How can I advance from being someone who plays the guitar to a real guitarist? I'm tired of the same old open chords and basic barres. How do I become a true musician on the instrument? Kinda long inside thingy. [more inside]
posted by Precision on Jul 28, 2009 - 22 answers

Can anyone recommend some projects or self-improvement/self-studying for a high school senior taking a gap year between high school and college? [more inside]
posted by zhang.chuck on Mar 8, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm looking for a good, intermediate economics textbook. [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Nov 14, 2008 - 3 answers

What are some certifications/qualifications I can study for at home in my free time and get through correspondence, the internet, or a single test in a physical location? [more inside]
posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger on Nov 10, 2008 - 8 answers

As a computer engineering student about to begin my sophomore year, what can I do on my own to distinguish myself from the scores of other kids in the field when it comes time to find an internship? [more inside]
posted by DMan on Jul 15, 2008 - 21 answers

I'm starting a self-study program in film theory and history. I want to approach it in a systematic way. [more inside]
posted by strangeleftydoublethink on Dec 3, 2007 - 10 answers

Starting this fall, I plan on taking some preparatory undergrad coursework with the intention of eventually applying to a master's program in applied mathematics. I am seeking suggestions for reading material concerning the field of mathematics in general, both as a refresher and as insight into current focus areas and work being done. As a working engineer, my situation and background might be a bit different from most considering this route... [more inside]
posted by Bugg on Jul 15, 2007 - 2 answers

Foreign-language music, for fun and learning [more inside]
posted by thumpasor on Mar 1, 2007 - 25 answers

How to teach my child a foreign language (English)? [more inside]
posted by davar on Jan 29, 2006 - 21 answers

Languages: I would like to teach myself a foreign language with the primary motivation of reading literature written originally in that language. (Italian, in this case.) For now, speaking and pronunciation are not as important as learning grammatical rules, sentence construction, and growing my vocabulary. Ideally, I would like to learn at my own pace, without having to hire a tutor or enrol in language classes, and I would prefer to skip general phrasebook greetings. Apart from a dictionary, what should I arm myself with? Are there any good resources on the web for this? How should one go about teaching oneself to read a foreign language? Thanks!
posted by Lush on Jul 6, 2005 - 18 answers