• Arts and Entertainment
    Career possibilities after pursuing a fine arts degree

    If you’re considering a degree in fine arts and contemplating what kind of career prospects will it offer to you, don’t worry, because there are plenty. A fine arts degree comprises a variety of majors for you to study and specialize. After a bachelor’s degree, you also have an option of studying a master’s course to further hone your artistic abilities.

    Here are some professional prospects to look at, after completing a fine arts degree.

    A fine artist
    If you ultimately want to express your creative energies through original work, you can work in the areas of painting, installation, sketching, or sculpting. The best aspect about being a fine artist is that you have the complete autonomy to shape your ideas and thoughts into your work. Being a fine artist may not be a cakewalk but it’s liberating. Mostly because your passion is your profession!
    And ‘with this great power, comes great responsibility.’ As a fine artist, it is important to develop a work ethic as well as an eccentric sense of style to get recognized. You might work on your own terms but you need to have a sense of commitment and persistence.

    An art curator
    Working as an art curator in a museum or an art gallery would be an amazing option for you, if your life revolves around appreciating and studying artists all around the world. Any museum’s or gallery’s crucial asset is its curator, as they are the ones who research and shortlist the art work that is supposed to be displayed in the space. As an art curator, you will need multiple skills such as an eye for details, a vast knowledge of your subject, great social skills, a fetish for organizing events as well as great written skills. If you find yourself at peace in an artistic space like a museum on a chaotic Monday afternoon this profession is perfect for you.

    An art therapist
    If you love to listen to what people have to say and if you tend to stray away from the conventional method of therapy, you can be an art therapist. By incorporating visual, creative art methods and activities, you can assist clients express their feelings. It will be an amazing job for you if your passion for art can be amalgamated with your inclination to help people.

    A university lecturer
    If you have a strong suit in academics, and if you thoroughly enjoy sharing ideas, discussing and debating, a job of a university lecturer in an arts course is ideal for you. To be a university lecturer not only requires good grades, but also a profound thought process as well as an open approach to ideas and artistic possibilities. Pursuing this opportunity can also help you to work on you research ideas and their publication.

    An illustrator or an animator
    Having a fine arts degree is highly beneficial for individuals who can pursue a job as an illustrator or an animator. Commercial organizations like advertising agencies, publications and as well as brands specializing in niche products are always on a lookout for someone, who has agile and insightful conceptualization skills. Having a fine arts degree will assist you in interpreting and communicating your client’s vision. If you enjoy making animation movies, satirical sketching, designing, these two jobs are ideal for you.

  • Arts and Entertainment
    The online world of fine arts education

    The thriving technology of 21st century has brought the world closer and has expanded possibilities of all sorts, for all kinds of people. The sphere of education in the world economy has not shied away from the incorporation of computer screens, and has managed to reach unimaginable summits. And this is not just a scalable feat for academic courses like math, science or languages, the online arena of education has made even a rigorous creative course of fine arts available to students scattered across the country.

    Pursuing a fine arts course is not easy as it looks, especially if you happen to be studying for a college course already or if there is an additional responsibility such as a full-time job. But now with the arrival of the world wide web you can complete your fine arts degree or certificate courses without having to move or to abandon the plan altogether. All you require is a laptop and a decent internet connection.

    Fine arts studies generally comprise of various course structures such as a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or professional certificate courses. You can specialize in areas, like painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and design. An online course in fine arts aims to provide a wide variety of possibilities to hone your personal style as well as technical knowledge about the art you’re going to be focusing on.

    If you’re contemplating whether an online education in fine arts is worth your money and effort, don’t worry! There are many respectable universities that offer the same quality courses that are taught in an actual classroom. The idea is, it is just online for the benefit of learners who cannot consider the prospect of moving or who have jobs to continue. The biggest advantage of an online course in fine arts is its flexibility and options. You can take up part time or full time courses according to what works best for you.

    The online classes are as interactive as a traditional classroom with the expert faculties guiding you, who assign you with projects and then scrutinize your final work. Usually, the classes are smaller to encourage better communication and discussions, so you don’t have to worry about minimum level of feedback. In any case, you will have the liberty to contact your teachers through email or phone if you have any queries to solve.

    There are a variety of universities offering online courses for fine arts, they obviously differ in term of curriculum and requirements. You can peruse through the websites of these institutes and decide what will be an ideal course for you. If done right, there is no reason for you to be hesitant about exploring a fine arts course online.

  • Arts and Entertainment
    3 things to remember while applying for a fine arts degree

    Applying for a fine arts school is exciting as well as intimidating. The degree of fine arts typically lasts for 4 years, and can alter you in so many ways as an artist and eventually your perspective towards life. Since getting into a fine arts school is not an easy act, here are 3 things you should meticulously focus on when you’re commencing with your application procedure.

    Research
    The first thing you do is extract as much information as you can about the potential fine arts degree courses. Right from the college, to its culture, to its syllabus, to the faculty and the financial aid, everything should be thoroughly scrutinized. Peruse through online brochures, compare the facilities and understand what works for you as an art student. There is a lot of material online that can assist you with deciding. You can also visit online communities, read reviews or start a discussion thread on a forum, if you have some doubts to be cleared. It’s also very important to have options so that you can always count on another college you have applied to.

    Application and Portfolio
    Be precise and honest while filling up your application form. The form for an art school will have some questions which will help the college understand your approach and thought process about art. So be very particular about the way you word it and don’t forget to proofread!
    It is imperative that you have a portfolio of your artwork. This is for obvious reasons the most crucial aspect of your application. Different colleges will require artwork in a distinct manner. Some might want a binder having all your work, some might want a digital copy of your work. Whatever it is, make sure it is clean, properly labeled and organized. Your portfolio is an important insight about your creative capabilities, so make sure you’re prepared to make a great first impression.

    Interview
    Although this is not a standard protocol, a considerate number of arts schools have interviews. So, make sure that you have comprehensively worked on your awareness skills. The major part of the interview is that you should be able to project your vision and motivation for pursuing a fine arts degree. The interviewing panel may want to know more about the form of art you’re interested in and what you might possibly want to make out of it.

  • Arts and Entertainment
    How young patrons can get inexpensive Broadway tickets

    The best part about being young and being in New York is getting cheap Broadway tickets. Rendering inexpensive tickets for the younger generation has one motive to encourage them to get involved in theater. A major section of the younger audiences are students or people who have just started with their careers. A pricey ticket might hold them back to pursue their interest in Broadway theater plays. Inexpensive tickets help younger audiences to spare some cash without causing any strain on their essential expenditure like rent, food and conveyance. If you happen to be a young Broadway patron you can find your golden ticket without causing a monetary trauma to your monthly budget.

    There are plenty of theater company initiatives and art appreciation societies which have come up with discounted programs for the young patrons. All one needs is some literary motivation and a legit id. Unlike going right to the Broadway box office, the young patrons must sign up for a free membership online. There is no standard protocol of functioning for such kind of initiatives. You can research online on their websites as well as peruse through reviews to understand what fits you the best, economically as well as preferentially.

    Some programs are specially meant for people under the age of 30, in certain cases the discounted tickets can also be provided to people under the age group of 40 years. The prices usually range from anywhere up to $20 to $30. Tickets offered in such special programs are not that easy to get, but they are worth your time as well as your money. Certain ticket deals also allow the patron to bring along a guest, the age criteria of the guest again varies according to the organization’s requirements. Some theater clubs also provide you with an opportunity to mingle with free food and drinks, after the theater plays are over.

    The whole idea to provide the youth with discounted tickets is not just to cut them some slack, but also help them develop a refined taste in entertainment. Performing arts can be an amazing window for the younger audiences to get a deeper creative exposure as well as a motivation to explore and expand their knowledge. Such programs are a wonderful long term investment to create and sustain the future patron community of performing arts.

    So, if you’re a fine arts student or a hardworking young professional finding a productive medium to spend your spare time, you should take your next stroll across The Great White Way.

  • Arts and Entertainment
    How to choose a musical instrument like guitar

    If you have decided to play a musical instrument, but are confused about what instrument you should pick, then guitar can be the first right choice for you. It is quite common to observe that a considerable portion of musicians start their journeys by learning how to play a guitar, simply because of its unmatched charm and infectious energy.

    If you haven’t heard of this term ‘acoustic’ being tossed around in school, college, dinner parties, on television or social media, then my friend you’re officially an alien. But that’s highly unlikely. If you’re considering buying a guitar, you can start with an acoustic. As an acoustic solely depends on the vibration through the wooden body to create music, they are somewhat harder to control and play. You don’t have to necessarily play by the rules by learning an acoustic first, but if you do it will surely strengthen your basics.

    They are further bifurcated into two categories, steel string acoustic guitars also simply referred as an acoustic and nylon string that is a classical guitar. The name itself explains the major difference, nylon strings will be gentler on your fingers, easier to get a hang of. But you might want to switch quickly to a steel string acoustic guitar, because of better sound and varied possibilities when it comes to composing.

    Electric guitars, unlike the acoustic guitar generate music through magnetic pickups, which are further enhanced through the amplifiers connected to it. Electric guitars are easier to play than the acoustic guitars because of the lighter strings, smaller body and a narrower neck. But only consider beginning with an electric guitar, if you have a strong inclination towards music genres like heavy metal, grunge, R&B or hard rock. If you’re still a newbie exploring your musical journey then you should probably start with an acoustic, as it requires a lesser investment as compared to an electric one. Don’t fret, you can always switch later!

    Subsequently, as you recognize your disposition towards a music genre, you can also try your hands on bass guitars. Usually these are 4 string (can also be 5 or 6) guitar instruments which plays music an octave lower than your usual guitar. A bass guitar might not be the hero of the band but it creates a crucial chemistry and balance along with the drummer. In short, a bassist is responsible for maintaining the harmony and consistent rhythm in the song. It wouldn’t be a bad idea after all to switch to a bass guitar. Again, it is crucial to consider the factor that you just need the passion and not the expertise in electric or acoustic to learn bass. So even if you happen to be a beginner, choosing bass will be a good idea as long as you’re zealous to learn.

    In time, you’ll gain a strong musical, intuitive quality which can assist you to experiment with various other guitars such as semi acoustic, archtop, steel, double neck, twelve string and resonator. You just have to start with an instrument, and eventually play your way to the right one!

  • Arts and Entertainment
    The easiest musical instruments to learn

    Isn’t it cool to know how to play a musical instrument! Learning a musical instrument can be one of the most gratifying journeys of life. Deciding to play music is easy, finding the right kind of instrument is hard, especially if you’re starting off without any direction in mind. Here are few of the easiest instruments to play, something that can fuel your insatiable hunger for music!

    Bongos
    As endearing as these tiny drums look they are equally invigorating, and can force you to step up and shake a leg. Originated in Cuba during the second half of the 19th Century Bongos can be a great start for someone who fancies a drum set. It can enhance your sense of rhythm and beat.

    Ukulele
    Roughly translating as a ‘the jumping flea’ a ukulele is an amazing instrument for you if you find the task of playing a guitar a little too daunting. Comparatively smaller than a guitar, with 4 strings, the Ukulele originally was developed in Portugal finding a widespread popularity in Hawaii in the 19th Century. There are many songs that you can play on a Ukulele, and being tiny it has its own advantages, like it’s lighter on your wallet and to carry, and also easy to get a grasp on. There are different kinds of ukuleles like baritone, pocket or soprano, to choose from.

    Triangle
    Although a triangle is very easy to learn, it is equally easy for anyone to mess it up. Its simplicity is hard to master, so it is a challenge. This underdog of an instrument is a major element of the classical orchestra. With a triangle, all comes down to the mastery and the timing.

    Xylophone
    Laid out like a keyboard, the wooden bars of a xylophone are struck by a mallet. Originating in South East Asia and then gradually migrating to Africa, this instrument has found its way to the classical orchestra as one of the most important instruments. It has a distinctive harmonious sound as compared to the other instruments in an orchestra. Learning and mastering xylophone overtime is a smooth process even for an absolute novice.

    Harmonica
    The harmonica is an 18th Century creation of Europe. It spread like a wild fire as soon as it was delivered to the land of America. Also, known as a mouth organ, it can be learned without any proper training. This portable instrument only needs some willingness to experiment.

    Music is said to be food for soul and it couldn’t get any accurate. So, if you’re planning to tread on the paths of melody, pick an instrument, and sing a song as you flow along with the tunes.

  • Arts and Entertainment
    Why learn to play a musical instrument

    Music completes the experience of being a human. It is amazing how it harmonizes even the unnoticed daily cacophonies. Everyone in this world might not be able to sing, but we all have an easy answer to what’s our favorite song. This is because every single one of us can resonate with the power of music. And even if you happen to be clumsy with chords and lines, learning a musical instrument will prove to be a fulfilling experience. It could be anything a guitar or a piano or drums set or even a triangle!

    Here are some reasons why you should learn to play a musical instrument.

    Relieves Stress
    Playing a musical instrument can be an absolute stress buster, you can let go of your worries and trepidation, and might just find the inspiration you were looking for. A lot of your time in the day involves thinking obsessively about concerns, overexerting your mind and body. Investing your time in practicing a musical instrument is a productive musical therapy.

    Makes you patient and disciplined
    The two virtues that are the hardest to master are patience and persistence. Playing a musical instrument will make you realize that your mistakes will eventually transform into strengths and your unrelenting attitude towards developing a talent will pay off. You just have to focus on what you have now and make the best out of it.

    Creativity
    Making music is a creative process, it is not just bound by certain lessons and rules, but it largely also dependent on your personal motivation and drive. Playing an instrument will offer you with an opportunity to think beyond what’s normal and conventional.

    Improves your memory
    Learning how to play a musical instrument requires one thing in abundance and that is undivided concentration. You observe, you feel, you process and then you attempt. The way you choose to dedicate your awareness plays an important role in how you choose to create memory techniques for yourself. If you want to know how to play again, you’ll have to remember, so master the art of concentration.

    Improves social skills and self-expression
    When you know how to play a musical instrument it opens avenues for you to express yourself in various ways. This will boost your confidence as you are using a completely different alternative to put forth your sentiments and feelings. Music is something that intensifies as you keep sharing it. It is a great medium to bring together your family and friends.