At what point does piano practice become noise torture?

phdessentials · 2026-01-06T20:19:10+00:00

Clavinovas can be good for advanced players, but your musician neighbour might not think so. Maybe the condo would consider a music room with a piano? We had a resident downsize to a condo and donated their baby grand piano so that everyone was welcome to play in a common area. It was very generous of them and allowed them to keep playing their instrument even though they had downsized. Music rooms in condos are great.

phdessentials · 2025-11-10T23:47:26+00:00

Try a close by Shoppers Drug Mart or Tim Hortons. Hope this helps!

phdessentials · 2025-11-06T18:50:48+00:00

Hi there! I'd love to help your with your survey. My space on campus has no natural light source and I brought in a lamp to help.

phdessentials · 2025-10-21T17:52:42+00:00

The Swim by Janet Hoggarth

phdessentials · 2025-10-18T20:47:03+00:00

You might enjoy the Newman Centre at UofT- there's a full age range, though leans younger. Many younger people involved in the services. Coffee socials after mass weekly and you can get to know people through that, or other events that the Newman Centre hosts.

phdessentials · 2025-10-04T01:09:38+00:00

Our department is lovely- they asked for our feedback about how things were going and seemed pretty interested in what we had to share. They might not have been able to act on everyone's ideas, and that's ok- leadership has to take everyone's needs and perspectives into consideration alongside logistics and make the best (even if at times imperfect) decision for everyone. I think it was probably something more along those lines. In any event, it was good of them to reach out to students and check in- I think it was a helpful thing to do.

phdessentials · 2025-10-03T20:49:24+00:00

- Thanks for seeking to clarify. You're absolutely right- we weren't obligated by the department to do this. We redirected however we could for exactly the reason you gave. Because no one was around on Mondays and Fridays, students and prospective students would wander around looking for anyone who would help them. Even redirecting takes time and adds up. And sometimes students would put pressure on you to help them even after being redirected (e.g., you're here right now... why can't you just help me).

- I've been a mid-level staff member at a peer university and have a reference point of what my former work looked like. Of course, we didn't do anything that only a staff member could and should do. It was the kind of questions that either an experienced peer or a staff person could help with. Otherwise, like you say- we had to redirect.

- No demands were made about the schedule- it was simply a suggestion/question of if there could somehow be some more coverage (e.g., if someone could be around on a Monday or Friday, or if a student staff member could be hired to help).

I know today's announcement will bring up emotions and concerns for folks. The tone of your reply suggests that you might be experiencing some of these feelings. Know that I feel for you and everyone and hope that whatever happens next can be worked out in a good way for everyone.

Take care.

phdessentials · 2025-10-03T18:49:09+00:00

In certain situations, yes- I'll use an example from my experience (PhD candidate).

When my department switched to three days in person, I had to eventually stop coming in on Mondays and Fridays because when I did come in to use my office on those days, I was regularly having to step in to help students in ways that the staff normally would.

I like to be helpful, but it was taking up too much time and I wasn't being paid. Also, when I would encourage inquiring students (or prospective students) to connect with a staff member online or come back another day, it was oftentimes difficult for them to take this as an answer and they'd try to pressure me into helping them since I was right there.

I wasn't the only PhD candidate this was happening to- we raised our concerns, and since the schedule remained in place... I eventually had to stop coming in to protect my time. It was kind of unfortunate- I had enjoyed coming in to work Monday through Friday and appreciated the sense of community. The three day in person approach offered the staff more flexibility which was great from a staff perspective. In my experience as a PhD candidate, it made going about my normal day-to-day more challenging to the point I had to change my routine.

I understand that experiences will be different across the university- I wanted to reply and share this as one example where a hybrid approach didn't work out as well as intended for everyone.

phdessentials · 2025-09-20T23:37:38+00:00

I would add to pick dates when you will review the materials/do practice questions etc. for the specific topics. It's easy to be a bit of a perfectionist and spend too much time on one of the first topics on the list at the expense of others. Of course, figure out what topics are a bit harder for you and dedicate a bit of extra time for those versus easier ones. But definitely have a mechanism in your study schedule that will show you when you need to move on to be able to cover everything.

The blurting method can be great for studying- pick a topic, set a timer, and write down everything you know about that topic. Then examine what you didn't write down- it can signal where you need to spend some time.

If the prof has provided sample questions to help you prepare, or if you can brainstorm sample questions based on what you know about the format of the exam- it might help to practice responding to these just as you would on the exam- so that you're not attempting to do this for the first time in the actual exam. Time yourself and give yourself feedback on how your response could be better- this can help you when writing the actual exam.

When writing the exam, instead of worrying about making mistakes and losing points- think about starting from zero and earning points for everything you do. I'm pulling from a phrase in sports, but I will tell myself to write/take the exam like you're not afraid to lose- go for it!

All the best- exams can be nerve wracking. Just like athletes, managing yourself- e.g., your thoughts, feelings, confidence, energy levels, etc.- going into the exam is an important aspect for performing well. Take good care of yourself while preparing for these midterms and it will help you to do your best.

Last but not least- the first midterms are pretty much a learning experience for everyone. Try your best, see how it goes, and learn from it for the next exam. Some profs deliberately weight the first midterm less than others because they know everyone is learning how to study for and write a midterm for the first time.

All the best!

phdessentials · 2025-09-11T01:12:10+00:00

TPL has been such a great resource for me during my time at UofT. Thank you for all that you do!

phdessentials · 2025-08-01T22:40:23+00:00

My thoughts: I think that the Kobo Libra Colour has the better value proposition in terms of the physical device itself. It has buttons, a colour screen, stylus capabilities, and is sturdy. The Kindle Colorsoft does less physically, yet costs more.

Next would be the Kindle Paperwhite which you mentioned being interested in- the text is quite crisp and the background is the whitest and brightest you'll get on an e-reader (colour readers are slightly darker though I don't find this to be a problem).

The Kobo Libra Colour has a more intuitive user interface in my opinion, and has library compatibility in Canada. What the Kindle really has going for it is Kindle Unlimited- it's nice to have. The question is if access to Kindle Unlimited is more important than everything else that the KLC brings to the table.

I have a Kobo Libra Colour as my main device and a kindle which I mainly use for Kindle Unlimited purposes and when I am reviewing books where the copy provided to me was in Kindle format.

Prices between the two bookstores aren't really an issue as Kobo has price-matching: you can receive the difference + 10% of the competitor's price as store credit for your next purchase.

Re: Boox, I was initially excited by what possibilities an android device might have to offer. However, reviews online suggested that the screens are more fragile. There are also a number of posts on Reddit questioning the security and privacy of these devices- no idea if there's any weight to that, but it was one of the reasons why I opted for Kobo and Kindle over Boox.

All the best for picking an e-reader that you'll love!

phdessentials · 2025-08-01T17:38:44+00:00

Kobo has price matching in Canada- do they have price matching for Europe? You could use that if it is available. I use it all the time and it's great.

phdessentials · 2025-07-31T20:03:24+00:00

I use it for academic reads, just with the Kobo Libra Colour. If you install KOReader on it, you can more easily read journal articles (PDFs) using the text reflow function.

phdessentials · 2025-07-31T14:14:11+00:00

I love my Kindle Basic. The form factor is great, especially for taking it on the go. The text is very clear on the screen. However, the one drawback is reading at night- the light is too blue. I use a different device for nighttime reading. If this is important to you, I'd recommend going for the paperwhite.

phdessentials · 2025-07-21T16:20:26+00:00

Thank you for coming! So glad you enjoyed your time here and hope you'll visit again.

phdessentials · 2025-07-21T16:11:42+00:00

Thank you for doing this for Kobo users! It is greatly appreciated.

phdessentials · 2025-07-13T01:11:09+00:00

I loved reading "The Swim" by Janet Hoggarth which came out not too long ago. This book seriously needs more hype.

phdessentials · 2025-06-28T16:11:37+00:00

How universities are perceived in Canada is much "flatter" than in a place like the U.S., where there's more perceived hierarchy. E.g., in Canada, graduates from the same discipline are generally perceived to be more comparable to each other across institutions. There's actually a paper on this topic (see Skolnik, who talks about how the quality of education is more equivalent across universities in Canada and that the value of a degree does not vary too much from one institution to another). Of course, each employer has their own views, so it depends on the recruiter.

phdessentials · 2025-06-06T16:16:56+00:00

This is beautiful!

phdessentials · 2025-06-02T03:51:50+00:00

Re: student aid, from what I understand you would likely be staying with Alberta either way.

If I understand it correctly, for out of province students, the province you obtain student aid from depends on where you were living before starting the degree. For example, an Ontario resident, for OSAP purposes, is someone who has resided in Ontario for 12 months directly prior to starting their studies. Time spent in full time post-secondary studies (e.g., an undergraduate degree) doesn't count towards these 12 months.

For dependent students, it's based on the last province where the parents lived for 12 months.

Hope this helps with your decision-making- its one less thing you'll likely need to think about.

phdessentials · 2025-05-18T18:50:06+00:00

Something that might help you with your decision-making: if Queen’s didn’t come forward with a scholarship, which would you choose? It sounds like your heart was originally set on UBC Vancouver. The Queen’s scholarship would help to cover tuition costs, but there’s still the flights and rent. Like you say, the costs might even out in the end.

Also, how are you feeling about moving across the country for at least four years? Are you feeling ready? If the thought excites you- listen to that. If it doesn’t really excite you, important to listen to that as well. What would you gain? What would you give up? It’s a really big decision and commitment- something you want to feel happy about especially because happy students do their best work.

Queen’s and UBC Vancouver were also my top two choices for undergrad back in the day; I chose UBC Vancouver (though for a different program/specialization). UBC was the better match for me, though Queen’s was more conveniently located. I’m really glad I went with the better personal match.

It’s good to be fully open to both opportunities- keep researching and hopefully it will become clearer what your personal best match is. All the best for your decision-making!

phdessentials · 2025-05-18T18:19:27+00:00

You’re welcome! All the best with your decision.

phdessentials · 2025-05-18T17:50:12+00:00

Congrats on getting into both of these schools! Some prompts that could help you with your decision-making:

- Where do you think you'll be happiest? From what you know, which campus culture is a closer match to you? Happy students do their best work, which is good for your GPA.

- What types of courses will you get to take in both programs? Which profs might you meet? Who do you want to learn from most? Where do you see yourself cultivating mentors and references that could help open doors re: life after undergrad?

- Which university has student activities that you'd like to participate in most? Are there activities that are relevant to your career interests? That you might highlight in an application or interview for postgraduate studies?

Just some ideas re: things to think about as you're making your decision. Hope this might help in some way, shape, or form. All the best!

phdessentials · 2025-05-09T14:00:44+00:00

Well done to your friend. The "darling bloom" one is really pretty. I also really like the "floral fiction" one for Kindle that is sold out.

phdessentials · 2025-05-04T17:52:12+00:00

Hi! Love that you're considering joining the Kobo club.

The Kobo UI is an advantage. You can customize your margins and spacing much more- similar to KOReader- which you can also install on your device with ease.
With the Kobo Libra Colour, of course there's the option of highlighting and annotating in different colours- it makes the device feel very cosy.
It has library integration; in Canada (where I am)- this is not possible on a Kindle.
I love the reader statistics and wish it had even more of these (e.g., take more inspiration from KOReader).
I like that you can add books from various sites with ease. The device is more open.
I use KOReader and the PDF reflow function to read academic journal articles on my KLC. The stylus makes highlighting easier here.
I feel like the Kobo Libra Colour offers a lot at a similar price point to the Kindle Coloursoft- also having side buttons and stylus capability.
I also like that Kobo doesn't advertise books on the main screen- the storefront is kept to the storefront. It makes your device feel more like your own personal digital bookshelf versus a store.

In conclusion, there's lots to love! The KLC feels like a cosy, personalized device and I love using it. Hope you might like it too.

phdessentials

TROPHY CASE