"What's commitment?" Rebecca asked. She didn't know she'd been using it for about five months now by not only committing to faithfully attend her acting class for herself but to her friends there as well. "Compuh...what?"
"Commitment." I said.
One of the challenges in using "big" words for kids is how to explain in little words. It came down to putting all of your focus on one thing without letting anything distract you. A little like concentration but with your full heart. Doing something no matter what.
"Doing it 100%," Rebecca said.
Absolutely.
When you can commit to listening to your friends in a fun acting game or in an improv scene then chances are you'll be able to commit to studying for a science test or listening to your mom's requests or making your bed every morning. Baby steps.
These kids are learning to do just that. Like focus, one is always committing themselves to something. What? You have to become aware of that before you can discern it. Their eyes are opening to this.
It's a short one today. I'm committed to having time off for the rest of the weekend.
Til next time,
Fleur
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Taking a Bite of a Lemon
Close your eyes. Picture yourself holding a lemon wedge. It's ripe, it's juicy and cool. And very lemony. Now take a BIG bite.
Ack! Right?
This was part of a visualization exercise we did in class today. I saw puckered lips, surprised and shocked smiles and a few grimaces. This is an introduction to Sense Memory. Which is just what it sounds like. A memory of your senses. I asked, "Are you eating a lemon right now?" "No." "But you can remember what it feels like to eat a lemon." "Yes." We did a few more exercises before we took it to a different level.
Close your eyes. Remember something that happened that "didn't go your way." Remember something that you had no control over. I asked them not to tell me what it was but asked how it made them feel. "Did you feel angry, sad, confused? Open your eyes." I heard answers like "I felt confused and shocked." "I felt sad." I asked, "But is that happening right now?" "No." "But you can remember it and call on it when you might need it." "Yes."
Now we did not go far into this exercise emotionally. Just a taste. Everyone was fine. I was less interested in their ability to recall for the stage as in their ability to apply the exercise to the real world. We talked about how we use this exercise as a tool in acting. Briefly. But if you are able to use this for the stage - the re-call - and then let it go when the show is over - then can you not do this offstage in your own life as well?
Is this happening now? No. It's over. It's not happening right now. But when it did happen it was <fill in the blank>. But you can learn to let go of it. Whatever it is. Or hang on to it. Your choice. We learn to honor what has happened or is happening and how to release.
Then we played games which is always fun! My favorite creation today was a bird Jessica created called the loolooloo - argh now I forget the word! It was a stellar word. Then Rebecca took it over and gave it this noise - GooooLaaahhhh. Then she formed what only can be described as a part ostrich part velociraptor sticking her elbows out and shrinking her neck and head as far down as they would go and led everyone around the room "GooooLahhhh". It was a sight to behold. When was the last time you GooLahed?
Until next time,
GooooLahhhh
Ack! Right?
This was part of a visualization exercise we did in class today. I saw puckered lips, surprised and shocked smiles and a few grimaces. This is an introduction to Sense Memory. Which is just what it sounds like. A memory of your senses. I asked, "Are you eating a lemon right now?" "No." "But you can remember what it feels like to eat a lemon." "Yes." We did a few more exercises before we took it to a different level.
Close your eyes. Remember something that happened that "didn't go your way." Remember something that you had no control over. I asked them not to tell me what it was but asked how it made them feel. "Did you feel angry, sad, confused? Open your eyes." I heard answers like "I felt confused and shocked." "I felt sad." I asked, "But is that happening right now?" "No." "But you can remember it and call on it when you might need it." "Yes."
Now we did not go far into this exercise emotionally. Just a taste. Everyone was fine. I was less interested in their ability to recall for the stage as in their ability to apply the exercise to the real world. We talked about how we use this exercise as a tool in acting. Briefly. But if you are able to use this for the stage - the re-call - and then let it go when the show is over - then can you not do this offstage in your own life as well?
Is this happening now? No. It's over. It's not happening right now. But when it did happen it was <fill in the blank>. But you can learn to let go of it. Whatever it is. Or hang on to it. Your choice. We learn to honor what has happened or is happening and how to release.
Then we played games which is always fun! My favorite creation today was a bird Jessica created called the loolooloo - argh now I forget the word! It was a stellar word. Then Rebecca took it over and gave it this noise - GooooLaaahhhh. Then she formed what only can be described as a part ostrich part velociraptor sticking her elbows out and shrinking her neck and head as far down as they would go and led everyone around the room "GooooLahhhh". It was a sight to behold. When was the last time you GooLahed?
Until next time,
GooooLahhhh
Sunday, January 8, 2012
"Long Fun"
Some things you should know: Jessica loves pie (apple and blueberry but NOT pumpkin.) Rebecca is "this much Catholic" (arms out wide) and "this much Jewish" (fingers open an inch). Sasha loves fashion because of her Aunt Nona. Derrick loves to laugh with his friends and play the drums. Aiden is a huge fan of Japanese animation and gory video games. Diana loves Justin Bieber and her favorite color is blue. Drew is best friends with Rebecca and her big sister had sleep overs with Jessica. She also has a crush on < classified information>.
We played one game (with variations) with one goal in mind - getting to know each other. I have not seen this type of focus for one full hour from these kids since we started last August. This makes me very proud of them. Because they were focused for the benefit of each other.
The children were asked to find a classmate that they didn't know that well. I gave them five minutes to talk to each other about themselves. Then they stood up and introduced their partner to the class and told what they had learned. Did they get some things wrong? Yes. Did they forget some things? Yes. But mostly they remembered. They were listening to each other. Then I made it a little harder. I warned them they'd better listen to every introduction because their was another layer to the game. One person stood up and whomever wanted to run up beside him/her could say what they had learned about them until the next person yelled "FREEZE" in tag team fashion. This allowed every individual to experience the whole class excited to share what they knew about them. I was happy to see how much fun they had doing this. Hint: if you ever want to add excitement and energy to a game then insert the word "FREEZE" and that will get the party started.
In the third phase we circled up and did a variation of our Name Game. (We go around the circle and say our name with a specific movement of our choosing.) This time we went around the circle devoted to each other. So everyone did movements that represented what they now knew about whomever was "it" while saying that person's name. Their was a lot of laughter in the room. Aiden made a very funny move for Drew which had everyone (literally) on the floor laughing. But he did not take the low road. He did not mock her. He captured her essence with a sense of humor. Everyone was honored. And I didn't have to say a thing. Parents, be proud. Your kids are great listeners with colorful imaginations and generous hearts.
You may be wondering how this is an acting lesson? Simplistically put, characterization begins with the study of people. I'm sneaky. More importantly, in the end I asked, "What's compassion?" None of them really knew how to tell me. But they had been demonstrating it for an hour.
Derrick said, "This was the longest most fun hour. Usually the fun makes the time go fast but this was a long fun hour."
"Long Fun." My new favorite phrase.
Signing off with Aiden's exit chant,
Marshmallow Fluffy Killers
(I didn't ask and I don't want to run into one.)
We played one game (with variations) with one goal in mind - getting to know each other. I have not seen this type of focus for one full hour from these kids since we started last August. This makes me very proud of them. Because they were focused for the benefit of each other.
The children were asked to find a classmate that they didn't know that well. I gave them five minutes to talk to each other about themselves. Then they stood up and introduced their partner to the class and told what they had learned. Did they get some things wrong? Yes. Did they forget some things? Yes. But mostly they remembered. They were listening to each other. Then I made it a little harder. I warned them they'd better listen to every introduction because their was another layer to the game. One person stood up and whomever wanted to run up beside him/her could say what they had learned about them until the next person yelled "FREEZE" in tag team fashion. This allowed every individual to experience the whole class excited to share what they knew about them. I was happy to see how much fun they had doing this. Hint: if you ever want to add excitement and energy to a game then insert the word "FREEZE" and that will get the party started.
In the third phase we circled up and did a variation of our Name Game. (We go around the circle and say our name with a specific movement of our choosing.) This time we went around the circle devoted to each other. So everyone did movements that represented what they now knew about whomever was "it" while saying that person's name. Their was a lot of laughter in the room. Aiden made a very funny move for Drew which had everyone (literally) on the floor laughing. But he did not take the low road. He did not mock her. He captured her essence with a sense of humor. Everyone was honored. And I didn't have to say a thing. Parents, be proud. Your kids are great listeners with colorful imaginations and generous hearts.
You may be wondering how this is an acting lesson? Simplistically put, characterization begins with the study of people. I'm sneaky. More importantly, in the end I asked, "What's compassion?" None of them really knew how to tell me. But they had been demonstrating it for an hour.
Derrick said, "This was the longest most fun hour. Usually the fun makes the time go fast but this was a long fun hour."
"Long Fun." My new favorite phrase.
Signing off with Aiden's exit chant,
Marshmallow Fluffy Killers
(I didn't ask and I don't want to run into one.)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Menorahs and Christmas Trees - That Talk
Greetings!
Our final class for 2011 was full of merry making and sharing what the holidays mean to us. There's a game we play where we go around the circle, say our names with a quick movement, then everyone mirrors that movement back. We changed it this week to words and sounds that reminded us of the holiday season. Here's what I heard:
Santa, Winter Girl, Family, Berries, Marshmallows, Mrs. Santa, Presents, Candy Canes and Frizzle Frazzle, HoHoHo, Jingle Jingle, Weeeee!, Ahhhh!, Marshmallows (again), <undecipherable shrill of words expressing Glee>, and Forgiveness.
The kids' improvising skills get better and better and they surprise me every time. This week we found ourselves in the company of talking Menorahs and talking Christmas trees. They, the Menorahs and Trees, speak in their own language of course.
Happy Holidays to everyone! See you in January when I'll not only be blogging about the creations from the Improv Front but also sharing insights from our new class coming up: Writing and Performing Original Works. Until then...
Cheers!
Fleur
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Focus, Bubble Gum Machine & The Sitlyboo
Well Saturday was fun and ...interesting. Was it something in the water? I find on any particular Saturday at 2:00 I can have a room full of students - at this point the total count is 11 - and it can feel like a solid unit. One mind, as it were. Amazing when that happens in a group with an age range of 6-11. Then there are days where I can have 8 kids and it feels like 20. How is this possible? Maybe they feel the need to make up for the absent energy. And they did. Bouncing with energy....bouncing and bouncing and bouncing....
One of the ideas we touch on in class is that you are always focusing on something. You are never distracted. You've just made your choice for the moment. It's a different way to think about where our attention is. So I just ask, quietly, "What has your attention right now?" or "Where is your focus?" There's usually a short pause - and a funny stare at me - but then suddenly the focus is back on the group. For the most part. (OK, sometimes not. It's a work in progress.) But it does encourage awareness of the moment at hand. I like to think about how that might be taken home or to school or into an art or writing project. It might stick. Who knows.
It takes many components to build a human machine but the kids took on the challenge winningly. If I could listen to every single idea they come up with in one hour we would have no time to play. They are bursting with them. Did you know that to make a human Bubble Gum Machine you have to have: A bubble gum blower/tester, a stamper, a boxer, a passer, a DRILLER (I know, but you do!), and the person that shapes to gum into little perfect square before it's sent out to the world. And in order for this to take place you have to have 8 kids working with each other systematically watching and listening, giving and taking evenly. Oh yeah. They did and they do.
Finally, a Sitlyboo is a magic apple that is thought to bring immortality and is a coveted treasure that can only be found by following an ancient map. But Alas, the joke is on you because the apple is evil and if you eat it you are a dead man.
So don't be fooled.
Until next week,
Fleur
One of the ideas we touch on in class is that you are always focusing on something. You are never distracted. You've just made your choice for the moment. It's a different way to think about where our attention is. So I just ask, quietly, "What has your attention right now?" or "Where is your focus?" There's usually a short pause - and a funny stare at me - but then suddenly the focus is back on the group. For the most part. (OK, sometimes not. It's a work in progress.) But it does encourage awareness of the moment at hand. I like to think about how that might be taken home or to school or into an art or writing project. It might stick. Who knows.
It takes many components to build a human machine but the kids took on the challenge winningly. If I could listen to every single idea they come up with in one hour we would have no time to play. They are bursting with them. Did you know that to make a human Bubble Gum Machine you have to have: A bubble gum blower/tester, a stamper, a boxer, a passer, a DRILLER (I know, but you do!), and the person that shapes to gum into little perfect square before it's sent out to the world. And in order for this to take place you have to have 8 kids working with each other systematically watching and listening, giving and taking evenly. Oh yeah. They did and they do.
Finally, a Sitlyboo is a magic apple that is thought to bring immortality and is a coveted treasure that can only be found by following an ancient map. But Alas, the joke is on you because the apple is evil and if you eat it you are a dead man.
So don't be fooled.
Until next week,
Fleur
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Babala Vedix, Toilets and Lady Gaga
This blog begins after we, (da kidz and I), have been working (playing) since July of this year. They are getting to be regular pros at the same improv games that adults find challenging. So I am pushing them into new territory that requires quicker thinking. One of our exercises I will call the "5 W's" (Who, What, Where, etc.) entails answering as quickly as you can to my question: "WHO?" or "WHAT?" What's the answer? Whatever comes to mind. This is not an easy task. Try playing it with your kid this week. The brain will leap in and judge in a millisecond. The challenge is to get past that nano-second to whatever wants to come out of your mouth. Then we take some of the funny, creative answers and put them on their feet. On Saturday they found themselves improving Lady Gaga and Fleur (Har Har - thanks, Jessica) in the public bathroom fixing toilets at a Lady Gaga concert. It's refreshing to think that Lady Gaga will use the public restroom at her own concert.
Thanks to Caitlyn, Sasha, and Derrick, we now know that a Babala Vedix is a type of bird that walks on land and swims through the air. Hey, you never know when this knowledge will come in handy.
I could write endlessly of the talent, courage and creativity that they all have. Don't worry, I will. But I'd like to share something else. A new student joined us this week. Can you imagine how it feels to be new in a class where you are constantly asked to think on your feet, perform, and enter into games, (that everyone else already knows how to play), in a group that has been bonding for about four months now? It could have gone many ways. But this class? There was a collective and unison "HELLO" as they swooped her up and brought her into the fold.
This is Community. That is gold. Those are your kids.
See you next week,
Fleur
PS. "Who?"
You thought too long.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Welcome!
This blog is devoted to the children learning to improvise/act/write here in New York. They are smart and funny cats. I will be sharing the things they do and say. And mostly, hopefully, what they are teaching the Teach (me) in the process. Wait. That would make them the teachers...oh and they are. Stay tuned.
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