Developing a good ear for tempos will help you beat out the same rhythms on your tambourine. Listen to common music time signatures while reading the accompanying sheet music to learn how different tempos affect musical notes. Choose a time signature (like 4/4 or 6/8) and try to beat your tambourine to the rhythm while recording yourself. Listen to the recording and make a mental assessment of your abilities. Ask yourself the following questions:  "Did I hurry or slow down too much at any parts?" "How even was my rhythm?" "If I compared this to a metronome beating at the same time signature, how would it compare?" A metronome can help guide you through a tempo and train you to play an even rhythm. Set your metronome to a specific time signature and strike your tambourine along to the beat. As you improve on keeping time with your metronome, set your metronome to increasingly complex time signatures. If you don't have a metronome, download a metronome app on your phone. Choose a recording with a time signature you're having trouble with and try to accompany the song with your tambourine. A song already featuring a tambourine is ideal to start with because you can compare your timekeeping skills to the tambourine recording. As your rhythm improves, progress to songs without tambourines and add your own beats as you see fit.
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One-sentence summary -- Train yourself to identify time signatures. Record yourself to assess your current time keeping skills. Practice keeping accurate time with a metronome. Play along to song recordings.


Aside from the vital importance of research to the process of providing accurate coverage, specific, in-depth research will also help you choose the most productive question to ask.  News conferences in particular are usually held to update the public about a storyline that is already being covered.  As such, you will be expected to have a base knowledge on the topic of the news conference, especially as a journalist.  Your own organization’s coverage is a great place to get up to date, as is talking to any co-workers that have been involved in coverage of related topics, or those who may be familiar with the speaker in particular. Research both the topic, and the expected speaker in particular. Particularly if the topic being covered is not immediately attention-grabbing, you and the other journalists may need to pull more information out of the speaker during the question and answer session than they volunteer.  If you expect an announcement about something that could go one way or the other, prepare questions that would address the specifics of either scenario. This may benefit you in multiple ways.  For one, your literal position in the room may prove to be the deciding factor in your getting the chance to ask a question. Further, arriving early allows the chance to speak with other journalists and maybe even conference organizers.   Ideally, shoot for a spot near where the speaker is sitting, or in the middle of the front row. If you are able to speak with a conference organizer, request the opportunity to speak with the speaker privately after the conference right off the bat.  They may be planning to allow a few journalists a bit more nuanced perspective of a situation, and coming first to the table increases the chances you’ll get dessert. News conferences can be fast-paced, so having notes handy as a reference can be helpful. On a notepad, jot down the important points the speaker makes and any word-by-word verbatim quotes that may be relevant to the story you intend to write or the interest of the organization you’re affiliated with.  In particular, take note of points you hope are revisited, and consider questions that would dictate a more extensive response regarding these points.   Good notes will allow you to cite a speaker’s own words to them.  For instance, you can later begin a question with “Earlier, you stated that _________, could you expand on that further or tell us explicitly what you meant be that?” Often, what a speaker chooses not to say is of equal importance to what they’ve said.  The more familiar you are with the topic, the more likely you’ll be able to predict or look for certain types of comments, and know that their absence may also be significant. For instance, if you’re aware of a certain facet of the topic that you know should be addressed and is not, structure a question accordingly.  You know there’s a reason it wasn’t brought up. Especially if you are affiliated with a reputable organization, it is always worth asking for the chance to speak with the speaker one on one after the conference.  If they are hesitant to grant the audience, specify that you only have one question to ask. Further, specify that you have a question you’d rather not ask during the conference.  You can even apply a bit of pressure to earn a private audience by implying or telling the speaker you know something that not everyone does, and you wish to discuss it discretely. While this may backfire and risk coming off as brash, it may also intrigue a speaker enough to hear your question. Unless you simply want to get your write-up to print as quickly as possible, hang around.  This will increase the chances of seeing or hearing more than what was conveyed in the context of a formal news conference.  The speaker may even be willing to speak casually with members of the press off the record, or speak further about topics unrelated to the topic of the press conference after it has concluded.
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One-sentence summary -- Do your research. Prepare a list of questions in advance. Arrive at the news conference early. Take notes. Listen for what the speaker doesn’t say. Ask for a private audience following the conference. Stay late.


As an introvert, you’re probably good at nurturing a few close friendships. Trying to be best friends with everybody will just tire you out. Choose your friends carefully, and don’t use up your social “juice” on people who don’t add value to your life. Having a few good friends and a wide circle of casual acquaintances is a better strategy than trying to befriend everyone in your life. Sometimes a little bit of regular contact is all you need to keep a friendship going. Make it a priority to check in with your friends on a regular basis, even if that just means sending them a text or a funny video on Facebook. It’s much easier to maintain a friendship than it is to re-establish it after you haven’t talked for a while. Hosting a get-together or party lets you decide when and where the event happens. It also takes some of the social pressure off your shoulders – instead of sitting and talking, you can stay busy making sure everyone is comfortable and having a good time. Plus, your friends will appreciate your hospitality. One of the defining qualities of a close friendship is being able to share your personal thoughts and experiences with each other. Having quality conversations with your friends can keep your friendship going strong, even if you don’t spend time together frequently. Don’t rush into personal conversations with a friend you’ve just met – this might scare them off. Instead, let it happen naturally as you get to know each other better.
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One-sentence summary -- Avoid trying to be close friends with everybody. Check in regularly. Take on the role of host. Make time for meaningful conversations.


Popular options include Process Explorer, LockHunter, and Unlocker or Lock-UnMatic and Mac OS File Unlocker for Mac. All of these programs are free and integrate into your Windows interface. If you choose to use Unlocker, be wary when navigating their website because there are numerous tricky ads that may lead to malware on your computer. All of the programs have relatively simple installs. Unzip the file if necessary and open the Setup or Install file. The typical installation settings will work for most users. Some programs may try to install web browser toolbars during the installation. Make sure to deselect these if you don't want new toolbars. Select the newly-installed tool from the menu. This will open a new window. A list will be displayed showing all of the programs that are currently accessing the file. Select the program that you want to end and click the "Kill Process" button. Once all of the locking programs are closed, you will be able to delete the file without issue.
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One-sentence summary --
Find a process unlocking program. Install the program. Right-click on the file you want to delete. End the programs.