Keys2Play Great Starts

Performance workshops for primary school students

There are numerous situations in which your students are expected to perform at school (for e.g. giving a presentation in class).  Certainly all of the performing arts fields (rhythmic gymnastics, music, dram, dance) are evaluative by nature and irrespective of age and skill level there is always a performance component.  Students ‘perform’ in their lessons, in music class, in band rehearsals, at studio concerts and in exams.

It is essential for young students to start building a bank of positive performing experiences if they are to continue to maintain their motivation, enthusiasm and enjoyment of their art.  The following modules have been designed specifically for primary school students to assist them in building confidence, and focus when performing as well as to provide them with some KEY strategies for managing nerves and releasing tension.

Getting off to a great start Module 

Module length:  1 hour

Starting is perhaps the most critical part of any performance.  Generally a poised and confident start sets the performer up for a strong performance.  Young students in particular often start without thinking.  They typically do not take enough time to really get focussed on what it is they are about to do before they launch into their first note which can lead to incorrect tempos, false starts and mistakes.  They also tend to approach performances quite tentatively.  Cautious and timid starts result in thin tone, wobbly notes and intonation, and poor posture and breath control.  These factors alone are enough to throw any performer, but combined with a spike in nerves and tension it can make it very difficult for a young performer to get back on track and play up to their ability.

A key focus of this workshop is to build confident starts by helping students to develop a simple yet extremely effective strategy that encourages them to:

• Focus their attention
• Control their breathing
• Regulate nerves
• Release tension; and,
• Adopt the correct postural alignment right before they start playing.

Each step of the process is developed through a series of fun, experiential and age-appropriate activities.  Students are provided with a performance kit to encourage them to continue to develop these skills in the practice and lessons.

HIPPOS (highlights and positives) Module

Module length:  30 min

This is a strategy that encourages students (and teachers) to focus on the successes and achievements gained during the process (i.e. in practice, lessons, skill development and mastery, during a performance etc.) of learning their instrument rather than focussing specifically on the outcome of a performance or result in an exam.  This helps to build confidence and is a wonderful strategy for teaching children how to recognise positives or highlights in any situation even when expectations (such as receiving a certain mark in an exam) are not met.

Making the Unfamiliar, Familiar Module

Module length:  30 min

There are many things that happen only in a performance that are not part of our students’ daily practice experience.  These elements not only feel uncomfortable but they can be very distracting.  In this module students are given some very structured strategies that will help them to acclimatise themselves to the many differences that exist between practice and performance before they are actually faced with a live performance situation.  Knowing what to expect in a performance and making the unfamiliar elements of an upcoming performance, more familiar is crucial for building confidence and control.

Squeeze ‘Em Module

Module length:  30 min

This module teaches students a simple relaxation strategy  that can be used in practice and during a performance.  Squeeze ‘Em  is a technique that enables students to differentiate between a tense and relaxed muscle, where different muscles are located and eventually to be able to relax specific muscles as necessary.  Students will learn how to tune-in to their body to:

• Identify KEY areas of muscle tension;
• Monitor and reduce muscle tension; and,
• Understand how their muscles work and feel.