How Walk Off The Earth Got A Record Deal On YouTube

How Walk Off The Earth Got A Record Deal On YouTube Megan L. From going viral on YouTube to touring the world, Walk Off The Earth has made an impressive mark on the music scene, and from the looks of it they are just getting started. Their album  Sing It All Away will be released this month, and the band has been touring heavily in anticipation of this release. Singer and guitarist Ryan Marshall gave us a call this week to talk about his inspirations, life on the road, and his complicated relationship with country music.   How did you get started playing music? Was there anyone like a parent or teacher who really helped you along the way? I come from a family where everyone has always played some sort of instrument. But for me in grade six, I started playing baritone, which is like a small tuba; some people call it a euphonium. I had an amazing music teacher. I lived in a small town near Toronto and I had this teacher Sue Smith, who had been the trumpet in Canadian Brass. She actually came to my school and I started with her in grade six and then she came to my high school and continued teaching our class all the way through high school. When you get a teacher like her it really changes the way you look at things and it makes you want to continue playing. I was the captain of the football team and the basketball team, and sometimes, when I was going to school anyway, the sports guys arent too keen on people playing in the jazz band or the concert band. But when you get the right teacher who explains things and helps you deal with peer pressure and all that junk, you can learn a lot. Coming from that education, how did you form Walk Off The Earth? I didnt even start playing guitar until I was 20. Im a really big Bob Dylan fan, so right away I did a lot of harmonica and guitar playing, and singing at the same time. I hooked up with a couple of guys and we started a little reggae band that lasted a few years. When that band ended, I continued playing with my drummer, and we wanted to start recording a little two piece project. He knew this guy Gianni who had his own studio, so we went there to record. Gianni started adding some bass and things into the stuff we were recording. We hadnt even played a show yet and we didnt have a bass player, so it just kind of turned into a three piece. We needed a name and Walk Off The Earth just kind of happened, and that was the beginning. One thing that really stands out about Walk Off The Earth is your instrumentation and the really cool, kind of unusual choices that you make. Where do you get those ideas and what inspires you? I think a lot of the inspiration comes from the different characters and influences that we have in the band. Having five people adding ideas and influences really allows us to use a lot of different instruments. For Sarah and Gianni and I, its kinda like this: none of us are amazing guitar players and none of us are amazing ukulele players, or whatever it might be, but once you kind of understand the idea of the instrument, if you can shape a chord or something, as long as you have good rhythm you can get away with playing a couple songs on it here and there. All of us are really interested in learning different instruments and finding things to add to the set. Sometimes it ends up being little kids instruments, and its fun to take something like that and say how can we sample it, or how can we record it. Then once you put it into a recording, youre kinda stuck, and you have to figure out a way to do it live, so you end up bringing all these weird instruments live on stage. Another thing that Walk Off The Earth is really famous for is that you got a record deal on YouTube. Was that something that you set out to do? What would your advice be to other artists who want to follow that same path? We did the indie band thing, trying to get signed by a label in conventional ways, and its really tough. It finally got to a point where we all realized, were not going to get signed to a label, were going to have to do this on our own. We had to find a way to reach a lot of people, and YouTube had just started up. Gianni said hey, why dont we give this a shot? We put up some videos and all of a sudden we had 15,000 views on a video (editors note: that video now has over 160 million views). Wed never played to 15,000 people in our lives! You also have to be lucky in the viral world. If people could figure out how to make a viral video, then everyone would. I dont know what happens, something happens, and we got lucky with that one video. We also had another 30 or 40 videos already on that channel, so when people saw the viral video, it wasnt like a dog that was talking and all of a sudden theres nothing else to watch. There was a whole catalog of songs, originals and covers, that people could watch next, and we noticed those all started blowing up at the same time. That also was the thing that attracted the label. Labels want to see a body of work and a fanbase before they put money into a band these days. You have to develop your career yourself. Youre currently on the road, and youve been out on tour for some weeks now. What are the best and worst things about being on the road? I love playing for crowds. Honestly, the best feeling in the world for me is getting on stage and having people sing back songs to you that you wrote. To me, its the most rewarding feeling in the world. So thats definitely the best. I have a family at home, and I have a little five-year-old, and I miss home when Im away. A couple of you in the band have families, and its got to be work sometimes to balance that with your careers as musicians. Recently, your bandmate Sarah even had an experience where she was asked to leave a flight because her toddler was fussy. How does that situation fit in with your overall experiences of balancing parenthood with being rockstars? The Sarah situation was just insanity. I have no idea what the airline was thinking. I think thats gonna get taken care of, and that aside, as far as balancing fatherhood and family when were on the road, its got its pros and cons. For example, when we recorded our album it took us about three months, and we were at home in Burlington that whole time. So I was home for three months straight, every day. I could see my family every day. A lot of busy fathers are home every day but they work from 6 AM to 8 PM and their kids are in school and then theyre asleep. For me, I get to spend three months straight with my family and they see me whenever I want to see them, which is amazing. But when youre gone, youre gone. When youre on the road, youre gone for months. Things like Facetime and Skype have really changed how were able to communicate with home. And you know, Sarah and Gianni, theyre both in the band, and they can travel with their son, and the second one coming along soon. Ive brought my five-year-old Kingsley with me on a couple tours, not a bus tour, but a couple fly-ins, and it was really fun. When you do get the chance to play music purely for fun, what do you like to practice and what do you like listening to? Im a big folk guy, I love listening to Tallest Man on Earth, a lot of Bon Iver. I listen to every type of music but I havent really gotten into any country yet. Everything else pretty much ends up on my phone. I have a pretty wide variety. When Im playing, I usually just pick up my acoustic and I write a lot. I enjoy writing all different types of music. I will write a lot of country songs but I dont really listen to country [laughs]. But I just love picking up my acoustic guitar and singing and doing singer-songwriter type stuff. Is there anything musically that you hope to explore more in the future? As a band, we really like trying to touch all aspects of the music world. On this album, we have a collaboration with Steve Aoki, which allowed us to kind of get into the EDM part of the music scene. We got to go and play with him at Ultra Music Fest in Miami. It was close to 200,000 people, and its a different scene for us, so it was great. Our fans are such a large, eclectic group. We have three-year-olds at our shows, and last night we had an 89-year-old lady at our show. It really ranges and its really cool, and were able to collaborate with other artists that allow us to explore other types of music. Dont miss your chance to see Walk Off The Earth when they come to your town! Keep up with tour dates on their website, Facebook, or Twitter. 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 Erin Blackwood

What is it Like to Attend University of Wisconsin-River Falls

What is it Like to Attend University of Wisconsin-River Falls The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Carolyn received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is currently a tutor in Minneapolis specializing in English tutoring, essay editing tutoring, reading tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Carolyn: The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a beautiful green campus with lots of trees and rolling land in a typical, rural American town. The Kinnickinnic River runs through campus, and it takes only 20 minutes at most to walk from one end of campus to the other. Most students walk or bike. There is also a reasonably priced taxi service in town to get students to places further away from campus. The campus is considered to be a very safe place. I never felt unsafe walking there, even at night. It is well lit with campus police on patrol 24 hours a day. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Carolyn: I found the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants to be very approachable and helpful. The class sizes are reasonably small, and individual attention is the norm. There is also help available from tutors if needed. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Carolyn: The dorms are all close to class buildings, and students can easily walk to classes. The walkways are cleared right away after a snowfall, so walking is always an option. The food at the university is tasty, and many healthy options are included on the menu. There are lots of other dining choices within minutes of campus, including pizza places, Chinese restaurants, Mexican restaurants, and several fast food choices. There is a theater just blocks away that has been family-run and owned for years and years, and it still offers movie tickets for $3.00 and buttered popcorn for $1.00. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Carolyn: The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is noted for its agriculture major. It also has a very good education department, which is the course of study that I chose. I majored in elementary education. There is a campus day care on site which has a very good reputation for early childhood education. The music department is very good, as well, and that was my minor area of study. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is also noted for its physics and chemistry majors. One famous astronaut, Dan Brandenstein, graduated from the school. He piloted one space shuttle mission and commanded two other missions. Boyd Huppert, reporter for KARE 11 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Carolyn: The campus is a very friendly one. It is a fairly small university in a small town, and the River Falls population is roughly 15,000 people. It is easy to get to know other students, especially within ones major area of study. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services at University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Carolyn: The student support services are very helpful, and once again, because it is a small university in a small town, individual help is available. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Carolyn: The university library is a very good library, and it has everything needed for your studying. There is also a beautiful library downtown in River Falls which is only a few blocks from campus. It is a multi-purpose library, and it has all the latest technical equipment needed for todays operations. Describe the surrounding town. Carolyn: The city of River Falls is a small community. Students can feel safe walking the streets even at night. There are several shops and stores within the city, as well as restaurants and fast food places. River Falls is only about 15 miles from Woodbury, Minnesota and 30 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota. There is every shopping and dining option imaginable there. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Carolyn: The student body is a little over 6,000 students, and the class sizes are ideal. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Carolyn: I particularly remember Dr. Elliot Wold, who was my voice teacher and choir teacher at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He has since retired, but he was a very dedicated and talented man who loved music. I would say that he impacted my life because he had such a strong work ethic and love of music and teaching. Check out Carolyns tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is it Like to Attend Seattle Pacific University

What is it Like to Attend Seattle Pacific University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Alex received his Bachelors degree in Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University. He is currently a tutor in New York City specializing in Reading, Writing, Test Prep, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at Seattle Pacific University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Alex: Seattle Pacific University has a beautiful, compact campus: big enough to walk around and enjoy, but small enough not to get lost in. At least, not after the first couple days! The school sits at the bottom of a hill between an upscale residential neighborhood and the canal wharfs. Its urban but quiet. For getting around to the rest of the city, I recommend a car or bike, but there are several perfectly good bus options too. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Alex:Almost every class at Seattle Pacific University is taught by professors with PhDs (most of the exceptions are in subjects where the MA is the terminal degree, as in creative writing). The professors are almost always extremely available, welcoming students to their office hours, providing a lot of feedback on class work and offering extra help for students who are struggling or who want to bring their work to the next level. After several years, Im still in contact with several professors. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Alex:Seattle Pacific University cultivates an active social life. Everyones experience varies, but I found the dorms very conducive to quick-forming, lasting friendships. There are quite a few campus groups and events as well. The dining commons is excellent and is shared by all on-campus students. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Alex:I studied English, and I think Seattle Pacific University has an excellent program, especially for a small school. The honors classes, the University Scholars, feature some of the top professors from across almost all of the disciplines, so I had the opportunity to take ample classes from philosophy, political science, physics, history, and more. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Alex:It was very easy to make friends in the schools dorm life. Particularly at the beginning of the year, the school and individual dorm buildings and floors organize a lot of events designed to help students get to know each other. There are no fraternities or sororities. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Alex:The school is very helpful for finding employment during school, with internships and job fairs. However, if there is a career center, I never encountered it. Seattle Pacific University makes connections with reputable companies in the Seattle area. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Alex:The library is spacious and well-stocked, and many of the other class buildings have designated areas to study and relax. Study lounge facilities vary by dorm, but are present and useful in all of them. Overcrowding is rare anywhere on campus. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Alex:Seattle is a great city to be a student. Its a lot of fun, with a lot of cafes and restaurants, as well as concerts, shows, sports (go Mariners!), and other events. The school is about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle, and its just across the canal from the neighborhoods of Fremont (very artistic) and Ballard (lots of great hangout spots). Seattle is also a lot smaller and cheaper than other major city cultural hubs (like New York, for instance). Seattle is also very close to great hiking areas in the Cascades. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Alex:The student body was less than 4,500 when I went, and I imagine its still under 5,000. Its a pretty intimate campus, kind of like a small town. The undergraduate population is around 3,000, I think, so its easy to get to know people and be known by people. Class sizes varied a lot, but there were only a few that made it up to 100 students (mostly psychology. I hear we have a great psych department). Classes designed for students majoring in the subject were a lot smaller, running between 10 and 40 students, usually toward the smaller end. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Alex:We had a very rigorous professor for our second quarter honors class. He assigned us one paper per week (rough draft, then a final) on heavy classical literature. What he didnt know is that everyone loved him anyway. He was a great lecturer, the sort that holds your attention for an hour and a half and you wish class wasnt ending. Anyways, it was Valentines Day and about 20 of us were supposed to be studying, but instead we walked down to the local 7-11. We saw one of those huge oversized cards and bought it for the professor. When we presented it in class the next day (with our papers), he was totally overwhelmed. I thought you guys hated me! he exclaimed. Check out Alexs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tips to Reinvigorate Your Childs School Attitude Over Holiday Break

Tips to Reinvigorate Your Child’s School Attitude Over Holiday Break Its holiday break, a welcome pause from school and extracurricular responsibilities for your child. While most children look forward to the chance to relax and unwind,Eileen Huntington, Co-founder and CEOof Huntington Learning Center reminds parents that holiday break is also a good time to gear up for a great second half of the school year. If your child has gotten off to a rocky start or just wants to maintain momentum in the spring semester, holiday break is the time to reset and refresh,Huntington says. How can parents help their children recharge their mental batteries and finish the year strong? Here are several tips: Look back at goals set in the fall. If your child established goals at the start of the school year, revisit them now. Is your child on track to achieve some of the things he or she set out to do at the start of the year? What has gone well and what could go better? Talk about any previously set goals that need adjusting. Set new goals. A new semester might mean new classes and certainly means new opportunities for your child to develop and learn. Have an open discussion about what your child wants to achieve in the remainder of the school year. Raise a grade? Work on his or her organization? Procrastinate less? Whatever the goals, encourage your child to lay out how he or she intends to work toward them. Ask, What have you learned? Talk about what challenges arose in the fall semester and how your child overcame them, and any other meaningful experiences that had an impact. Remind your child that every failure means your child has learned something important. Where did your child become stronger as a result of overcoming something difficult? Fine tune any study habits. Many children take a little time to acclimate to a new school year, so now that youre several months in, consider what your child could use to improve any study or organizational habits like planner maintenance or the morning or homework routine. This holiday break, make sure your child enjoys time with family and catches up on some relaxation, but dont forget to take time to reflect on the last few months and set a positive tone for the rest of the year. The start of a new year is an ideal time for both parents and children to get into a good frame of mind to make necessary adjustments, she says. If your child has things he or she wants to fix or just wants to stay on the same upward trajectory, sit down and make a plan together wherein your child takes initiative and you offer your support. For more tips on how to keep your child on a positive path for the remainder of the year, contact Huntington at1-800-CAN-LEARN.

Why I Volunteer - Rebecca Ds Story

Why I Volunteer - Rebecca D's Story Meet Rebecca D, one of Tutorfair’s very own VIVs (Very Important Volunteers). Rebecca is about to begin the TeachFirst Leadership Development Programme in September 2016, and in the run up to her teacher training volunteered for Tutorfair, Southside Young Leader Academy and Stretch Academy. We help her tell the rest of her story below. Rebecca wasn’t quite sure what to expect on her first day at the Southside Young Leader's Academy, and walking into a room full of lively students on a Saturday morning was more than a little overwhelming. However, according to Rebecca, practicing her teaching skills with both TeachFirst’s School Orientation Experience (SOE) and as a volunteer with Tutorfair were valuable, one-of-a-kind experiences. “SOE was great to observe lessons,” she said, “but the Tutorfair programme gave me real hands on experience . . . which was really helpful, especially the subject sessions in small groups.” Rebecca took this training and ran with it, building tutoring plans for the “Gifted and Talented” students at Stretch Academy, and helping Southside Young Leaders with their literacy skills. SA and SYLA respectively target low-income students and young black boys. As a future teacher, Rebecca found working with these hardworking, but often overlooked pupils the most useful part of her experience. “Working at the Stretch Academy gave me tips on how to challenge . . . students, while SYLA gave me insight [into] differentiating work for a mixed-ability group,” she explained. “[In general, being a volunteer] gives the chance to understand the issues facing the students, [and] the experience let me appreciate how imaginative you have to be to keep students engaged!” We’re ecstatic that Rebecca found her time with us as a volunteer  both practical and enjoyable, and clearly Rebecca is, too: “[I] would recommend [the program] to anyone!” Thanks, Rebecca! If you're a tutor, teacher or an aspiring educator looking to make a difference, visit the  Tutorfair Foundation  to find out how you can join the future of tutoring.

How to Stand Out as a Scholarship Applicant

How to Stand Out as a Scholarship Applicant Image via Isorepublic.com Follow directions and ensure you are qualified It’s amazing the number of applications that are disqualified because the applicant did not follow the directions or the prompt (or because they missed the due date!). Not answering the prompt completely can cause you to miss out on the award! This mistake can easily be avoided if you take a few extra minutes to read the prompt and ensure that your essay responds to everything the prompt asks you. If it helps you, make it into a checklist and check off questions as you address them in your essay. That way, you will know exactly what the instructions are asking of you, and you know that you’ve answered all of them. Also, applications can be discarded when the applicant is not qualified. For example, if the scholarship award is only for graduate students, don’t apply for it if you are not a graduate student. Don’t waste your time applying for a scholarship that you are not qualified for. Instead, spend that time searching for a scholarship award that you ARE qualified for. These are simple mistakes that can be avoided if you only spend a few extra minutes making sure that you’ve responded to the prompt entirely and that you are eligible for the award. Submit a unique essay It’s tempting to submit the same essay to multiple scholarship applications, but I would encourage against this. Using the same essay for multiple competitions is a risky move. Instead, take the time to tailor each essay for the specific prompt. When you submit a unique essay, it will show that you are passionate about the subject, and it will impress the scholarship application judges. You will stand out among those who used the same essay for multiple competitions. For this reason, submit a unique essay each time you enter a scholarship competition. Yes, it requires extra effort, but it is well worth it. Have someone else review your essay Whenever you write something, it’s a good idea to get someone else to read it over, too. Sometimes, we get so used to reading our own writing that we overlook some minor mistakes we make. But if you have someone else reading your work, they will catch these mistakes and will give you feedback to improve your essay. Also, they might give you some ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. Go to your school’s writing center or ask your English professor to double check your essay. Their feedback will be very valuable and will increase your chances of winning the award. Submit it (and start writing it) earlier, not later It’s not always true that your chances of winning a scholarship essay contest will increase if you submit your essay earlier. Still, it’s definitely worth the extra effort to get your application in earlier rather than later. It will give you peace of mind and relief to know that your application has already been turned in. It will even give you more time to look for the next scholarship essay contest to enter! Starting it early is a good idea, too. The earlier you start writing the essay, the more time you have to craft a unique essay. You need time to write a winning essay, and starting earlier will give you that time. You won’t need to modify an existing essay you already have, because you will have time to tailor an entirely new essay to this specific contest prompt. Submitting your scholarship essay earlier rather than later might not increase your chances of winning, but it will give you great relief. The same goes for beginning the essay writing process earlier. Scholarships are a common way for students to pay off their college tuition. However, the scholarship application process can be a bit tricky, especially if an essay is involved. Still, as long as you give yourself enough time, have someone else proofread the essay, and follow all the directions, you have a good chance at standing out as a scholarship applicant.

Internships for Credit What You Need to Know

Internships for Credit What You Need to Know Photo: Pexels How do you know if a company offers college credit? When you are viewing an internship posting, it will usually say whether or not the company offers college credit. If its an unpaid position, they usually do offer college credits for their interns. If it is a paid position, you may be able to switch it out for college credit instead of getting financial compensation. Dont be afraid to ask! Usually, you will have to coordinate with the company you are looking to intern at and an academic/faculty member that will ultimately sponsor/monitor your internship. Make sure you fill out all necessary registration and any paperwork before beginning your internship to get the college credit you want. Keep track of all the steps necessary so that you know what needs to be done and what deadlines to meet. How do you know if you are eligible to get college credit for an internship? Ultimately, it is actually up to your school whether or not you are eligible for college credit. Its not just whether or not the company offers it to begin with, but if your school deems you eligible. You can be denied eligibility for a number of reasons. Maybe you have already taken an internship for college credits and reached the universitys cap for college credits given by an internship. The internship you are pursuing has to tie into your major or field of study in some way, so if it is completely unrelated to your studies, you will most likely not be able to get college credit for the internship. If you are able to find a way to connect your internship to your education, you can see if there is a way for you to submit a petition to get your internship to qualify for college credit. Your ability to be eligible for an internship for college credit also may depend on what year you are in. You may only be able to get an internship for college credit if you are an upperclassman with junior or senior standing in terms of college credits. Also, some majors and minors will require you to complete an internship or field study as part of your requirement for classes. As such, you will get college credit for completing the internship rather than financial compensation. How do you know if an internship for college credits is the right choice for you?   As nice as it is to get out of the classroom and still get college credit, it definitely is not the right choice for everyone. If you are getting an internship for college credit, you will most likely not be getting paid for it as it is usually one or the other. Sometimes you may be looking at multiple internship opportunities and be left completely unsure as to which one to pick. Lay out your options and see which one best advances your career path and gives you the most helpful experience and networking, it may not necessarily be the internship granting you the most college credit. If you are stretched tight financially, you may not be able to have an internship for college credit. Rather, a paid internship may be the better move for you. Dont be afraid to weigh your options. Hopefully, with this guide, your decision will be a bit easier and well-informed.