Author: Tony Jones

6 Tips to Teach Yourself the Japanese Alphabet

Posted on by Tony Jones

Those who pursue learning Japanese are notorious for picking up and dropping their new language. All you need is an appropriate start. Learning a language includes four primary domains: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Once you pass the initial hurdle of learning a new language, it’ll get effortless for you to grasp advanced concepts.

In this post, we’ll show you six beneficial tips that will help you in your quest to learn Japanese. I hope that these tips would help make your learning experience more productive and less tedious.

1. Setting a clear goal

This one is pretty obvious. Before you start anything, you should have a clear goal and an objective. If you aren’t sure what your goal is, simply ask yourself “why do I want to study Japanese?”

The answer can be anything ranging from being able to read your favourite manga to be able to converse in it as you are Japan on a vacation. Some might even pursue it for professional reasons.

Having a clear goal avoids wasting time studying stuff you don’t need to know. For example, if your goal is to visit Japan for a week on holiday, then you should just be studying simple phrases for asking directions, asking for tickets. You don’t need to waste your time studying 2500 kanji from a sophisticated textbook for that.

2. Learn Hiragana and Katakana before advancing to Kanji

When you are just getting started with the language, try to learn Hiragana and Katakana as quickly as you can. For beginners, Kanji can be quite confusing due to its vast array of characters. Moreover, being able to read Hiragana and Katakana helps a little with pronunciation as it forces you to speak using the basic sounds of Japanese.

You won’t remember them well at first, but during the exercises, you’ll get the hang of it. Continue by learning some nouns and verbs, as well as some particles. Alongside the exercises, you should gradually be introduced to some basic kanji characters.

These include words such as moon (月), sun (日), now (今), etc. Try placing them in words you know how to read, so you can get used to seeing them there and associate them with those words.

3. Practice writing in Japanese

Once you get accustomed to the basic nouns and verbs, you should start practicing your writing skills. It is best to use a journal, study notebook, or flashcards to kick start your new habit of writing in Japanese. While it may be challenging for you at first, the more you practice writing these characters, the better you will be.

I would suggest you to start writing about topics that are conversation-like. For example, contacting a friend to ask about their wellbeing is not only great writing practice but also becomes an opportunity to perfect your speaking skills as well.

4. Spending time reading Japanese

After learning to write in Japanese, the next logical step for you is to start learning how to read it. Once you start reading the Japanese text, you’ll find the process to be rather slow and tedious. However, this is momentary as once you start recognizing more characters, you’ll be able to pick up the pace with your reading.

You can use the Internet to discover several different libraries with short Japanese stories. These often contain spaces, translations, and hiragana over any kanji characters that might be unfamiliar. Reading official news reports and intermediate grammar books would also help you develop your formal grammar skills.

Consider buying a solid dictionary that has kanji, the hiragana for each kanji and an English definition for it.

5. Increasing your vocabulary by listening to Japanese media

Japanese learning podcasts are a great source for increasing your vocabulary and getting listening practice. Apart from that, try checking out some YouTube channels, listening to the weather forecast on NHK news.

It’s vital to find something that you find interesting and can engage in to increase the chances you will keep listening to it.

You can find a ton of Japanese-language films and shows on sites like Netflix and Hulu, and find a vast array of Japanese anime library on Crunchyroll. With the huge amount of Japanese media out there on the internet, your language learning experience can be a whole lot more fun!

6. Taking part in domestic immersion programs

If you are willing to pursue Japanese at a professional level, you should consider participating in domestic immersion programs. By being present in the country and interacting with its people would help bridge the gap in your fluency efficiently.

Within India, there are organizations such as Japan Foundation in New Delhi which allow you to have Japanese education overseas, but look before you leap. Some programs will not allow you to communicate in English and try to force you to speak Japanese no matter what your language level is.

Once you’re situated overseas, take in the culture, speak with the locals, and do all you can to use Japanese whenever possible. This final step should help you in successfully mastering several key pronunciations and make you more adept in the language.

Final Words

While there is no quick and easy way to learn the Japanese language, there are certain methods that are more efficient than others. Be sure to keep these six tips in mind as you begin your Japanese language learning journey.…

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8 Best Clarinet Brand Reviews

Posted on by Tony Jones

The clarinet is a woodwind instrument that has a warm tone and suits a lot of musical types such as classical and jazz. It covers the entire range of notes from low notes by the contrabass to the high ones by the piccolo clarinet. The clarinet is much like a saxophone where the user blows into the narrow gap between the mouthpiece and the reed to produce sound. The user is usually known as a clarinetist. We have the B flat clarinet which is the one used in most music styles whereas the A, which is used in chamber music and orchestra.

Qualifications of a good clarinet

  • The clarinet should have keys that cover the holes without sticking but completely.
  • It should have a bore made from wood that is smooth, dry and clean.
  • The last area where the sound travels in a clarinet is known as the bell. A clarinet should have a bell that isn’t cracked or chipped on the inside or even outside for that matter. It can dilute or distort the sound. Hence avoid instruments that show any kind of wear and abuse.
  • It should have joints that come covered with a thin layer of cork.

Best Clarinet Brands

Buying the best instrument also involves the experience of the player, the budget and the preferred quality the user requires. All these criteria should be equally weighted before making a decision.

Yamaha

It stands among the best clarinet brands for a professional clarinetist. These come with custom made wood instruments which are known for their sound quality. As a featuring instrument, we have the YCL-CSVR model which is a handcrafted custom clarinet. It is known to have a rich, full sound and the custom-made bell design improves the overall sound experience.

Buffet

It is a contender to the Yamaha as The buffet maintains its top-rated clarinet status in the market. For a feature, we have the R13 model which is well renowned by the professional clarinetist in the industry. The R13 model is treated with a resin coating over the wood which provides extra strength to the instrument. Here, the design of the instrument helps in maintaining the overall tone quality.

Vento

It is not as well-known as the Buffet or the Yamaha but the Vento has models that produce good quality sounds and are more cost accessible than most of the others on the market right now. As a feature, we have the Vento 901-VEBC. Although it is of the key Bb, which isn’t standard yet the sound quality here takes away the deal. It is of the bass clarinet family if one is looking for the best. As mentioned before the model is tuned with the Bb key, but it can be used to play Eb key as well.

Mendini

This comes under the more cost accessible brands present out there yet providing an intermediate clarinetist the best value for money. As a feature, we have the Mendini MCT-30 which is made of wood and offers a really good sound quality for the price. Although it has been noted by professionals that a few tweaks to this model can help make it truly incredible. The only trade-off here is the mouthpiece. It can be covered up by getting a replacement.

Jean-Paul

Jean paul is one of the top-rated clarinet brands. Although these might not be recommended for rough usage, they stand out as the ones with the highest quality sound. As a feature, we have the Jean Paul USA CL-300 which is ranked as the best student clarinet in terms of pricing and the sound quality. The ebonite built provides a better sound than the plastic ones. It has some durability to it and also the fact that it’s made of ebonite it doesn’t require as much care as the wood ones.

Nuvo

The clarinets of Nuvo are known as the clarineos. These are specially crafted for the younger generation. They provide top clarinets for the early players and are built for smaller hands. As a feature, we have the Nuvo N100CLBL Clarineo Kit which has a plastic build and ar made for somewhat rough usage by the younger generation. The only con here is that it comes with a non-traditional key that is C. Hence it may require some guidance as one switches to the traditional Bb type.

Cecilio

The Cecilio is a well-known and a top-rated brand when it comes to getting a quality instrument. Although the design has a slightly large construction and weighs a little more, hence may not be suitable for people with smaller hands or frames. But it provides an overall comfort for most players. As a feature, we have the Cecilio CT-380. If the idea of owning a wooden without having to invest a thousand dollars in it, then this might be the option for you.

The Cecilio CT-380 comes with a solid rosewood body that durable and it also has silver-plated keys with adjustable thumb rest and Italian quality pads.

Jupiter

Jupiter is a brand that best suits some of the more advanced players out there or the ones that are advancing to step up their clarinet skills. As a feature, we have the JCL-700N which has a tough resin body that is meant for long-lasting usage. It has a long barrel which aids in making the sound warm, reliable and rich. It comes with a smooth matt finish and nickel-plated keys that are made to look appealing to the eye.

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8 Best Pan Flutes you need to buy

Posted on by Tony Jones

Pan Flute is a musical instrument that consists of numerous pipes lined in a row. These pipes are of various sizes and/or are blocked at various points so that when the user blows air into it a melody can be played. There are various types of Pan flutes spread across civilizations and places.

Best Pan Flutes

  • The Syrinx, from Greece, is spread across Europe. All the European pan flutes are derived from the syrinx.
  • The Paixiao, from China, is a bamboo flute with 16 pipes in total that are assembled in a semi-circular shape.
  • The Andes, the most famous non-European from the Andes. To this day, the Andean music is highly influenced by the pan flutes.

1. Ramos Professional Peru Treasure Standard Size Curved Antara Pan Flute

It is an instrument that anyone would be proud to own due to its beauty. It has a very neat and clean build. It’s made out of refined bamboo. As we all know, it is a woodwind instrument. It has it roots in the Andes where musicians, decades ago used to perform. It is a 13-pipe set-up with the length varying across the range. Given its professional background, it comes with an affordable price. The last thing to worry about should be the sound, as it has excellent sound quality and tone.

2. Fenglv 16 Pipes Eco-Friendly Resin C Tone Pan Flute

This pan flute is for a beginner. Fenglv 16 Pipes Pan Flute will prove to be an excellent starting point. The instrument itself is easy to practice on and learn. Although by the looks of it, it’s not the one that you would carry on for the rest of your journey with music. The robust build quality and Eco-friendly materials add to the goodness of it. The cherry on top is that its affordable.

3. MoonAngel 25 Pipes Pan Flute

This is a more common instrument among people from china. It’s an enjoyable instrument that can be played by a child or an adult as well. it has a very high-quality sound, as well as the construction, both compliment the user-friendliness. The 25-pipe set-up helps provides with a beautiful tone and due to the bamboo built the sound is really impressive. In comparison to the other pan flutes out there, it’s a heavier one. Yet, it’s lightweight and playable. Also, the playability of this flute is what makes this instrument the best-selling flute on the market.

4. Peru Treasure Beginner Antara Pan Flute

This is a Peruvian flute. It’s a cute little portable instrument. Due to its small build, it’s meant for younger generations. Even a complete newbie should be able to pick it up and carve up some decent skills. Although it comes tuned to E minor, there’s always room for customization. The beautiful reproduction of the Inca sounds will blow your mind away. The fact that it is handmade should give you the idea that it is meant for long-lasting usage. Also due to its build quality, the tone and sound produced by it are really amazing.

5.Peru Treasure 15 Pipes Pan Flute

Yet another Peruvian treasure. Peruvian flutes are some of the best and the most beautiful flutes present out there. The quality of the material used and the construction of the contribute to the superb tonal quality. The ease with which the tunes can be adjusted is amazing and is really effortless to modulate sounds while playing the instrument. It is tuned to the key C. It can be easily recommended to use of any level of skill set. And the fact that it can be used for all sorts of occasions is just delighting.

6. Sanyork Zampona Panflute

Sanyork Zampona Panflute is made from the Andean bamboo which is known for its durability and authentic sounds. The build quality ensures long-lasting usage. The design of this ancient pan flute is based on the closed tube design. By the looks of it, it shiny and stands out. The production house is made to give attention to the detailing and the beauty of the flute. The only con here is that the pipes are not perfectly aligned. And also that it doesn’t come with a case. Otherwise, it is a great flute to take off your musical skills with.

7. Alii of Hawaii Bamboo Pan Flute

If you’re looking for a more professional flute then this might not be the choice for you. This flute is meant for kids, as a souvenir instrument, or a toy. Although it’s meant for children, that doesn’t mean that the sound quality is affected. It’s a handmade bamboo pan flute, which means that it gives out high-quality sounds. It’s a high-quality flute if you’re the person for whom the looks and feel of it are more important than the sound or the playability of the instrument itself.

8. Concert Series Pan Flute

Concert Series Pan Flute is a 12-piped curved pan flute that comes with a diatonic scale between A to E. Although the quality of the materials used here might be okay but combined with good construction, the overall flute is pretty decent. Due to the construction, the flute is sturdy and the sound is more than just acceptable. The takeaway here is the looks, it looks really appealing with its beautiful finishing touch. Concert Series Pan Flute is really easy to handle and comfortable to play, perfect for beginners as well.

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Best Electric Can Opener

Posted on by Tony Jones

There’s no doubt, science and technology have made life easier and smoother. There is the presence of technology in every field. Today, one cannot imagine their survival without science. From top to bottom, science and technology have successfully created a great influence on human life. From the invention of mobile to television, the automobile to the machine, science has made life simpler and manageable. One of the best technological inventions is an electric can opener. The electric opener is widely used in the food world. It is used to open packed cans softly.

What is an Electric Opener?

An Electric opener is a mechanical tool used for opening tin or steel containers. Today, usually tin cans are used to pack food items to prevent it from bacterial attacks and keep it fresh for a longer period of time. Although, tin cans were used for food packaging for many years ago. In older times, when food items were packed in tin or steel container, opening that container required a lot of effort. The container was opened using a sharp object like a knife or screwdriver. Sometimes, using such sharp objects proved harmful. But nowadays the invention of the electric opener has changed the scenario. One can easily open a tin container using an electric opener.

Basic Structure of a Can Opener

There’s a basic structure of a can opener regardless on the basis of different types.

  1. Base:- In the manual can openers, the base enables the user to keep the can stabilize with one hand by pressing the handles together, so that the other hand can regulate the crank.
  2. Crank:- The crank is used in regulating the gear. This is the basic part and it is present in both; manual and electric can opener. Some wall-mounted can openers have an adjustable crankshaft to hold different sizes of tin cans.
  3. Circular Knife:- A knife is present in the opener to tear down the metal and open the can. It is also present in manual as well as an electric can opener.
  4. Knife Holder:-The circular knife is held in place with a small metal holder-like part and holds the knife with the operational gear.
  5. Gear:- Work of the gear is to move the circular knife. The gear is connected to an electric crank or by a manual crank, depending on its mechanism.
  6. Electric Motor:- This part is present in electric can openers only. It helps in rotating crank and circular knife.

Types of Can Openers

Can openers are basically divided into two parts? The division is on the basis of operation. One is hand-operated and the other is electrically operated. Hence, there are two types of Can openers. They are Manual Can openers and Electric Can openers. Both types of can openers have been discussed below:-

  1. Manual Can openers:- This type of can opener was invented many years ago. It was used in opening the tin or metal cans. In making a manual can opener, very fewer resources were utilized. It is not electrically-operated. It means that energy is not used while using this tool. It is manual and by using hands it can be easily operated. Manual can openers are easily available. It is very economical. This type of opener can be easily stored at any place in the house. Moreover, it is very simple to clean the opener.A manual can opener generally takes a longer period of time to open a can. Probability of cutting hand is high. It gets jammed easily. And most importantly, if the user is suffering from arthritis, then it is advised not to use the manual can opener.

  1. Electric Can opener:- The biggest advantage of this type of can opener is that it saves time. It speedily cuts the metal can and opens the seal. An electric opener puts less pressure on hands and wrist. Due to electrical energy, the force used by hands is lowered. Safety guards have been installed on the newer design electric can openers which prevent from being cut by the can lids. It is portable. It does not need installation or wiring at any corner of the house.

In this competitive market era, it is very tough to find good material. Between manual and electric can opener, one should always make a reasonable choice. Both types of can openers are best in their own way. They have advantages and disadvantages of their own. The buyer is free to make the choice among varieties of product available in the market. Use of the electric can opener is increasing in the kitchen day by day because of its innumerable number of advantages.

Yes, it is little costly because of the materials used in it. But the speed and high safety and security characteristics add colours to the selling of electric can openers. Earlier due to the absence of high technology, humans had to put the physical effort in order to successfully complete the task but as science and technology are expanding, it results in scientific inventions and research. Electric can opener helps in opening the tin or steel can painlessly. Nowadays, many more features have been added to the electric can openers. Automatic shut off feature, knife sharpener, jar and bottle openers and a magnetic lid holder have been installed to enhance the quality of electric can opener. All the aspect of electric can opener should be kept in mind while purchasing it. The buyer should not fall for attractive advertisements but also they should take care of the components while purchasing it.…

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