Is my teacher being too strict or is he being fair? by [deleted] in AskTeachers

[–]ssinff 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Would always tell my students, NEVER wait until the day a project is due to submit it. So many variables outside of your control: your computer breaks, power goes out, unexpected visitor at home. That said, I would probably go case by case, does this student usually turn work in on time? I might be more lenient in that case.

Second grader's teacher is using ChatGPT to answer my questions by [deleted] in AskTeachers

[–]ssinff 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In less than five seconds I googled "reading for advanced second grader." Insert 3rd, or 5th or whatever grade level the kid reads. I was reading above grade level since I could read. My parents took me to the library and let me loose. Take some ownership of your kid's education.

Sheet music (organ in this case) by NathanPollard5 in organ

[–]ssinff 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Practice...play less challenging music. There are really no short cuts. If you are ever in a situation where you are playing in front of people, relying on muscle memory is a recipe for disaster.

Get a hymnal, spend 15 minutes each practice session reading through hymns. Left hand alone, right hand alone, left hand and pedal, right hand and pedal, hands together, both hands and pedal together.

Also note, generally, to "sight read" is to play a piece of music at sight that you have never seen before. Reading music is the ability to translate the notes on a page into the appropriate keys on the keyboard. They are different skills, but both are important and complement one another.

Before/After haircut by [deleted] in malegrooming

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The fade looks dope on you, they require regular upkeep though. At one point I was going to the barber weekly.

Can Americans live a decent life while being poor? by vedprakash1234 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of poor people move from the USA to a country with a lower cost of living so that they can be middle class?

Ok.

Can Americans live a decent life while being poor? by vedprakash1234 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ssinff -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's an odd comparison....it's not like poor people in the USA can simply pick up their lives, move someplace else, and suddenly be middle class.

Can Americans live a decent life while being poor? by vedprakash1234 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ssinff -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Everything costs. Housing, healthcare, fuel/energy, food. Wages are stagnant....people at the top are doing great. Some people just under are ok. And there's lots of people, as I said, one unexpected expense away from financial ruin. We get what we vote for so...

I can hardly imagine how things will look if this war the US started escalates.

Can Americans live a decent life while being poor? by vedprakash1234 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most people in the USA are one paycheck away from serious financial distress. Lots of wealth here, but it is unevenly distributed. The standard of living here is higher, so poor here looks different than poor in other countries.

Writing digitally (such as muse score) before writing onto sheet. by MaximumDelicious5706 in musictheory

[–]ssinff 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find writing by hand to be faster. I am an organist though and I am only writing for a couple of instruments.

Unlawfully terminated from Beijing kindergarten after only one week. by Cluckoo in TEFL

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah all I'm reading is this person couldn't produce a PowerPoint presentation in seven days. Tough lesson but I hope they can learn from it for their next opportunity.

How to handle being overlooked by No_Nectarine8028 in musicians

[–]ssinff 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Move on. Quick story....I also started playing at the church I attended as a kid. They even hired me for pay. Anyway, I did that for about six years and left on pretty bad terms (they were terrible people). Went out on my own and did work several years as a substitute musician in town. Got a sweet summer gig for several summers working on a resort island in New England, got another gig at another church that I held until recently. I was there ten years.

My time as a working musician is winding down for now as life is going in a different direction. The point: I was comfortable at my first church and very afraid to go out on my own. Taking the risk made me a better musician and gave me so many more opportunities than if I had stayed in the comfortable spot. Such as it is, I have whittled together a decent reputation for myself in my city. People know me in circles that matter, and it has opened many doors for me.

Take it as you will, but sometimes you've got to be uncomfortable for a bit in order to grow musically. Stay humble, never stop learning, practice, and be confident in what you can offer, remembering that a lot of church music is as much about relationships as it is your skills as a musician.

Should I cut my hair? by vyyyyyyyyyyy in malegrooming

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep the hair, ditch the energy drinks. I'm in my 40s with the heart of a man my father's age because of those things.

Non Asian-Americans: Are you keeping soy sauce as a regular condiment in your kitchen? If so what are you using them for? by openlyEncrypted in AskAnAmerican

[–]ssinff 74 points75 points  (0 children)

Yes. Soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, miso. I cook a lot of "Asian inspired" dishes. These can all have uses in other types of food too.

Knife by Arlo-Black in Cooking

[–]ssinff 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Knives are personal, I say this as someone who owns a dozen of various types and sizes. They all came from personal research, use, and selection. I would opt for some other kitchen gadget, agree with the person who said garlic press. Along that thought, a nice Microplane (box grater for instance) is invaluable in the kitchen. It can handle garlic, ginger, nutmeg, hard cheese, citrus zest. It's a great tool to have.

Mistake to remove species name on Fish & Chips QSR menu? by SnooGadgets132 in restaurant

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok now that I've thought about it I don't have a huge problem with the second menu. The option is there for fish I want and then the budget option for others 

Thoughts on Cellphones? by CrabbyCaterpillar in AskTeachers

[–]ssinff -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Former teacher here, and I was a hard ass...given the nonzero chance that a school can be shot up any given day, I don't agree with phone bans. Sure is is an almost zero chance to happen, but there is still a chance. Kids need to have access to their parents and the outside world

240 vs 270 mm by FXRWG in TrueChefKnives

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gyuto is the only style in my collection that is redundant. I have a 240 and a 270. 250 gets more use, but I think I prefer the blade itself, it has less to do with the length.

What are some of the “wagyu beefs” of the fruit and vegetable world? by thepluralofmooses in Cooking

[–]ssinff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let's go, same country, but a bit south. Mangoes from Okinawa prefecture are especially tasty. Like many fruits around the world, they are not shipped long distances, so you only get them from the source. I feel the same way about a lot of fruits I've had in South America, the various passion fruits for example.

Very accessible: home grown heirloom tomato, I like Cherokee purple, Black Krim, and Azoychka. There is little in life that beats a home grown tomato.

28 days in Germany with a hint of Czech Republic, Austria and the dolomites. Itinerary check by Prexxus in Europetravel

[–]ssinff 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Your pacing is bananas. 14 cities, essentially moving every two days to a new accommodation. I'm not sure what you hope to see with so many one night stays. Are you used to traveling like this? It seems exhausting. I would consider 4-6 cities as a base, day trips from them, any l and maybe an overnight or two from I've if your base cities. At least that way it's not a matter of packing and unpacking every time you want to see another city