Friday, March 20, 2020

Claudio Monteverdis Orfeo and the development of Baroque Op essays

Claudio Monteverdis Orfeo and the development of Baroque Op essays Any aspiring musician in this day and age should expect certain things from opera productions; drama, lyricism, and sensitive instrumental accompaniment. But if we observe operas written in the 16th century, we will find a very different style of vocal drama, a formality and dryness that has all but vanished in operas developing past the baroque, classical, and romantic eras. Then, is it possible to trace the seeds of expressive opera back to a specific work or composer at the dawn of the baroque? When asked to consider this question, the opera Orfeo, and its composer, Claudio Monteverdi, inevitably comes to mind, as possessing these seeds for future growth. But how can one justify giving credit to Orfeo, and to Monteverdi, for such radical change in the opera world over the years to follow? _____Before Monteverdi entered the baroque opera scene (which was early in the 17th century), opera was established as a lavish and extravagant, although not entirely refined art. Evolving from the intermedi and the madrigal-cycles of the late 16th century, opera was reserved for royalty and their special events, and was more theatrical than musical. Opera relied on costumes and scenery to bedazzle the audience, rather than the expressive lines that Monteverdi would later write into his recitatives (Grout 277-278). Instrumentation was sparse, and usually unspecified. Composers and scholars alike could not agree on the extent to which Greek theatre (almost exclusively emulated in opera and theatre at the time) should be sung, or performed. A Florentine scholar named Girolamo Mei theorized that the entire drama should be sung, in his books De Modis Musicis. Most of Mei's research took place in the 1560s, and was later discussed by an informal gathering of scholars in Florence kn own as the Camarata, lead by Giovanni Bardi (Grout 279-180). At the same time in Mantua, Cesare Gonzaga (Duke of Guastalla) founded the Mantuan Academy (the group...

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

The Ultimate ACT Math Prep Guide Strategies, Topics, and Tips

The Ultimate ACT Math Prep Guide Strategies, Topics, and Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips We at PrepScholar believe in providing you with the highest quality ACT study material. We've put together a detailed, entirely free guide for your ACT math prep right here.This is the best, most comprehensive guide to the ACT Math section available anywhere.To make this article, we brought all of our top ACT Math guides together in one place. The path to mastering the ACT is challenging, but if you're dedicated to doing your best on the test and are ready to commit your time and energy to improving your score, using our guides can help you reach your greatest potential! This ultimate guide to ACT Math will start by comparing the ACTand SAT Math sections so that any of you still on the fence about which test to take can make the best decision for you. Next, we'll go through the format of theACTMath section, point you toward the bestfree ACT Mathtests and practice problems, and dive into more generalACTtips you'll need to know for the test. Finally, we'll go over the individual math topics bound to appear on test day. It's a good idea to read each guide we've linked roughly in order- at least the first time you go through this collection. Afterward, you can come back to any of the guides you need to review to give yourself a refresher. Now that we've covered the basics, let's dive in! If you'd rather skip around, here are quick links to the main sections of this article: ACT Math vs SAT Math High-Level ACT Math Section Overview Free ACT Tests and ACT Math Practice Problems ACT Math Tips and Tools ACT Math Topic Guides Strategies for Multiple Types of ACT Math Problems Individual ACT Math Topic Guides ACT Math vs SAT Math For those of you who aren't sure whether the SAT or ACT is right for you, we've broken down what each test looks like, how their sections differ, and which one better suits the type of math student you are. ACT vs. SAT: 11 Key Differences to Help You Pick the Right Test What are the main differences between the ACT and SAT? How different (or similar) are their Math sections?We'll show you how each test differs in terms of structure, style, and content- as well as what this means for you. Is the ACT Easier Than the SAT? Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether the ACT or SAT is easier, but differentpeople will find that different testssuit them best. So which is easier: ACT or SAT Math? In this guide, we help you determine which exam will be easier for you based on your own strengths and weaknesses. High-Level ACT Math Section Overview Now that you've (presumably) decided to choose the ACT Math section, let's talk big picture. These guides will lay the foundation for your ACT studies to give you an idea of how the ACT Math section works as a whole and how you can master it. What’s Actually Tested on ACT Math Section? Concepts, Subjects, and Skills The first step to understanding how to master the ACT Math section is to learnexactly what you'll be tested on. This guide takes you through all of the major math topics tested on the ACT so that you can know what and how to study for this section. How You Can Take Advantage of ACT Math Question Order Because the ACT is a standardized test, you can use its structure to predict what your own ACT will look like. In this guide, we explain how the ACT Math section is arranged and teach you how to use this information to your advantage during your studies and on test day. How to Get 36 on ACT Math: 8 Strategies by a Perfect Scorer For those of you who are already doing well on ACT Math and want to aim for perfection, this is the guide for you. Written by a perfect scorer, our article gives youexpert advice and tips to helpyou take your ACT Math score to the top. Free ACT Tests and ACT Math Practice Problems Mastering the ACT, especially the Math section,requires you to arm yourself with tons of content knowledge and take the time to practice with real ACTMath practice tests and problems. Here, we give you our picks for the best free onlineACT Mathmaterials to use in your test prep. Complete Official ACT Practice Tests, Free Links If you haven't yet taken a full ACT practice test yet, set aside some time and take one of these free, real ACTtests. This will give you a score as a starting point to work with, and will show you how your Math score fits into the larger picture of your ACT score goals. Complete List of FREE ACT Math Practice Questions In addition to full ACT tests, there are many ACTMath problems available for free online that aren't part of full-length tests. We link to all of them here and give you helpful tips you'll needto master in order to be able to solve them both fast and accurately. The 21 Hardest ACT Math Questions Ever We've compiled the most difficultACTMath problems from the past 10 years and provided answer explanations for each of them. Take a look if you're ready to test yourself against the most difficult problems the ACThas to offer! ACT Math Tips and Tools So far you've learned what the ACT Math section looks like, high-level strategies for improving your scores, and where to find high-quality ACT Math practice problems. Now, we'll look at theskills and tools you'll need to further master the Math section. The 31 CriticalACTMath Formulas You MUST Know One of the most important aspects of the testis knowing your ACT math formulas as well as how to apply them to problems. In this guide, we show you what math formulas you'll absolutely need to know, and what formulas you can get away withnotknowing on test day. How to Actually Use YourACTMath Formulas Now that you know the keyformulas, how do you make use of them on ACT Math? We show you how and when to use math formulas to their greatest effect, and take you through the formulas you'll need to know most for the test. How to Improve Low ACT Math Scores: 9 Tips From a Perfect Scorer If you're consistently scoring in the range of 14-24 on ACT Math but want to hit 26 or higher, this is the guide for you. Here, our resident full scorer gives you the motivation and essential tips needed to easily and effectively raise your Math score. How to Get the Most Out of ACT Math Practice Questions Knowing how to use your practice problems effectively is just about as important as having access to practice problems in the first place. Learn how to best approach ACT Math problems and ultimately improve your score. Guide toACTCalculators: Expert Tips A good (and pre-approved)calculatoron ACTMath isindispensable. Learn which calculators are allowed on the test and get the inside knowledge of which calculators ourACTexperts prefer. How to Guess Strategically on ACTMath When should you guess on an ACT Math question? More importantly, how can you make your best guess possible? Learn how to increase your guessing oddsand give yourself the greatest possibility of getting a Math question right. How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACTMath Running out of time on ACTMath when you practice? This section is fast paced but not impossible. Here, we take you through the steps you'll need to beat the clock and get your best Math score. How You'll Get Stuck in ACT Math Questions, and What to Do About It If you've ever found yourself stymied by a problem, this is the guide for you. We help you quickly identify when you're going down the wrongACTMath path, and how to get yourself out of it. ACTMath Topic Guides Now that you've got a solid grasp of the most important high-levelACTMath strategies, it's time to take a look at each and everymath topic on the test. We've written individual informational andstrategyguides for every ACT Math topic, and provide practice problems with answer explanations for each. Strategies for Multiple Types of ACT Math Problems Many ACTMath problems can be solved in multiple ways, and two strategies in particular can help you solve several kinds of questions. These key strategies give you the power to answer questions on math topics you aren't sure how to solve using the "traditional" way, and help you double-check that you've chosen the correct answer. Plugging in Answers: A Critical ACT Math Strategy Plugging in Numbers: A Critical ACT Math Strategy Instead of solving math problems directly, you can use the structure of the test against itself. These two essential strategies involve putting answer choices back into problems and using numbers to test equations and inequalities. They're especially helpful forcomplex algebra problems- nothing beats working with real numbers instead of variables! Individual ACT Math TopicGuides Now, let's look at each math topic on the ACTby subject. Numbers Integers (basic) Integers (advanced) Fractions, ratios, and proportions Statistics Probability Sequences Algebra Single-variable equations Systems of equations Inequalities Operations Functions Word problems Polynomials Coordinate Geometry Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Plane and Solid Geometry Lines and angles Circles Triangles Polygons Solid Geometry Conic sections Trigonometry Advice for Using This Ultimate ACT Math Guide There's a lot of information here, so take your time as you read through it. Similarly, try to balance your studies over a period of several months. The ACTMath section is complicated, and there's a lot of content and problem-solving techniques to understand if you want to score highly on it. That said, always take to heart that it is possible for you to do well onACTMath. Getting a good Math score requires dedication and discipline, but mastering the section iscompletely doable. And don't forget that taking the time to work through these ACT Math prep guides means you're already on the right track! What’s Next? Want more guidance? Check out our other ACT sectionguides forEnglish, Reading, Science, and Writing. We've also got an ultimate guide to the ACT as a whole! Think you might be procrastinating on your ACT study plan? Then read our guide to learn how you can get your focus back and stop putting off ACT prep. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, consider working with a prep program.OurACTprep programlearns your strengths and weaknesses to tailor your study materials and lessons to the areas you need to focus on most. We also teach you how to balance your time during your studies so that you can get the most out of every hour of prep. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today: