Articles written by Emily Hall

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About me - Emily Hall

I am relatively new to journalism, but have been a creative writer all my life. In joining Helium, I hope to hone my journalism skills with particular focus on music reviewing, both live and recorded, and researched opinion based pieces.

I aim to review musicians'

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Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) How to cure post-holiday loneliness when you're single: 4 of 45

It's been a funny time of year if you're single. Couples can seem to be everywhere at Christmas. The classic situation if you're single and back at your family home for New Year's Eve is having to sleep in your childhood bedroom with the ghosts of the past lingering everywhere in the old posters and photos of past partners. ...
Education > College Search Dressing for the college admission interview: 1 of 5

There are several primary considerations when choosing your outfit for a college admission interview. It may seem trivial or unimportant to you at the moment, but the truth is that the most concentration your interviewer will be able to give you will be in that first few minutes. It is a natural human trait that concentratio...
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) Is gaming addiction a problem?: 11 of 48

A gaming addiction is an ephemeral thing that is difficult to quantify or even admit to. It isn't a physical addiction. The only word to use for a gaming addiction is psychosomatic, yet that implies choice, and there is no choice involved. By the time you are so deep into a game it has become an addiction, you have eroded yo...
Entertainment > Music Education An overview of learning the violin: 1 of 3

As a student, professional player and teacher of the violin, I have seen many compatriots travel the path from beginner to proficient player. Some of them have gone on, like me, to begin to earn their living from the violin. Some have continued playing as a hobby, in semi professional or amateur orchestras. Some have allowed...
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys How to make a rain stick: 1 of 2

The rain stick is an instrument that dates back to ancient civilisations, and most probably has its origins with the rattle.* It has a distinctive sound which, despite its rhythmic imprecision, can be a great atmospheric addition to tracks and is a fun plaything for children. It can be used as a meditational tool and as a wa...
Hobbies & Games > Crafts (Other) How to design and make musical instruments: 1 of 1

Most people have made a musical instrument at some point in their education - at play school you might make a rattle or shaker, and sometimes in school or craft groups students end up making instruments. However, designing your own musical instruments can be more challenging and interesting. Making instruments doesn't have t...
Entertainment > Music Education How to re-varnish a violin: 1 of 1

There is one point I must make before beginning this article, and it is the most important one of all. If you have a violin that is above student level and in playable condition, it is a very bad idea to try and re-finish it yourself in any way, and certainly not with varnish that you would use on normal woodwork. Violins ar...
Entertainment > Music Education How to take care of percussion instruments: 1 of 1

Percussion is the oldest form of instrumental music by a long way. The thousands of different percussion instruments we have today evolved from the early rattles, drums and pitched sticks that were the earliest members of the percussion family. Because there are so many different types of percussion instument, it is very imp...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Being a musical performer: 6 of 9

It begins with a word. Maybe you hear it from a friend, maybe you're snowed under with music at the moment and you don't have time, maybe you've been frantically searching for a music job for months - whichever way round it is, it all starts when someone wants to jam with you. You don't know whether they just want to jam wit...
Food & Drink > Pasta, Grains & Rice How to make pizza dough: 20 of 29

I've been making my own pizza dough for a few years now and am a complete convert from shop bought bases. Pizza dough is easy to make (and hard to get wrong - the two don't always go together in my kitchen!) and there are lots of ways you can jazz up the basic mix. The recipe I have given here is sufficient for two 10in pizz...