Paging Doctor Hall: February 2012

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Performing Arts and Competition Workshops-Piano Agendas

Piano-First Workshop

Choosing a song:

Correct length per Job’s Daughter competition guidelines and showcases your skill

The Metronome:

When and how to use the metronome as you practice

Warming Up:

Always warm-up before you compete. If you ask permission, the judges will allow you to quickly warm-up before you begin. This also gives you the chance to test out a piano that you have probably not played on before. (Stretch out your hands and wrists, play a few scales, etc.)

How to Sit:

How far away to sit from the keys

Sit forward on your seat. (This gives you the ability to lean into the keys to produce more volume.)

Have good posture-don’t hunch over the keys.

Tempo and Dynamics:

How to decide on an appropriate and doable tempo

How and when to vary the dynamics in a song

Piano-Second Workshop

Different Styles of Piano Music:

Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods

Different composers and their styles

Expression:

When and how you can use vibrato

Playing with the tempo and dynamics

Portraying the mood of the song

When and how to use the pedals

What Judges Are Looking For:

Reference sample Job’s Daughter competition score sheets.

Practice:

Note: You need to decide if you are going to play a whole song for the workshop performance. If not, you will need to figure out an appropriate cut with your coaches.

Note: These agendas were for workshops I hosted to help me earn my Girl Scout Gold Award (an 80 hour service project). If you participated in these workshops, please leave a comment so I'll know you were here. Thank you!

~Brianna :-)

Performing Arts and Competition Workshops-Vocal Agendas

Vocal-First Workshop

Choosing a song:

Correct length per Job’s Daughter competition guidelines

Theme or character you can relate to

Suits your vocal range and the quality of your voice

Finding your vocal range

Where to find karaoke music:

How to use Amazon or WalMart.com: Search for the title of the song + karaoke (example – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow Karaoke”)and download an mp3 file to your computer (usually costs about $0.99 – will need a credit card to purchase).

How to burn the music to a cd using your computer.

Note: I don’t recommend singing acapella. You can pull it off if you know the song extremely well, but you’ll sound better with music virtually every time.

Sheet Music:

How many copies and/or original copies do you need for the judges?

Where to find sheet music – we use MR Music on Dorsett near 270 or Shattinger’s which is off Broadway close to Anheuser-Busch Brewery. We usually call them first and ask if they have the music and then, if they do, ask them to hold 1 or 2 copies of it (depending on how many we need for competition) in our name.

What to Wear:

Wearing a costume to match your character (For example: You and a friend could wear Glinda and Elpheba costumes for your “For Good” duet.)

Comfortable yet professional look- Jobie appropriate semi-formal attire (Don’t wear heels unless you can walk comfortably in them.)

Poise While Performing:

How to stand-using good posture

Support yourself (hold your stomach muscles) and open your chest.

Breath control-take deep breathes. Think about expanding your stomach instead of your chest as you sing.

Moving only when your character wants to

Where to focus your eyes (decide when you want to make eye contact with the judges).

Vocal-Second Workshop

What to Eat Beforehand:

Eat healthy food, but no dairy products. Try not to eat immediately before you sing.

Drink lots of water!

Sick the Day of Competition?

Drink even more water.

Try drinking hot tea with honey or gargling salt water.

Don’t over practice-you’ll wear out your voice. However, warm-up like usual before you perform.

Humming as part of your warm-up might help if you have a nasal voice.

How to Warm-Up:

Scales, octaves, tongue twisters, etc. You want to warm-up your vocal chords and your tongue. Diction is as important as vocal range.

Sing through your song, preferably with your music so you can stay on pitch.

Practicing:

Try to breathe at a rest, during a pause in the lyrics, or at some other sensible place. Don’t breathe in the middle of a word or phrase.

Project your voice! Don’t let the size of the room dictate how much you project.

Stay in character and stay focused. Keep going if you mess up, and try not to fidget.

Enjoy yourself, and portray the message of the song.

Keep in mind what the judges are looking for. Reference sample score sheets.

Note: You need to decide how much of your song you would like to perform at the workshop performance. If you are not ready to sing the whole song, maybe sing a verse and the chorus.

~Brianna :-)

Performing Arts and Competition Workshops-Sign Language Agendas

Sign Language-First Workshop

Choosing a song:

You need a song that has the correct length and a doable speed for signing.

Try to choose a song that you like and can relate to in some way.

Using aslpro.com:

How to use the provided word dictionary and videos

Picking Which Words to Sign:

Unfortunately, you usually don’t have time to sign every word in the lyrics. Normally you just leave out small words like “the”, “a”, or “and”. Verbs and nouns are important. Just try to keep the meaning of the song the same.

Nearer my God to Thee:

We are all going to learn “Nearer my God to Thee” because it’s sung and signed to often in Job’s Daughters. Besides it’s a beautiful song. J Note: I have a video of myself signing “Nearer my God to Thee” on facebook. You can use that to help you when you’re practicing at home.

Practice

Sign Language-Second Workshop

Signing Fluently:

Try to move your arms and hands smoothly as you sign. Really feel the music.

Poise While Performing:

Have good posture, but don’t stand stiffly. If you like, you can move your body to the beat of the music-add your own style.

Expression:

Use your face and eyes to portray the mood of the song. You can also add a certain quality to your signing to go along with the style of the song. Your signs to a smooth, lyrical song should look different than your signs to a quick, upbeat song.

Practice

~Brianna :-)

Performing Arts and Competition Workshops-Interviewing Agendas

Interviewing-First Workshop

What to wear:

Comfortable yet professional look

Jobie appropriate attire-no short dresses or low necklines

Dress appropriately for your age.

Wear hose and comfortable shoes-heels only if you can walk in them.

Keep your hair out of your face.

Don’t wear heavy makeup. You want to look like yourself (natural).

How to sit:

Sit with your knees together. Cross your ankles if you want to but not your legs. Tuck your feet under you and sit up straight and just a tiny bit forward.

Keep your hands in your lap unless you want to move them to demonstrate a point.

Have good posture, but don’t sit stiffly. Try not to fidget.

Introducing Yourself:

Giving a firm handshake

Smile and make eye contact.

Give your name, Bethel #, and possibly contestant #. Be pleasant.

If you know a judge, don’t be a stranger-“Good to see you again”, “How have you been?” Etc.

Shake hands and exchange greetings with each judge. You only have about five minutes to form a connection with the judges.

Personal etiquette and manners

Interviewing-Second Workshop

How to form strong answers:

Restate the question in your answer. For example: “Why do you want to be the Jr.MMJD?” Answer-“I want to be the Jr.MMJD because…”

Answer the question completely and explain your answer.

Share ideas and opinions whenever you can. For example: In your answer to the interview question above, you could give some ideas for what you would do as the Jr.MMJD, what your goals are, etc.

When you are answering interview questions, know yourself. Why are you here? What is your purpose?

Make sure your endings are strong. If you feel like you are becoming long-winded, can’t think of anything more to say, or are getting off topic end your answer. Try not to end with “um” – finish your sentence with a period.

For longer answers, sum up your main points at the end. Think of it as a conclusion to a paper. Examples: “Overall, I believe that…”; “So overall, I would love to serve as your Jr.MMJD because…”

Be prepared to answer questions about the form you sent in before the competition. Also, be ready for the classic question of why you want to serve in the position you’re competing for.

Job and College Interviews:

Keeping a personal inventory/resume of accomplishments in areas of your life such as work, community service, church, etc

List of resumes, handouts

Types of questions in job and/or college interviews

Note: These agendas were for workshops that I hosted to help me earn my Girl Scout Gold Award (an 80 hour service project). If you participated in these workshops, please leave a comment so I'll know you were here. Thank you!

~Brianna :-)

Performing Arts and Competition Workshops-Memory Work Agendas

Memory Work-First Workshop

Memorization and Practice:

Break it down, set goals for yourself

Know if you are a visual learner or if you learn best by repeating after someone

Learn your work word perfect. If you are going to take the time to memorize your work, you may as well learn it word perfect. Also, once you memorize something, it is difficult to go back and re-learn it.

Memory games

Don’t speak too fast, even when you’re “just practicing”. Actually, it’s a good idea to practice speaking slower than you intend to when you perform. During the competition or initiation ceremony, you’ll speak faster because of nerves anyway.

Keep in mind-you will only be given one word if you ask for a prompt.

Go over the pronunciation list in the back of the ritual.

Go over sample score sheets from ritual competitions so you can know what the judges are looking for.

Poise While Performing:

Have good posture, but don’t stand stiffly.

Don’t fidget. You can only move your head and eyes when you are giving a messenger lecture.

Don’t lean too far forward or sway back and forth.

Make eye contact with the judges or pilgrims. Take turns looking at each of them as you speak.

Floor Work for the Messengers:

Reference diagrams in the ritual.

Square your corners-maybe hold some square corner drills.

Know where to nod to the Guide and Marshall.

Know where to stand when you’re giving a messenger lecture.

How do you return to the fifth messenger’s spot safely?J

Proficiency:

Practice demonstrating and explaining the salutation sign at the same time (for competition you will only be saying it but you can visualize it in your mind).

Changes in the Obligation

When to demonstrate (exemplify) the signs when you’re explaining them

How to give the grip correctly

Overall, always make sure you understand what you are saying when you give ritual work.

Memory Work-Second Workshop

First Messenger Lecture:

You are beginning the story and setting the scene.

Make a distinction between characters, especially since you are introducing them to the pilgrims.

Smile before you even start.

Enjoy describing the landscape and Job’s life, especially during the “over the plains and into the hills” part.

Put emphasis on God’s authority and His approval of Job-“In the heavenly council, God commended the piety of his faithful servant, Job.”

The adversary is pure evil, spite, and the most experienced trouble maker ever created. His voice should sound much different from God’s, which should be powerful but also pure and in control.

Second Messenger Lecture:

Start off this messenger with a smile as well-before “Job was happy…”

Pause before “But there came a day”. There should be a 180 degree switch in mood here.

The description of Job’s misfortunes becomes more and more terrible. Take your time with this part.

Portray Satan’s sly nature when he approaches the throne again. Of course, God is in complete control of the situation.

Portray Job’s humility in his quote at the end of the lecture.

Pause for just a moment before giving your instructions to the Guide and Marshall, but keep your momentum going.

Third Messenger Lecture:

Desolation and despair are the themes of this messenger lecture. Remember that Job is so crushed he wants to die. However, he never points a finger at God and says “You are punishing me unjustly.”

Job’s three quotes should be emphasized, and you should distinguish between them.

Remember that Job’s friends are being unjust when they insist that Job is being punished for sins he didn’t commit.

Fourth Messenger Lecture:

Show the frustration and slight challenge in God’s voice when he speaks to Job.

Build up energy during the whispering of the wind section. You can speak louder or slower as you go on-be creative.

Show Job’s humility when he answers God.

Show God’s anger towards Eliphaz.

Be joyful at the end. You may need to pause right after God gets angry at Eliphaz, because immediately afterwards you need to be happy.

Fifth Messenger Lecture:

Imagine that you are speaking to a sweet, cute little sister. You’re explaining the importance of the Story of Job to her.

The fifth messenger lecture is unique-it wraps up the story for the pilgrims, who have never heard it before.

Take your time and put emphasis on the last quote-“In all the land, where no women found so fair as the daughters of Job…” Make sure you understand what this means-this is a very inspiring quote.

~Brianna :-)