8 Dazzling Audition Songs for Altos [Videos]

8 Dazzling Audition Songs for Altos [Videos] Sign up successful Old Standards: “Stormy Weather” here’s a classic torch song with lots of emotion and a truly gorgeous vocal line, making it the  perfect audition song for an alto interested in jazz. It was written by Harold Arlen, who composed the music for “Wizard of Oz”. There are many fantastic renditions out there, but Lena Horne’s is one of the best: “River of No Return”   this is a song from the Marilyn Monroe movie of the same name. This is a lovely song that is rarely performed because it sits very, VERY low perfect for true alto voices! Pop/Rock: “Constant Craving” who doesn’t love this song? It’s an interesting hybrid of jazz and pop.  k.d. lang’s flawless performance definitely inspires. This song can go anywhere an audition for a band, a cabaret show… you name it! “I Feel the Earth Move” from Carole King’s album “Tapestry” was made for pop/rock altos. All of her songs on this album are excellent, but this is one of the uptempo songs for some contrast. Not only is this a great audition song for bands, talent shows, and open mics, but it also works for musical theatre, since there is now a Broadway show (“Beautiful”) that features all Carole King songs! Musical Theatre: “If He Really Knew Me” this is a very moving ballad from “They’re Playing Our Song” by Marvin Hamlisch. Its perfect for musical theatre altos who consider themselves more pop-ish, rather than brassy belters. The other plus to this song is that audition panels usually love hearing it, since it’s far from overdone! “I’ve Got The Sun in the Morning” this older show tune from Irving Berlin’s beloved “Annie Get Your Gun” is uptempo and just plain fun! A wide variety of lower-voiced ladies have performed this (including Doris Day and Reba McEntire!), but here is the original performer, the great belter Ethel Merman: Classical: “Stride la vampa” this is only for mature altos who have studied and performed for many years! Verdi is definitely meant for the professionals. This very dramatic operatic aria from “Il Trovatore” will show off your trill, your low chest notes, and your acting chops as well. Here is the great Marilyn Horne, who happens to have ALL of that and then some! Of course, the best resource for repertoire is your voice teacher! He or she really knows your voice and abilities, and can work with you in finding the perfect audition songs for altos to best show you off, musically, vocally, and dramatically. Part of the fun of being a singer is discovering the repertoire that speaks to you, and there are many qualified voice teachers out there who would love to help you with that especially you wonderful, rare altos! The dazzling doesnt stop here!  Click here for even more songs to sing. Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Will Murphy

5 Things That Happen When You Dont Speak Your Mind At Work

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Things That Happen When You Don’t Speak Your Mind At Work 5 Things That Happen When You Don’t Speak Your Mind At Work We all have opinions. All kinds of opinions on all kinds of topics. Expressing them, discussing them and sharing them is part of the fun of being human; our differing thoughts and varying ideologies help us grow and develop as people. Opinions are wonderful things. Except in the workplace. At work, opinions are terrifying. At work, a controversial opinion can lead to you to be disliked, it can harm your reputation and even leave you vulnerable to losing your job. For that reason, even those of us who are confident and assertive in our personal lives, end up falling victim to workplace passivity; sitting in meetings, keeping schtum when our boss says something we completely disagree with. Although remaining silent can seem like the easier option in the moment, the inability to voice an opinion can be harmful to your organisation and detrimental to your own career in the long run. To illustrate this, here are five things that happen when you DON’T speak your mind at work, to make you think twice next time someone asks “What do you think?” 1. You Will Lose Respect If you continually agree with all decisions and ideas in the workplace, you will be viewed as apathetic. You will lose the respect of your colleagues and superiors and they will eventually stop asking for your thoughts. A person who voices an opinion even a contrasting one, stands out and automatically demands authority. If you are able to say what you think with integrity and without offending anyone, you will command the kind of respect that gets you noticed and helps elevate your career. 2. You Could Jeopardise Your Job Keeping quiet and saying nothing looks like the safer option on the surface, but in fact, your silence could prove dangerous. Failing to voice your opinion could lead you to go along with decisions and ideas that you don’t agree with and know are wrong. This is often associated with workplace bullying. Although this kind of behaviour is usually down to one or two individuals, when many people notice victimisation and fail to make a stand, every witness becomes passively complicit. 3. You Will Impact The Growth Of Your Organisation All innovation and growth begin and ends with a great idea. If you have a creative thought with lots of potential but hold back in fear of looking foolish, your overall organisation won’t have the chance to try new things and move forward. 4. You Will Lose Your Sense Of Self Your opinions form your personality and who you are at your very core. If you are afraid to voice them, you will begin to question your integrity and lose sight of your moral compass. This lack of self-confidence can impact your mental health by increasing anxiety levels and therefore affect your overall performance at work. Even if voicing your opinion has a negative outcome, you will be able to stand back and know that despite it all, you have been true to yourself. 5. You Won’t learn Being agreeable seems like an easy way to keep all risks low. If you don’t say anything controversial, you won’t look foolish, you won’t make enemies and you won’t make any mistakes, right? That might be true. However, looking foolish, making an error and going against the grain are often our most valuable learning experience. In your career, not making mistakes can be the biggest mistake you make Voicing an opinion is incredibly daunting, however, it’s just a matter of breaking a behavioural habit. The first time you gather the courage to say what you think, you will be intimidated but each time after that will become easier. Eventually, you’ll feel free and when speaking your mind it will become instinctive. Regretting action is always worse than regretting inaction. Next time you’re asked for your opinion, say what you think and deal with the consequences instead of sitting back quietly and beating yourself up for all the things you should have said. Written by Lana Richardson, journalist and content marketing specialist. Lana is the current blog editor for IrishParcels.ie and NIParcels.com OFFICE POLITICS Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Everything You Ever Needed to Know about Reflection and Refraction.

Everything You Ever Needed to Know about Reflection and Refraction. What are Reflection and Refraction? ChaptersReflection All Starts with Waves.So, What is Reflection?What is Refraction?Honestly, it is quite special that you can look into a mirror and see reflected in the glass an image of you. It is so incredibly clear â€" depending on the quality of the mirror, obviously â€" with all our features and details so well defined.Of course, although we are one of the few animals on this planet of ours that can actually recognise ourselves in that reflected image in a mirror, we take this thing a little for granted.Thinking of all this, have you seen the famous images of Eilean Donan, the castle in the Scottish Highlands? Usually, it is photographed from across a loch â€" as, from here, you can see the castle doubled in the surface of the water.Have you ever shouted down a long tunnel and heard your voice return a hundred times? Have you ever had an x-ray? Have you ever seen a rainbow?The point of all this is that reflection is something that is happening all around us at all times. Even a s you are looking at this screen, you are probably seeing a faint silhouette reflecting back at you.But what is reflection? Do you know? What makes that image of yourself return to you from the mirror? Or how come you can see Eilean Donan both on land and in the water?It’s quite a simple scientific phenomenon, really â€" but, given that there is quite a bit to learn, it is what we are going to talk about here.So, let’s get ready and dive in. Reflection all begins with the science of waves.Find a math and physics tutor here. When a surface reflects like a mirror, the reflection is known as 'specular''. PetarPhysics Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamPhysics Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JidePhysics Teacher 4.80 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DorothyPhysics Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RahulPhysics Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsReflection All Starts with Waves.The science of reflection all begins with waves â€" light waves, sound waves, seismic waves, whatever type of wave you fancy. But what are waves?Waves are disturbances or variations in space-time which, through their propagation, transmit energy from one point to another â €" or indeed from one point to many others. This energy travels in straight lines from the wave’s source and disturbs the medium through which it travels as it travels.No doubt you’ll have seen diagrams of waves in your science classes. Usually you see images of transversal waves, the waves that produce ripples, peaks and troughs, disturbances of the medium that are perpendicular to the direction of the energy’s travel. Yet, there are longitudinal waves too, in which the disturbance is parallel to the travel of energy.Depending on the type of wave â€" longitudinal or transverse, mechanical or electromagnetic â€" and its wavelength (essentially the size of the wave), different waves can travel through different media. So, transverse waves, such as the movement of a guitar string, can only travel through solids. Meanwhile, sound waves â€" which are longitudinal â€" can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.Electromagnetic Waves.It is important to note that electromagnetic wa ves are transversal too. However, these guys are in a different ball game.Because they don’t actually need a material medium through which to propagate â€" as they create a magnetic field that allows them to ‘self-propagate’. Thus, they can travel through a vacuum.As we said, however, depending on their wavelengths, they may not be able to travel through some solids or gases. Think about it. You can listen to your radio in your bedroom â€" and radio waves are electromagnetic â€" however light waves (also electromagnetic) cannot travel through walls.The wavelength of light is much smaller than the wavelength of radio waves. And this is the key to their fate: absorption, reflection, or transmission.Find out about the properties of waves!So, What is Reflection?Let’s turn to reflection now. Do you know a good definition of reflection?Reflection is the change in direction of a wave on meeting an interface between two different media â€" so that it returns into the medium from whi ch it came.If light, travelling through air, hits a reflective surface, it will bounce back. However, this change in direction cannot occur apart from at a surface â€" an interface â€" between two materials.The Case of Light.Light is usually the type of wave that is discussed in relation to reflection â€" if only because, as outlined above, it is one of the types of reflection that we see so often.But light doesn’t reflect off every single surface, does it? When you look at a brick wall, it doesn’t reflect. Nor if you look at a transparent pane of glass. This is because the type of material that a light wave encounters will determine the effect of made upon the wave of light.Light, when it encounters an interface, will follow four different paths:Transmission â€" When light passes through a material, such as a transparent material. This includes, refraction, when light passes into a different medium through which it slows down.Absorption â€" When the light passes into a differen t medium which absorbs its energy â€" and transforms it into a different kind of energy (such as thermal energy).Specular reflection â€" When light is reflected in such a way that it produces a mirror-like effect. Light here is reflected from a smooth surface at a definite angle.Diffuse reflection â€" When light is reflected from a rough surface and its waves are scattered. In these cases, the mirror-like image is lost.Whilst specular reflection is what we conventionally understand to be reflection, actually all surfaces that don’t absorb light reflect it. Your skin, the computer keyboard, houses and animals â€" literally everything that you can see reflects light. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to see it. The distortion of the image is all to do with refractionThe Law of Reflection.One of the most important things to learn when you are studying the reflection of light is the so-called law of reflection.Simply put, the law of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. To translate these two terms, this means that the angle from which the wave strikes the interface will be equalled by the angle at which the reflection of light bounces back.If you draw a line at ninety degrees (a right angle) from the reflective surface â€" a line which we call the ‘normal’ â€" the angles of incidence and reflection are measured between the incident wave and that normal.So, if light enters at forty-five degrees, it will reflect at forty-five degrees too.By the way, this only applies to surfaces that are ‘smooth’.What Makes a Surface Reflective?You know a reflective surface when you see it. It is sort of shiny, again smooth, and you can see your face in it.Yet, t his doesn’t really explain why that surface is shiny. Nor does it tell us what it is in that surface that is shiny.The thing that determines the reflective potential of a surface is not really fully explained by a reference to ‘smoothness’. Because, as we know, waves are absolutely tiny â€" so a surface that is visibly smooth may well not be at a level appropriate to light waves.Electrons.Rather, the reflectiveness of materials and their surfaces is all about electrons. These subatomic particles vibrate at different frequencies depending on the material.But light waves have differing frequencies too. ‘Light’ as we know it is a selection of a whole load of different frequencies and wavelengths.When a particular light wave encounters a material whose electrons have the same vibrational frequency, this light wave is absorbed into this vibrational energy. However, when the frequency of the electrons’ vibration is not equal to the frequency of the light waves, the light is re flected.Remember that every surface you see is reflective. Yet, the different light waves responsible for each colour have different frequencies. This means that some light waves might be absorbed by some materials, whilst others are reflected â€" giving you different colour materials.Find out all about sound waves! You see refraction in rainbows too!What is Refraction?Do you remember that one of the things that happens to light as it reaches an interface is known as transmission? This is what happens when the wave just keeps on going.However, with light, this is only possible with transparent glass â€" and the clearest of water.When a medium is not completely transparent â€" or if the medium is quite large â€" the transmission can still happen. However, the light wave will slow down and, as a result, it will change direction. This is the process known as refraction.One of the most common examples of refraction is that of the glass prism. These triangular objects have an effect on light that means that the waves scatter into the colours of the rainbow. This is because of the different wavelengths of the different light waves responsible for each colour. They all slow down at their own rate.

Essential Italian Vocabulary Words for Beginners

Essential Italian Vocabulary Words for Beginners Brooke Neuman Learning basic vocabulary words helps you build a solid language foundation. Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some of the most essential Italian vocabulary words to add to your study list Are you ready to start learning Italian? Before you dive into the more difficult lessons like grammar and writing, its best to start with a foundation of basic Italian vocabulary words. Learning these words will give you a running start, and enable you to communicate in a simple, yet clear way in Italian. Below is a list of basic Italian vocabulary words, split into five different categories. Greetings Greetings are perhaps the most useful vocabulary words of all, especially when youre traveling. These simple words give you the ability to appropriately greet whomever you encounter or understand those who are greeting you. Essential verbs In order to form complete sentences you must have an understanding of the essential verbs. Below are just a few of the most useful verbs to add to your language repertoire. Numbers To effectively communicate prices in shops, quantities of food, and other items, numbers are extremely useful to know. Below are the numbers one through ten as well as examples of how to use the numbers in sentences. Introductions Another basic element of vocabulary are words to introduce yourself. After all, it will be hard to meet a native speaker if youre not sure of how to introduce yourself properly. Below are some vocabulary words for introductions. Politeness Lastly, theres nothing more important in Italian culture than politeness. When speaking a new language, you can often end up saying things you dont mean out of misunderstanding. The following words will help you fix any situation. With these words, youre well on your way to building a strong foundation of basic Italian vocabulary. To help you memorize these words, play some fun grammar games or practice speaking with your family or friends. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia 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  __Jens__

SAT Chemistry Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Chemistry Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace Get SAT Chemistry Tutoring Online Now! Getting ready for the SAT Chemistry section can be difficult. It is one of the most broad subject tests, covering a wide range of Chemistry topics that can be hard to master. Tutor Paces expert online Chemistry tutors are experienced at helping high school students learn the concepts crucial to succeeding on the test. Our tutors will teach you fundamental and advanced topics in: The structure of matter The states of matter Different reaction types Thermochemistry Stoichiometry Descriptive chemistry Equilibrium and reaction states Laboratory proficiency Technological Tools to Help You Succeed Our SAT Chemistry tutoring service uses a revolutionary advance in online learning to make studying for the test easier. Because creating complex formulas on the computer can be difficult, Tutor Paces interactive whiteboard allows for quick and easy selection from a pre-loaded list of formulas and the use of a built-in scientific calculator. When preparing for the SAT Chemistry section, you dont want any surprises on test day. Our tutors are up-to-date on the latest trends in SAT exam development and will make sure you are comfortable with any concepts or questions you may encounter. Online SAT Chemistry Tutors when you need them most When you sign up for an account with Tutor Pace, you instantly have access to a team of professional online tutors who are committed to your success. They are available 24/7/365, so you can always study at the time most convenient for you.

Unique Uses of Social Media to Gain Colleges Attention

Unique Uses of Social Media to Gain Colleges' Attention Social mediaa burgeoning percentage of our society utilizes it, and we all intimately know how fun it is to connect and share on these networks. However, social media is also rapidly becoming a major source to connect professionally. Students who can transform the raw power of social media into commercial success will ultimately lead in their respective fields and these are precisely the students that colleges and universities are seeking. Incorporating social media into your application can serve to do more than merely garner attention; it can prove you will be successful. Here are several strategies to aid in making that statement. Create a multimedia blog This tactic is an increasingly popular one. It provides you with a wonderful method to expose institutions to an additional side of you as an applicant. However, you must determine a central professional theme for your blog. Do not discuss what you fixed for dinner or analyze your favorite sports teams. Instead, connect your blog to your major. If you plan to pursue a Business degree, discuss the latest business trends and marketing campaigns. If you are a STEM student, post such projects. Here are 4 benefits of STEM studiesthat you may find interesting as well.Build a trebuchet (you can locate easy-to-assemble kits online) and upload videos of it in action. Post the blueprints, your procedure for constructing it, etc. If you have not yet decided on a major, blog about your experiences preparing for college and sitting for the ACT or SAT, as well as advice on applying. Make it your own, and make it creative. Connect with professors and admissions counselors Follow your desired institutions to learn of on-campus events, news, and student experiences all of which can serve as fantastic material for your essay. Likewise, connecting with professors or admissions counselors can increase your name recognition. However, you must make sure to identify a legitimate reason to interact with them. Speak with individuals on LinkedIn, but only if you can add value to the discussion. Research what articles they post as well as the groups in which theyre active and give thoughtful responses. These are 3 things you must do after an admissions interviewthat you may find helpful. Consider video applications Video applications arent as original as they once were, but you can still gain creativity points with this strategy when applicable. Your video application does not replace your standard application. Instead, it is another way to get an admissions counselors attention. In your video, share your personality and discuss your hobbies, extracurricular activities, and world experiences but most importantly, be original and tailor your video to the institution and your intended major. Here is a great last minute checklist before submitting your college applicationthat you may want to take a look at. Do something big, and do something creative Admissions counselors view hundreds of thousands of applications, which means originality is key. If you can display creativity, you will impress them. For example, you could temporarily alter your entire Facebook page to resemble an application, with each post and photograph highlighting different, relevant features (projects, activities, sports teams, etc.). You could even go a step further and tailor it to the institution, rewriting your page to solely concern Harvard University admissions. If you do not wish to change your Facebook page, perhaps you could create a Vine account with each short video detailing an activity of yours (playing an instrument, debating a case if you are on the debate team, dribbling a basketball, etc.). Again, you can rewrite your account to focus on the school to which youre applying. Clean up your accounts It is safe to assume colleges and universities will investigate your existing social media accounts. Simply put, do not post anything you do not want college admissions counselors to view, and go back and delete any potentially incriminating posts. Google search your name to ensure the results are clean, as certain posts can remain in the search index for some time after you delete them.

Functional Behavioral Assessments

Functional Behavioral Assessments When a child with ADHD is struggling in the classroom, knowing how to help isnt always easy, especially when the usual strategies arent working. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to a childs behavior and ability to stay focused. Some are related to a teachers instructional style and the content of lessons, while others relate to the physical space in the classroom and how conducive it is to learning for a child with ADHD. The daily classroom schedule and amount of physical activity on any given day also have a big impact on child behavior, not to mention the influence of classmates on both behavior and the ability to stay focused and on task. Its not surprising that teachers and parents often feel like they are at loss for how to help a child when they are struggling during the school day. Fortunately, there is a tool that is highly effective at parsing out the factors that need to be addressed in order to improve behavior and focus in the classroom: a functional behavioral assessment (FBA). What is a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)? An FBA is a tool used by educators, psychologists, and counselors to identify the behaviors that are interfering with a childs success, the factors that are reinforcing or maintaining these behaviors, and strategies that will help change the behaviors. Often, a functional behavioral assessment is used within the context of an individualized education plan (IEP) when a child is not meeting their IEP goals. However, an FBA can be helpful for any student who is exhibiting challenging behaviors that are not responding to typical school interventions. How is an FBA Conducted? Every FBA includes five steps: Step 1: Define the Target Behavior. The target behavior is the challenging behavior that needs to be changed. For example, Elliot is off-task 80% of the time during classwork. The target behavior is defined through interviews with teachers, the student, and/or school administrators, as well as a review of records. Step 2: Collect Data. Data is collected through classroom observations, a review of records or materials, and rating scales. Direct observation is often the primary method of data collection, but as in our example, samples of complete and incomplete work could be gathered for specific periods of time to identify patterns when a student is completing more work or less work. Step 3: Develop a Hypothesis. The hypothesis is the working theory or best guess why the behavior is happening. Often, the hypothesis focuses on things that happen right before the behavior (known as antecedents) or right after the behavior (rewards or negative consequences associated with the behavior). Sometimes the hypothesis focuses on things that happened earlier in the day or at home (e.g. Elliot completes less work on days when he arrives at school late, or on days when he had difficulty sleeping the night before). Other times, the hypothesis includes things related to the classroom environment (e.g. Elliot is often distracted by his talkative neighbor). Step 4: Plan the Intervention. A written behavior intervention plan is presented that directly targets the factors included in the hypothesis. The plan can include new skills that will be taught to the child, modifications to the classroom setting or to the instructional style used to teach certain lessons, and modifications to classwork and homework assignments. The use of specific classroom management strategies is also often included in the plan for kids with ADHD. Step 5: Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Plan. After the plan has been in place for a fixed amount of time, the FBA team conducts a follow-up evaluation. Usually, this evaluation relies on the same methods of data collection that were used in Step 2. If the plan is working, then it will be kept in place. If the plan is not helping to change the target behavior, then the team will develop a new hypothesis and repeat the intervention and evaluation steps until the target behavior has improved. When a child with ADHD is struggling in the classroom, and typical interventions arent helping, an FBA can be an excellent resource. The FBA process often results in interventions that are effective even when nothing else has worked so far, and can have a lasting impact on a childs ability to succeed in the classroom. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part I

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part I Improving Academic Performance We write a lot on this blog about how academic success (and other types of success) is much more a function of the choices you make and the effort you put in than a function of your intrinsic or genetic talents. In other words, most recent research suggests, and we firmly believe, that academic skills are built through practice and success comes through developing better strategies and making better choices. So where do habits fit in this story? A habit is essentially a tool that the human brain has developed to become more efficient. Instead of spending brain power to analyze a situation and make a conscious decision, habits kick in, and we act automatically. The mental processes that power our habits can be a force for good or evil. Habits can help us sense danger and flee automatically, exercise regularly, and eat better. But they can also explain why we abuse alcohol and fight with our spouses. In The Power of Habit, Why we Do What We Do in Life and Business, Charles Duhigg argues that habits might be far more important than any other factor in explaining our successes and our failures. And this of course includes academic success. Drawing from Duhigg’s book, in this two-part article we will: Introduce the “habit loop,” a framework for understanding how habits work Discuss how to change habits Discuss why habits are so important, as well as a key concept called the “keystone habit” Apply the theory of habits more directly to success in school The habit loop: a framework for understanding how habits work In Duhigg’s book, he explains that habits have four dimensions. To explain, he uses one very common habit that you probably have: brushing your teeth at night. The habit of brushing your teeth may have play out as follows: The cue: you feel your teeth have a bit of a film on them, or perhaps it’s just morning or night, around the time when you always brush your teeth The craving: when you notice that cue, you feel this intense craving for that particular tingling feeling which tells you your mouth is clean The routine: you brush your teeth The reward: your teeth are clean and shiny Most habits play out like this. You don’t analyze the pros and cons each morning and night of brushing your teeth. You just do it. It’s a habit. Other habits work this way too. Let’s envision a well-trained high school student in the habit of doing his homework. His habit loop might be: The cue: I’m home from school, and I’ve had a snack The craving: I want to be able to tell my mom I’m done with my homework AND feel that sense of accomplishment The routine: do your homework The reward: a sense of accomplishment and freedom to do whatever you choose for the rest of the night But let’s consider a bad habit many students have. Let’s say that whenever you are studying you have a habit of using social media or texting your friends, which is distracting and wastes time. This interrupts your studying, reduces your level of focus, and makes it harder to learn new things, finish your homework, and generally be productive. How do you go about changing a habit? There is more than one way to change a habit. James Clear, a blogger on productivity, offers a range of helpful ideas about how to change habits. But one thing is clear. It is incredibly difficult to remove a habit simply by exercising willpower. You’ll be far more successful by changing a habit. To do that, it’s generally accepted that you need to a) identify the cue and b) change the routine so that you can c) realize the same or a similar reward. Back to that habit of checking your phone when you are supposed to be studying. The solution might not be all that complicated or even interesting. Perhaps your cue is literally just seeing your phone or feeling it in your pocket. The routine is checking your various social media channels, driven by a craving to be socially connected and see what others are up to (and because you view homework as a little boring). The reward is connection with others on social media. There is a potentially very simple habit change that results in much better academic outcomes. As we said earlier, the key to changing habits is identifying the cue and changing the routine such that you still see the reward. In this case, what if you say to yourself, you know, when I feel my phone in my pocket, and begin to crave the social connectivity that Facebook provides, instead of immediately checking my various social media channels, I’m going to commit to doing whatever I am currently doing for 20 more minutes. At that point, I’ll take a break and check Facebook. You have now substituted 20 minutes of additional studying for checking Facebook right now. At the end, you get the same reward: the ability to check Facebook and feel connected. What are habits so important? And what is a keystone habit? If it’s not obvious already, habits are so important because so much of what people do is controlled by them. We may think we are in control as we go about our day. But in fact, our brains our filled with lots and lots of habits, and those habits are driving how we act. Taking a shower, brushing your teeth, exercising, eating healthy foods, not getting too upset when things go poorly at home or at work, being committed to finishing a project on time, etc. â€" these actions are all in large part a function of habits. To change your behavior and reach your goals, you typically have to spend a lot of time identifying and modifying habits. And, it turns out, according to the research the Duhigg cites in his book, that some habits are more powerful than others because they make it easier for other habits to take hold. Duhigg calls these “keystone habits.” In this blog post on keystone habits Sam Davies describes them as “the habits that change, remove, and re-shape your other habits. Duhigg suggests that exercising regularly tends to be a keystone habit. Once you are regularly exercising, you are more likely to stop smoking and start eating better. This seems intuitive. Once you are doing one good thing for your body, you have built up some momentum. It is good to exercise regularly but also eat well. The two habits complement themselves. In part two of this article, we’ll explore keystone habits in a bit more detail, and discuss a number of ways to improve performance in school by leveraging the power of habits.