My Vision for Drama For Children
Theatre for Children
Theatre for children is a unique art form. It holds at its core the body expressing itself through movement and voice. My vision is that when children open the door to theatre, they will develop stronger, deeper and more colorful relationships with their parents; they will come to trust, appreciate and develop life long friendships with their peers; that they will begin to identify and delight in their own passions and abilities, and that the community around them will provide the support and nurture they need to grow into beautiful. kind, and thoughtful people.
Suzuki Piano:
Drama for Children creates and offers a fertile environment for musical literacy and proficiency to grow in every child. The methodology we use for instruments is based on the Japanese violinist and composer Chhin’ichi Suzuki, He says on page two in the opening of his book Nutured by Love,, (Alfred Music Pulishing Co.). “Full of life, a tree puts forth buds, and flowers bloom beautifully up and an down its branches. And human life unfolds in precisely the same way so these activities occur in Nature; I always reflect on this marvel. What, then, is the ultimate form to be attained by this human life force? It is to love everything and never stop seeking ;truth, goodness and beauty.” I always recommend that parents read this book. Dr. Suzuki developed his entire teaching method on the patterns he saw in the development of language. Every parent knows that language development is nurtured by responsive parents who repeat sounds and syllables with encouraging smiles and hugs when those first words are spoken. We invite parents to enter their child’s music education in ways that foster genuine communication and focus that strengthens the parent-child bond. This is what provides the fertile ground for exceptional emotional, musical, and intellectual growth possible in all children. The time that is spent on a regular daily basis to develop musical literacy and proficiency is the foundation upon which the rest of the drama program rests.
Drama Day
Drama Day is a fun filled day of music, dance and drama. Besides the opening plenary, parents are envited to participate in the closing activitiy of the day—guaranteed to be fun. The singing and theory curriculum is based on the Kodaly methodology which is a method used all over the world to teach sight singing, ear training, and pattern recognition in the early years of children’s development right up to Bach Chorales sung in University classes. Singing games, stories and puppetry will be used to teach specific elements of music. Identifying melodic and rhythmic patterns from the songs, folk and art music will find their expression on drums, written music, and art patterns. An experienced and highly qualified dance instructor will choreograph the musical theatre number chosen for the Spring Semester. It is through the Musical Theatre repetoire and specific exercises that elements of drama will be explored. It is here that trust, confidence and skills will grow in an inclusive and welcoming environment. I love the age variety and challenge in meeting the various level of each child, because I have to rely on older children mentoring and supporting younger children, all the while, strengthening their own foundational abilities in the process. Instead of holding them back, not only do they become more empathetic human beings, they often flourish through the reinforcement that mentoring fosters. Our Drama Day team, provides group and individual attention throughout the day.
An Artistically Wholistic Approach to Teaching Music to Children
During my first experience teaching early childhood music for Alberta College (now Grant McEwan University, I attended a workshop combining dance and singing instruction. I was captivated and from that day on, I have looked for ways to approach curriculum through the lens of a wholistic artistic approach. I began marrying the pedagogy of Kodally with the Suzuki Piano and added dance to the curriculum of my students. Adding theatre seemed like a logical next step and that is how my choir landed in the middle of eight full scale musical productions. I knew I was onto something. I had found a powerful tool that not only allowed children to develop their innate skills and abilities, but where they could find attachment to the larger adult community and where they could belong. My vision is a core music lessons that requires daily discipline combined with a performing arts program where the music is married to movement and theory is incorporated effortlessly into the theatre program. From my very first early childhood music class to this very moment, I delight in seeing children experience the joy of music through instruments, singing together, and making a story come to life.
Acting
And finally, there is the art that I want to perform. I look for opportunities to find a story that I want to be part of. Playing Anna in the two handler Love Child by Joanna Murray Smith highlighted for me the importance of stories that call us to question, to re-evaluate, to fly above and see things from a different perspective. I want to find places to tell stories to children and to adults in theatre. I want to act.
