Hi! I just saw a blog post giving advice to incoming theatre freshmen. I thought some of you might be interested in reading it and maybe had your own ideas/opinions to add!
I think S - rising MT sophomore - would especially agree with #3 and #6, adding that taking risks and making “mistakes” should be what it’s all about. Don’t get hung up on, “Am I doing it right?” This is not your high school drama class or senior musical. Be prepared to stretch yourself out of your comfort zone, embarrass yourself in front of others and get it “wrong”. Taking those chances will make you - and your classmates - grow more than you ever could imagine.
I would add: Have a growth mindset. It seems obvious that you are going to college to grow and learn, but growth mindset is even more than that.
I think I can post this link… if not, just Google it
http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/
Students should have to read Carol Dweck’s book before they graduate from HS - or better yet, junior high.
I agree @mom4bwayboy! I think all teachers should be well-versed in growth mindset as well . . . especially performing arts teachers! The whole praise vs. feedback piece is huge, in my opinion (I’m a middle school teacher, and have seen the difference in my students when our school started trainings on growth mindset.)
In perfect world, all teachers should be trained to give specific feedback, and not compliments . . . can you imagine how much compliments get weighed, measured and compared in groups of performing arts students?
As a teacher, specific and individualized feedback is harder to deliver, especially if you have 30-35 students, but it’s what makes all the difference in learning!
Here’s an interesting video on praise and growth mindset if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRY
^^ Oh, yeah. Replace the words “court” and “field” with “stage” and it’s totally applicable. S saw many kids in his freshman Acting class who were afraid they were going to do something “wrong”. It took a long time for them to break their own pre-formed “molds”.