The start of a new year always brings about talk of resolutions. The promise of a fresh, new year can make you feel like you could do or be anything! But before you jump into the year ahead, there are a couple of things you should do. Celebrate Your Accomplishments Take some time to think […]
It’s almost the end of the semester, but before that much-needed break, many students first have to complete final exams. It’s a stressful and challenging time. If you need study tips, check out the Building Strong Study Skills series on our resource blog. In addition to studying, you also have to take care of yourself physically and mentally […]
You don’t want to invest a lot of money in lessons yet Perhaps you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money or get locked into a semester-long class. Our art instruction is offered at some of the lowest market rates, but that doesn’t mean you’re […]
Allow them to choose their instrument It’s important for children to develop their own interests and discover their likes and dislikes. Also, your student might be more resistant to the idea of learning an instrument if they feel they are forced to play something that they don’t get a say in. We have expert music […]
Last week we shared our first four tips for navigating group projects. Today, we have four more final tips and tricks to help you succeed! Tip 4: Determine What Group Meetings Will Be Used For Is that the time when members can work on their assigned portion of the project? Or should members have their assignments completed […]
Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no doubt about it: group projects are incredibly practical and helpful in preparing students for future academic success and for real life beyond the classroom. You will definitely have group projects throughout high school and college, and you will most likely be working with a team at […]
At Hodis Learning & Music, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional service for every skill level. Sure, any company can say they do these things, but we actually do, and we’ll explain how. Our Expert Tutors and Teachers We use a rigorous and methodical hiring process to ensure we have the most talented, experienced staff. We make […]
What subjects do you teach? Academic Tutoring: English up to college level, ESL, History, AP History, Korean, Math and Science up to Middle School level What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator? I love helping students gain confidence in subjects they used to struggle with. It’s very rewarding when a student starts understanding a […]
We get it, staying focused during an hour-long class period can be challenging. It always has been, and the constant interruptions from technology certainly don’t help. Here are some tips for staying focused during class time. Take Notes Note-taking forces you to engage in class. Gathering information, summarizing it, and writing it down all help […]
The foundation of any good research paper is made up of high-quality, primary sources. This resource post serves as a quick guide for finding good sources and avoiding the bad ones. DO make sure you know how many and what kinds of sources you need for your assignment. Can all your sources be from online, or […]
Many people experience fear and anxiety when they are faced with public speaking. Whether you have a class presentation or you are preparing a speech for student body elections, the tips below will help you prepare for public speaking in any scenario. Get Familiar With Your Material The first thing to do when you are […]
Low grades can be disheartening when students and parents get their hands on a progress report. But it isn’t the end of the world; in fact, there are many options available to parents and students to improve poor grades. However, parents must be mindful that interventions need to be implemented immediately, which requires prompt assessment […]
Multitasking may seem like the ultimate super power, but in reality it slows you down, makes you less productive, and negatively impacts your ability to focus. You’re Actually Not Multitasking When you’re switching back and forth between reading articles, watching videos while working, or texting while talking to someone, you’re not actually multitasking. According to […]
Strategies for Tackling Homework Ah, homework. An inevitable, but often unenjoyable, part of school. While many students dread homework, it is an important part of your education. What’s the Point of Homework, Anyways? Homework should, ideally, reinforce concepts that you learn in class. In some cases, homework might prepare you for upcoming exams or test […]
What subjects do you teach? Academic Tutoring: AP Physics 1, 2, and C (Mechanics + Electricity & Magnetism), Lower Division Physics, Multivariable Calculus, AP Calculus BC, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, AP Chinese Language, and Mandarin Art Lessons: Painting- acrylics, oil, and watercolor What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator? The most rewarding part about […]
The start of a new school year can bring on a lot of emotions. Whatever your feelings are about starting school again, we have some helpful tips to manage your feelings and use them to start this school year on the right track. Scared: Nervous about meeting new people? Starting at a new school? Making […]
Can you believe that school is starting already? After a summer of no classes it can be difficult to readjust to the schedule and demands of school. Here are 5 tips to get back into the swing of things a little more swiftly and cultivate a productive, stress-free school year. 1. Reset your sleep schedule. […]
What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator? Having immediate positive feedback is one of the most exciting things about being a math tutor. Witnessing the impact I have on a student’s success makes me incredibly happy and satisfied. When students begin to understand concepts in our sessions, they will often excitedly ask me […]
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1901. He grew up in poverty and when he was 12 years old, he was sent to a home for juvenile delinquents. It was there he learned how to play the cornet, an instrument similar to a trumpet. He was a naturally skilled musician and soon […]
Georgia O’Keeffe was born on November 15, 1887. She grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and was one of seven children. After graduating high school in 1905, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League of New York. During that time she learned traditional painting techniques. Four years later […]
In addition to our summer artist series, we are also starting a musician series where we’ll explore some of the most influential musicians of all time. This week, we’re sharing about Ludwig van Beethoven! ———— Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer born in December 1770. He is known as one of the greatest composers […]
This summer we’re starting an artist series where we’ll highlight a famous artist in a blog post! We’ll share facts and some of their most famous works in each post. This week we’re starting with Vincent van Gogh! ———— Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter born in 1853. While he is now highly-regarded as […]
Reading is important for developing literacy, improving vocabulary, building social-emotional skills, and learning about the world and others. Without school, it can be easy for students to avoid reading for three months, especially if it’s something they already struggle with and don’t like doing. However, it’s important that they continue reading to build their skills […]
Summer Break Is Here! We hope everyone made it through their final exams and are now enjoying their summer break! While summer is certainly a time for relaxing and recharging, you can also find fun activities to keep you entertained, active, and even learning during your months off from school! 1. Visit Local Museums Museums […]
What subject areas do you teach? Music Lessons: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Voice Academic Tutoring: Music Theory What’s the most rewarding part of being a music teacher? The most rewarding part of being an educator for me is watching a student make progress and seeing how it excites them to learn new things. What are […]
What subject areas do you teach? Music Lessons: guitar, voice, piano, songwriting, and music production. Academic Tutoring: music theory What’s the most rewarding part of being a music/guitar teacher? Teaching is learning twice. I get to make a living out of studying and exploring music along with my students. I love seeing their fresh perspective as they […]
What subject areas do you teach? Music Lessons: upright/electric bass, guitar, piano, and ukulele Academic Tutoring: music theory Career Preparation: music school audition and application preparation Where did you receive your education? Oberlin Conservatory of Music, B.M. in Jazz Bass Studies USC Thornton School of Music, M.M. in Jazz Bass Studies What’s the most rewarding part of being […]
Music school auditions involve many steps and lots of preparation. Below you’ll find a general overview of the music school application and audition processes. We also spoke to our music educators who attended music schools and are familiar with auditions, so keep an eye out for more blog posts where they’ll share their insights and […]
Congratulations, students! You’ve almost made it through another school year, and a year that hopefully felt more exciting, comfortable, and, well, normal than the previous two school years. With the end of term approaching, so too are final exams and projects. Here’s a quick checklist for you to follow before you end the year. 1. […]
If you’re a prospective art school applicant, you might already know about or even have your own art portfolio. After all, your portfolio is 90% of your application to schools, according to HLM educator and professional artist Gwen Hollingsworth. Gwen graduated from the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture in 2020 and now works professionally […]
While not all our students are K-12, a lot are, which means parents are involved in their student’s education. We understand that you are making an investment when you book a tutor with Hodis Learning & Music, which is why we want to offer some tips for how you can help us have productive tutoring […]
What Subject Areas Do You Teach? Art Lessons: Painting, Illustration, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, and TV & Film Editing Academic Tutoring: SAT Prep, English, Social Studies Where did you receive your education? University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. in Art and Art History Educated in fine arts: drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture What’s the most rewarding part of […]
Flowers are blooming, days are longer, pollen is swirling through the air, and for students, the end of the school year is in sight! But don’t start slipping in your study habits yet! If anything, now is a great time to tidy up your study and school routine so you can finish the semester strong. […]
Hiring a tutor doesn’t always have to be on a long-term basis. Here at Hodis Learning & Music, we offer on-call tutoring for occasions when you only need a tutor for a short period of time. One of those times just might be when you have an essay to write. Whether it’s an English essay, […]
What Subject Areas Do You Teach? Music Lessons: Voice, Piano Academic Tutoring: Beginning Italian, Algebra Where did you receive your education? University of Southern California, B.M. in Classical Voice/Opera Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, concentration in Classical Voice/Opera What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator? Teaching allows me to share my love […]
It may not seem like it, but what we do and how we take care of ourselves outside of school and work can impact how we perform in those settings. Below are three self-care tips you can use to improve your academic experience and help you do better in school or in your tutoring sessions. […]
A resource we believe should be utilized more is talking with your teachers, especially the one who teaches the subject you are trying to improve in. Your teacher is likely familiar with the subject they are teaching. They also have been trained in school how to identify and share the most important information in effective […]
Do you remember when you were a kid and the freedom you felt sticking your hands in cold paint and slapping them all over paper. How fun was it to see the mix of colors you’d create or the imprint of your hand? Art is an incredibly fun, freeing way to create and express yourself […]
Music is an integral part of our business practice at HLM– after all, we are Hodis Learning & Music. If you think music lessons seem out of reach or unrelated to you, you might want to reconsider. Music lessons aren’t just for kids, they aren’t just for people who are already musically talented, and learning to […]
So far in this series we’ve addressed: How to set SMART goals (that you’ll actually achieve) How to be more organized and efficient as a student In this final installation of the Shine Bright and Start Strong Series we’ll discuss how to cultivate a better mindset to ensure effective sessions, and ultimately, your success. We understand that sessions can […]
The start of a new year often inspires us to commit to new habits, practices, and ways of life to improve ourselves. However, studies have shown that resolutions often fizzle out after a month, or sometimes even in a matter of days or weeks. Our Shine Bright & Start Strong Series will provide content all […]
Get to know Hodis Learning & Music Founder, Drew Hodis! He began as a tutor and music teacher himself almost a decade ago, and was so inspired by his experience that he created the company to help more students! Where did you receive your education? University of Southern California, B.A. in Psychology Adelphi University, Ph.D. in […]
With the end of the semester approaching, it seems like the perfect time to get a tutor to help your student study for finals or nail down those challenging concepts. But this isn’t the only time you should consider hiring a tutor. Below are some other times you might want someone to help your student with […]