To all my aspiring performers, stage manager, etc., there’s a great lesson in performing arts playing out in the news right now.  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is demanding to be paid royalities for their works that are re-aired or orginially broadcast over the internet.  Also, they are demanding that Reality TV begin to acknowledge and properly pay writers.  (Yep, that’s right, “reality” is SCRIPTED). 

Why should you care?  Well, when you are the arts fields, it is imperative that you know your rights as an artist and understand what INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY is.  When you write anything–music, poetry, film scripts, etc.–it is yours.  However, if you don’t copywright it, it can be stolen; yes, stolen.  Someone else can come along and use your creativity and artistic ability to their advantage and finacial gain.  Also, as a stage performer, you want to ultimately be a member of Actor’s Equity Association (Equity or AEA) or as a film/tv person a member of the Screen’s Actors Guild (SAG).  These organizations protect YOU and your rights.  It’s important to understand these organziations as they help you and all you do.

So, back to WGA.  Because the collective industry has been re-airing shows and utilizing writers for reality, the WGA is about to formally go on strike.  If they can’t work out this business, they will strike beginning Sunday.  This means all of Hollywood would shut down.  You’re favorite shows would have no new episodes until further notice.  What has already been “shot and canned” will air, but after a time, no new entertainment.

Take this opportunity to edcuate yourself in the business.  I KNOW you will need the knowledge one day.

Here’s a link to begin your reading:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_en_tv/hollywood_labor;_ylt=Auc7ZJV3np0FvdEjPTyhF6RxFb8C

Ok, so I know you can’t look at it from school, but if you get a chance when at home, here’s some YouTube links for the movie Wayne’s World when they had a ’singalong’ to Bohemian Rhapsody. 

(If you can imagine, this movie was HUGE with my friends and me when it came out.  I saw it 3 times in the theatre alone.  I still love it!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTheG–2NE0

I thought I would use my new blog to make sure I’m clear on an assignment. 

Today’s drama class received their pantomine assignment.  Here are some helpful hints/tips:

1.  Be sure you limit your time.  If you go too long, you’ll forget your movements, or you’ll exhaust y ourself (remember everything is done “bigger”)

2.  Look for the mundane, everyday things that are amusing when you “think about them” and “make them bigger.”  For example, when girls put on mascara, they twist their faces in crazy ways, and we have a tendency to always open our mouths.  These are things are FUNNY when placed out of context (meaning done in a classroom and not in private).

3.  Don’t get hung up on song choice.

4.  Don’t “choreograph” your piece to your song.  The song should be a layer on top of previously determined movement (blocking).  The song is merely an accent, not a definition, of what you are doing.

5.  Remember to be BIG and DEMONSTRATIVE.

6.  Utilize the K.I.S.S. rule:  “Keep it simple students!”

I hope this helps.  I know some of you were confused.  I’m not looking for some huge elaborate mimed show.  I want to see that you understand pantomine, and the concept of recreating a creation every time the same way. 

Oh, and lastly, don’t forget the “Who Am I?’!!!!

Peace and Love,

Ms. N.

Ah!  Do I have to learn this!?! 

I hate this!

I can’t do this!  I’ll just quit!

I thought chorus was supposed to be fun!

How many times do you think I’ve heard comments like the ones above?  A lot.  More than I can count or remember.  And I hear the same basic ones all the time.

Sight singing, the ability to sing a piece of music based on just sight reading it, is a learned skill.  Everyone learns it at their own pace, but ALL can learn it.  It’s what separates the good singers from the great ones.

How is it practical?  Let’s get real here…you need to have some level of competency with your reading as a musician in order to get jobs!  Studio musicians have some understand of what is on the page.  Sometimes they get jobs where the don’t get the music until the day of.  You can’t trust someone to give you a recording and say “memorize it.”  That’s not performance.  Memorization is not Performance.  Say that with me.  Memorization is not Performance.  (This applies in acting too).

If you want to work as a musician, you need to know how to do it–whether you want to be Rhianna or Pavarotti, Dave Matthews or Yo Yo Ma.  You will be more hireable and desireable as a musician, b/c you learn so much quicker and easier than the musician who does not.  You’ll also find that music is more enjoyable when it comes naturally and easily. 

So, in short, give sight reading and singing your best effort.  That’s all you need to do.  It is like walking or riding a bike.  The more you do it, the more easily it comes to you.  And suddenly, one day, you take off and you’ve got.  So hang in there!!!!!! 

Good morning everyone!  And, welcome to my teaching blog!

I plan to have extra material on here that will help in the classroom throughout the year.  You may find some of my musings on art, music, and the like on here as well, as I want my students to being to THINK and SPEAK as creative artists, and therefore understand what is being thought and said by others of the like.

Please check back often, as I plan to update this often; particularly after I learn to use this new feature more!

Peace and Love,

Ms. N