounds are used . for example , eighth notes in between beats are counted by saying and . eight eighth notes in a row would by counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and . sixteenth notes in between beats and in between eighth notes are commonly counted by saying ee and ah . eight sixteenth notes in a row would be counted as 1 e and a 2 e and a . use all of this information to count the rhythms on the page . for example , a quarter note followed by a quarter rest , followed by two eighth notes , followed by four sixteenth notes would be counted as 1 pause 3 and 4 e and a . if the time signature in this example was 44 , that would be the end of the measure , so youd start at 1 again for the next measure . when youre counting rhythms , its good to have a metronome handy so that you count with a steady beat . set the metronome to the tempo indicated on the sheet music , if there is one listed .
listen for the time signature . decide what instrument to follow . understand the differences between note values . count the notes .
how to count rhythms 2
its impossible to determine with absolute certainty what the time signature of a song is just by listening to it . this is because a song can have the same sounds written different ways . but you can find what the most likely time signature is , which will work fine for the purpose of counting rhythms . first listen for the pulse of the song . tap your foot or hand along with the song until you find what feels like the beat . this beat is what you will count as quarter notes . then try to recognize a repeating pattern in the song , such as a chord progression or a drum beat . these are the measures of the song . then count how many beats are in each measure . that will give you your time signature . for example , if you hear seven beats in every repeat of the chord progression youve got a time signature of 74 . you can only realistically count the rhythm of one instrument at a time . if youre going to count the drums , youll have to listen to all the different parts of the drums when youre counting . for most other instruments , youll just count each note thats played . for example , if you hear a bass drum hit followed by three snare hits , and each hit takes up one beat , youll count that as 1 2 3 4 . different notes cover different lengths of time . the standard note is the quarter note . for most time signatures , the beats are measured in quarter notes . a half note is the length of two quarter notes . a whole note is the length of four quarter notes . an eighth note is half the length of a quarter note . a dotted quarter note is the length of one quarter note and one eighth note . a sixteenth note is 14th the length of a quarter note . rhythms are commonly counted out loud as numbers , with each number representing a beat . for notes in between the beats , other words and sounds are used . for example , eighth notes in between beats are counted by saying and . eight eighth notes in a row would by counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and . sixteenth notes in between beats and in between eighth notes are commonly counted by saying ee and ah . eight sixteenth notes in a row would be counted as 1 e and a 2 e and a . use this information to count the rhythm that you hear in the music . if youre listening to a guitar melody , and you hear three quarter note long sounds followed by four sixteenth note long sounds , youd count that as 1 2 3 4 e and a .
learn your chords cleanly , without transitions , before trying to switch between them . loosen and relax your body into a comfortable , smooth playing position . always fret with the tips of your fingers , not the pads . keep your fingers as close to the back of the fret as possible . keep practicing to build strength and stamina .
how to change guitar chords 1
make sure you can play the chords smoothly on their own . strum each note of the chord individually , making sure they dont buzz or sound dead . if you can play each note in a chord cleanly every time , then changing chords will be easy . for this article , you can practice with any chords you want . for starters , you might work on shifting back and forth between a c and a g - major chord , two of guitars most common chords . open g - major - - 1 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - open c - major - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - x - - keep your wrist relaxed and lightly bent , as if you were cupping an apple in your hand . a relaxed wrist and fingers are key to moving quickly and easily along the fretboard . your elbow should be tucked in , towards your ribs instead of splayed out , and your strumming hand should be able to move freely from the wrist . a relaxed body can move more fluidly , smoothly , and quickly . your fretting wrist your left hand , for right - handed players isnt kinked in front or behind of the neck , it is almost perpendicular to the frets , if not leaned a bit forward . the small , hard spot on the tip of your finger is infinitely more precise than the fleshy pad . for faster , smoother transitions , always fret with the tips , curling your fingers away from the guitar to make it easier to land on the fingertips . if you cant reach the frets comfortably with your fingertips , raise your left knee for right - handed players to lean the guitar upwards , classical style . the upward angle makes it easier to get your fingers around the neck . if youre playing a note on the 3rd fret , you could technically be anywhere between the second and third frets with your fingers . but youll get the most consistent , even sound if youre as close to the back of the 3rd fret as possible . always try to creep closer to the fret youre trying to play for the cleanest transitions and chords . chords take a lot of strength for beginning guitarists . so dont get discouraged when you have difficulties at first - - all guitarists need to build the physical skills as well as the musical skills of playing . the best way to build strength is to keep playing . play a tough chord , remove your hand , then play the chord again . keep repeating this on - off pattern to get faster and stronger with quick chords . close your eyes to think about what a chord feels like . can your fingers get there without your eyes
start with just two chords , working until you can shift the two perfectly . start at a speed where you can sound out each chord perfectly . slowly raise your speed as you get more comfortable . reverse the order of your chords to cement your knowledge . anticipate the chord changes as they come up . apply your chord progressions to real music , not just a metronome , to really learn transitions .
how to change guitar chords 2
this is good whether youre learning new chords or practicing a particular transition . dont complicate things by trying to transition out of ten different chords . for example , if you have trouble getting to c - major , just practice transitioning between c and g until you have it down , then move to c and f , or c and am . never sacrifice the quality of the chord to play it faster - - it doesnt matter how speedy you are if the notes sound terrible . start with slow , easy transitions - - dont strum the chord until you feel like all of your fingers are set well . you can use a metronome , slowly raising the bpms beats per minute , or just your own ear . you want to remain in control , always hitting all the notes cleanly , but you must start to practice at a faster clip to become a faster guitarist . using a metronome helps you gauge your progress and set benchmarks for faster bpms . it may seem small , but going from a c to a g is different than from a g to a c . you need to practice chord transitions from both directions , so dont just get stuck practicing the same old motion . while you never want to rush a song or chord , good players are thinking of the next chord while theyre playing the current one . if you know youre going to a c - chord soon , think about the upcoming shape so you arent caught off guard . at the end of the day , you should always apply the skills you practice to real songs and music , helping you put all the skills together in a more enjoyable , helpful way . while metronomes are helpful , real music has a natural swing and feel to it that you only learn by playing real songs . when possible , practice with other musicians , too . try out wikihows play simple guitar songs , for a basic songbook with easy chord transitions .
understand what a measure is . learn basic notation . practice keeping the beat . practice counting basic note lengths . add syllables for smaller notes . understand what a dot means . practice triplets . break the rules . find the time signature . understand the significance of each number in the time signature . practice a waltz . review less common time signatures . practice counting while listening to music .
how to count music
music is divided into measures , which are designated by a vertical line . notes in music are named based on how much time they take up within a measure . think of the measure as a pie that can be cut into quarters , halves , eighths or a combination of different notes . the names of the notes clue you in to how much of the measure they will take . this will necessitate a rudimentary understanding of fractions . a whole note will take the whole measure . a half note will take half of the measure . quarter notes take a quarter of the measure . eighth notes take one eighth of the measure . sixteenth notes take one sixteenth of the measure . notes can be combined to make one whole , for instance one half note and two quarter notes makes one whole measure . in an even rhythm tap your heel and count to four repeatedly , like this 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 , 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 . the speed is less important than keeping the time even between each number . a metronome can also be helpful in setting an even beat . each full cycle of 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 is one measure . say or sing la while continuing to keep up the counting in your head . a whole note will take the whole measure , so begin singing la at the number 1 , and hold it until you have reached 4 . you have just performed a whole note . two half notes make up a measure . sing la for 1 - 2 then a new la for 3 - 4 . there are four quarter notes in a measure . sing la for each number youre tapping . for eighth notes you will need to divide the measure into eight even pieces , but you are still only beating four times per measure . add the word and between each number as you count like this 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and . practice this until it becomes easy . each word is one eighth note . use a similar principle to count sixteenth notes . you will need to fit sixteen sounds into one measure and do it evenly . one common way to do this is to say 1 - e - and - a , 2 - e - and - a , 3 - e - and - a , 4 - e - and - a . remember that the numbers should still be perfectly even . the same general idea can be applied to ever smaller notes , but as these notes appear rarely they are less important to master as a beginner . sometimes in music there is a small dot immediately after a note . this dot indicates that the notes length should be increased by 50 . a half note , normally worth two beats , becomes three beats with a dot . a quarter note , worth one beat without the dot , takes 1 . 5 beats with a dot . triplets are when one beat is divided into three notes . this is tricky because otherwise all the notes you have practiced are even fractions . vocalizing syllables can help you get the hang of triplets . practice counting triplets by saying 1 - e - and , 2 - e - and , 3 - e - and , 4 - e - and . remember to continue keeping the numbers even using a metronome or tapping your foot . a fermata is a sign that looks like a dot with an eyebrow over a note . when you see this symbol it means that note can be held for as long as you like , regardless of what the music might say . if you are part of an ensemble the director will determine how long it should be held . if you are performing solo consider in advance what will be most appropriate length . listen to recordings of your piece if you are uncertain how long to hold . this will give you a sense of what other performers have done and you can decide what sounds best . at the top left hand corner of a piece of music you will see several notations . the first is a symbol called the clef , which typically depends on the instrument for which the piece was composed . next there may be some sharps or flats . finally you will see two numbers stacked on top of each other . this is the time signature . for the first part of this article we used the signature 44 which is indicated by two fours stacked on top of one another . the top number indicates the number of beats in a measure , and the bottom number is which note value gets the beat . it is most common for a four to appear on the bottom , giving the quarter note the beat . in 44 time the top note tells you that there are four beats in a measure , and the bottom note tells you that a quarter note is gets the beat . in 24 time there are two beats in a measure , but you are still counting a quarter note as a beat . so instead of counting 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 , you would use that same pace but simply say 1 - 2 , 1 - 2 . music set in 34 time counts three quarter notes to every measure . the waltz is always danced in this rhythm , and finding a song that is designated as a waltz may help you to hear the pattern more clearly . as you listen count 1 - 2 - 3 in your head . the song christmas waltz has a distinctive waltz rhythm , and also contains the lyrics and this song of minein three - quarter time tipping you off to the rhythm . the top number always denotes the number of beats in a measure , and the bottom always signifies what note gets the beat . if the bottom number is an 8 , then you should count eighth notes . if the bottom number is a 2 then you should count half notes . 68 meter is like the waltz in that the beats are grouped into threes , but there are two of them . beats 1 and 4 should get the emphasis one - two - three - four - five - six . beat one is the strongest beat . 32 times means you should count three half notes for one measure . one half note is worth two quarter notes . try counting evenly to six , emphasizing the odd numbers one - two - three - four - five - six , one - two - three - four - five - six . by emphasizing the odd numbers youre pointing out where each half note begins . by counting the even numbers youre ensuring a regular pace . the time signature gives a distinctive rhythmic sound to different types of music . for example , composers often write marches in 24 time to give a distinctive feeling of boots stepping 1 - 2 , 1 - 2 . pop , country and other music aimed at a broad audience typically has some form of 2 or 4 in the time signature because people like to tap their foot along with the music . choosing a simple time signature makes it easy for a general audience to enjoy it . jazz and other modern music often sounds disjointed because of unusual time signatures , such as 138 , 54 and other uneven divisions . this will be a challenge to count , but may help you see how the time signature contributes to the overall feel of music .
launch spotify . sign in . look for the edit button . go to preferences . look for playback .
how to change the streaming and download sound quality on spotify 1
to open the spotify application , look for its icon on your desktop or in your downloads folder . the icon is a green circle with three black lines . when you find it , double - click on it . launching spotify will land you on the login screen on which you will see two text boxes . enter your username and password into them , and then click on the green login button to open your account so you can adjust your sound quality settings . once you are signed into your account , look at the menus at the top of the screen . the first one is file , and the other is edit . click on the latter to open its drop - down menu . the very last option under edit is preferences . click on that to load its own settings options in the center of the screen . when you see the settings under preferences , scroll down until you see the subheading playback under which you will see high quality streaming . check the tickbox next to it to enjoy the best possible quality while you stream and download music .
launch spotify . log in . load spotify settings . adjust sound quality in the music quality section .
how to change the streaming and download sound quality on spotify 2
look for the app icon either on your phones home screen or in the app drawer . the icon is a green circle with three black lines in it . tap on it when you find it . once you open the app , you will see two text boxes . tap on the first box and enter your username . on the second box , enter your password , and then tap on the login button . once youre signed into your account , look towards the top left side of the app screen for the menu button that square button with three lines on it . tap on it to display a menu . tap on settings found at the bottom of the list , and your spotify settings will load on your screen . scroll down through the settings until you see the section music quality . the first item there is streaming , and it will have its own drop - down menu beside it . tap on the menu , and pick among normal , high and extreme quality . select the one that will give you the best quality without lagging . the next item is downloaded music quality , and it also has a drop - down menu . tap on it to choose normal , high or extreme quality . again , remember to balance it , to choose the sound quality level that doesnt result in lagging . your new settings will be saved automatically .
learn the meaning of time signatures . listen to the song . get a feel for the melody . find out the top number . find out the bottom number .
how to calculate the time signature of a song
a time signature represents the length of the melody in a song . there are common signatures , such as quadruple 44 and triple 34 time . most songs are written in this time . however , some songs are written in uncommon time signatures , such as 54 , 74 , and 94 . time signatures look like fractions . the top number represents how many beats there are in a measure , and the bottom number represents the note value which makes one beat . first you must listen to the song fully . although almost all songs stay the same time signature for the whole song , in some instances songs use two time signatures like one for the verses and a different one for the chorus , and in rarer cases have multiple time signatures throughout see prokofiev and shostakovich symphony scores . the melody of a song is the thing you listen to overall in a song . the melody in a song usually repeats , and is the best way to calculate the time signature of a song . you need to get a feel for when it ends or starts . if the melody is not present , you may want to listen to the rhythms in the drums or such instruments . if the melody is present and keeps repeating , you can start . an easy strategy to do this is counting on your fingers . when the melody or rhythm starts , start counting . every beat , add a finger until the melody starts over , which is when you start at one again . chances are , the number is 4 or 8 , the most commonly used time signature . whatever number is the one you end up with before it starts over is the top number on the fraction of the time signature . be aware that many songs have a pick - up note , so it may be more efficient if you base of the accentuated notes , not the beginning note . for this , you must find out if the melody is faster than the actual song . a songs time signatures bottom number is almost always 4 or 8 . listen to the bass or left hand is the melody twice as fast is the melody in 8th notes or 4th notes if you think it could be twice as fast or in 8th notes , the bottom number is probably 8 . if it seems it is in 4th notes , the bottom number is probably 4 .
find a black fancy overcoat . don a tall top hat . lincolns look is associated with fancy clothes and a big top hat . wear black dress shoes . wear a black bowtie . lincoln was known to wear bowties .
how to make an abraham lincoln costume 1
lincoln may have had a lot of folk sense in him , but he never turned down an opportunity to look civilized and classy . his dress of choice was always a black overcoat . so long as the coat doesnt have any visible logos or symbols , you can use any black overcoat for this . look at existing lincoln costumes or pictures of the man himself and decide if any coat you have fits the bill . a grey vest underneath may help to round off your costume . however , if you cant find one of those , a white dress shirt will do . you may also choose to button up your overcoat . top hats can be found at costume or consignment stores , or made by rolling black felt and gluing on a rim . provided youre aiming for a traditional lincoln costume , you should keep the hat black . top hats often come with pre - fabricated lincoln costumes . if you cant find a top hat , make your own . roll black construction paper into a tube . stand it up on another sheet of black construction paper , and trace the circle around the bottom use a pencil so the silvery graphite will show up . fold the paper in half so that the circle is exactly in half , cut out the circle , and cut a second circle out around the edge , so that you end up with a brim for your top hat . tape it to the black tube . although they wont attract as much attention as your coat or top hat , its nonetheless a good idea to round off your costume with a good set of black shoes . the most important thing is that your shoes are black this way they wont conflict with the rest of the costume . shoes with a buckle are rarer today than they were then , but they also match the costume if you have them lying around . lincoln wore size 14 shoes . lincolns father was a shoemaker . they are not commonly worn in fashion today but you can usually find them for sale at department stores and costume shops . bowties dont need to be done up perfectly . rather , an imperfect bowtie will give your costume that much more character . lincolns bowties were obviously hand - tied , but pre - tied bowties are available as well if you dont want to bother with the tying process . to hand - tie a bowtie , loop the bowtie around your neck , leaving a few inches more on one side . draw the longer end under the other side of your tie and loop it through the center , tightening it as you go along . bring the longer end of the bowtie over the other end and pinch them in the middle , looping the longer end through a hole at the back . tighten it gently .
get a thick chin beard . wear a set of bushy eyebrows . get lincolns gaunt cheeks with makeup . tousle your hair .
how to make an abraham lincoln costume 2
lincolns beard was arguably his most distinctive attribute . his beard was based around the chin and allowed to grow quite bushy , without hiding his shirt collar . look at pictures of lincolns beard and groom your facial hair to match this . you can also make a fake beard with construction paper or brown felt . use spirit gum to attach it to your face . although hes remembered for his beard , there were points in his life where abraham lincoln shaved his beard . a woman named grace bedell convinced him to grow it out . this had the effect of making lincoln look more trustworthy and warm . eyebrows are a distinctive trait of lincolns . although not quite as iconic as the beard , they should be considered if you want to make a convincing lincoln costume . either purchase some fake eyebrows from a costume store , or make some of your own by gluing pipe cleaner onto thin strips of brown construction paper . from there , you can glue them to your face using spirit gum . lincoln had a very striking face , with sunken cheeks and protruding cheekbones . one way to replicate this look is by using stage makeup . you should first suck n your cheeks . this way , youll be able to see where the contours of your face are . next , take a grey or brown stage makeup and apply it to the area thats sucked in . blend the edges with your fingers . because gaunt cheek makeup is usually reserved for horror costumes , its a good idea to be very moderate with the makeup you use here , provided youre going for a realistic lincoln . you can try different variations on makeup to create different looks . a zombie abe lincoln can be done by using lots of white with black around the eyes . lincoln was known for preferring to keep his hair unruly , as opposed to smooth . if your hair length is approximately that of lincolns , you should tousle it up by rubbing your hands coarsely through it . if your hair is quite long , you can get some of the same untidy impression by trapping all of your hair under your top hat and letting a few strands hang loose .
accessorize your look . explore making your costume from different materials . try a babe - raham lincoln costume . some womens costumes take the form of a sexy version of something . combine ideas from different costume sets .
how to make an abraham lincoln costume 3
there are endless creative ways you can spruce up a costume once you have the basics down . because abraham lincoln was a politician , you might consider making a pin that says vote abraham lincoln on it and pinning it to your jacket . the real lincoln was also often seen holding pocket watches , so adding one to your costume may be a good idea for the fake of authenticity . a walking cane is always a good add - on to a costume of this nature . a good costume maker wont be limited to the most obvious costume solutions . in truth , theres a virtually endless amount of ways you can make yourself look like lincoln , without even wearing the proper clothes for it . for instance , you could use paper and black spray - painted cardboard cutouts to make the costumes coat and hat , then tie the pieces around your body . this approach can be called the paper - raham lincoln costume . dont underestimate the effect of multiple layers in a fake materials - based costume . for instance a dress shirt underneath the cardboard coat could be made by cutting out some of the cardboard in the middle and gluing white construction paper this often takes the form of combining the costume with a skirt and heels in order to feminize it . the babe - raham lincoln costume is a well - known example of this . you can exchange the big coat and pants for a black skirt and blouse . the only part of the original costume you should keep is the hat and chin beard . the baba - raham lincoln costume is a spoof of sexy versions of halloween costumes . it can be worn by men and women alike . because there are countless things you can do with a costume , dont be afraid to splice your abe lincoln design with other costumes . for instance , a cute cat costume can be merged with a lincoln costume by taking the whiskers and ears , and throwing them together with the chin beard and top hat . if you have a stockpile of costume materials , you should experiment with different combinations using what you already have . you get bonus points if youre able to make abraham lincoln pun from the combination youve created .
speak with civility and politeness . approximate lincolns accent . talk using a tenor voice . watch the movie lincoln .
how to make an abraham lincoln costume 4
lincoln was no pushover , but all of his recorded speeches make him out to be a very down - to - earth , respectable and noble - minded speaker . if you want to be a great abraham lincoln , you should act with nobility no matter where you are . keep your volume levelled , and dont speak out of turn . however , when you do speak , you should do so with force and conviction . this manner of speaking is a good part if you want to go the extra mile , try to nail his likely accent . compared to modern accents , lincoln might be pegged somewhere between a kentucky and indiana accent . look up examples of these accents and pick up on the ways in which particular sounds are inflected . contrary to what youd think , many accounts state that lincoln had a soft , light voice , like a bird . actors have tried to replicate lincolns way of speaking . look at a reading of lincolns speech and get a hang for the way an actor will inflect his voice . although no recordings of lincolns speech exist , historians have done research and concluded that lincolns voice was considerably higher - pitched than the usual baritone we hear from politicians . his voice was however not shrill or silly sounding . if you have a naturally deep voice , try to sound a bit higher than you normally would . edisons first recordings of human speech occurred 12 years after lincolns death . this makes it anyones guess what he really sounded like . steven spielbergs 2012 lincoln biopic has been acclaimed for its historical accuracy . in particular , a lot of attention has been given to how true daniel day - lewis performance is to everything we know of the man . if you want to get lincolns inflections and personality down , you should watch the film and try to emulate the actor on screen . take care to note the way lincoln talks , as well as the manner in which he moves . if you were still stumped on certain aspects of your costume you should look at the way the films costume crew approached lincolns look .
find a blouse . look for vest that can be made into a bodice . find a skirt or fabric that can be made into a skirt . wash everything . alter the tops optionally . add some basic leather sandals or flats . find a shirt . look for pants . find a vest . get some boots . purchase inexpensive accessories . include under - layers . find a head covering .
how to make a renaissance costume
first , go to a thrift store near you . the basic female renaissance garb is the wenches outfit , and the top portion will consist of a blouse and a bodice . for the blouse , you want to look for something long sleeved and plain . for the best look , go for something light colored , preferably white or off - white . when it comes to fabrics , if you want to be more authentic looking , try to find completely natural fabrics , or blends with small amounts of polyester . common fabrics used in renaissance fashion include wool , cotton , leather , and linen . fabrics like silk , satin , and velvet were reserved for the upper classes . women can use poet shirts instead of blouses as well . poet shirts are baggy shirts with large long sleeves . stick to the same fabric and color guidelines as the blouse . for the bodice , you want to look for a sleeveless button up top or a vest . the bodice has more flexibility when it come to color . stick to earthy , muted tones , and avoid bright colors , especially purple , as that was reserved for royalty . women in the renaissance wore long skirts that went down to their ankles . look for one in a muted , earthy color , like brown , olive green , or off - white . two skirts is better than one , if you can find two , as it adds more texture and shape to the garb . make sure their colors dont clash . alternatively , you can look for a dress , rather than a skirt and blouse . just make sure the dress goes down to ankle or floor level , and isnt in a loud color or modern fabric . throw everything you thrifted for your garb into the wash . let them get and stay a little wrinkled to make them look more worn in . you can wear the blouse and the vest as is , or you can alter them to look more renaissance - like . here are some ideas if you got a white blouse and you want to make it less bright white , you can throw it in a pot of boiling water with some tea bags . let it sit for five minutes . then throw it in the dryer . renaissance women wore low necklines , so if the blouse has a neckline thats too high , you can cut it down to size . lay it out flat then mark where you want the new neckline with a pencil . cut it carefully , then stitch the new neckline with either a thread that matches the color of the blouse or something like olive green or brown . you can do the same with the vest or button up sleeveless top . the over blouse should have a little lower neckline so that the neckline of the blouse shows through . when it comes to the shoes , they should be plain and leather . flats or sandals will work , as long as theyre as simple as you can find . lower class men in the renaissance often wore whats called a poet shirt . this is a baggy shirt with large long sleeves , almost always white or off - white . think of a classic pirate shirt . look for one made of a natural fabric like cotton or linen . you can choose a different color if you want . brown and olive green work well . instead of a poet shirt , you can opt for a tunic if you wish . these are long - sleeved shirts that go lower than normal shirts . look for something in a natural color and of a natural material . you might already own some cotton trousers that will work for the garb . if not , look for some in a dark color , dark brown or black . they should be long enough to tuck into boots . fabric is the most important factor here . they didnt have denim back then , and plain khaki pants wont look right either . look for a light fabric , preferably cotton or linen , or something that looks like cotton or linen . alternatively , you can look for pants that come down to just past or just above the knee . if you can sew elastic into the openings to make them resemble bloomers , even better . the vest will make your basic male garb complete , besides the shoes and accessories . the vest should be dark colored like the pants , and simple and plain . a leather vest would be ideal , but you have a lot of freedom with fabrics here , so just look for something that you like the look of . boots will complete your look , as your trousers should be tucked into them . look for the most nondescript , basic black or brown leather boots you can find . something like cowboy boots will not fit in . if youve chosen to wear pants that go to the knee instead , you could wear some leather sandals instead . the accessories can add a lot to your look . here are some ideas of things to add to your garb . belts are a must for men . simple brown belts work just fine . if youve chosen a tunic for your top , the belt will go over the tunic . large leather belts or sashes tied around the waist can add a lot to female garb . drinking vessels and pouches are both convenient and period appropriate . look for leather or faux - leather . bandanas pair well with peasant garbs . the same fabric and color guidelines as the rest of your garb apply . mens and womens renaissance garb can optionally include layers of under - clothing appropriate for the time period . this usually includes an undershirt to go under mens vests or coats , and chemises and petticoats or under - dresses to go under bodices and skirts for women . the lack of under - layers wont hurt your garbs look though , so if you cant find any while thrifting , dont fret . it was considered improper to be seen in public without a hat or head covering during renaissance times , so be sure to include one when making your costume . head coverings can vary a lot , so feel free to get creative here . you can stick with the simple bandana or you can include a hat on top of it , or instead of it . examples of proper head wear during the renaissance include muffin caps , biggins , flat caps , felt hats , and straw hats .
make your own traditional looking toga using a sheet of fabric . hold your sheet so that it is sideways . wrap the right end of your sheet around the front of your body and around to your back . finish making the toga . collect the supplies youll need to make your crown . cut your headband material so that it is the right length to fit around your head . add leaves to your headband . spray paint your crown gold if youd like it to be gold . tie a belt around your toga . wear the right shoes to enhance your outfit . add the right accessories to your costume to complete the greek goddess look . customize your look to be a specific greek goddess .
how to make a quick greek goddess costume
use a large sheet of white or tan fabric . you can also use a bed sheet if you dont have a large sheet of fabric . you wont need to sew your toga , youll just have to tie the corners of the sheet in a knot . use a fabric that is not too stiff . a fabric that flows or drapes will help create the draped look of a toga . if youre worried about modesty or warmth , you can always wear a white top and white bottoms underneath your toga . the longer length of the sheet should be horizontal when youre ready to wrap your sheet around your body . hold the sheet so that it is against your back . once your sheet is in place , wrap it length wise around your body with the top end of the sheet just under your armpits . if the sheet is too long , fold the top over a few inches to make your sheet your desired toga length . reach around your back to pull the sheet corner across your back and over your right shoulder . this will serve as the strap of your toga . most togas usually have a strap over just one shoulder . hold this corner in place while you continue to wrap the other end of your sheet around your body . wrap the left end of the sheet around your entire body one time . once the end of the sheet is back in the front of your body , pull the left corner of the sheet toward your right shoulder and tie it in a knot with the right corner of the sheet . double knot the sheet corners to make sure your toga strap is secure . tuck the ends of the corners into the knot or into the fabric so that they are no longer showing . look at make a toga out of a bedsheet for detailed instructions on multiple ways to make togas . many greek goddesses wore a crown or headpiece of some kind , and adding a crown to your costume will help distinguish it from a generic greek toga costume . youll need something to be a thin headband – this can be a piece of string , wire , thin elastic , or thin rope . youll also need fake leaves and scissors . getting gold spray paint is optional but not necessary . if you dont own these supplies , they can be purchased online or at any local craft store such as michaels . if you find a piece of fake vine while shopping for supplies , the vine itself will work as your greek goddess headband . simply cut it to the proper length and tie the ends so that it fits on your head . make sure to leave enough room at each end of your headband material so that the ends can be tied together . youll want your headband to be loose enough to easily take on and off , but tight enough so that it wont fall off . take your scissors and cut tiny holes in the center of your plastic leaves . after youve cut the small holes in your leaves , slide them onto your headband one at a time . some people like to add tons of leaves , and some people like to add just a few – it is completely up to you . once youve added all of your leaves to your headband , tie the ends of your headband to finish your crown . set your crown on top of old newspaper or paper towels so as not to get spray paint on any furniture . continue to spray paint the crown until it is completely gold . allow the spray paint to dry 10 - 15 minutes before you put it on your head . let the paint dry while you add the finishing touches to your costume . instead of a modern belt , use a piece of rope , or gold fabric string as your belt . wrap the material around your waist a few times before tying it in a knot to add to the layered look . this will give you a more authentic looking costume . tie your belt in a knot rather than a bow . if you want to look like a greek goddess , then you must wear the proper shoes . dont wear boots or sneakers . instead , wear gladiator sandals , or even strappy sandals . ideally , your sandals should be gold or tan in color . if you dont own gladiator sandals but want to get the gladiator sandal look , get some extra string or ribbon and wrap it up around your calves , tying it just below your knees . accessories always make the outfit , whether for a costume or real life . once youve added your accessories , youll have a beautiful costume good enough to win you first place at any costume party . these accessories can include gold bracelets , gold rings , gold earrings , gold arm cuffs , and gold broaches to pin onto your toga . finish your look with wavy hair and natural looking , shimmery makeup . for example , carry a small instrument if you want to be a muse . or , carry the trademarks of the famous greek goddesses . aphrodite could carry a dove fake birds are usually available at most craft stores , artemis a hunting bow , and athena would wear a battle helmet rather than a crown .
think of what you want your soldier to be . research military uniforms in history books , online , or by watching vintage newsreel footage on the history channel or the military channel before you can start building your outfit you need the basic clothing . start out looking at military surplus stores to see what kind of things you can find . find a helmet . search online specialty shops to look for reproduction items if you cannot find authentic ones repro is better because original will ruin too easily and you will have to keep buying thread for it every time . beware if you shop at online auctions , both because authentic uniform items are serious collectors items and can command a very high price , and because reproduction items may be misrepresented as genuine vintage , you will need to be careful if purchasing there . assemble what you have bought into however you like it but is better to follow regs to make it more authentic . remember and always keep in mind if you cant find good things online then print a photo of a uniform and go to walmart or sears and find as close as possible to whats in the photo and try your best to find a good army surplus store near you .
how to make a world war two costume
airborne , infantry , rangers , marines the choice is yours , and each group has its own distinctive uniform and gear . here are some of the variety of items included in a typical uniform , but note that they are not universal . trousers , only service dress has khaki so no khaki , only olive drab or faded olive drablooks like khaki . shirt field jacket or winter coat . boots , usually midcalf in standard brown corcoran jump boots , marine boondockers , rough out boots or buckle combat boots , unlike modern military uniform boots . helmet with helmet liner m - 1938 canvas leggings ammo belt that matches weapon such as m1 garand , thompson , browning automatic riflebar , or m1a1 carbinewith no bayonet lug m - 1936 field bag musset bag aluminum chain on capwater only anything else may cause aluminum poisoningcanteen haversack , musset bag , m - 1944 - 45 field pack , rucksack with bedroll , poncho , shelter half , shaving kit , 2x4 metal mirror , skivviesunderpants , extra t - shirt k - rations and assorted gear knife , entrenching tool , mess kit , and other gear may be included . you should look for an olive - drab hbt herringbone twill uniform shirt , a m - 1943 field or m - 1941 jacket . this should somewhat resemble the look you want . you will also need hbt uniform pants that are the same color , these will be easier to find . look for the world war ii helmet design paint it later , they are quite common . these helmets are also quite heavy so if you are making this for a little one you might find a fiberglass or plastic helmet liner which is what goes inside as this is much lighter . wardog militaria . com and by - the - sword . com are examples , but with the growing popularity of reenactments and interest in military history , there are lots of other sites to choose from . you may use vintage photos to help get an idea how the uniform should look , or you might visit a military museum to look at their displays .
find an earthy - colored material . make a pocahontas style dress see the photo for the shape . attach a cotton material belt .
how to make a pocahontas costume 1
choose one made of cotton or other light plant matter , such as hemp or linen . make sure you have enough material to create a dress for your shape and height . youll probably want a lighter or darker brown for an accent color , too . this will be at your waistline and as fringe on the top and bottom . be less concerned with the texture of this accent color - - but for your dress , make sure it wont irritate your skin . basic patterns can be found online or at any fabric supply store . whats more , you can pick a pattern that you think will look best for your body type . dont forget to include the strips at the base of the costume and at the top half of the costume . to create the fringe , just cut strips in a wide layer of fabric and attach to the top and bottom seam . a thin rope would also work . anything that is earthy and doesnt scream factory - made will do the job .
buy two lengths of faux - suede material . fold one piece of your material in half . cut the neck area . cut the fringes . grab a second piece of material for your skirt . cut out your skirt material . cut the fringe .
how to make a pocahontas costume 2
pick any shade of brown you like . if you dont know how much to buy , consult an expert at the fabric store . an average sized female will need around 2 yards 1 . 8 m . one of the edges where its folded over will be your head hole . fold over that corner . cut your poncho to the desired length remember to account for slits that will become fringe . this will depend on your height and your coverage preferences . turn your material inside out before you begin cutting . cut across the corner you previously folded over . sew the open edge , creating a poncho - like shape . the other side is folded and doesnt need to be sewn . turn it right side out again . if youre not comfortable eyeballing it or dont have a lined sewing mat , turn it inside out and mark lines down the sides with a ruler and pen . the fringes can be any length , but they should be about 1 2 . 5 cm wide and evenly spaced . for a grown woman , fringes almost a foot long are appropriate if using a full torso - covering poncho . use a skirt you have in your closet already for a rough pattern . the amount of material you need will depend on how long you want your skirt to be . an asymmetrical edge is the quintessential pocahontas look . aim for around the mid - thigh and end around the knee . but again remember to leave length for the fringe pocahontas booty was not hanging out . sew the edges about 23 of the way down , depending on your skirt length . this is because youll be cutting away at the material anyway for the fringe . you wont need an entire seam sewn . youll want fringe that looks similar to the one on your poncho . use strips of similar width and length . they do not have to be perfect - - in fact , imperfect fringe may look better and not so geometrical . use an extra piece of fabric as a belt to keep the skirt up , if need be . the poncho should cover up the top of the skirt , so if you have an awkward issue , it can be easily remedied . if you have more material left over , cut fringes into it and stick it into your shoes or boots footwear check
purchase a tan t - shirt thats much , much , much too big for you . cut off the sleeves from the armpit to the neckline . cut off the bottom seam of the shirt . cut the sleeves into fringe . cut double mini slits into the bottom edge of your skirt . make slits in the back of your shirt . add fringe to the bottom of your shirt .
how to make a pocahontas costume 3
youll need extra length for the skirt , too . this will be your entire outfit , so go for length in addition to diameter . but you need the collar , so dont touch it thats going to be how your shirt stays on . this will be easy if you spread the shirt over a flat surface . also cut off the bottom 13 of the shirt . eyeball how long you want the top and skirt . if you want a longer skirt , cut a longer bottom piece . account for your butt and hips - - theyll make a long - looking skirt into a short one . two tan shirts are always an option . theyre pretty cheap and can be found at most craft supply stores . this will be your belt , so dont mess with it too much - - you are using it later . cut one slice into the loop , forming a long strip . about 1 2 . 5 cm from the edge of your skirt , start cutting tiny slits for the belt to be inserted into . they should be 1 - 2 2 . 5 - 5 cm apart and only big enough so the belt can go through the holes . thread your belt through these loops . you may start at the center , side , or back , depending on where you want your bow . double knot the ends for securing . take 1 2 . 5 cm wide sections and cut off strips of fabric . you should have a bunch of loops of fabric and no semblance of a sleeve once youre finished . cut into all of them creating a handful of strips of brown fabric . when the edges curl in , dont fret you want them to . this outfit is about the right imperfections . this will be what anchors the fringe . a double mini slit is basically two mini slits very close to each other with a very narrow strip of fabric in between . youre going to lace the fringe you just made into these slits . start about 1 2 . 5 cm from the bottom edge of your skirt . each set of two slits should be about 1 away from each other . once youve laced all the fringe into the slits , double knot them , securing them to your skirt . they should be about 3 7 . 5 cm across at the top and get bigger as the material gets wider . start about 2 - 3 5 - 7 . 5 cm away from the neckline . cut one giant slice through the back of your slits so you have a whole bunch of pieces to tie together . go right through the center so all your eventual knots line up . use the same method as you used with the skirt . if your neckline is looking a little bare , add fringe to it too , cutting double mini slits and using any extra fringe you have from the remaining sleeve . if your neckline is looking too t - shirt - like , take two pieces of fringe and tie them each in a bow on the left and right sides of the front of your necklace . this will create more of a square shape and do away with the t - shirt vibe . have someone else tie up the back of your shirt . theyll be able to contour it to the shape of your body .
wear bronzer on your cheeks to give yourself a tanned look . wear a wooden beaded necklace . find a long flowing dark wig at a costume hire store or similar outlet . braid a headband .
how to make a pocahontas costume 4
dont go too overboard - - pocahontas certainly wasnt orange . if your skin is pale , go for a sunkissed look with blushes and bronzers . if you made it yourself , all the better check out images of pocahontas online if you want to imitate the disney character . hers was blue with a white pendant . the necklace is a good opportunity to add color to your costume . consider armbands and bracelets as well , but dont go overboard . pick one or two accessories . less is more here . if youd like to make it more manageable , braid it into one or two long braids . pocahontas doesnt have to have dark hair , but it is the traditional look . if you have long hair already , you may want to invest in a swimming cap to keep your tresses from sneaking out and putting a damper on your completed look . use the same material you used to make your outfit . cut three long strands and braid them together , starting with the end knotted . braid enough to wrap around your head , but leave loose ends to dangle . you can then attach beads or feathers to the hanging ends to spice up your outfit . just tie at the base of your head and then again at the bottom of the strands .
measure , mark , and cut two triangular slits in your paper . fold the hat . add ties to the bonnet . create a hat pattern or cut out your own . measure , cut , and attach a paper headband . create and attach a gold buckle . fit the headband to your head . fold a 12 - by - 18 inch piece of white construction paper in quarters and round the corners . cut a neck hole . cut a slit . attach ties to the collar . create a traditional female pilgrim costume . create a traditional male pilgrim costume . create a historically correct pilgrim costume .
how to make a pilgrim costume
on a flat work surface , set out a piece of 12 - by - 18 inch white construction paper . you will also need a pencil , a ruler , and a pair of scissors . to create the two slits along one of the two 18 inch sides , measure and mark the following lengths in order 6 ¼ inches , 1 inch , 3 ½ inches , 1 inch , and 6 ¼ inches . the two 1 inch sections will serve as the bases of the two triangular slits . to create the legs of the two triangles , measure and mark a 3 inch line from each end of the 1 inch base . cut out the two 3 - by - 3 - by - 1 inch triangles . to form the hat , you will make four folds . the first fold will create the brim . the other three folds will create the back of the bonnet . create a 2 - by - 18 inch fold along the papers uncut edge . fold down the center flap the section between the two triangular slits . fold the outer two sections over the center section so that they overlap . staple the outer two sections together or run a piece of scotch tape along the seam . cut out two 12 - inch pieces of white ribbon . on each side of the bonnet , attach one ribbon under the brim with a piece of scotch tape . place the bonnet on your head and tie the ribbons in a bow under your chin . on a flat workspace , set out a piece of black poster board , a ruler , a pencil , and a pair of scissors . while you can create your own hat shape , you may also use the measurements listed below . to create the pattern , lightly draw the following lines on the poster board draw a 5 inch 12 . 7 cm horizontal line near the top of the black poster board . this line will form the top of the hat . draw two 10 inch 25 . 4 cm angled lines from the ends of the 5 inch 12 . 7 cm horizontal line . these two lines should be angled out towards the respective edges of the poster board . connect the two angled lines with a horizontal line . this line will form the base of the hat and should be parallel to the 5 inch 12 . 7 cm line . draw one 1 inch 2 . 54 cm vertical line up from each end of the base line , so that the 1 inch 2 . 54 cm lines are perpendicular to the base line . connect the top of each 1 inch 2 . 54 cm line to the 10 inch 25 . 4 cm lines with a horizontal line . this will create the illusion of a hat brim . cut out the hat along the lines . a headband will attach to the backside of the hat . to create the headband measure and mark three 1 - by - 10 inch 2 . 54 - by - 25 . 4 cm strips of black poster board . carefully cut out the strips . staple two of the strips together at the ends . wrap the two strips around your head . if the band does not wrap around your head , add the third strip . place the hat upside down on the table so that the pencil marks are facing up . lay the band across the base of your hat and center it . staple the band to the center of the hat . on a piece of gold cardstock , measure and mark a 3 - by - 3 inch 7 . 62 - by 7 . 62 cm square . inside the first square , create a 2 - by - 2 inch 5 . 08 - by - 5 . 08 cm square . there should be a 1 inch 2 . 54 cm edge between the two squares . cut out the larger square and then cut of the smaller square . glue the square to the center of the hat . in addition to the gold buckle , you can add a brown band that sits just above the brim of the hat . once the glue is dry on the buckle , pick up the hat and carefully wrap the headband around your head . ask a friend to mark where the two bands overlap . take the headband off , match up the two marks , and staple the ends together . if there is a lot of excess paper , you can trim the ends of the band . lay your white 12 - by - 18 inch piece of white construction paper on a flat surface . fold the paper in half lengthwise . fold the paper in half widthwise . with a pair of scissors , round the open corner of the folded paper the corner not attached to any seams . unfold the paper once so that the paper only has one crease . draw a 6 inch line centered along the folded edge of the paper . connect the two ends of the line with an arc . cut out the semicircle . unfold your paper the rest of the way . cut a slit along the central fold that runs from one of the 12 inch sides to the neck hole . stop once you reach the neck hole . cut two 12 - inch pieces of yarn . with a piece of tape , attach one piece of yarn near the collar to the left of the slit . attach the second piece of yarn near the collar to the right of the slit . put on the collar so that the slit runs down the front of your chest . tie the yarn in a bow . you can assemble an iconic female pilgrim costume with clothing from your own closet . put on a long black skirt , a black long sleeve top , and a pair of black dress shoes . complete the look with your homemade bonnet and collar . you may add a white apron to the costume too . you can pull together a costume that matches the iconic , albeit mythical , depiction of a male pilgrim with items from your own wardrobe . the basic costume consists of black dress pants , a black button up shirt , and a belt with a gold buckle . if you dont have shoes with gold buckles , cut out two paper buckles and tape them onto a pair of black dress shoes . complete the look with your homemade hat and collar . contrary to popular belief , pilgrims didnt dress in all black or accessorize with gold buckles . while they wore black and gray clothing to church on sundays , the puritanical pilgrims wore colorful clothing throughout the week . instead of gold buckles , which were extremely expensive and not popular at the time , the pilgrims laced up their pants and shoes with leather ties . if you want to dress as an everyday pilgrim , wear simple , colorful clothing , shoes that tie , a collar , and a hat or bonnet .
gather two suitable spoons . position your hands . create some rhythms with your hands . position your first spoon . position your second spoon . hold both spoons firmly . strike the spoons against your leg . keep your spoons parallel to your inward curled fingers . return your hands to the starting position with your spoons in hand . practice the motion of striking your spoons . identify the two main striking points on your spoons . master tip strikes with your spoons . perfect your cup strikes . alternate your cup and tip strikes . learn the classic roll . add the gallop roll to your repertoire . incorporate other parts of your body for variation . create mouth effects .
how to play the spoons
the ideal spoons for you to play with will be identical . each should have a flared base and a decently deep hollow part , which is called the cup of the spoon . heavier spoons will have more heft and will sit in your hand more comfortably . avoid spoons with handles that narrow toward the end opposite the cup of the spoon . soup spoons are an excellent option and create a great tone . silver spoons might work to accompany certain kinds of music , but these are generally too high pitched and ring too much to work well with most tunes . put your non - dominant hand , likely your left hand , in a stationary position about 5 inches above your leg . keep your hand flat , with the palm facing downward toward your leg . your dominant hand , which is likely your right hand , should go between your left hand and your leg . this hand should also be flat , with your palm facing down at your leg . bounce your right hand between your left hand and your leg to create a clapping sound and get used to the motion used to play the spoons . advanced spoon - players add a flourish to their routine by moving their spoons and left hand around their body . this can have a slight influence on tone , but is largely for show . this will help prepare you for the complex rhythms youll soon be making with your spoons . try to keep a steady beat , and use slowfast strikes to create patterns with the sound . the accent for most music falls on the second and fourth beats try this accent with your hands . another pattern you might want to try with your hands bounce your hand off your leg and up into your non - dominant hand in a short - short - long - short pattern . repeat this several times until it feels natural . hold the spoon with your dominant hand . if this is your right hand , the first spoon should lay across the middle knuckle of your right pointer finger , with your hand position so that your thumb and the cup of your spoon are both facing upwards . your pointer finger should curl into a fist , so the end of that finger can hold the flared end of the handle of the spoon , trapping it in place . your thumb will cover the top of the handle of the spoon . your spoon should cross the knuckle about a half inch or so from the back of the handle of the spoon . hold your second spoon between your pointer and middle fingers , laying across the middle knuckle . the cup should face downward , so the backs of the spoons face each other . your middle finger should curl in to hold the flared end of the handle , much like your pointer finger did with the first spoon . this spoon should also cross the middle knuckle of your middle finger about an inch or from the backmost part of the handle . this will likely feel awkward until you get some experience and your hands become used to the sensation . your hand should grip both spoons in a fist shape . there should be a small space between both spoons , which can be adjusted by tucking the spoons deeper or less deep into your grip . your spoons should be parallel at all times . if your spoons wobble out of line with each other , they will not play properly . depending on the shape and curvature of your spoons , you may have to adjust the point the spoons cross your middle knuckle on both your pointer and middle fingers . the grip with which you are holding the spoons should cause the spoons to clack once against each other before silencing and returning to a parallel , slightly separated position . if there is no sound or only a faint one , your problem is most likely the distance between your spoons . correct insufficient gaps between your spoons by moving each deeper into your grip . your pointer finger and your middle finger , which should be curled inward and holding the handle of your spoons , will probably get tired or cramped . this can cause the spoons to come off - center , with one or both spoons moving to one side or opposite sides . keep your grip firm , and take a break when your inward curled fingers begin to tire . as you practice , your hands will become more comfortable with this position and holding the spoons tightly will become easier . your non - dominant hand , which for the purpose of this example will be referred to as the left hand , should be suspended over your leg . hold the spoons in your right hand . position your right hand between your left hand and leg . remember that your left hand should be about 5 inches or so above your leg . you will create a clacking , rhythmic noise with your spoons by striking them down into your leg and up into your left hand . lightly tap your spoons several times slowly until you feel comfortable with the grip . you can create different tones with your spoons by striking different parts against your left hand or leg . the two main striking points are the tip , which is the rounded end of the spoon opposite the end of the handle , and the cup of the spoon , which is the hollow part . striking the tip of your spoons up into your left hand or down into your leg will create a lighter , brighter sound in your spoons . hitting the cup of your spoon up into your left hand or down into your leg will creates a stronger , more accented sound . when attempting to strike the tip of your spoons , you may find it easiest to hold your left hand at a slight angle , so that you can bring the tip of your spoon up into the meaty part of your hand where the thumb joins the palm . this posture will help prevent you from hitting too much of the cup of the spoon , creating a louder clacking . cup strikes will be flatter against your leg and left hand . strike one cup against your leg , and then bring it up into the meaty part of your hand , where the thumb joins your palm . both strikes should be as flat as possible to create the strong , accented tone of a cup strike . at first , youll probably want to do this slowly . this will ensure you keep your spoons gripped correctly while coordinating the different strikes . repeat the earlier exercise where you accented the second and fourth beats of your rhythm , only this time use a clap strike to accent and your tip strike on beats one and two . as you become more comfortable , try different patterns . you might try only accenting the third beat , or the first and fourth beats . turn on some of your favorite music and follow the beat as you play your spoons . keep in sync with the music while alternating your strikes . stretch the fingers of your left hand stiffly apart so that each finger is spread equally . then turn your hand so that the thumb is pointed upwards and your spread fingers pointed away from your body . slowly drag your spoons down across your outstretched fingers to create a sound like a drum roll and end by striking the spoons on your leg . your roll should cascade from one finger to another evenly to create a metered rhythm in your roll . keep a consistent speed as you drag your spoons down our splayed fingers . if your roll isnt working well , or the individual beats of the roll are indistinct , its likely your spoons are too close together . pull your spoons deeper into your grip to correct this . the gallop roll can be overpowering , so you should only use this move sparingly to accentuate the rhythms of your spoons . first hit down on your leg . on the rebound , you should hit your left hand on the upstroke on the meaty part where your thumb meets your palm . then cup the fingers of your hand into a c - shape , so you catch the tip of your spoons . your curled fingers should not move at this point . a stationary c - shape works best for beginners learning the gallop roll . due to the pronounced nature of this rhythm , youll likely only want to use this move as a flourish . expert spooners utilize their whole bodies while playing , both to create a more visually appealing show and to create different sounds . for example , you might create an arm roll with your spoons by drawing them against the fabric of your shirt covering your bicep and forearm . wooden spoon in particular are recommended for mouth effects , though lightweight spoons might also work for this move . however , bouncing a metal spoon off your mouth can be painful or harmful to your teeth , so you should be cautious while trying this move out . hold your left hand so your palm is flat before your face and bounce the cup of your spoons between the corner of your mouth and the flat , palm side of your left hand . adjust your mouth shape as you do to create variation in the sound of the spoons . due to individual differences in mouth shape , the sound produced by this move can vary considerably .
cut a 5½ - inch 13 . 97 - centimeter wide strip of black fabric . drape the make over your face and feel where your eyes are . define the eyes . cut the eyes out . try the mask on , then make any adjustments . wear the zorro mask .
how to make a zorro mask 1
cut the strip down the width of the fabric . depending on the bolt , the strip will end up either 44 to 60 inches 1 . 12 or 1 . 52 meters long . use a soft , non - fraying fabric , such as jersey or flannel . find the center of the mask first , then drape it over your eyes . make sure that the center of the mask is aligned with your nose . once you have the mask centered , lightly trace your eyes with a white dressmakers chalk or pencil . if you have a styrofoam wig head , you can use that as a base instead . spread the mask out on a flat surface . use a white dressmakers chalk or pencil to draw almond - shapes where the eyes are . make the eyes smaller than you think they need to be it is easier to cut away material than add it back . if you want to be more precise , cut just one eye out first , then fold the mask in half . use the cut eye as a template for the second one . zorro ties his mask behind his head , leaving long tails to trail down his back . the tails should reach your shoulder blades . use a pin to mark off where you need to cut , then remove the mask and trim off the excess fabric . make sure that you are cutting the same amount of fabric off of each end . the mask should be wide enough to cover your forehead and nose bridge . if it is too wide , cut it narrower . if you cut the eye openings too small , make them wider . make sure that you dont expose your eyebrows . if you really want to get authentic , put a black bandana over your head first , with the bottom edge reaching the middle of your forehead . wrap the mask around your eyes , then tie it in a knot at the back of your head . place the masks knot about the bandanas knot . this will help prevent it from slipping down .
trace a mask shape onto a sheet of paper or cardstock . cut the template out , then test it against your childs face . use the template to cut your final mask out of black material . cut a strip of black elastic . pin the elastic to the sides of the mask . sew the elastic down using black thread . add the mask to your childs zorro costume .
how to make a zorro mask 2
you can use a simple eye mask as a stencil , or you can print out a template from the internet . you can also draw a bean - shaped mask by hand . make sure that its long enough to cover your eyes and nose bridge , and wide enough to go from temple to temple . if you drew the mask by hand , use a pencil to mark out where the eyes should be . at this point , you should make any necessary adjustments if the mask is too big , cut it smaller . if the mask is too small , trace it again , but make it larger . place the template against a sheet of black felt or flannel . trace around it using a white dressmakers chalk or pencil . put the template away , then cut the mask out . dont forget to cut the eye holes out as well you can also use black vinyl or faux leather instead . the elastic needs to be long enough to stretch around the back of your childs head and each the sides of the mask while he or she is wearing it . dont make the elastic too loose , however , or it wont stay on . plan on using 7 to 9 inches 17 . 78 to 2286 centimeters of elastic . you can also cut two long strips of black ribbon or vinyl instead of elastic . plan on making each strip 20 inches 50 centimeters long . turn the mask so that the back is facing you . place each end of the elastic on each side of the mask . make sure that the ends of the elastic are facing inwards towards the middle of the mask and not outwards . pin them in place with sewing pins . the elastic should be overlapping the mask by about ½ inch 1 . 27 centimeters . its best if you do this on a sewing machine , but you can do it by hand as well . if you are doing this on a sewing machine , be sure to sew up and down the elastic a few times so that it is nice and secure . the elastic makes it easier for the child to take the mask on and off , without having to tie it . best of all , if the child gets tired of wearing the mask , he or she can simply slide it down and let it dangle from their neck . if you used ribbon or vinyl straps , you will need to tie them in a bow behind the childs head .
acquire feathers . straighten the feathers if necessary . trim the feather tips and stems . attach a leather loop to each feather . wrap the quills in felt . add a red tuft to the end of each quill optional . find a skullcap or headband . punch holes into the rim of the cap . sew a cord through the feather loops and cap holes . add another cord optional . attach a browband optional . add side drops optional . make and attach rosettes optional . learn where the warbonnet was used . understand what the warbonnet means to its traditional wearers . consider removing the warbonnet if someone asks you to .
how to make a warbonnet
traditionally , the feathers most commonly used include pheasant , grouse , turkey , and eagle feathers . the right to wear these feathers , especially eagle and turkey feathers , is usually won through acts of bravery . you may prefer to use less sacred , and more commonly available , feathers available at craft stores . long , firm feathers work best . tail feathers on different sides of the bird will curve in different directions . for the most symmetrical warbonnet , separate the feathers into left - curving and right - curving and arrange them on different sides of the bonnet . see the section on using a warbonnet appropriately if you are not familiar with its history . if the feathers are bent or extremely curled , straighten them first to create an even , attractive warbonnet . grip the feather on both ends , and move it over a hot lightbulb , flipping the feather over occasionally . let the feather cool while holding it straight . alternatively , move the feather through the steam from a kettle or clothes iron , or crimp the feather along its length with your thumbnail . both of these methods have a higher risk of breaking the feather , so you may wish to practice on spare feathers first . note that a slight bent to the left or right is desirable , as long as you have enough of each type to arrange them on opposite sides of the warbonnet . trim each feather to a rounded butter knife shape , then smooth the veins of the feather together between your fingers so there are no stray or frayed edges . if the stems are broken , cut off the broken portion to make an even end . if the unbroken portion of the stem is shorter than 2 . 5 inches 6 . 4 cm , insert a wooden dowel into the hollow end of the stem to make it easier to attach to the warbonnet . cut strips of stiff , thin leather about ¼ 6 mm wide and 4¼ 10 . 8 cm long . fold each strip to make a sandwich over the end of a feather quill , so the bend in the leather forms a small loop beneath the quill tip , just large enough to insert a cord through . attach the quill to the leather strip with glue , and let the glue dry before you continue . if you want to use traditional materials , you may attach the feather to the leather by punching a hole through the feather with an awl , and tying them with a waxed cord . cut red felt swatches approximately 1½ 3 . 8 cm wide and 4¼ 10 . 8 cm long . wrap each swatch around the leather sheath of each quill , but leave the loop at the bottom uncovered . tie a loop around the felt at the top and bottom of the quill stem , using strong thread , and apply a drop of glue to the knot to increase durability . in traditional plains indian society , red tufts were only awarded for the greatest honors , or grand coups . if you wish to imitate this , glue a small , downy red feather onto the tip of each feather . sometimes called a crown , the typical base for a warbonnet is a round cap made from leather or felt . you may also use a long strip of material that can wrap around the wearers head and be laced together . if intended to be worn , rather than displayed , the cap should be cut so it fits the wearers head , extending just above the eyebrows and halfway down the ears . traditionally , this skullcap or headband was made from buffalo or deerskin . you can make your own crown by curling a piece of leather or felt into a dome , cutting off the overlap , then stitching the two pieces together . lay the feathers out along the cap or band at regular intervals . punch holes along the rim of the cap with an awl , or cut small slits using a sharp knife . there should be two holes per feather , directly on either side of the quill stem . the feathers of a warbonnet generally extend at minimum from one ear to the other , curving over the forehead . feathers can also be worn individually or in small groups on the forehead , as a lesser status symbol . attach the feathers to the cap by sewing a waxed leather cord through the holes on the cap , and through the feather loops , in the order you arranged them . tie off the cord at each end with a strong knot , using glue to strengthen it if necessary . you may use strong thread instead , but this is unlikely to last . ideally , the feathers should stay straight and parallel to each other , or flared outward in a cone shape . if the feathers fall in other directions , you may punch additional holes in the cap , halfway between the dome and the rim . sew a second cord around the quills at this location to keep them in place . many warbonnets , but not all , have a beaded or quilled browband displayed on the wearers forehead . you can buy ready - made browbands at some stores , or you can make your own by gluing colored beads onto a strip of felt or leather . to attach a browband , sew it on from the center outward with a leather cord or strong thread . sew in holes no more than ½ 1¼ cm apart . consider purchasing the browband from a native american tribe of the great plains , to support the original practitioners of the tradition . another common decoration or status symbol , the side drops are two long strips of fur , one hanging from each side of the warbonnet just above the ears . traditionally , ermine tails were used , but long strips of white rabbit fur are more easily available . sew them on using the same cord you used for the feathers or browband . the term rosette refers to any circular decoration on the side of the warbonnet . these may be made from beads , fur , or even additional feathers tied in a circular position . they are usually attached using additional leather cords , and may cover up the attachment points for the side drops . only members of the native american tribes in the great plains region traditionally wear the warbonnet . films and tourist shows in the united states often dressed up other native americans or even white actors in fake warbonnet costumes , and many people now incorrectly associate it with native americans across the new world . examples of tribes that use the warbonnet include the sioux , crow , blackfeet , cheyenne , and plains cree . in the original tribes that invented the warbonnet , only male chiefs and warriors wear them . they were , and still are , presented as a great honor and reserved mostly for formal ceremonies . much like a military uniform , a crown , or other status symbols , people in these cultures do not make and wear warbonnets for fun , or without earning the right to wear them . if you are not wearing a warbonnet as part of a ceremony organized by a great plains tribe , many members of those tribes may not appreciate you wearing the warbonnet . even native americans of other tribes may ask you to remove it , as they or their relatives may have been forced to wear it for tourism purposes , or stereotyped and bullied with references to the warbonnet . even if you do not agree with another persons interpretation , removing the warbonnet in his presence demonstrates respect and politeness . the eagle feather is sometimes considered a mark of special honor , and using one of these in a warbonnet may cause additional offense . many tribes have additional sacred feathers , such as owl feathers , although these are not usually used in warbonnets .
research different scrolls . select your paper . decide what to write . crumple your paper . brew coffee or tea . apply the mixture . dry the paper . distress the edges . write on your scroll . select dowels , if you like . glue or tape the dowels to the ends of your paper . roll up your scroll . secure your scroll with string or ribbon .
how to make a paper scroll
researching different types of scrolls will help you decide how you want your scroll to look . scrolls were used for centuries in countries like china , egypt , and greece . look at different scrolls online and see if any inspire youdecide whether you want your scroll to look modern or ancient . if you choose to go for an ancient look , consider ageing your paper . your scroll doesnt have to look like the ones you see online you can make a completely unique scroll , or combine features you like from many different scrolls . pick the paper you want to use for your scroll . you can use colorful construction paper , drawing paper , or plain printer paper . all of these can be aged later by soaking them in tea or coffee . brown paper bags work if you want your paper to look aged , but dont want to go through the process of staining it yourself . just cut a rectangle out of the bag . you can tape multiple pieces of paper together to make an extra - long scroll , if you want . feel free to mix and match different colors , but make sure each piece of paper is the same size . if youre feeling really fancy , try using papyrus like the ancient egyptians did , scrolls were traditionally used as decorations , or to document information and tell stories . think about what you want to write or draw on your scroll . you can do both if you want if you want to make an egyptian inspired scroll , consider including some hieroglyphics , the ancient egyptian form of writing . you can also draw a treasure map , or write a story about one of your favorite experiences . get creative if you want to include typed text on your scroll , print it onto your paper now . you wont be able to do it after you age your paper . crumpling your paper makes it look wrinkled and aged . spray your paper with a little water and crumple it into a ball . then , smooth it out again . crumple it a few more times for a more wrinkled appearance . you can iron your paper very lightly if you want it extra flat . stop here if you like the way it looks if you want to stain your paper to make it look even older , keep going . if you are using a brown paper bag , you dont need to stain it . you can age your paper by soaking it in either coffee or tea . pick whichever one is most convenient for you , and brew enough to cover the sheet you want to age . if you are younger , ask a parent for help . you can brew coffee in a coffee machine , or use instant coffee . the darker the coffee , the better . to brew a strong cup of tea , soak at least three tea bags in a cup of hot water . be sure to brew extra if you are aging multiple sheets . place the paper in a large pan , and apply the coffee or tea to using a method of your choice . you can dab it on with a sponge , paint it on with a paint brush , or dip your paper in the mixture until your achieve your desired color . make sure the coffee or tea is not too hot . try using your teabag as an applicator . wipe the wet teabag all over paper , squeezing as you go until you achieve the color you want . the paper will look a little darker when its dry , so stop applying the coffee or tea when its a couple shades lighter than you want it . add grains of instant coffee or flecks of tea to your paper for extra texture . hang the paper to dry using clothespins . if its nice out , hang it outside . you can also lay it flat on a clean surface to dry , but beware of staining . if your paper turns out too light , repeat the staining process until you achieve the shade you want . weigh the dried paper down with a book or other heavy object if you want it flatter . you may want to make your paper look even older by distressing the edges . you can burn the edges by lighting a match over a safe , non - flammable surface and waving it back and forth over the edges . continue until you achieve the desired look , shaking and brushing away burnt edges . alternatively , you can rip the edges with your fingers . practice distressing the edges on a few scrap sheets of paper before attempting on your scroll paper . you dont want to tear or burn away too much of the edges you can also burn the edges using lemon or lime juice and a heat gun . apply a little juice to the edges of the paper , then heat with the heat gun until you get the desired effect . now , its time to write or draw on your scroll a black pen works best , especially for delicate aged paper or paper bags . feel free to use crayons or colored pencils if you want your scroll to be colorful be careful when using paints or heavy markers , especially if you are using a paper bag . these can bleed through more delicate papers . allow the ink to dry completely before moving on to the next step . after all , you dont want to smear your writing or drawings dowels are the sticks you sometimes see at the end of scrolls that make them easier to roll and unroll . you can purchase craft sticks from your local craft store to make your dowels . cut them to the width of your paper . you will need two dowels , one for each end . alternatively , you can use chopsticks . decorate the ends of your dowels using ribbon or dowel caps , which can be purchased at your local craft store . secure your decorations with hot glue . place one dowel on the right end of your scroll , another on the left . make sure the side with the writing is facing up . wrap the edge of the paper inward around each dowel , so that the dowel is covered . secure the dowel with hot glue or tape . after the glue has dried , roll each side of the scroll around its dowel so that the two sides meet in the middle . if you arent using dowels , simply roll up your scroll from one end to the other , hot - dog style , making sure the writing is on the inside . select a piece of string , yarn , or ribbon , and tie it around your scroll . this is optional , but it can add a nice touch while keeping your scroll secure .
get the right kind of accordion . familiarize yourself with the instruments structure . use the right size . place your accordion on your chest with the key buttons facing away from you . sit or stand while holding your accordion . dont slouch . learn proper balance . secure the instrument onto your chest . try a back strap . undo the safety buckles . hold your wrist parallel to the keyboard . slip your left hand through the strap that lies below the bass button board . youll be able to curl your fingers up and over the bass buttons . push down on the lone button on the left hand side near the strap . focus on playing bass first . try not to look at where your fingers are going . find the note c . this button is usually a bit buried or recessed , but can be found on the top rows of buttons 8 , 12 , 16 , 24 , 36 of all bass instruments . dont focus on the piano keyboard yet . place your index finger on the c note . pull the bellows out . attempt a waltz rhythm . play the corresponding two buttons on each side of the two youve just learned to play . add the bellows . practice with little exercises . try a more difficult exercise . continue practicing .
how to play the accordion
there are variety of different accordions out there , but some are more well - suited for beginners than others . the more information you gather the better equipped you will be to successfully learn to play the accordion . here is the most suitable option for beginners piano accordions . these are the most popular kinds , with the power of a regular piano in a highly portable size . they have between 25 and 45 piano style treble keys on the right hand . on the left , they are equipped with a bass - chord keyboard . this accordion system is called the stradella , and typically has 120 brass buttons . your accordion is composed of several parts , all crucial to the accordions sounds melody keys . these are buttons on the keyboard part of the instrument . bellows . these are the folds on the instrument that allow it to expand and contract . harmonic , base , air valve . these buttons provide air to escape , adjusting the tone of sound . right hand strap . this is the main strap of the instrument that allows you to secure it onto your chest . children and teens or adults will need to start off with different sizes due to the difference in hand and general body size . children should start with the lowest number of bass buttons , 12 bass and 25 treble keys . teens and adults should start with a 48 bass accordion . this amounts to 48 bass and 26 treble keys . the 48 bass piano accordion is very light weight , and easy to use and handle . plus , you can play lots of different music on it , which will make you want to hang on to it even if you outgrow it . when you begin handling your instrument in the next section of the article , your left arm will move horizontally and vertically , while your right hand will only move vertically . for now , just hold it and see how comfortable or uncomfortable it is . some people prefer to stand while playing and others like to sit with their instrument . all that matters is your sense of comfort and confidence , so try out a few different positions until you feel at ease . your body posture is very important when playing this instrument and slouching will cause you to be inaccurate in your balance and consequently in your performance . the accordion is relatively large and requires a little bit of familiarity when holding it . being able to maintain proper balance is crucial . the more evenly balanced you manage to keep the accordions weight , the better youll be able to play because of the added control . and the more control you have , the less uncomfortable the weight will feel . slip your left arm under the strap of the instrument . youll want to hold it as if you were putting on a backpack on your chest . the piano keys should be to your right and your left hand goes underneath the bass strap - the small strap on the left side of the instrument . note that there is usually a thumb wheel on the left side to adjust the strap . make sure that your accordion fits tightly enough not to move at all while you move . an additional strap can be very useful . the back strap keeps the shoulder straps together so that the accordion doesnt move . note that if the back strap is too far down it alleviates weight from the shoulders , making the straps loose on top . this , in turn , causes your straps to move and slide . keep the back strap higher up , or secure it diagonally . remember that when the straps stay in place , so does your instrument . the buckles can be found on the top and bottom of the instrument . take care not to push or pull the accordion yet . dont bend your right wrist while keeping your elbow close to your side . itll be a bit awkward at the beginning but youll be able to achieve better accuracy as your hands circulation wont be impeded . this applies the right arm only . you right hand should be free and resting above the piano keyboard . press the button down softly , and pull your instrument with your left arm . youll hear a hissing noise as the air goes into the accordion and the bellows open . note that its important to use this button when you open and close the bellows while theyre moving . dont press down on the keyboard while youre opening and closing the bellows . no matter how many bass buttons your accordion has , youll soon notice that they produce the chords , or vamps , automatically . this is due to the accordions mechanism . the term chord refers to the sound produced by a group of notes played together . keep the bass buttons pressed for only a short time . imagine they were on fire , and take your finger off quickly . this will be quite difficult at first , but do your best not to look at where your fingers go , or need to go . if your accordion is a larger model , then look for the note c in the second row . for now , your only concern should be getting comfortable with your instrument , and focusing on the first two rows of bass buttons . regardless of how many bass rows your accordion has , youll only be looking at the first two rows . then , tuck your thumb under your index finger and push on the button right below the note c . this button will be slightly off center , but right below the button that your index finger is pressing . then , press the two buttons alternately to produce a chord . youll generate a sort of of oom - pah sound . try to pull the bellows smoothly for the best sound effect . the beat for the waltz goes 1 , 2 , 3 - - 1 , 2 , 3 . play the c note on the the first beat , and push the button right below the c on the second and third beat . this is how you can generate a simply accompaniment , or vamp . now try to pull the bellows in as you alternately press the four buttons you just learned . repeat this several times to practice . lets try another easy scale exercise that will help you produce your first , controlled sound sequence expand the instruments bellows . softly and evenly push it back together , and hold the 1st key down . keep pressing the note key while you change directions by pulling the instrument in opposite directions . go to the next key , push in and pull apart . jump to the next key , and you have now played do , re , mi , fa , so , la . this exercise has two chords , and you can leave your fingers on the keyboard . place your thumb on the c , and pinky on the g begin with the third finger on the e . coordination might seem a little difficult at first , so its important that you become very familiar with the necessary movements . repeat the above exercise until you feel confident and can move on to more advanced practices .
warm up your lips with some partials . tune your trombone . practice partials in the sixth position . play the first three notes of taps . play notes four through six of taps . play notes 16 - 18 of taps . play notes 19 - 21 of taps . play taps as a whole .
how to play taps on a trombone
partials also known as harmonics are notes that are played in the same position . you change the position of your lips to achieve the different pitch . the first series of notes is in 1st position , the second is in 2nd , etc . use an electric tuner to make sure that the trombone is in tune . if not you can adjust your tuning slide pull out to go flat , push in to go sharp . there are numerous free tuner applications for smartphones and tablets you will now practice the partial series in the sixth position , which is specific to taps . sixth position is played with a comfortably outstretched dominant arm . the notes are c and f and can both be played in sixth position . the notes are c , f , and a and can all be played in sixth position . the notes are f , a , and c and can all be played in sixth position . the notes are a , f , and c and can all be played in sixth position . all note patterns have been practiced previously and can all be played in sixth position . the symbols over the notes are fermatas and they indicate to hold the note .
set up your snare drum . practice different matched grips . try a traditional grip for soft sound and jazz . use correct posture . practice striking the drums .
how to play the snare drum 1
if you want to play an instrument , you need to understand how to set it up safely . this way , you can follow guidelines and practice efficiently . the snare drum is a small , circular drum that can be placed on a metallic stand . your stand will usually have a base , comprised of three to four moveable legs . spread the legs wide enough to create a stable base for the drum . the stand should not be wiggling at all as you begin to fit the snare drum into it . on the top of your case , there is a metallic chamber where you secure your snare drum . this called the basket . gently fit your drum into the basket , making sure the drum stays relatively still in response to pressure and movement . the snare drum should be at about waist level . if your snare drum is too high or too low , adjust the stands height accordingly . your snare drum should tilt towards you slightly . if you feel uncomfortable or awkward as you begin playing , you can tweak how the drum is tilted for your personal comfort . wing nuts are screws found on your snare drum stand , which have large , wing - like bolts . make sure you go through and tighten all the wing nuts slightly each time you begin playing your snare drum . depending on the type of drumming youre doing , you grip your sticks differently . before you begin to play the snare drum , spend some time familiarizing yourself with different grips . in a matched grip , common with beginners , you hold both drumsticks in the same way . this is a standard type of grip for most drumming techniques . there are three ways to use a matched grip . in a germanium grip , common in rock drumming , find the balance point or fulcrum point of your drumsticks . grip your drum with your thumb and index finger here , placing your remaining fingers at the bottom of the drum stick . keep your elbows out and bend the drum sticks at a 90 degree angle pointing towards the snare drum . your palms should be pointing down . the american grip is the same as the germanium grip in terms of how you hold the drumsticks . however , the angle is slightly different . let your arms fall down and point the drumsticks at a 45 degree angle pointing to the snare drum , once again keeping your palms down . many people find the american grip comfortable , so its popular for drumming beginners . the third kind of matched grip is the french grip . you hold the drumsticks close together and almost parallel . you also keep your palms up when holding your sticks . this might not be the best hold for beginners . while it allows for quicker movements , it can be hard to maintain control over drum strokes . a traditional grip is most common in jazz drumming . hold the stick with your palm up , placing the balance point of your stick in the pocket created between your thumb and index finger . keep your index and middle finger on top of the stick and your pinky and ring finger on the bottom of your stick . as you dont get as much power out of strokes with this grip , use it for softer styles and jazz . your posture is important when it comes to drumming . you will not play as effectively without good posture and you can also cause yourself back pain . learn correct posture before you begin playing the snare drum . keep your legs slightly apart when you stand and hold your back straight . keep your arms at your sides . allow them to rest in a position thats comfortable to you . once again , the drum should be at waist level . adjust the stand if its too high or too low . keep your body relaxed , especially your shoulders , hands , and arms . to begin , just experiment with drum strokes . before learning specific moves or techniques , make sure you know how to use your drumsticks correctly . the end of a drumstick is referred to as the bead . the bead of a drumstick should move up and down in a straight line as you play . try your best to hit the same part of the drum with each beat . this can take some practice as its hard to have full control over the movement of your drumsticks when youre first starting out . the sticks should bounce off of the drums . to achieve a bouncing effect , keep your fingers , hands , and arms relaxed . practice just beating on the drum freely until you feel like you have some control over the drumsticks . then , you can start learning some moves .
try basic strokes . try a single stroke roll . practice a double stroke roll . try a buzz roll . use correct technique when practicing . practice finger technique .
how to play the snare drum 2
there are five basic drum strokes for a snare drum . as you learn how to play your snare drum , try simply practicing the basic strokes . this will help you become more proficient as you learn more about the snare drum . the full stroke means you hold the drums , using your preferred grip , in a slightly upright position . that is , your drumsticks will be pointing upward towards the ceiling . when youre using a full stroke , your drumsticks will begin in the upright position at the start of a beat and return to the upright position at the end of a beat . a down stroke is a slight variation of a full stroke . your drum sticks start in the upright position . however , at the end of a beat they should be pointed downward slightly towards your snare drum . in a tap stroke , at the beginning of the beat your drumsticks are in the downward position . at the end of the beat , they return to the downward position . in an up stroke , your drumsticks are in the downward position at the beginning of a beat . by the end of the beat , theyre in the upright position . when reading music , drum parts will usually indicate which strokes you are using . f stands for full stroke , d stands for down stroke , t stands for tap stroke , and u stands for upstroke . the single strike roll is an important drum rudiment . if you want to learn how to play the snare drum , youll need to know a basic single strike roll . practicing a single stroke roll can be a great introduction to basic drumming . it will help you get a feel of your drumsticks and teach you how to control them . a drum roll is a simple move in which you quickly alternate between playing with your left and right hand . you start with your dominant hand . for example , if youre right - handed you would play right , then left , then right , then left , and so on . if youre left - handed , play left , then right , then left , then right , and so on . start off slow . just aim to have good control of your drumsticks . make sure they rise and fall in a straight line and land on the same point on the drum each time . do not pay attention to timing as you begin practicing . just focus on going from left to right or from right to left while maintaining control of your drumsticks . once you feel in control , begin to incorporate timing . make sure the beats are even . that is , make sure you spend equal time on each beat . try to challenge yourself . increase you speed with each practice session , trying to remain in control of your drumsticks while keeping an even tempo as speed increases . a double stroke roll is a slight variation on the single stroke roll . like the single stroke roll , it can be used to get a feel for your drumsticks . its another basic snare drum rudiment to master as youre starting off . in the double stroke roll , you use two strikes per hand instead of one . this creates a faster - paced , more intense tempo . once again , lead with your dominant hand . if youre right - handed , play right , right , left , left , right , right , left , left , and so on . if youre left - handed , play left , left , right , right , left , left , right , right , and so on . your drum sticks should bounce naturally when you keep your wrist relaxed . hit the drum and allow the stick to bounce twice . then , stop movement in your wrist and fingers and pull the drum stick upward . repeat on the other side . start off slow . when mastering any new technique on the snare drum , youll need time to gain control . make sure youre moving your drum sticks in a straight line . make sure the beads of the sticks hit the same spot on the drum for each beat . practice as long as it takes to feel in control . as you feel more comfortable controlling the drum sticks , move up to a faster pace . eventually , you should be able to do a quick - paced double and single roll . a buzz roll is a slightly more advanced drum roll . similar to the double stroke roll , a buzz roll uses a more relaxed grip to allow more fluid movements . learn the buzz roll one hand at a time . start with whichever hand you prefer . use your index finger and thumb primarily to guide the drum stick . this hold can take a bit of practice before it feels secure . say youre starting with your left hand . use your left hand to strike the snare drum . allow the drumstick to bounce freely , allowing it to continue bouncing until movement stop naturally . do not , as you did with the double roll , use your wrist to stop the drumstick . repeat this with your left hand . keep going back and forth with your hands . as you go , increase the tempo slightly . minimize time between striking your left drumstick and striking your right drumstick . the buzz roll is meant to build intensity and excitement over time . as you practice basic drum moves , remember to follow the proper technique . youll need to keep technique in mind to practice efficiently . keep your posture in mind . remember to relax your body , keep your legs apart , and make sure the drum is at waist level . use the proper grip . the grip , as outlined , depends heavily on the type of music and your level of proficiency . matched grips are best when youre starting off drumming as they allow for the most control . however , if youre going into jazz drumming specifically use the traditional grip . its very important to keep your hands relaxed . gripping too hard on a drumstick does not provide more control . it can also cause tension in your hands , leading to fatigue and cramping . even if you feel a loss of control , try to remember not to hold too hard on your drumsticks . solid finger technique is what allows you to maneuver your drumsticks efficiently . as you move through the basics of drumming , take a moment to familiarize yourself with basic finger techniques . to gain greater control over your drumsticks , practice moving the sticks with only your fingers . keep your wrists and arms completely still as you move your drumsticks up and down . do some of the basic moves we have outlined , like a single roll , double roll , and buzz roll . as you practice these moves , only use your fingers to move your drumsticks . keep your hands loose as you play . do not stress out about playing fast . you can increase tempo later on , when you feel more in control of your drumsticks . with finger technique , you should actually train your weaker hand first . this way , youre more likely to spend adequate time training your less dominant hand . if youre right - handed , start with your left hand . if youre left - handed , start with your right hand .
listen to the cues of your band . practice with a metronome . put timing first .
how to play the snare drum 3
if youre working with a band , learn to work as a team . timing is vital if you want to be a good drummer . pay attention to the bands beat to determine the tempo you should use . drummers provide the backbone of rhythm in a song . the underlying beat of a song is usually defined by a drum . you need to be able to speed up and slow down when necessary and play in the tempo required by the piece youre performing . review the songs youre playing ahead of time to get a sense of when to speed up and when to slow down . practice playing along to a recording before going to band practice , keeping an eye on your time . be open to criticism . teamwork is important in a band or orchestra . if your bandmates or conductor tell you that youre playing too fast or too slow , accept this as constructive criticism . try to ask them what you can do to play at a more even tempo . if you feel youre playing too slow or too fast , listen to the tempo of the other instruments and players . try to match that tempo as you work your drum beats . a metronome is a small handheld device that keeps beats . all drummers need to start off practicing with a metronome if they want to learn to keep time . you can set a metronome to whatever tempo you want and try to hit your drum with the beats it keeps . as you practice with a metronome , pay attention to when you start slipping . for some drummers , keeping beat is difficult towards the beginning of a song . it may take them a few minutes to get into the swing . however , for other drummers the end of the song is where they tire down and begin to slip . if you know your weak spots , youll be able to know when to be extra vigilant during performances . ask your band or conductor if you can keep a metronome going into practice . for some drummers , having the clicking tempo in their head keeps them focused . you may find using a metronome while playing with others is tremendously helpful . if your beats are not in time , they will sound off to the audience . even if other aspects of your technique are solid , bad timing interferes with other musicians and creates confusion for the audience . as you begin moving past the basics of the snare drum and playing with others , prioritize learning to keep time . practice with a metronome each night and ask your bandmates and conductors for constructive feedback .
rest your thumbs . practice each day . record yourself . consider lessons .
how to play the snare drum 4
your thumbs tend to cramp and become sore if you play the drums a lot . try to rest your thumbs between performances and practice . do not engage in activities , like texting and typing , that require you to use your thumbs . try gently massaging the skin around your thumbs or soaking them in warm water . theres no magic trick to getting better at a musical instrument . you simply need to practice each day . the only way to become proficient in playing the snare drum is to put in the necessary work . practice should be part of your daily routine . just as you brush your teeth and shower in the morning , practicing your snare drum should be a daily priority . take half an hour to a hour each day to practice . schedule practice time into your weekly routine . if you get done with school or work around 3 oclock each day , see if you can schedule practice time around 4 oclock . you can adjust this schedule on weekends or if there are extenuating circumstances . make sure youre conscientious of others when practicing . drums can be loud . if youre playing on a second story , make sure you put down carpeting or a rug under your drums to muffle the sound . try not to practice too late at night or too early in the day . keep a record of yourself practicing . you can listen to yourself playing afterwards and check for your strengths and weaknesses . you do not need extensive equipment to record yourself as your primary goal is to gauge your own proficiency . you can use your laptop or phone to record practice sessions . lessons can be a great way to increase your proficiency . there are many different techniques and styles involved in playing the snare drum . after learning some basics , consider seeing a professional instructor . he or she will be able to observe you playing and offer specific feedback based on your style . if money is an issue , consider buying a book on the snare drum . while this is not the same as one - on - one instruction , it could provide some additional insight on technique and style .
begin by varying the length of the articulation . learn the different notations of ornaments and what they represent .
how to play articulations and ornaments
do this by playing four quarter notes in succession , all the same length . for example play four notes long , making them sound like they almost run together , and then play four notes that are so short they sound like eighth notes instead of quarters . here are descriptions of common articulations that affect note length staccato staccato notes are short and detached . when played properly , they often make a note value sound half as short . unlike accents , staccato notes should not be played heavily . they are light , and usually playful . tenutolegato tenuto notes are to be held for their full value . they often sound almost run together . tenuto can also mean slightly louder or with weight . slurs a slur indicates that the notes it embraces are to be played without separation . this implies legato articulation , and in music for bowed string instruments , it also indicates the notes should be played in one bow and in music for wind instruments , that the notes should be played without using the tongue to re - articulate each note . you may wish to play a piece without and then with ornaments . trills a trill is a rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above . usually , if the music containing the trill was written before 1800 the trill is played by starting a note above the written note . if the music was written after 1800 then the trill is usually played by starting on the note written and going up to the note above . this will most likely be noted in the music piece . if not assume the latter rule applies . both measures contain trills these notes represent how the trill should be played . mordents the mordent is thought of as a rapid single alternation between an indicated note , the note above or below , and the indicated note again . the upper mordent goes to note above is indicated by a short squiggle which may also indicate a trill the lower mordent goes to the note below is the same with a short vertical line through it . from left to right , upper then lower mordents these notes represent how the mordents should be played . turns a turn is a short figure consisting of the note above the one indicated , the note itself , the note below the one indicated , and the note itself again . it is marked by a mirrored s - shape lying on its side above the staff . grace notes a grace note is indicated by printing a note that is much smaller than a regular note . grace notes occur as notes of short duration before the sounding of the relatively longer - lasting note which immediately follows them . a slash through the note indicates it should be very short . glissando a glissando is a slide from one note to another any notes between the two in step order , signified by a wavy line connecting the two notes .
learn the proper grip for holding a tambourine . avoid some of the common mistakes in tambourine grip .
how to play a tambourine 1
a tambourine should be held in your non - dominant hand . wrap your four fingers underneath the frame of the instrument and rest your thumb lightly against the head if your tambourine has no head , rest your thumb across the top edge of the frame . angle the head of the tambourine towards your dominant hand so that you have ample room to strike the head . do not apply more pressure to the head with your non - dominant hand than necessary , as this will mute the sound . many tambourines have a mounting hole drilled in the frame avoid placing your finger through this hole during play . this can mute the instruments sound and make it difficult to pick it up and put it down without making unwanted noise . also avoid clutching the tambourine any tighter than is required to keep it steady this can lead to fatigue .
apply the basic technique for striking a tambourine . adjust your technique to improve the instruments tone . vary your technique as the setting requires .
how to play a tambourine 2
traditionally , the tambourine head should be struck with the tips of your fingers . hold your four fingers together and quickly strike the head at a location about a third of the distance towards the center of the head from the frame . striking in the center of the head will produce a muddled tone , as the head will not be able to resonate fully . ideally , when striking the tambourine , you should hear both a short jingling from the zills and a short resonance from the head . adjust your striking force and location until the instruments tone is to your liking . in orchestral settings , it is best not to deviate from this technique . however , in less formal applications such as rock or pop music , you have enormous latitude in choosing a striking technique . for instance , you can strike the tambourine head with your entire palm for a fuller sound .
understand when a shake roll is best used . apply the technique for executing a shake roll . learn how to vary your dynamic level .
how to play a tambourine 3
when music calls for sustained sound from the tambourine rather than for individual strokes , you can play a shake roll . this sound is generated by simply shaking the tambourine continuously to keep the zils jingling . to play a shake roll , rotate the wrist of your holding hand back and forth at a constant , continuous speed . this motion should always be generated from your wrist . using your elbow or entire arm to shake the instrument can lead to poor tone and fatigue . shake rolls are excellent for long , sustained rolls , especially when crescendos or diminuendos are called for . to vary your dynamic level , simply vary the speed and intensity of your wrists motion . shaking the tambourine harder and faster will produce a louder tone , and a softer motion will produce a quieter tone .
familiarize yourself with the thumb roll . learn the technique for playing a thumb roll . understand the ideal applications of the thumb roll .
how to play a tambourine 4
a thumb roll is an alternative to the shake roll that is played by rubbing your thumb across the surface of the tambourine . it is generally more difficult to execute , but provides a more uniform tone than a shake roll . to play a thumb roll , press the tips of your four fingers against your palm , leaving your thumb extended . press your thumb firmly into the head of the tambourine and drag it across the head in a circular motion . the friction between your thumb and the head will cause the zils to jingle continuously . thumb rolls are ideal for short rolls , as they can be more difficult to sustain properly than shake rolls . thumb rolls can also be substituted for individual strokes in very fast passages .
strike the tambourine with a stick or mallet as necessary . experiment with different tones using sticks and mallets .
how to play a tambourine 5
often in a multi - percussion setup , it will be necessary to mount a tambourine to a stand in order to free your hands for playing other instruments . in this case , it is acceptable to play the instrument with either a stick or a mallet . the tambourine can be struck directly on the head or on the top edge of the frame . if you are interested in exploring the tonal possibilities of the tambourine , varying your striking implement is helpful . for instance , a soft yarn marimba mallet will produce a much more subdued tone than a drumstick or glockenspiel mallet .
choose the note you are going to play . decide which finger you want to use . bring the finger to the string and grab it with the meat of your finger . pull your finger away .
how to play pizzicato 1
you can pizzicato any note on the fingerboard , or even an open string . make sure you know which one you are going to play before you start . you have two fingers on your right hand you can use for pizzicato your first finger and your middle finger . the first finger is a good choice because you can still hold the bow easily if you do not have time to put it down . however , many string players have found that using the middle finger produces a warmer , richer sound . you can also use your left hand for pizzicato , but very rarely . the only times you would ever use left hand pizzicato would be if it was written in the music or if the piece is moving fast and you need more time to bring the bow back up . to do this , find the note that you are going to play and pizz with a sideswipe with the finger in front of it . for example , if you are on the d string and you have to play an e , place your first finger in the e spot and pizz with your second finger . if you are on the d string and you have to play an a however , shift up to third position and pluck with your third finger . you should never use your nails when performing pizzicato . if you cant grab the string with just the meat of your finger , then it may be time to trim your nails . you should pull your finger away as soon as you pizz . if the piece is moving slowly , you can follow through and even take your hand away slightly . however , most pieces require you to gently wedge your thumb between the fingerboard and the body and come up just a short amount between plucks .
this article is written for people with experience playing the fretted bass . get one with lines . play on the lines , not behind them . learn to slide . turn up . learn what works .
how to play a fretless bass
if youve never played bass before , starting on a fretted might be a good idea , since theyre generally easier . some fretless basses come with lines on the neck where the frets would be , while others have no lines at all . while some people think lined fretless basses dont look as cool and you will get people saying thats a fretless what are those lines then , going from a fretted bass to an unlined fretless is a great way to play lots of very wrong notes . besides , jaco pastorius played a lined fretless , and hes the greatest fretless player of all time . if you really dont want visible lines on the neck , you can get ones that have the lines only on the side of the neck , though these are harder to use . the biggest mistake that people make when using a fretless for the first time is putting their fingers where they would for a fretted bass , between the lines . this can produce notes that are a quarter tone or more off from the note you intend to play . on a fretless bass , you need to put your finger precisely where the fret would be - so if im trying to play a c on the a string , i put my finger exactly on the third line , not between the second and third lines . always watch your fingers when theyre playing so that youre playing exactly the right note . one of the best things about fretless is that you can slide perfectly smoothly between any two notes on a string , getting all the intermediate tones as well . sliding on fretless sounds fantastic , and can be used as the basis of terrific bass solos . play around with slides , and listen to the different tones you get - - a quick slide has a sharper sound , while a slow slide is very smooth and resonant . just be very careful that you stop exactly on the right line and get there on the right beat . fretless basses are , on average , quieter than fretted ones , so youll need to turn your amp or volume pots up higher to get the same amount of volume . even at high levels , though , the type of sound a fretless produces isnt going to blast anyone out of their seat , so you need to . its not just the sliding , fretless basses have a very different tone from fretted basses . they sound very warm , fluid , and smooth , and are conducive to beautiful sounding melodies , but they lack the hard , defined punch of a fretted bass , and slapping and popping will sound very different without a metal fret for the strings to bounce off of . on the other hand , you can produce sounds that you simply cant with a fretted bass - jaco , for example , had a very horn - like tone . overall , try to think more melodically , hold notes out and think less about pounding pedal tones . playing fast and loud can work very well - - steve digiorgio made a career out of playing death metal on fretless and it worked beautifully - - and in fact fretless is ultimately easier to play fast once you get good with it , but you need to respect your instrument and what it can do .
purchase the right mandolin . find a pick you feel comfortable using . invest in a few audio cds . hold the mandolin right . know what to do with your hands . tune the mandolin . understand the difference between chords and notes . chop the strings . learn the g - chop chord . learn the c - chop chord . practice the d - chop chord . pick a learning style . read the tablature lines . the tablature uses four lines—one for each pair of strings on your mandolin . read the notes . add it all together . understand how chords are portrayed using tablature . determine rhythm .
how to play mandolin
the mandolin has been around for centuries , and during that time , different styles have developed . choose the right mandolin to match your preferences . the three main types are neapolitan , a - style , and f - style . neapolitan types are used for classical music . a - style types are used for bluegrass , irish , classical , and rock music . f - style types are used for bluegrass . since f - style mandolins are expensive and ornate , they are less practical for beginners . the only real way to find the right pick is to experiment with different weight picks until you find one that feels comfortable in your hands . generally , light to medium picks are used for mandolin playing , but this is not a strict rule . one of the most effective ways to get used to the timing and overall sounds of the mandolin is to play along with audio recordings of professional mandolin music . focus on the mandolin styles youre most interested in , but listen to the mandolin play a variety of different songs and genres for more well - rounded knowledge . make sure that you mix older mandolin music in with newer mandolin music . newer techniques and styles are built from older ones , and understanding the older ones will make it easier to learn the newer styles . when you are learning a new song , embed that song firmly in your mind by listening to it repetitively . there will be room to develop your own personal twist later , but for now , you need to know the basic tune thoroughly enough to know how it is supposed to sound when played correctly . you need to hold the mandolin on your lap . the neck of the mandolin should point upward and diagonally toward your non - dominant side . do not press the mandolin against your torso too securely since doing so can deaden the sound . the forearm connected to your dominant hand should be horizontal and the arm should be bent at the elbow . your left hand or non - dominant hand will fret individual chords . your right hand or dominant hand will pluck the strings as you play notes . the fingers of your non - dominant hand will press down on the frets along the neck of the mandolin for each chord . your thumb should be at the top of the neck , and the fingers should come up from the bottom . you should hold the pick in lightly yet firmly in between your thumb and first finger of your dominant hand . the pick should rest on the first finger along the thumb side , in between the first joint and the tip . the pointed edge of the pick should face out . you need to make sure that the strings of the mandolin are properly tuned before you can begin playing it . the strings of a mandolin are arranged in pairs . both strings in each pair will be tuned to the same note . the string pairs are traditionally tuned from low to high , ranging from g - d - a - e . the highest string pair , e , should be closest to the floor . use an electric tuner for the best , most accurate results . if you do not have an electric tuner , however , you can use another instrument to help you tune the strings correctly . a chord refers to a combination or family of musical tones . a note is a certain musical tone played within a chord . chords are controlled by your non - dominant hand . notes are controlled by your dominant hand and your non - dominant hand . both should be indicated on the musical score or tablature you intend to practice . do not hold the strings down at the frets constantly since doing so will quickly wear you out . instead , chop the frets before strumming the string . rest your fingers on the chord before you play it . immediately before the pick strikes the string , depress the string at the fret . as soon as the pick leaves , release the strings . the timing of your press - and - release will vary the way the instrument sounds , so youll need to practice to find a timing—and by extension , a sound—that works for you . this is one of the three major chords youll need to learn to play most mandolin songs . your index finger should be in the top fret on the string second closest to your palm . your middle finger should be in the second fret on the string closest to your palm . your ring finger should be in the fourth fret on the string second furthest from your palm . your pinky finger should be in the sixth fret on the string furthest from your palm . this is another of the three major chords youll need to master . your index finger should be in the top fret on the string closest to your palm . your middle finger should be in the third fret on the string second furthest from your palm . your ring finger should be in the fourth fret on the string second closest to your palm . your pinky finger should be in the sixth fret on the string furthest from your palm . this is the final of the three major chords you must learn if you want to play the mandolin . your index finger should be in the second fret on the string second furthest from your palm . your middle finger should be in the third fret on the string second closest to your palm . your ring finger should be in the fifth fret on the string furthest from your palm . your pinky finger should not be on the mandolin at all . the easiest way for most beginners is to read music from a tablature . if you know how to read music the traditional way on a stave , you could use that option . it can be difficult to learn initially , however , which is why beginners who dont know it already usually dont rely on the stave . if you have an exceptionally good ear , you could also learn to play the mandolin simply by ear . the top line represents the highest note . it does not necessarily represent the top string . to gain better perspective , turn the mandolin on its side so that the strings are facing up and the back runs parallel to the floor . when you look down and toward the side of the mandolin , you should notice that the highest string is the one which is tuned to the highest note . this highest string is the top line of the tablature . for standard g - d - a - e tuning , the bottom line is g , the second to bottom is d , the third to bottom is a , and the highest is e . tablatures written for a different tuning should be marked as such . usually , the tablature will look something like this e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - notes are designated by numbers . the absence of a number indicates that no string is to be played . when you see a 0 , it signifies an open string . any other number will tell you which fret to press the string down in . for instance , a 1 is your top fret , 2 is the second fret , 3 is the third fret , 4 is the fourth fret , 5 is the fifth fret , and 6 is the sixth fret . by looking at the fret number and the string line , you can determine how to play the note . for example , a 2 placed on the third line indicates that you should hold the second fret and play on the third highest pitched string usually d . in tablature form , that would look something like e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - chords are indicated by placing numbers on top of one another . for example , c - major would look like e - - - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - g - - - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tablature will not tell you which finger to use for each fret , however . for that , you must practice the chord positions separately , as indicated previously . the duration of each note is indicated by how much horizontal spacing is left in between notes . actual notes whole notes , half notes , quarter notes , eighth notes are not indicated on the tablature . rhythm is based entirely on the way notes and their durations are related to each other on the tablature . numbers placed closely together indicate shorter notes . wider spacing indicates longer notes . numbers spaced evenly apart should last the same length of time . when there is a wider space , the note indicated by the number before it should last for a relatively longer time a gap twice as wide means the note is twice as long , etc . the same can be said for notes followed by smaller spaces a gap half as wide means the note is half as long , etc .
look at the instructions for violin and viola above . gently wedge your thumb near the underside of the fingerboard . for bases , if the tempo is extremely fast , such as in jazz , use both your index as well as your middle finger .
how to play pizzicato 2
for the most part , you will be doing the same things and you will be following the same guidelines about the meat of the finger and so forth . this will be your anchor . this will help you go faster without injuring yourself .
purchase your ocarina . learn how to hold it . practice blowing evenly while removing and replacing all of your fingers . learn how to alter pitch . learn music .
how to play a sweet potato ocarina
ocarinas can be difficult to find locally , so it is best to search the internet for one . you can find them on many shopping sites , such as amazon or ebay , or you could go to a specialized ocarina site that sells them . since you have a sweet potato ocarina named after its shape , you hold it by placing your thumbs on the back holes and putting each of your fingers on the front holes . your left hand should come from under the ocarina , and your right hand from the top . you will alter the sounds if you blow harder or softer while you are playing . although doing so can be used to produce different sounds , you first have to learn to primarily use fingering while controlling your breath . ultimately , fingering controls the notes and breath controls the octave . to raise the pitch , remove your fingers from the holes . the more holes you uncover , the higher the pitch . the only hole you may not cover is the hole on the back between the back holes . this hole is where the sound comes out , and covering it will not allow your ocarina to produce sound . since you just began your musical journey with your new ocarina , you may want to begin with tablatures . tablatures , or tabs , are pictures that show you which holes to cover to produce a song . you can play using sheet music , but ocarinas use a different type of sheet music that may be difficult to learn at first .
assemble the wood for the keys . cut the keys roughly to size . tune the keys . find the position of the nodes on each bar . drill 2 holes through each key where you marked the position of the nodes . build the frame . lay the keys across these 2 pieces of wood with the nodes of each key positioned directly over the frame . sand the entire xylophone down .
how to make a xylophone
a one - octave xylophone will have 8 keys , with the root note of the scale appearing both at the lower and upper ends of the register . the keys should be roughly 2 inches 5 cm wide and 1 inch 2 . 5 cm high . dimension lumber is widely available at hardware stores in roughly these dimensions . pine is an acceptable choice , although oak will yield a better tonal quality . professional quality xylophones have keys made of rosewood or padauk , but these woods are harder to find . a good approximation is to cut the lowest note to about 14 inches 35 cm long and the highest note to about 10 inches 25 cm long . the keys in between should gradually bridge the gap between these 2 lengths . with these lengths , the keys can be tuned easily to the c major scale . the exact length of each key is not important , as you will be trimming them down during the tuning process . this is the most time - consuming step in the process . lay each key out on a soft surface such as a towel so that it can resonate . strike the key with a mallet and register the pitch on an electronic tuner . if the pitch is too low , you can raise it by shaving or filing off the edges of the key to make it shorter . if the pitch is too high , you can lower the pitch by carving out a curved gouge on the underside of the key . the gouge should be centered on the bar , and should generally be kept within the middle third of the bar . a rasp is the best tool for this , although a file or draw knife will also work . continue checking the pitch throughout the tuning process . the nodes are the parts of the bar which will not vibrate when the bar resonates , and are located about 29 of the length of the bar in on each side . to find their exact position , sprinkle salt on each key and strike it repeatedly with a mallet . the salt will dance around on the bar and gather on the nodes because there is no vibration there . mark this position with a pencil . these holes should be centered across the width of the bar . make each hole slightly larger than the nail that will be used to secure the key to the frame , because the key must have room to move when it is struck , or it will not resonate very much . you will need 4 pieces of wood for this , the dimensions of which do not matter much . lay the keys out from lowest to highest , with about 0 . 25 inches 6 mm in between each key . the lowest - pitched key should be on the left , with the highest - pitched key on the right . the total width of your xylophone should be about 18 inches 45 cm . cut 2 pieces of your frame wood to this length , and then wrap them in a soft material a towel or a worn - out piece of clothing will work . the fabric will ensure that the keys can still resonate and will not be knocking loudly against the frame during play . drive nails through the pre - drilled holes in the keys and into the wood frame below . attach the 2 long pieces of wood to each other to keep the frame rigid . take the other 2 pieces of wood reserved for the frame and screw , nail or glue them across the 2 long pieces to form a 4 - sided frame . go over the whole instrument with a piece of sandpaper to remove rough edges and improve the appearance .
pick music you like . take breaks . play to an audience that wont mind if you are not perfect , like your cat or dog if you have one record yourself playing and review your own performance . practice in front of a mirror , you might amuse yourself with your own comedy concentration face . reward yourself , if you have a friend who plays an instrument , you could practice together . try playing your music in a different key , it can sound very cool and it always practice more fun .
how to make cello practice fun
when you arent practicing specific pieces for a concert or chair test , play what you like . it makes practicing more fun and it can be a good challenge some film music out there is pretty complex . if youre practicing for , say two hours , take two or three 15min breaks to stretch , get something to drinkeat or just move around . then go back to playing and continue taking breaks as needed . , every time you get through a piece without a single mistake , have a healthy treat you love like fresh raspberries , a small piece of dark chocolate or a favourite low cal savoury cracker . you dont have to play at the same time or play the same tune , you can take turns .
gather supplies . scour for bamboo . choose a quality bamboo . remove the branches on the bamboo . cut the pipe to the length you want based on the key . select the node that is to become the cork . check the node that you selected to be your cork again for holes . knock out the solid nodes . clean out the inside of the flute . measure the wall thickness . measure the exact placement of the embouchure . calculate the diameter of the embouchure . measure the length between the finger holes . clamp the bamboo down and begin to drill the embouchure . sand the hole . blow into the embouchure . recheck your finger hole markings . clean up the insides of the holes .
how to make a bamboo flute
to make a bamboo flute , youll need a drill , a rotary tool such as a dremel , and attachments for it . youll also need a general purpose hand - held sander , masking tape , a saw , a ruler or measuring tape , and a box cutter or sharp knife . you should be able to find all of these items from the hardware store . of course , youll need some bamboo as well , and you dont always have to buy it . even if it is not a plant that is native to your area , sometimes you can find it growing on the side of the road because these plants tend to take root and flourish almost anywhere . however , if you are unable to find bamboo out in nature , head to your local hardware store and ask around . also , look in your local yellow pages . carpet stores sometimes have bamboo flooring that comes in bamboo rods that you could use . when youre selecting bamboo , make sure that the diameter is between 34 inches and 78 inches . however , thin - walled bamboo about 18 inch - thick or so produces the best sound . also , look for a good piece of seasoned bamboo that isnt cracked . it shouldnt be really flexible or have any visible cracks , rips , splinters or holes . make sure that the bamboo has at least one node - - a notch where it is solid inside instead of hollow like the other parts of the bamboo . its usually marked by circular ridges that look like joints on the bamboo . one node at the end of the flute will become what is known as the cork . the node should be smooth and without holes on the inside or the outside so that the flute has proper tone . use a hacksaw if necessary . youll also want to sand down any notches left behind from where you cut off the bamboo . if you have one , use the hand sander to do this its much faster and easier than sanding by hand . the piece of bamboo that you selected might have several nodes . if its a long piece of bamboo , select the part of the bamboo that you are going to work with and sand down that section so you dont sand the entire bamboo stem unnecessarily . the length of the pipe determines the key that it plays . to make a flute that plays in the key of a , cut a 14 inch length of pipe . for an f flute , cut it to 18 inches , and for a key of d cut it to 21 inches . choose a section of bamboo with joints that are a little bit more than half as far apart as the intended length of the instrument . for instance , if you want a 14 inch flute , the nodes should be a little more than 7 inches apart from each other . in other words , there should be a little more than 7 inches of tube between each node . the aim is to cut it so that there is a node at the end and another node more or less in the middle . you want the flute to have a node at one end and another more or less in the middle after you cut it to size . it should have at least one . wrap a piece of masking tape around the area that you want to cut , then cut it with the hacksaw . the tape helps stop the bamboo from splintering . cut outside of the node . dont cut into it . choose the part of the bamboo with the node near the end to be your cork . then , measure 2 cm 0 . 78 inches out from the node and mark it with a pencil . this area is will be known as the cork of the flute . the blow hole , which is formally known as the embouchure wont be placed far from it . dont cut into this area . because if it has holes in it , then it the flutes tone might not be proper . as previously noted , the inner portion of the nodes are solid , not hollow like the rest of the pipe . so , youll have to knock out all of the nodes except for the one near the end serving as your cork . you can use a hammer and chisel to do this . stick the chisel or a sharp tool up against the node inside the tube , then hit the top of the tool with a hammer . youll slow chisel it away . another option is to burn out the nodes with a hot poker , but the safest option is most likely boring out the nodes with a long drill bit . wrap sandpaper around a dowel rod about 20 inches long and tape the sandpaper to it . then , rub the sandpaper against the inside of the bamboo to smooth the inside of the tube . also , sand the places where the nodes were located so that it is as smooth as possible . now that the bamboo is open , you can see the thickness of the walls , which youll need to know to calculate the diameter of the embouchure - - the blow as previously noted . using your ruler , measure each one to the nearest millimeter and write down your measurements . then , set them aside for later . the embouchure should be one diameter up from the cork - - the node you selected at the end of the bamboo . for instance , if the width or diameter of the bamboo is 8 centimeters 3 . 1 inches , then you will measure 8 centimeters 3 . 1 inches up from the cork . then mark it , and this is where the center of the blow hole will be placed . the diameter is the length of a circle . now , you need to know how wide to make the blow hole because the width of the hole makes a difference with the sound of the flute . use a flute calculator such as flutomat to calculate the measurements for you . input your measurements of the flutes inner diameter and wall thickness . then , choose the key you want the flute to be in . if you cut your flute to a specific length for a specific key , you can skip this step if you want . the application will calculate the diameter for the embouchure and the other holes in the seven - note western scale . write down the diameters of each hole . for instance , suppose the diameter of the blow hole is 10mm 0 . 393 inches , then according to the calculator , the diameter of the following finger holes 1 - 7 might be 8 . 0 mm0 . 3149 inches , 8 . 5 mm 0 . 335 , 9 mm 0 . 354 inches , 7 mm 0 . 275 inches , 9 . 5mm 0 . 374 inches , 10mm 0 . 393 , 5 . 5mm 0 . 217 inches . use the flute calculator , which also calculates the space between the edge of each hole and the open end of the flute . it gives the measurements based on each holes distance from the embouchure . so , mark where each hole should be to make sure that they will fit on your pole . once , all your measurements seem correct and everything seems to fit on the bamboo , then youre ready to drill . use wood clamps to clamp it down . then , with the embouchure facing up , begin drilling with the 2mm 0 . 078 inches drill bit where you made your mark for the first hole . once youve made a small hole with the drill bit , increase to a larger drill bit like 8 mm 0 . 315 inches . steadily increase the size of the drill bit until you get to a bit larger enough to make the size of your holes . for instance , if your embouchure is 10 mm , increase your drill bits in increments until you get to a 10mm drill bit to make the hole that size . when youre drilling , hold the bit perpendicular to the bamboo with a steady hand . if you hold the drill at an angle or are unsteady as you drill , you might drill the bamboo improperly or splinter , crack or rip the bamboo . be deliberate but careful as you drill . use a dremel or a similar rotary tool to make the hole nice and smooth . put a sanding attachment on the rotary tool . use one of the attachments that has medium grit sandpaper . feel the paper to check . the rougher the sandpaper , the more gritty the sandpaper . gently sand the hole with medium grit and then a smoother sandpaper while being careful not to change the shape or size of the hole . you need to test it to make sure you get a familiar , mellow , flute - like tone . if you need to make adjustments , sand the outside edge of the embouchure with a sanding file at a downward slant , but only do this if you think it needs adjustment . if it sounds good to you , its better to play it safe and not make any adjustments . make sure that they are in the right place respective to the blowhole . the flutomat calculator gives the space between each hold from the end of one hole to the end of the next hole . so , it doesnt give you the holes center . youll need to make your hole one radius up - - half the diameter - - of the hole . this is where the center of the hole will be and where youll drill . then , drill in the same manner that you drilled the blowhole . make sure your holes are marked in a straight line . drill in successively larger bits , which means start with the smaller bits to make a starter hole . then , slowly increase to the larger bits to get to the size drill bit to make the appropriate size . some parts of the bamboo and thinner than other such as where a branch was growing . so , be mindful of this when youre drilling . if you have to drill a hole over a node , this area will be thicker than other areas . take your time and drill slowly . with your rotary tool , sand the edges of the hole so that they are smooth . if you are scared of making a mistakes or sanding too much , use the sanding file . theyre also great for smaller holes . once youve cleaned up the drill holes , youre ready to play .
buy a parsnip . go to a hardware store and get yourself a 12 - inch pvc pipe . get yourself a clarinet mouthpiece . with the hand drill , drill a hole from one end of the parsnip to the other end . drill six holes on the side of the parsnip that mimics those of a clarinet . drill one hole on the opposite side of the six already made holes where you will place your thumb . put the parsnip in the refrigerator to harden . put the 12inch pvc pipe inside the parsnip where the mouthpiece will be placed . place the mouthpiece on the other end of the 12inch pvc pipe . insert the funnel at the opposite end of the parsnip .
how to make a parsnip clarinet
this can be bought at your local grocery store in the fresh produce section . the size you would approximately want is 18 . 7cm in length and a diameter of 1 . 2cm . check that the parsnip are free of cracks , and avoid any that bend or show soft spots . a fresh parsnip will have an herbal fragrance . , these can be acquired at any music store that sells instruments or online . the reed is attached to the mouthpiece , so no need to worry about buying it separately . make sure to get rid of any pieces of the parsnip by blowing in it or washing it out . each hole should be 1 . 5cm - 1 . 7cm apart from each other . , refrigerate for 24 hours . , this will amplify the sound , but its optional play your parsnip clarinet and notice the similar sounds it produces .
experiment with many instruments before committing to one . try out the classic piano . think about rocking out on guitar . consider orchestral stringed instruments . try your hand at the brass family . check out the woodwinds . bang on some percussion . consider other varieties of instrument . get the correct size of instrument . learn to hold and tune your instrument properly . learn to read music notation . practice constantly . get rhythm . take care of your instrument . join a band . start your own band . play the music passionately . improvise . commit to the long haul .
how to learn to play an instrument
deciding to start learning to play an instrument can be as simple as picking one up at a store or a friends house and making a few notes . you might not be making music yet , but try to get your hands on an instrument and get a feel for it in your hands before committing to buy one or signing up for lessons . a typically , if you want to sign up for band or orchestra at your school , call - outs are regularly held during which the directors allow you to experiment with instruments and select one . go to one of these call - outs and check out all the different kinds of instruments . most instrument stores are excited to share their instruments with you and let you give them a shot . they might even be able to show you a few things . one of the most common instruments to start out on , used in many different styles and regions , is the piano . from children to adults , the piano is an extraordinarily popular instrument to play and learn . because you can actually see the notes in front of you , the piano is also a good instrument to build your knowledge of how music works , and your music - reading . once youve learned the piano , you can also specialize in organ accordion synthesizer harpsichord harmonium . other than the piano , the most popular instrument from hank to hendrix is the guitar . technically a classical stringed instrument , the popular electric guitar put the instrument into pop culture like no other instrument . its fun for rock and roll , jazz , and almost any kind of music . guitar also provides a good foundation for different kinds of folk or rock instruments bass guitar mandolin banjo harp dulcimer . if you want to play in an orchestra , a string quartet , or have a particular interest in classical music , a stringed instrument might be right for you . these instruments are also commonly used for folk music and other acoustic sounds . you might consider the following instruments violin viola cello double bass also known as the upright bass . brass instruments are so - called because they are traditionally extremely long metal tubes , bent in intricate patterns , featuring valves or keys to change the pitch , and made entirely of brass . now theyre generally made of different metals , but still work by vibrating your lips inside a metal mouthpiece . theyre used in concert bands , jazz , marching bands , and many other types of music . brass instruments include trumpet trombone tuba french horn baritone sousaphone . like brass instruments , woodwinds are played with the power of the breath . while brass instruments use mouthpieces to blow through and vibrate your lips , however , woodwinds use reeds that vibrate themselves when you blow over them . theyre made of many different combinations of metals , woods , and reeds , and no orchestra or jazz combo is complete without them . woodwind instruments include flute , piccolo , or fife saxophone clarinet oboe bassoon holding down the bottom - end of most music groups are the percussionists . in rock bands and jazz combos , the drummer typically plays a drum kit , made of several drums organized at once to play simultaneously with sticks and pedals . in orchestras and concert bands , percussionists perform a quite large variety of instruments that are played by striking them with hands , mallets , or sticks . percussion instruments include the drum set vibraphone , marimba , and xylophone glockenspiel bells and cymbals congas and bongos tympani woodblocks , cowbells , and triangles . there are literally thousands of instruments you could take up and hundreds of teachers who offer lessons . explore the world of music and listen for things you like and you might enjoy playing . some difficult - to - categorize instruments harmonica djembe concertina bagpipes singing bowls ukulele mbira sitar . you want to make sure you end up with both an instrument that works for your size and your hands , as well as an appropriate size of that instrument for you . long and slender fingers are desirable for string instruments , while some brass instruments are somewhat heavy and require the strength and lung - capacity necessary to play them . some instruments , like violin and guitar , are available in lots of different sizes that can be customizable for your abilities and your size . child - sizes are common . look into your options , and get something in your budget that feels comfortable . talk to the employees at the instrument store to get a sense of appropriate sizes and models . some band directors try to steer people away from particular instruments like trumpet or saxophone because theyre very popular . pursue the instrument you want to play . there are one - handed guitarists and petite tuba players . you can very quickly develop bad habits by playing your instrument without the right posture , or by playing it out of tune . you need to develop the proper technique with your particular instrument , holding it , sitting right , and blowing or striking the strings in the correct position . have your band director , teacher , or music store employee to give you a tutorial on the proper technique for your instrument . if you dont have access to teachers , videos and diagrams online are excellent resources for technique . spend time tuning every time you sit down to play . even unexpected instruments like the trombone need tuned , or youll develop the wrong positioning on the slide when youre trying to hit the notes . though it can be a bit like learning a new language , learning how to read music will expand your musical horizons considerably . you can learn any song just by looking at the sheet music , noting the melody , the rhythm , and even the feeling of the music in the page directions . its an invaluable tool for students of any instrument . make sure you learn to read bass clef if youre learning bass guitar or low brass instruments like trombone , baritone , and tuba . learn and practice playing scales . on all instruments , playing scales will help you improve faster technically and help you become more familiar with the correct notes , building your muscle memory toward them . as you progress , consider learning a little theory . knowledge of simple chords and scales will broaden your musical imagination , you can do a great deal with a just a little . ask a friend to show you , or find an online resource . learn these basic structures at a comfortable pace , and youll soon be tackling more advanced ideas . the difference between learning an instrument and giving it up is practice . develop a practice routine and commit to it . practice at least 30 minutes a day , every day , to develop the right consistent habits and learn to play the instrument like it deserves to be played . httpswww . wikihow . comlearn - to - play - an - instrument consider taking private lessons . instructional books and youtube videos can only take you so far , especially with instruments like the violin or wind instruments . suzuki method classes spend a great deal of time sometimes years playing on fake violin - shaped instruments to get the correct bowing technique . having one - on - one attention is invaluable when youre trying to learn an instrument . make it easy to practice . find a nice place in the house for your instrument . store it where you spend your leisure time , or someplace where youre going to see it often during your day . the more accessible your instrument , the more you will pick it up and play it . eventually youll be picking it up every free minute you have . its very important to always practice playing in time . one of the signs of a novice player is that they often will play the notes as quickly as they are able , rather than playing them appropriately . when you learn the difference between playing in 44 time and waltz , when you learn the difference between quarter notes and whole notes , these things will be more clear , but its critical to play according to the rhythm of the song that youre learning to play . even if youre practicing scales , play in time . find a beat off of which to work there are free metronomes online . a ticking clock or the radio will function well for you too . its no fun to play a trombone with a sticky slide , a sax with old reeds , or a guitar with gnarly green strings . learn how to take care of your instrument , taking the time to clean , maintain , and respect it for the piece of art that it is . you wont develop bad habits in your technique and youll get more life out of your instrument , not to mention a cleaner and more true sound . take a few minutes before and after every practice session to take care of your instrument and do it right . if youre in school , consider joining the orchestra or the concert band to take advantage of the lessons and the training that it has to offer . even if your eventual goal is to become a rock drummer , the fundamentals offered in school band are quite valuable , not to mention that you have access to the schools instrumental resources , practice spaces , and teachers . theyre usually sympathetic to your music goals , as well . sign up if youre trying to learn an instrument on your own , start playing with other people to learn as much as you can about playing in a group , playing with the right technique , and developing good habits . aside from all youll learn , its also a whole lot more fun than playing scales in your bedroom . try meeting other players at music festivals open - mic nights fiddlers jams guitar shops . music is more than notes . no matter how boring a piece , even if its like a nursery rhyme or a march , learn to inject feeling into the music and play it with your heart and soul . if youre finding this hard , imagine youre telling a story with the music and actually say an appropriate story in your head . really listen to the music that youre playing and learn to give it color and character . make it come alive . learning to play on the fly will make you a better all - around player . one part scales and one part creativity , playing extemporaneously means that youre learning the language of music . youre one step closer to speaking it fluently . start sight - reading sheet music when you get comfortable with your instrument . rather than playing the darth vader theme one more time on your tuba , try learning something else and seeing if you can play it right the first time . stick with it until youve got it just as much as the imperial march . learning to play an instrument takes years of practice . it wont happen overnight . if you want to be good , commit to your instrument . jimi hendrix used to sleep with his guitar and some expert players are even buried with their horns , violas , and drumsticks . ustad ali akbar khan , a hindustani classical musician , once famously said if you practice for ten years , you may begin to please yourself . after 20 years , you may become a performer and please the audience . after 30 years , you may please even your guru , but you must practice for many more years before you finally become a true artist—then you may please even god .
take care of your instrument . pay attention to your instrument when you are playing it . get an idea of your instruments general outside appearance . take a look at the pads and check to see if theyre leaking . check the instruments mechanism . make sure your corks are in good condition . decide if theres anything you want adjusted , even if its not really something wrong with the instrument . take your instrument and mentalwritten list of things to be done down to the music store , and ask for a coa . when the repair work is done , play - test your instrument , take it home , and enjoy it , now that it looks and plays its best .
how to know when its time to clean your musical instrument or coa
while this should be obvious , its good to be in the habit of being careful . dont drop it , use the case as a footrest , hold it in a way that can damage the keys , skip swabbing it , etc . taking care of your instrument can save you a lot of time at the repair shop and a good bit of money . if you are alert and familiar with your instrument , you should notice almost immediately when something isnt working right . however , there are some things that you may not notice when playing , so every so often , sit down and take a really good look at your instrument . the c part of coa covers both cleaning the inside and cleaning the outside . while the outside appearance of your instrument doesnt really affect your playing , most musicians want to keep their instruments looking nice , and if you try to sell it in the future , youll be glad that you kept up its appearance . examine the keys of the instrument . are they in serious need of polishing is the plating coming off you may want to see about having your instrument re - keyed or re - plated , if they look bad enough . people with wooden instruments - is the wood cracked or badly scratched cracked wood can affect playing , and some scratches can be smoothed off . saxophone players - what does the body of your sax look like if it hasnt been polished in a while , it may look kind of dull and smudgy . take a look at the color and condition of the pads . color doesnt always affect playing ability , but if the pads are cracked , swollen , or growing mold , it might be time to replace them . it may be that only some of the pads are in bad condition , in which case you can just get your instrument partially re - padded . check for leaks . for most woodwinds , this can be done by taking each individual section of your instrument , covering all the holes with one hand , covering one end of the section with the palm of the other , and blowing into the open end . you should not feel or hear any air escaping . for saxophones , find a relatively small but high - powered flashlight , take your instrument into the dark , and either shine the flashlight through the top without the neck , or lower it into the instrument on a swab string if its very small , and check to see if theres any light escaping . where theres light , theres a leak . you may want to have someone else hold the flashlight for this . this method can also work on some other woodwinds , but the flashlight will need to be a lot smaller , and youll have to be very careful . there may be bent rods , missing screws , badly oiled joints , or any number of things that you may not have noticed . play through the range of the instrument . see if any notes are unusually hard to get out or are woefully out of tune . this can indicate an issue with the keys , or it may be the pads again . make note if any of the keys are too hard or too easy to move - you should be able to make a key move fairly easily , but there should be enough resistance that you can feel what youre doing . check carefully for bent rods or missing screws . you may first be alerted if you notice that some keys wiggle when they shouldnt . you may want to have a friend who plays the same instrument , a conductor , or a director take a second look , to see if you missed anything . no section of the cork should be missing , spit shouldnt leak out between the sections , and the instrument should not fall apart or wiggle where the sections meet . if you are experiencing any of these problems , get your instrument re - corked , or at least fix the corks that are giving you trouble . you may decide that it would be easier to play certain notes if a certain key was tightened or loosened slightly , you want your keys silver - plated instead of nickel - plated since youve already decided to have it re - keyed , or things of that nature . ask how much itll cost , and when you can pick your instrument up . if not much is wrong , you may be able to walk out with in in a matter of minutes , or an hour or so . if its having anything major replaced corks , keys , pads , etc . you may be looking at a few days to a week .
learn the essential components of the theremin . develop the skills essential to building a theremin . start with the theremin housing . install the antennae . connect the pitch control . connect the variable oscillator to the pitch antenna . connect a variable oscillator to the volume antenna . feed the output of each oscillator into a mixer . route the signal from the mixer into an amplifier . install a speaker . power the theremin with 12 - volts ac . tune the components with an oscilloscope . explore the theremin community .
how to make a theremin
a theremin is basically a box with two antennas , one of which controls the pitch of the instrument , the other of which controls the volume . these antennas create electromagnetic fields which are played by manipulating them with the hands . coils of tight - pack wire act as oscillators , producing signals fed into the antennae . while it may seem like spooky magic , the fields are created by relatively straightforward circuitry . a theremin involves the following components , most of which you should be able to purchase at electronics supply pitch - reference oscillator pitch - control oscillator mixer volume - control oscillator volume - resonant circuit and voltage - controlled amplifier audio amplifier 12 - volt power supply building a theremin from scratch isnt a project for a weekender with a love for spooky sounds . if you want to build one easily and cheaply , buy a kit , follow the instructions and put it together . if you want to wire your own , theres a lot you need to learn to do first . even if you want to put together a theremin , its likely that youll need to understand how to read a basic schematic . to build a theremin , you need to know how to read an electronic schematic solder electronics wire a potentiometer wire a circuit if you want to put a theremin together , kits are available at a variety of different price ranges , some of them relatively easy to put together and some more complex . its somewhat easier than starting from scratch and getting all the boards and circuits youll need individually . unless youre an experienced maker of circuits , itll be difficult , though not impossible , to make your own theremin without a kit . find or construct a box big enough to house the theremins internal circuitry . a professional theremin , the type of which can be played comfortably , should be large enough to stand in front of , your arms held shoulder - width apart , about 24 inches 61 cm wide for most adults . the top should be hinged so you can install the components and make adjustments when necessary . kits are available for this purpose , which can be a good idea to get the basic housing shape , even if you still want to customize the circuitry . a monopole antenna for pitch needs to be attached to the top of the box and a similar antenna for pitch needs to be installed vertically . a loop antenna used to control the volume will be attached to the side of the box . the looping antenna is sometimes a somewhat more difficult device to find , but should be available at specialty electronics stores . while it may seem like its more important to wire the circuits first , its much easier to get the housing in place before you start worrying about the circuitry , to make sure that everything is spaced accurately and comfortably to play . just as youd build the guitars body before wiring the pickups , you want to start with the housing . youre making an instrument , not a radio . the pitch of a theremin is controlled by creating a circuit between a variable oscillator and a reference oscillator , which should be available at specialty electronics stores as individual units . each should be tuned to the same frequency , ideally in the middle of the low frequency radio range . the pitch - reference oscillator should work around 172khz , used in conjunction with a 10k potentiometer . the signal this oscillator creates should be fed into the mixer with screened cable . the pitch - variable oscillator should also work around 172khz , and will be affected by the stray capacitance of the reference unit . potentiometers need to be wired into the circuit to make the relationship of your hand movement to the change in pitch more linear . without them , the instruments pitch be almost impossible to control , changing wildly with only a microscopic movement of the hand . using screened cable , wire the circuit of the pitch control components into the antenna when youre finished . when playing the theremin , your hand changes the capacitance of the antenna , which will change the frequency of the variable oscillator . essentially , youre sending the signal into the antenna to be manipulated manually . this should also be in the low frequency radio range and carefully tuned , operating somewhere in the neighborhood of 441khz . this signal will be influenced directly by the volume antenna , manipulating it by hand . a 10k trim potentiometer needs to be installed to enable the operator to tune the theremin appropriately . send the output of this variable oscillator into a volume resonant circuit . the output will be a dc voltage that varies according to the output of the variable oscillator . tuned correctly , the oscillator frequency will match the tuning of the volume - resonant circuit as the operators hand approaches the antenna , causing the signal to cut off gradually . in other words , the closer the hand to the antenna , the quieter the sound . the purpose of the mixer is to compare the frequency of the variable oscillator with the reference frequency . the output will be an audio signal between 20hz and 20khz . assembling the mixer is the simplest step in the process . fed with two slightly different frequencies from the oscillators , the mixer will produce an output with a complex waveform , giving it the distinctive warble we associate with the sci - fi sound of the theremin . the output actually contains two distinct frequencies , which require the need of a low pass filter , that is two 0 . 0047uf capacitors and a 1k resistor , used to extract the output and boost it into a listenable range . route the outputs of the mixer and the volume resonant circuit into a voltage - controlled amplifier . the voltage from the volume resonant circuit changes the amplitude of the audio signal from the mixer , helping to boost the sound and control the volume of the instrument . send the output of the voltage controlled amplifier into an audio amplifier and then a speaker to amplify the sound created by the electromagnetic fields as you manipulate them . in a pinch , you can use the internal components or a guitar amp you connect to the theremin with a jack installed in the back of the case . you should need a power converter that operates at about 12 volts to power a basic theremin with this assembly . you can build a step - down transformer that will convert the normal house voltage or buy a power cord with a built in converter . use extreme caution if youre not an experienced electrician . theres a fairly serious amount of voltage going through these circuits , and fire or injury can result from mistakes . brush up on the skills outlined at the beginning of this article before trying to wire these circuits and apply them to power . if youre going to take the time to build a theremin from scratch , its important to tune it accurately and make sure that youve got a playable prototype . each module should be built , tested , and tuned so that the final assembly is the simple process of hooking everything together and performing a few final adjustments . in order to test and tune the modules , hook your theremin into the input jacks on an oscilloscope and youll be able to see the sound waves youre creating as you manipulate the theremin . adjust the modules accordingly , if the sound waves are off . its important to work from a detailed schematic and brush up on the skills necessary to circuit - wiring if youre going to undertake a diy theremin project . tons of schematics , tips , and tricks of the theremin - building trade are available online . you can learn more about building theremins with the community of thereminworld .
use straws for a simple pan flute . gather eight straws you can use more or fewer as convenient . leave one straw uncut , then use a scissors to cut an inch off the second straw , so that each straw is an inch shorter than the previous one . tear or cut a length of tape sufficient to wrap around the straws . lay the straws side by side on the tape and fold the tape around the straws . play the pan flute by blowing across the top of the straws .
how to make a transverse flute from household supplies 1
the pan flute , or pan pipe , is a type of flute consisting of a group of small pipes of graduated length to produce a melody . pan flutes are usually made of wood , but many other materials can be used . a very basic pan flute can be built out of drinking straws . , if you wish , you can decorate the tape with markers or crayons either before or after you secure the straws .
gather and wash the bottles you want to use . blow a note on each bottle to determine their pitch . arrange the bottles according to pitch . start playing .
how to make a transverse flute from household supplies 2
you can use as many bottles as you want , and any material , but at least six are recommended . you can raise the pitch by adding water to the bottle .
try cardboard for a simple tube flute . cut the tube to the desired length . using scissors or a craft knife , cut an oval hole approximately two inches from the end of the tube about one - half to one inch to create a sound hole embouchure . plug the end closest to the sound hole using modeling clay or any other medium that closes the end completely . cut six holes down the length of the tube at even intervals . decorate the flute with crayons , markers , or any other medium . play the flute by holding it parallel to the ground and blowing across the sound hole .
how to make a transverse flute from household supplies 3
you can create a simple flute using a small - diameter cardboard such as a paper towel or empty wrapping paper roll . since making a cardboard flute requires the use of sharp objects like craft knives and scissors , young children should be supervised by an adult if they will be handling these tools . the music revitalization project , an organization dedicated to keep concert band music alive , recommends a length of no more than two feet . , make sure the holes are not bigger than your fingertips . if you use paint , allow it to dry at least overnight . create notes by covering and uncovering the finger holes in various combinations .
use pvc for a more durable diy flute . gather these materials and tools . cut 34 pvc pipe to length . flatten approx 1 . 5 at one end with file , sandpaper , or use a router or end mill . drill 14 hole at very end of tube . drill two 18 holes side by side for rectangular hole , use a small file to make the hole approximately 316 x 516 wide with optional undercutting as in the diagram on the website . drill finger holes . make and install the plug . assemble the adapters as shown on the website .
how to make a transverse flute from household supplies 4
polyvinyl chloride pvc pipe is inexpensive and readily available . it can be cut like wood , and produces a durable flute that you can carry in a backpack without worrying about breakage . the following method is inspired by the instructions for the native american - like pvc flute featured on the physics of music site . please note that the use of drills , files , and other tools should only be used by persons who are proficient with using them . 34 pvc hotcold water pipe 12 pvc pipe short length , optional 34 to 34 pvc coupler 34 to 12 pvc reducer wood dowel , cork or other plug material . drill with 18 , 14 and 316 bits small file jewelers file or equivalent sandpaper ruler ,
focus on fun , especially for children . have a maker party . organize a band . have the kids write their own music to go with the instruments . create a presentation for a science or maker fair .
how to make a transverse flute from household supplies 5
music education enhances skills in other area of learning . kids can learn social skills , language skills , and building skills while having fun . small children can have fun making and decorating straw and cardboard tubes for flutes , while older children and adults can learn to handle sharp implements and power tools . make flutes and other instruments of different sizes and shapes and let the children and adults make their own music .
start with a compelling fact or opinion on the movie . give a clear , well - established opinion early on . back up your opinion with specific evidence . move beyond the obvious plot analysis . bring your review full - circle in the ending . gather basic facts about the movie . take notes on the movie as you watch it . analyze the mechanics of the movie . watch it one more time . create an original thesis based on your analysis . follow your thesis paragraph with a short plot summary . move into your analysis of the movie . use plenty of examples to back up your points . give it some personality . wrap up your review with a conclusion . edit your review . proofread your review . publish or share your review .
how to write a movie review
you want to get the reader hooked immediately . this sentence needs to give them a feel for your review and the movie - - is it good , great , terrible , or just okay - - and keep them reading . some ideas include comparison to relevant event or movie every day , our leaders , politicians , and pundits call for revenge - - against isis , against rival sports teams , against other political parties . but few of them understand cold , destructive , and ultimately hallow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of blue ruin . review in a nutshell despite a compelling lead performance by tom hanks and a great soundtrack , forrest gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise . context or background information boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced - - slowly , over 12 years , with the same actors - - is just as crucial as the movie itself . dont leave the reader guessing whether you like the movie or not . let them know early on , so that you can spend the rest of the time proving your rating . using stars , a score out of 10 or 100 , or the simple thumbs - up and thumbs - down is a quick way to give your thoughts . you then write about why you chose that rating . great movie american hustle is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level , where each character , scene , costume , and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings . bad movie it doesnt matter how much you enjoy kung - fu and karate films with 47 ronin , youre better off saving your money , your popcorn , and time . okay movie i loved the wildly uneven interstellar far more than i should have , but that doesnt mean it is perfect . ultimately , the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy - handed plotting and dialogue . this is where taking notes during the movie really pays off . no one cares about your opinion if you cant give facts that support your argument . great michael b . jordan and octavia spencers chemistry would carry fruitvale station even if the script wasnt so good . the mid - movie prison scene in particular , where the camera never leaves their faces , show how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids , the flashing tension of neck muscles , and a barely cracking voice . bad jurassic worlds biggest flaw , a complete lack of relatable female characters , is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur - - in heels . okay at the end of the day , snowpiercer cant decide what kind of movie it wants to be . the attention to detail in fight scenes , where every weapon , lightbulb , and slick patch of ground is accounted for , doesnt translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance . plot is just one piece of a movie , and shouldnt dictate your entire review . some movies dont have great or compelling plots , but that doesnt mean the movie itself is bad . other things to focus on include cinematography her is a world drenched in color , using bright , soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build , and slowly strip away , the feelings of love between the protagonists . every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in . tone despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on mars , the martians witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene . space may be dangerous and scary , but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating . music and sound no country for old mens bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades . the eerie silence of the desert , punctuated by the brief spells of violent , up - close - and - personal sound effects of hunter and hunted , keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat . acting while hes fantastic whenever hes on the move , using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus , keanu reeves cant quite match his costar in the quiet moments of speed , which falter under his expressionless gaze . give the review some closure , usually by trying back to your opening fact . remember , people read reviews to decide whether or not they should watch a movie . end on a sentence that tells them . great in the end , even the characters of blue ruin know how pointless their feud is . but revenge , much like every taut minute of this thriller , is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end . bad much like the oft - mentioned box of chocolates , forest gump has a couple of good little morsels . but most of the scenes , too sweet by half , should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out . okay without the novel , even revolutionary concept , boyhood may not be a great movie . it might not even be good . but the power the film find in the beauty of passing time and little , inconsequential moments - - moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting - - make linklaters latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film . you can do this before or after you watch the movie , but you should definitely do it before you write the review , because youll need to weave the facts into your review as you write . heres what you need to know the title of the film , and the year it came out . the directors name . the names of the lead actors . the genre . before you sit down to watch a film , get out a notepad or a laptop to take notes . movies are long , and you can easily forget details or major plot points . taking notes allows you to jot down little things you can return to later . make a note every time something sticks out to you , whether its good or bad . this could be costuming , makeup , set design , music , etc . think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review . take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds . use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything , and rewind as necessary . analyze the different components that came together in the movie as you watch . during or after your viewing , ask yourself what impression the movie left with you in these areas direction . consider the director and how he or she choose to portrayexplain the events in the story . if the movie was slow , or didnt include things you thought were necessary , you can attribute this to the director . if youve seen other movies directed by the same person , compare them and determine which you like the most . cinematography . what techniques were used to film the movie what setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone writing . evaluate the script , including dialogue and characterization . did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak did the characters words seem credible to you editing . was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene did they incorporate a montage to help build the story and was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actors acting ability or many reaction shots to show a groups reaction to an event or dialogue if visual effects were used were the plates well chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor , however , they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors so this could still affect the film . costume design . did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie did they contribute to the overall tone , rather than digressing from it set design . consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements . did it add or subtract from the experience for you if the movie was filmed in a real place , was this location well - chosen score or soundtrack . did it work with the scenes was it overunder - used was it suspenseful amusing irritating a soundtrack can make or break a movie , especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them . its impossible to fully understand a movie youve only seen one time , especially if youre pausing it often to take notes . watch it at least once more before you compose your review . pay attention to details you might have missed the first time around . pick new points of focus this time if you took a lot of notes on the acting the first time you watched the movie , focus on the cinematography the second time around . now that youve thoroughly studied the movie , what unique insights can you bring to the table come up with a thesis , a central idea to discuss and back up with your observations on the various elements of the film . your thesis should be discussed in the first paragraph of your review . having a thesis will take your review beyond the plot summary stage and into the realm of film criticism , which is rightfully its own art form . ask yourself the following questions to come up with a compelling thesis for your review does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue it could be the directors way of engaging in a bigger conversation . look for ways to relate the content of the film to the real world . does the film seem to have a message , or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience you could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals . does the film connect with you on a personal level you could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers . its good to give readers an idea of what theyll be in for if they decide to see the movie youre reviewing . give a brief summary of the plot in which you identify the main characters , describe the setting , and give a sense of the central conflict or point of the movie . never break the number one rule of movie reviews dont give too much away . dont ruin the movie for your readers when you name characters in your plot summary , list the actors names directly afterward in parenthesis . find a place to mention the directors name and the full movie title . if you feel you must discuss information that might spoil things for readers , warn them first . write several paragraphs discussing interesting elements of the movie that support your thesis . discuss the acting , the direction , the cinematography , the setting , and so on , using clear , entertaining prose that keeps your readers engaged . keep your writing clear and easy to understand . dont use too much technical filmmaking jargon , and make your language crisp and accessible . present both the facts and your opinion . for example , you might state something such as , the baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting . this is a lot more informative then simply saying , the music was a strange choice for the movie . if you make a statement about the movie , back it up with a descriptive example . describe the way scenes look , the way a certain person acted , camera angles , and so on . you can quote dialogue to help you make your points as well . in this way you are giving your readers a feel for the movie and continuing to express your critique of the film at the same time . you could treat your review like a formal college essay , but its more interesting if you make it your own . if your writing style is usually witty and funny , your review should be no exception . if youre serious and dramatic , that works , too . let your language and writing style reflect your unique perspective and personality - its much more entertaining for the reader . it should tie back to your original thesis and provide some guidance as to whether the audience should go see the movie . your conclusion should also be compelling or entertaining on its own , since its the end of your piece of writing . once youve finished the first draft , read it through and decide whether it flows well and has the right structure . you may need to shift paragraphs around , delete sentences , or add more material here and there to fill out parts that are stunted . give your review at least one editorial pass , and maybe two or three , before you consider it to be editorially sound . ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis . did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie . you may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movies about . decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand - alone piece of writing . did you contribute something original to this discussion what will readers gain from reading your review that they couldnt from simply watching the movie make sure youve spelled all the actors names correctly and that you got all the dates right . clean up typos , grammatical errors , and other spelling errors as well . a clean , proofread review will seem much more professional than one thats full of silly mistakes . post it on your blog , share it in a movie discussion forum , put it up on facebook , or email it to your friends and family . movies are the quintessential art form of our time , and like all art , they spark controversy , provide a venue for self - reflection , and greatly influence our culture . all this means theyre worth discussing , whether theyre flops or works of pure genius . congratulations for contributing your valuable opinion to the discussion .
before proceeding , please realize that movie hopping is grounds for being banned from the theater or escorted out . choose a large multi - plex , something with a long hallway that has multiple theaters or even better , multiple floors . find the times for the movies online . re - adjust the start times listed by adding 15 minutes , thats approximately the real start time after all the commercials and trailers have played . factor in the actual length of the movie to the newly adjusted start time , thats when the movie ends . take this list to figure out what times are best for certain movies , so that you arent late go to the matinée on a weekday , the staff will be minimal and the chances that an usher will be watching theater doors will be slim . purchase the ticket of the most popular movie youve chosen to see that day , be sure to buy it for the time you actually expect to see it since that will be the theater most likely watched by ushers . have your ticket torn and enter like normal , do not act suspicious and dont look stressed . buy your snacks and optional enter the theater of the movie you have scheduled to see and repeat throughout your day , just casually walk in and out of the movies at your schedule times . enjoy the day of movies , with proper planning youll be able to see 3 movies for the price of one .
how to theater hop
very rarely you can be arrested for theft of services similar to shoplifting . be sure its a place that has a ticket taker at the main entrance and not in front of the theater doors . be sure to use a site that lists the length of each movie . you can use a movie hopping schedule application called the movie hop or theatertag . com to plan a movie schedule . ,