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1.Get an accordion
OK, I know that sounds a little glib, but it really is the first step. Accordion is not the most popular, or common, instrument in the world. There may be some who think that's a good thing for the wrong reasons (there is the old saw that a gentleman is someone who can play the accordion but doesn't) but the relative unpopularity, of the instrument, compared to, say, guitar, can be a plus for us. For one, it means there are many unused accordions around, just waiting for an interested novice (that's you!) to come along and give it a good home. Maybe it's in your own antic or basement, or your grandmother's, uncle's, or friends. They don't have to give it to you, you can just borrow it for a while. On the other hand, they may be so grateful for the possibility of getting rid of it that you may not be able to stop them from giving it to you!

2.Make sure it works.
If it's been sitting around for a long time you want to inspect it to see all is in working order. Make sure the bellow is not ripped, that none of the keys or buttons stick, and that each note sounds properly. This is important.

3.Find a place to practice. If you live in the country, with no neighbors within at least a one hundred yards (although farther is better) this won't be a problem, you can practice anywhere. One advantage to the accordion is that neighbors can be much closer than with other instruments, such as bagpipes, which require a separation of at least 500 yards.

If you don't live in the country, you will need to find a quiet room. Basements are preferable. It's a good idea to buy some cork or acoustic tiles to line the ceiling and the walls. That way your family will still talk to you and your friends will remain friends as you learn to play. You can think of this room as your own personal crossroads, as in The legendary blues singer Robert Johnson is reputed to have gone to the crossroads, made a pact with the devil and emerged as one of the most talented and influential blues musicians of modern history. You don't want witnesses to your secret dealings at the crossroads. Let them figure it out for themselves, or better yet, guess forever, after you emerge playing like champ!

4.Finger yoga
Playing accordion requires nimble fingers, as well as a sharp but calm mind. It is well known that yoga promotes, flexibility, agility, inner calmness and a focus. These are simple skills, it's true, but they are crucial for mastery of the instrument. Be diligent, and with just a few minutes a day you'll be going from fingers twisted in pretzel-like poses to being stretched farther than you ever thought possible, in just a flash.

5. Ready, set ....
We're almost there. You've got your accordion; you've checked it over and it all works; you've got your home in the country or your soundproof room; you've done your finger yoga. You are ready to strap that baby on and play! But wait; there's just one more thing? How do you play?

Simple, you get out that instruction book you bought online, the one that inspired you to learn in the first place; find the C button with your left hand, pull the folds apart; press a button; press a key with your right hand; do it again.

Bingo! You're playing accordion in 5 easy steps.

Steven Beck is an amateur musician and free-lance writer who loves to try new things. He hopes learning new skills might help him to rub his head and pat his stomach at the same time. You can read more about at his learning accordion web site.

You have set your fitness goals and now need to decide which exercises you want to add to your fitness routine to help you burn away that unwanted fat. The best way is to add a combination of both strength training and cardiovascular.

Strength training is the most beneficial methods of fat loss. By building muscle, you are in turn increasing your metabolism and helping your body to burn even more calories. Also with strength training, your body begins to burn a large number of calories even after you have finished training.

With strength training you have many options. For beginners or someone who doesn't have access to a gym or equipment, bodyweight exercises are a great option for fat loss. Another option is using the push/pull split. This is a great way to get in a total body workout that allows you to perform more exercises per workout and get more recovery time.

Some key points when doing strength training are make sure to warm up and stretch before your workout, lift the weights in slow, steady movements and don't forget to breathe.

Cardiovascular exercise is the 2nd part of your fat loss fitness routine. Cardio can be done following your strength training or as separate training on the opposite day of strength training. Cardio is not only a great aid to fat loss, but also to help you to maintain a healthy heart. The best form of cardio is HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training. HIIT involves intervals of varying intensities, some very high. Interval training can be as simple as doing an all-out sprint, jogging to lower your heart rate, and then sprinting once again. This should be done anywhere from 15-30 minutes. The advantage to HIIT is that you are burning more calories in a shorter period of time. You can perform HIIT on almost anything, such as bike, treadmill, elliptical, or even bodyweight circuits.

It is best to perform strength training workouts at least 3 times per week and also perform HIIT 3 times per week. Make sure to change up your workouts every 6-8 weeks to avoid a fat loss plateau. Changing your workouts also keeps your workouts fresh and new and makes you less likely to stop doing them and gives you a better chance of reaching your fitness goals!

Angie Schumacher is a successful fitness entrepreneur both in online and offline areas. She is a Certified Personal Trainer and diet and fitness website manager. For more great diet and fitness tips, visit http://www.WomensDietAndFitness.com and http://www.BuildingABetterU.com

Finding good plumbers in the UK is difficult. Need a plumber in an emergency and youve got a real problem.

Theres lots of articles available on selecting plumbers. Weve all heard the advice - get quotes, follow up references and ask friends and families for referrals. All good stuff but it makes it sound as if people needing a plumber have a choice available to them.

This really misunderstands the issue which the average householder faces. Yes we do want to find a great plumber, that knowledgeable, polite, punctual, reasonably priced paragon of virtue but before we get that far, we have to find a plumber who is prepared to do business with us.

If you need a plumber in an emergency, youll either find the ones which have priced themselves out of the market and so are often available Mr or Mrs Itll cost you! or their more reasonably priced cousin Dave Quickest I could get to you is next Wednesday. Not great if you have a leak and its now Sunday.

Indeed the position is not much better if you are planning routine work such as having a boiler serviced or a bathroom installed. Getting a quote can be a challenge getting the work started much more difficult.

Now, according to recent reports, the position should be easing.

Over the past few years, the press has run stories about a shortage of plumbers. In 2003, the British Plumbing Employers Council estimated that the plumbing industry would need to recruit 29,000 new entrants over the next 5 years. This led to reports of City workers leaving their jobs in the hope of earning 70,000 a year as a plumber.

More recently, however, there are accounts of workers with plumbing experience from Eastern Europe filling vacancies on building sites and a surplus of trainees trying to find jobs.

For the householder, this should mean that finding a good plumber who is available is much easier. The logic is fine but plumbers who are available for work are still an elusive breed. So if you have water pouring through the ceiling or your new bathroom arrives next Wednesday, read on for Hot Hints on tracking down a plumber.

Hot Hints for Finding a Plumber

• Asking for recommendations from family and friends is always a good first port of call.
• Check out one of the internet directories on-line you can search for plumbers close to you and the better guides give the plumbers the space to provide details of their experience and specialist skills. Remember to mention the directory when you call some have arrangements where the plumbers offer a discount.
• Look in your local parish magazine. Often the plumbers who advertise there live close by in an emergency someone who is just down the road may well be quicker, cheaper and, more importantly, willing to turn out.
• Try your local paper. Some plumbers will advertise in the classified ads all year round, others will appear only when they are not busy increasing your chance of finding someone who says yes.
• Ring your local letting agent letting agents usually have a team of tradesmen and women who are set up to respond quickly to problems faced by tenants of the agent. Their plumber may be willing to help you.
• Call your plumbing supply shop the staff get to know the regulars really well and are likely to be able to suggest someone who is not only good but who is available to take on your job.
• Plan in advance, every time, a friend has plumbing work done ask them who did it and if they were any good. Keep details of the recommended plumbers. Then, when the leak or blockage occurs you know who to phone straight away.

Once youve found a possible plumber, do take steps to check them out. In reality, plumbers are no more likely to be rogues or cowboys than anyone else and most are extremely professional and hardworking. But erring on the side of caution is probably wise.

Take particular care if you are employing a plumber to carry out gas work. Check that your plumber is registered with CORGI. Registration numbers can be checked on CORGIs website - www.corgi-gas-safety.com. Operatives working for a registered installer will also carry a card which can be checked by a householder.

Good luck finding your ideal plumber. If you find a really great plumber in your area, please do let me know via my website.

Caroline Blatchford is the founder of Local Service Guide which helps people to find the local services which they need in the UK. Whether you need a plumber, a restaurant or a letting agent, go to http://www.LocalServiceGuide.com

Conversation starters are not much good unless you understand the techniques for becoming a good conversationalist. But, with the right frame of mind and a commitment to practice, learning how to make good conversation can be both fun and easy.

Research shows that developing good communication skills is far more important than getting good grades in school. According to a study at the Stanford University School of Business, the most successful graduates were not the ones with the highest grade point averages. They were the ones most comfortable having friendly conversations with others, particularly strangers.

When you start a conversation with someone you dont know, it helps to realize that theyre probably feeling just as awkward and tongue-tied as you are. And, if theyre not, then theyll more than likely have the good manners to be gracious. So, have some fun, jump right in and be the first to speak. You have much to gain and little to lose.

To break the ice, you could make a positive remark about the room, the food, the guest of honor or notice something positive about what the other person is doing, wearing or saying. Then you might offer a sincere compliment. Be friendly, upbeat and enthusiastic. Be willing to chat about the weather, sports, movies, pets or children. The point is to make the other person feel like youve been waiting all week to meet them.

Once youve broken the ice, follow up with closed-end questions. Are you? Do you? Who? Where? Which? Then continue with more open-ended questions. What do you think? How? What? or Why?

Youll know what to say next by listening carefully for information the other person is sharing with you facts, feelings and opinions. Your job is to respond with sincere interest. But be sure to always avoid topics of politics or religion. (You can change the subject, if necessary.) And, naturally, you would never want to argue about anything, even if you disagree.

When it feels right, be willing to share positive, upbeat personal information, but dont talk too much about yourself. Stay focused on finding out about and getting to know the other person. The bottom line is, if you want people to find you interesting, all you have to do is genuinely express an interest in them. If you do, they might even leave the conversation thinking youre one of the most fascinating people they ever met. Wouldnt that be nice?

Pay special attention to noticing when the other person is ready to move on and always end every exchange gracefully on a positive note. Use their name, pay a sincere compliment when possible and always offer a smile or your hand in friendship It was so nice talking with you, John. I look forward to seeing you again sometime. Then say a peasant goodbye.

To be a good conversationalist, just follow these simple guidelines and practice. After all, developing good communication skills could possibly get you further than an M.B.A. from Stanford. With practice, you can turn each conversation into a pleasant experience and maybe even an opportunity the possibilities are unlimited!

Katie Byrd will take you by the hand and teach you the skills she's used to journey from a financially strapped, bad credit nightmare to debt free abundant living. To find out more visit: http://abundanceandwealth.bellaonline.com