Are Mnemonic Devices Right for My Learning Style

Are Mnemonic Devices Right for My Learning Style Many of us use mnemonic devices without even realizing it. This is in part because mnemonic devices can be an extremely helpful tool when attempting to make information more relatable and interesting, and therefore easier to memorize. If youre wondering which mnemonic devices work best for your learning style, here are several that you can try that suit visual, auditory, verbal, and kinestheticlearners. Here aretips to help you figure out your best study style. 1. Visual As a visual learner, youre likely to best remember concepts by connecting them with mental images. You can do this by physically drawing a picture, or imagining a scene that you can associate with a key fact. If youre sketching an image, try doing so in the notebook where you take lecture notes.These tips may help you organize your notes. You can also create a 2D or 3D model to help you recall information. Use pie charts and pyramids, for example, to divide information into more manageable parts. Lastly, experiment with the Method of Loci. This involves picturing a place that you are familiar with, like the route to school from home, or the rooms in your house. Then match words or concepts with landmarks along the route or rooms in the house. If you practice often enough, you will be able to recall the associated concept when you think of each part of the route or the house. 2. Auditory If you are an auditory learner, consider using songs and lyrics to help you remember important information. Write a song or jingle using the information you would like to memorize. Use melodies from your childhood, as they are easy to improvise to. You may even be able to find existing songs, jingles, or rhymes related to your topic online. If you are the musical type, consider posting the song online with or without video so others can benefit from it, too. 3. Verbal If you are a learner who tends toward reading and writing, you will be able to utilize many different mnemonic devices. Acronyms, in which the first letter of each item in a list are arranged to make an easy-to-remember word, are very popular. Some common ones are Roy G. Biv for the colors of the spectrum; the order of operations as PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally); and the method of multiplying two binomials, FOIL (First Outer Inner Last). There are other sayings like, I before e, except after c, or, In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Use alliteration to make your own for example, Memorial Day is in May; Labor Day happens later in the year. You can even think of these mnemonic devices as acrostic poems! 4. Kinesthetic As a kinesthetic learner, these devices might not seem as intuitive to you. You learn through doing, so science experiments, sports, and acting may make more sense to you. However, you can still use mnemonic devices by translating them into physical movement. Trace them with your finger, rewrite them, or re-type them. Use physical flashcards the act of writing these flashcards and flipping them front-to-back may be very helpful. Regardless of your learning style, you should be able to use some sort of mnemonic device. By trying one or more of the mnemonic devices listed above, you will likely stumble across a methodthat works for your learning style and can be adapted to different subjects and courses. If you are stuggling with your test prep consider contacting a test prep tutorto help you better grasp yourbestmnemonic device.

10 Free Guitar Videos to Help You Get Started

10 Free Guitar Videos to Help You Get Started Suzy S. Whether youre looking for an extra challenge between guitar lessons, or you need a refresher on some basic guitar concepts, YouTube is a treasure trove of instructional videos. But how do you find the best ones when there are so many free guitar videos out there? Follow these recommendations from guitar teacher Milton J. Congratulations on your decision to take guitar lessons! This incredible instrument has given me joy beyond belief ever since I picked it up when I was 13 years old. As you begin your journey to musical mastery, here are ten wonderful free guitar videos you can watch to help you get started shredding, strumming, and soloing towards guitar amazingness! 10 Free Guitar Videos This wonderful online teacher of Master Guitar Academy named Robert Renman provides a slew of lesson videos for beginning guitarists to the most seasoned ones. His introductory, two-part video on the Major Scale is a definitive must first-watch for a beginner. Scales are one of the first things you should learn on the guitar, and this video will help you master an important one. Part 1 Part 2 8 Chords Strumming In the next series of videos, Matt McCoy from the YouTube channel Acoustic Selection and our old friend Nate Savage from Guitar Lessons let you in on the few things they wish they had been taught when learning to play the guitar, as well as common mistakes even the most gifted of guitarists can make. 3 Things I Wish I was Taught 7 Common Mistakes In these next two free guitar videos, YouTube lesson provider Andy Crowley will teach you how to play a few songs! Nothing’s better than getting introduced to the guitar, chords, and then some songs, right? In these videos, Andy Crowley shows you a few chord progressions that can be used across multiple songs you may know, and some you may not but will grow to love as well! These videos will help you understand the parallels many of your favorite rock or pop songs make in their progressions, further encouraging you to continue with this wonderful instrument! 10 Songs with 2 Chords 10 Songs with 3 Chords Lastly, but certainly not least, learning major scale positions is very important to your development as a guitar player. These two videos should get you started in learning two tenets of major scales â€" pentatonic and diatonic major scales. What’s more is these scales will put you on your way to understanding melodies in your guitar playing and lead you to soloing as well! I’d advise you to take your time through both Marty’s pentatonic scale lessons and Mark Cote’s 5 Forms of the Diatonic Scale, as there’s a wealth of information in both that is best digested in smaller doses than just watching the video start to finish. The 5 Positions of the Major Scale The 5 Forms of the Diatonic Scale Bonus! Of course, we couldnt forget to include our guitar lessons playlist on YouTube, which is full of helpful tutorials on scales, arpeggios, and more! I hope all of these free guitar videos help you in your quest to become the very best guitarist you can be. Happy playing! Milton J. teaches guitar,  music performance, music recording,  piano, singing  and songwriting  in Corona, CA. He received a double Bachelor of Arts degree in  Ethnomusicology and African-American Studies  from University of California Davis, and is currently taking classes at  University of Redlands for his  Vocal Music Performance degree. Milton has been teaching students since 2011.  Learn more about Milton J. here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Jono Colliver