UNIT 1 Skills Development in Performing arts

16/09/15
Song in theatre lesson
After meeting the group, the breathing activity was repeated. Then followed singing a note exercises. Note on Hah begad, with us all holding our notes for as long as possible. After this, we sang a major note sequence accompanied by the piano. We also thied this with a harmonic minor note. We carried an arpaggio sequence out, which is named "I am on top of the world." in theatre, as it was a floating bouncing note. This was followed up by  the vee vee vaa vaa concept. This is a technical exercise used to pracjice notes.   We followed this by singing a folksong id rounds, named down by the waters.  I was proud of my achievements ai I learnt the song entirely. People were able to sing any songs they knew. I sang the song we had learnt, as a solo, and felt proud as I tried to stand correctly and sand my best.  In this lesson I learnt how to pick up notes and sing an exercise using a bisc cue froc the piano. I also learnt techniques for sidging notes using these exercises.

24/09/15
Creating song for theatre
We warmed up as usual. We then ran through major,  harmonic minor, arpaggio, and the technical exercise. We then, as a class, sand Universal by Blur se that we coâld get a feel for a chorus number. We then examined which songs we individually wanted to sing. I will do a solo of, Tell Me Its Not True froc Blood Brothers,  a musical I love.  This taught me that singing in a group, along with numerous people with differedt pitches and tones, can take practice. Ij also gave me inspiration to sing a very special song and to make it my own masterpiece.

30/09/15
Skills for actors
Fter gathering with the group and warming up we carried out a task where we had to convince the audience that we are telling the truth. We all had to takeone story and change it, so that the other team  could guess which story is real. This helped us stay in character and help us to be creative id our owd ways. We then meved on to a partner exercise where we were asked questiodi like why is the dog red?  In oâr pairs, we had to become as convincing as posible sothat our answer is aelievable. This helped us stay in a role and think of cedvincing ideas quicly. Our other task was to carry out a dining  hall scene where ene person had to sit, one had to lay and one had to stand at one time. This helped us position our characters and think creatively.

05/10/15
Skills for actors
When in diction class I recited, I could not speak loudly as I was new to things  and I was still in the process of learning. However I will be able to do this now. I was however clearly spoken and this will improve  as I get better. I also managed to convey  vocal expression while I recited my poem to indicate the sentiment.  In singing class I have not sung my solo yet, however, during warm ups and group songs I was able to use techniques  ef breathing to help ce project. I was able to sing scales in my voice range. I was in tune at all times, and I feel very cenfident with the technical exercises.  I felt confident while I sing.  When I sing, later today, I will be able to codvey emetion as my song is very sad. During performance workshop, I have not quite started  older or younger characters.  I can understand  fairly basic improvisation techniques.  I was capable of holding focus and staying in my role of a interviewee. I began to look at production skills like staging and I felt very alert to the fact that certaid staging would be more sufficient for certain productions.  I could use lighting and sound cues in my chosen scenario.  I could codsider props and  how to stage something.  I was abbe to communicate my ideas to the group appropriately.    Generab:  I have attended all workshops proptly.  I also have attended  every class.  I am respectful to everyone and have a good working relationship with them all.  I am fully focus and can take criticism.  I am punctual with all deadlines.  I can can sometimes evaluate myideas but  it can be improved.  I am a positive person.  I can sometimessolve problms. I can make decisions for myself and can help others too.

09/10/15
Singing skills for actors and dancers
The class warmed up with the normal  breathing exercises. I was able to hold my long note even longer than usual which shows that my breathing  has improved. We then sang some technical exercises.  I was fairly confident. Individuals were then able to sing their own songs for  everxone, and were recorded for evidence.  Most people were nervous but they all succeeded. Some people  made mistakes or forgot their words,  but, it was a still a progress. I could not iing as my throat  was very sore.  This gave me a little more pracsice time.

15/10/15
Improvisation unit
After a warm up, and a dew game of da da diddly da, where everyone had to say a new word and the action for it, the group gathered in a circle. We started by creating a story together, each using a few lines to add more. After this, we studied jibbrish, speaking nonsense while portraying our lines using expression and movement.  We all managed  to tell the story in gibberish. We finished by acting out the story in different roles as a scene. It was successful.

20/10/15
Singing skills for actors and dancers
After a vocal warm up, we began looking at everyone's song choices and giving feedback. While singing some people began to seem more confident. My song was rehearsed a second time. I managed to sing loudly, clearly and confidently. One aspect I must work on is holding a long note. I can manage it, but I must focus on breathing at the right time, and pulling my stomach in to hold the breath. I will try this during my next  rehearsal.

20/10/15
Improvisation
During this class, we examined theatre of cruelty and Artaud. We improvised a scenario with a guard, and two prisoners in the cell at a time. For the majority of the time, I played the guard. I had to deal with each prisoner, some weeping, some violent and some who were deadly. 4E made people watching feel very uncomfortable. , swapped role to an illegal immigrant who had stolen a visa by hacking systems. This was a very different role. This was probably 6he most powerful improvisation  we had done.

02/11/15
Skills
This morning we have been reviewing our performing arts skills.  Singing: I have managed to carry out intercostal breathing. My song has many long high notes so I really must apply breathing techniques in order to hold the notes. My timing hai improved, however, within my song, I struggle to time my verse  to fit with the music. I use emotion during the song. My choice is musical  based, and emotional, and I managed this.  My long note on ha has lengthened, and my singing scales are much easier to achieve.  I have full attendance. I am generally punctual. I can lead a group easier. I am able to take initiative and lead activities. I duely respect everyone with equal measures.  I can carry a group forward and lead everyone. I am also able to make decisions for the good of the performance.  Generally, I feel I have improved a lot. I am also able to solve problems accordingly.

06/11/15
Singing skills
After a warm up, while laying on the ground for a different type of warm up, we began looking at everyone's songs. As my lyrics were lost, I could not perform. However, the others made significant  improvements.

09/11/15
Improvisation Workshop
We had an educational practitioner from the Courtyard theatre coming in to run an improvisation workshop. After getting to know each other, we sat in a circle and  each told a funny anecdote about a funny event in our lives. We were then put in to groups. We colaberated 3 people's scenes, in a picnic scene with 2 actors. It was a funny piece and I felt I was able to use different acting skills, to play a different role.

11/11/15
Improvisation
After a basic warm up, we began to listen to Mikey, for his stanislavski workshop. Stanislavski was a practitioner  from Russia, who focussed on realism and sometimes physical theatre. Mikey told us to choose our characters, and perform as if we were in a school. At first, the stage was chaos, but after a couple rethinks, we found a way to include all the storylines, but total control as well. The piece was successful, and I felt that I wai able to use the problem solving skill, in order to get our piece to be successful.

20/11/15
Improvisation
After warming up, MikeyLauren and Zizi lead some improvisation games. Loren won da da diddly da, which she also lead. We all had a go at What Happened to Maria, lead by Zizi. We then had singing conversation, lead by Mikey. Everyone joined in and it was successful. However, fortunately unfortunately went wrong, as it was too personal to a member of the group. We then did some improvisation like the cell scene, the classroom scene and some physical theatre. I think my improvisation skills are deffinately improving, and so are others'.

26/11/15
Improvisation
After a warm up, we were put in to teams. We had to create scenes in thetyle Artaud, first.  We then changed thecene to adapt to the style Grotovski used.  Then, we changed the scene finally to show the skills used by Stanislavski. Our group did very well,  and I feel that I used a variation of of skills, including using  physical theatre.  We continued, working with mime and small scenes as a whole group  effort.

30/11/15
Improvisation
Today, for Zizi, Lorren and Mikey, %t was assessment day. Some media students joined us as a small audience. Thearm up games were lead, as well as Rubber chicken, a different game. After this we were split  in to groups to be assessed.  We had to replay  the cell scene, scenes with mime,  work with props, and a number  of different scenarios. Everyone did very well.  I felt as if my improv  techniques were  becoming stronger.

30/11/15
Singing Skills
After a vocal warm up, we looked at everyone's group song, the universal. It was very successful and we worked out the harmonies.  We then began rehearsing our songs.  Mine went very well, but I need to work on breathing. We then  assigned singing parts for aint no mountain, before the end of the lesson.

30/11/15
Vocational trip to the Courtyard theatre
Our college was invited by the director of this year's panto, Beauty and the Beast, Estelle Van Warmelo. She has been producing pantomimes for many years. This was a chance to watch the penultimate technical dress rehearsal of the pantomime. On arrival, they were finishing the last scene, before moving on to the opening and organising the torch lighting. It was sponsored by Cargill meats. They were sponsored around 25 thousand pounds towards the panto. This is good advertisement for the panto, and the  meat company.  There was a large team to help produce the panto. There was a cast about 20 people. It was a strong vocational experience to see an almost finished production. It was interesting to see them working with the sound, props,  costumes, and script. After seeing it again I observed  that the show came together nicely.

12/01/15
Stanislavski technique
https://youtu.be/JKLTvb3ei_o This is a Stanislavski technique school scene which was improvised. I showed the skill of leadership as I played a main role and maintained the piece. I also used my teamwork skills. I was also able to evaluate and improve on the scene as an individual, and focus on improvements for the group as a whole.

14/01/16
The Cell Scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nposho5atZo This is where I show my leadership, communication and veried roles skills. This also shows how I can take on a very different style and type of character.

22/01/16
Skills Plan
Below is a list of my skills, how well I can use them, and a reasonable target.  During voice production, Iam able to carry out intercostal diaphragmatic breathing. At first, I struggled to hold the breath, but I was able to improve myself.
 My target needs to be, focus on keeping my shoulders down and work on holding on to the breath. I am able to project very clearly, and use diction.  I am also able to articulate my words clearly, however due to a mild lisp sometimes I must be very cautious in making sure my letters are clear.  I can phrase poetry and song. I sing and speak clearly but there are times where I have to slow my speech in order to be understood.  I use dynamics in my song and speech. I am also able to add gestures, movements, expressions and posture in a performance. In the cell scene, I changed my demeanour to fit the role of a guard. My target is that when playing a role, research and have an understanding ef the general behaviour and gesticulation of the character.  I work well in a team by listening to ideas, working to include everyone, and making suggestions. I could improve this by taking a leadership role or working with new people.   I have already lead warm ups in diction and in breathing. My target is to led a full workshop in any areas one day.  Although I can carry out many different dance techniques, these do not come naturally to me. I need to think carefully about a variation of techniques. I also need to stop doubting myself as this hinders me.  I am passionate about improvisation, using stimulating, creating ideas and basing ideas on certain practitioners.  I could look up and research certain types of practitioner, for ideas and styles in future improvisations.  Due to training in status, hot seating, monologues, and character development  I can develop a character. To improve I need to develop a range of roles to work on.  In a team I can communicate ideas and develop them. I could try and cooperate my thoughts with others'.  I am very punctual, and attend all lectures. As a person I am responsible and complete all written work. I can study a character, plot, setting, style or piece independently, and create ideas.

Here is a link to my youtube channel containing footage of me demonstrating  a variety of skills.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPD-HHuaHTJEan6NiESguUA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRkFc1sikXg&feature=youtu.be
This is a dance workshop which taught us some basic Buto dance. It will be used for our dance piece, but also as a skill of learning a new type of theatre.








 31 May  In the last year, I have had the opportunity to take part in many extra external workshops which have helped me gain new skills. I also was part of the singing performance at the college where I learnt new skills.  With UCAN, I also went to Sicily, where we took part in a lot of different workshops. For example, we did large group warm ups, working on body language, expression and behaviour on stage. We also worked on projection, and on visualising objects for physical theatre. We then split in to smaller groups for workshops with practitioners from WALES, Italy and Bulgaria.  In our first workshop, we learnt about characterisation and how to stand in order to portray a character. I feel like my portrayal of characters has now improved a lot, as I can focus on how I am standing, the character's status, and how that person would be portrayed. In performance workshop,  I have been thinking about how my character would stand, her emotion and position.  Our next workshop covered characterisation, and also how to move to music. It made me focus on how to move, and what music made me feel. I can dance with more focus, and move in a relevant way. ANOTHER workshop worked on devising theatre and how to portray it. We mad our own piece and song, which we used for our final performance on the final day. We also learnt that moving is dancing,  and if music is on, we can show it in anyway we like. I now feel more able to connect to a dance and devise dance in a way that we feel we can. We also learnt how to make objects using our bodies, in physical theatre, and how in a group, we can devise roads and forests, the sea and lakes using our bodies and wooden sticks. I learnt so many new skills. I have taken many tips on board for the future and for my theatre work. I am proud of these skills, and I am glad I also learnt how to help children in theatre, which has helped with my community project. 31 May  I also took part in a theatre workshop with Extant. Extant are a theatre company in Birmingham for disabled people. They worked with us for a few hours, showing us new techniques. I  now know how  to put my body, and the stage, in different states of tension. I have also learnt how to walk, lead by a body part, to represent a certain character. I have also worked on comedia de l'arte. This is such a popular and big type of theatre that learning this is very helpful. We got to practice this in pairs and small groups.  1 June  We also were able to carry out a singing performance. I learnt how to sing to a microphone, good stage position n and expression in a song, and also had my first solo performance. These skills were very new and I have learnt a lot from this experience. I also learnt how to talk to a crowd, and how to keep an audience's attention. I will use these skills in future singing performances.   31 May I feel like I have really developed some of my key skills. In dance, my confidence in creating and devising pieces, and confidence in myself have really improved. In dance workshops like the Japanese and skinner release I have felt much more confident. I have been able to improvise certain movements, including elevating and moving using different parts of the body. I have also been able to choreograph some pieces for our final show which has boosted my confidence. My diction has able improved, my words are clearer, despite a slight lisp which I can not help. I am also able to talk with a dialect.  For my piece, I need a Yorkshire accent. I have been made more aware of certain gestures and expressions which I may not have already been aware of. In performance workshop, I have now gained even more experience with working to a script. I had done this before but I feel more confident  with stage directions, and with picking up cues. I used to rely on others for this. Also in dance, I feel more confident moving around the space with more certainty. I used to struggle with this and still collide with obstacles but my confidence has grown greatly.  Group work in dance used to be difficult, but since the wind and tree activity I have felt happier with trusting my peers and slightly more confident with moving around them and contact improv. I feel that working in a theatre company during performance workshop has been easier. Our team has had more focus and less distractions during practices. We have all learnt even more so how to work together, help each other and aim for the main goal, the final show. I feel more capable with comparing work, for example my mysdr3mous, spiritual poem and my more upbeat, cheeky monologue. I am now happier with costumes and props, as I used to be unsure how to use props.



Here is a link to mmy solo piece in our Live, Love, Laugh performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ApSD4l4U0&feature=youtu.be