Practice Makes Perfect

Today the students threw themselves into a successful practice of our upcoming program A Salute to Veterans. They are truly beginning to work as a Team. Together with the Concert Chorale the program is working out to be a true tribute to our nations Veterans. Keep up the good work class, today poetry, tomorrow, Shakespeare!

What Should I Wear?

A "Salute to Veterans" is a combination of our MHFA drama and choir groups. For this reason, costuming for our Classic Players is very simple. ("Families" will be provided with a few extra pieces to their costumes). Students are expected to wear "Concert Attire" as described in the MHFA Handbook.

Ladies should wear black dress shoes; black or neutral hose or tights; choice of black dress, black jumper with white or black blouse; black skirt with white or black blouse. Note: dresses and blouses should have a modest neckline and dresses/skirts must cover the knee when seated (mid-calf or longer, no slits above the knee please. Hair should be neatly styled and out of the eyes, unusual or faddish hairstyles are to be avoided.

Gentlemen should wear black dress slacks; long sleeved white dress shirt, conservative neck tie (no cartoon ties please!); black socks; black dress shoes; hair should be trimmed and neat, again, no unusual or faddish hairstyles please.

Because of the patriotic nature of this program, a red white and blue scarf or tie would be very appropriate. A suit coat for either the ladies or gentlemen would really make the speaker appear professional and truly show respect to those we are striving so hard to honor, namely, our Veterans!

Band of Brothers

While participating in interpretation exercises the class had a chance to practice vocal techniques, and the use of emotional images taught in class recently. Using sensory images students were encouraged to visualize their surroundings, hear the sounds of those surroundings, smell, feel and ultimately see their surroundings. Our students did an admirable job of interpreting Henry V, by William Shakespeare. This play contains a Shakespeare's famous speech containing the often quoted phrase, "Band of Brothers."

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speakes

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Each group acted as a group of soldiers and chose one Henry to lead them in the charge. Everyone did a great job interpreting this moving piece of literature. Congratulations to all!

Learning the Importance of Vocal Quality

Today students received their first in a series of "Actor Notes." These notes share techniques for improving vocal quality and basic acting techniques. Students even had a chance to practice the exercisers suggested in today's notes. For further study of oral interpretation, visit Your Speaking Voice.

To encourage the students to practice what we covered in class, they were given a clipping from William Shakespeare's Henry V, Band of Brothers speech. This segment of Shakespeare's work has been repeatedly used in military novels and films. Next week, we will use this selection in a special class exercise. For inspiration, view the below video of the speech in a film featuring Kenneth Brannagh.

Note: Students are never recommended to watch any films about the subject matter - all media should be viewed and approved by your parents!

A Salute to Veterans

Heroes of all truth and light

Men who Live

And Die

And Fight

That all might live on freedom's soil

And then forget

The cost, the toil.

Across this state and country live many American Veterans; some may be relatives, some our church members or neighbors, but they are still with us. MHFA would like to pay tribute to these Veterans utilizing our students many talents in our drama and choir programs.

Today students were given a copy of this program. Parts are many and few this short semester, thus giving each student an opportunity to learn the many techniques important to the interpretation of literature, principles of vocal quality and basic acting techniques.

Welcome Classic Players!

Welcome to the Classic Players 2009-2010 school year at Midwest Homeschool Fine Arts. Our goals are to experience the theater production process and learn dramatic skills in a manner that honors and glorifies God. To accomplish these goals we focus on working together as a team. Today in class we discussed what it takes to work as a team, and it can be described as follows:

T = Together; everyone must work together to accomplish our goals!
E = Everyone is a genius; every idea is welcome!
A = Always listen to the Director!
M = Monologuing is not allowed; there are no solo acts in this class!

Enrollment this semester was quite large and as a teacher first, director second, I did not have the heart to cut any from the class, although as of today, enrollment is now closed. I don't believe this will cause a problem if the whole class determines to act as the type of team described above!

Woman in White, Act I