The Power of Practical Practice

Practice makes perfect, but only when performed as closely to the actual event as possible. In high school performing arts, there is often a lack of time and resources in the preparation for major events. This gap widens even more in smaller schools with fewer staff and a dependency on inexperienced volunteers.

While designed to showcase students' talent and learning, these major events such as recitals, plays and concerts exist outside the normal routines of the school day. The construction of set pieces, performing in front of a live audience and interacting within the actual physical space are often left to the last minute. But when students have ample opportunity to practice in the performance space with the actual props, costumes and set pieces they can produce a better product.

As experienced adults, we may be able to visualize the end result, to understand how a yet to be built set piece will enhance or explain the dialogue. We may know that a pause will be needed to allow the audience to react. But students are still learning. Their lack of experience cannot inform them of yet to be seen challenges. And no matter how often educators may explain, experience is many times the better teacher.

This winter I was able to plan ahead and provide the major set pieces two weeks prior to opening night for Avon HS Thespian Troupe #8320's production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). It has been exciting to watch the quality of their practice time improve with the addition of sets, costumes, props and crew acting as the audience. This production run has confirmed what I already believed to be true, that the earlier students can rehearse with the final setup the production quality will greatly improve.