Deciding how to advertise your business on the Internet is not an easy decision, especially when you’re on a budget. There are so many different advertising platforms in existence that gain you traffic in exchange for the majority of your advertising budget. With so many options available and some very expensive, it’s difficult to know whom to trust. Enlighten yourself to a new technologically savvy way of marketing and promoting your business that your competition may be unaware of. Google Places is very beneficial to many businesses and this is why:Google Places is free. This means that if you decide to advertise your business using this service, your advertising budget remains untouched. Most online advertising costs money i.e. Pay-Per-Click (PPC), which can cleverly eat into your advertising budget if you’re not careful. Additionally, there is much to be learned before you likely see any success and many people do not realize this.Google Places is obviously owned by Google; think of the benefits to you since this is the case. Google is the most popular and frequently used search engine in the world as millions of people use their search engine daily. Additionally, Google is constantly changing and testing their algorithms to ensure they are giving people the exact information they are searching for.Now, imagine consistently being on the first page of Google’s search engine and how that could benefit you and your business. Increased visibility on Google equals potentially massive exposure. The exposure will surely send highly targeted traffic to your Google Places listing.A huge advantage to using Google Places is that it is very easy to get set up, and you’re visible almost immediately. If you know how to type and operate a mouse, then you’re all ready to set up a basic listing. Everything is labeled step-by-step. There are also strategies to utilize to ensure you are gaining the maximum amount of exposure possible with this service. Just make sure you read on these strategies so you are getting the most of this free service.The great thing to know about Google Places is that your competition will most likely not be savvy enough to claim their free listing here. If you know that it’s such a simple process to list your business there, then all you need to do now is to take action and verify your listing. Don’t let this simple process go without taking advantage of it. Either have your webmaster claim your Google Places listing or do it yourself correctly.
How Old Should Kids Start Piano Lessons? | Piano Lessons for Kids
A new school year is approaching, so you might be wondering whether piano lessons are a good idea for your child.
There’s not one definitive answer for the best age for kids to start kids piano lessons. A number of factors play into this decision. Here are some things to be thinking about as you assess if now is a good time for your child to start piano.
It’s never too late to start
First, it’s important to know that it’s never too late to begin to learn the piano. There is no age limit to this. Even if kids begin piano lessons a few years later than their peers or as teenagers, they won’t be behind. Anyone can learn to play the piano, even in adulthood.
There is no need to feel rushed to start piano right away or to feel guilty if you haven’t started piano lessons yet.
It is possible to start too soon
On the other hand, starting piano lessons too soon isn’t always the best idea. It is possible for kids to form negative feelings about learning the piano early on if they are forced to learn it before they are truly ready. In the future, it may be very difficult to reverse this, and you may find that your child resents anything related to the piano.
Also, starting the piano too soon can also feel frustrating to kids who aren’t quite developmentally ready to learn the piano.
Elementary years are often a good time to start
The best time for most kids to start piano lessons is somewhere between early and mid-elementary school years. It’s impossible to judge your child’s readiness and interest to learn piano until you know him or her best.
You’ll also want to visit with several piano teachers to get their perspectives on a good time to start. Although some piano teachers are skilled at teaching younger beginners, others prefer older beginners. Even if your child is ready, learning from a teacher who is inexperienced with young children may negatively impact their experience.
Look for these signs of piano readiness
Interest in playing the piano: Does your child have a natural affinity for playing the piano? Do you notice them taking interest when other people play the piano? Do they sit down and try to figure things out on the piano on their own? Kids who do these things are almost always ready to learn more formally.
Time commitment: Piano lessons for kids require a time commitment from the whole family. Not only do you have to carve out time for weekly lessons, you also have to plan for daily practice. Practicing the piano should become a part of your child’s daily routine and ideally, parents need to be involved in the daily practice. The level of parental involvement will vary depending on your child and their teacher’s preferences. But, parents need to help kids find the structured time to practice, and they may also need to sit down and help their child complete assignments too.
The ability to sit still and focus for short to medium periods of time: Learning to play the piano requires kids to sit and focus at the piano for increasing lengths of time, A teacher who is great at working with young children will incorporate many ways to learn away from the piano bench and keep your child moving between different music activities. Some more traditional piano teachers might expect a child to sit at the piano for 30 minutes. If your child Piano might not be the best fit for someone who dislikes sitting still and focusing on details.
Fine motor development: Playing the piano requires a lot of fine motor development. It’s one of the only activities where kids are expected to control each individual finger simultaneously. Kids who haven’t fully developed their fine motor skills often feel stuck when they’re learning to play the piano. Their mind knows what to do and their hands simply aren’t ready.
Kid Playing Piano
Let’s take a quick look at what it’s like to start piano at various stages and what challenges you may need to be prepared for.
Ages 0–4 (Preschool): Kids who haven’t started Kindergarten yet usually aren’t quite ready for kids piano lessons. There are many wonderful music programs geared towards this age group. Look for movement-based preschool music programs in your area and help your child cultivate a love for music.
Ages 5–6 (Kindergarten/First Grade): Kids in this age group can really go either way. Many teachers will say that it’s too early to start piano lessons. But, kids who are really excited to learn or who have observed an older sibling learning piano often do really well.
Possible challenges: If you do start piano at this age, you might notice that your child doesn’t progress quickly or gets stuck on certain concepts. As long as your child is still interested in piano, don’t be discouraged when this happens. Usually, a developmental milestone is about to click into place and progress will pick up quickly soon.
Ages 7–9 (Second-Fourth Grades): These are really great years for starting piano lessons. A lot of kids in this age range pick up piano skills quickly and make fast progress, which is a big confidence boost.
Possible challenges: One thing to be mindful of with that quick progress early on is that things will soon get harder. Make sure you instill good discipline early on so that as things get more difficult, your child has what it takes to stick with it.
Ages 10–13 (Fifth-Eighth Grades): Kids starting piano at this age usually fly through the early stages because there are usually no developmental hindrances to learning. If a child in this age group is really interested in learning piano, they can usually cover a lot of ground very quickly and they are cognitively ready to really understand how piano and music work.
Possible challenges: Kids at this age who are being forced to learn the piano usually make very little progress because the easy stage doesn’t last very long.
Ages 14–18 (High School): High school can be a great time to start piano because at this age, a student is really motivated and has the capability to learn a lot quickly. A lot of times, high schoolers have already taught themselves a little bit of piano and they usually have specific goals and interests at the piano.
Possible challenges: The biggest obstacle that high schoolers face is time management. Kids that started piano at a younger age are already in the habit of carving out practice time, but newer high school learners often find it hard to juggle their other responsibilities with practicing. High schoolers also often get discouraged in the beginning stages because they might expect to move faster or play more complicated music sooner.
If you think your child is ready to start Kids piano lessons in west vancouver or Piano lessons Vancouver, make sure you have a good instrument in your home, you’ve visited with a few piano teachers to find the best match and that you’re ready to take on the time commitment as a family.
Top Home Remodeling Projects for a High ROI
If you are looking to add value to your home, be it to make it more perfect your needs or because you have plans to sell it, then you don’t want to invest money in a home remodeling project that has a low return on investment. However, determining what remodeling projects will bring the biggest bang for your buck might be a challenge – especially if you have a limited budget!In recent years, there has been a resurgence of homeowners looking for ways to give their home’s a new look – but not every upgrade has an ROI worth talking about. Here are some of the top home remodeling projects for garnering a high ROI.· Landscaping – While not actually a home remodeling project of the building type, research has shown that yards where the lawn is well-maintained and logically laid out can make a huge difference in the curb appeal of your home and thus, how much you can boost your home’s equity.· New Roof – Want to get as much as a 105% ROI on a home remodeling project? Then talk to your local roofer about upgrading your home’s roof. While a new roof may not be the sexiest home remodeling project, it is one with a high return!· Hardwood Floors – These too bring a huge ROI – in fact it is nearly a 100% ROI – perhaps more should you decide to do the work yourself, or happen to discover that underneath those tired carpets you have gorgeous hardwoods just waiting to be refinished.· Patio or Deck – Boost your living and entertaining space while increasing your home’s value. Choose building materials known for longevity and get more value for your investment.· Doors – From upgrading the front door to a safer more secure option such as a steel entry door to replacing old outdated garage doors for newer ones with better features and more insulation, upgrading the quality of your home’s doors can have a significant uptick in the value of your home.· Kitchen Remodel – A minor kitchen remodel, say new countertops or cabinetry, can improve your home’s resale value by as much as 80%.· Bathroom Remodels – This is a prime way to recoup a solid ROI. A home remodel that involves updating a bathroom with new fixtures, lighting and vanity, or perhaps adding anew bathroom to home’s layout are a great way to improve your home’s resale value and living space. It should be noted that you don’t want to make huge changes, however, as those can sometimes have a negative affect or not have as high an ROI.Remodeling one’s home can be a fun project, whether you are doing to improve the resale value or simply to make your home more suited to your needs. If you have questions about improving your home’s resale value, then now is the to talk to a local home remodeling team and get started on crafting a home design that works for needs and your budget.