Music existed for thousands of years, long before notation came into being. The creation of music speaks to an innate human need, for it has existed for almost as long as humans have been in existence: there are prehistoric cave paintings illustrating instruments, as well as discoveries of actual prehistoric instruments such as a bone flute from the Stone Age. Music was also an important aspect of ancient civilizations, like the Egyptian and classical Greek civilizations, and was used for

When it comes to preparing your acting resume, knowing what to include can be a challenge. However, there are several items that should always be included. It is important for your resume to come off as professional and put together. This way, you will impress before you even step into the audition room! Instead of only listing the parts you've played, include some of the following items to dazzle directors.  What Should You Include on Your Acting Resume? Your acting resume should include

Actors often draw their audience in through strong and seemingly authentic emotions.  Perhaps you watched a particularly emotional scene in a movie or play and wondered to yourself whether or not the emotion the actor was showing was truthful.  Perhaps they were crying and you could see the tears falling.  Are those real tears?  The answer is, probably, yes. Crying on command is tricky business and like everything else, takes preparation and practice. However, there are some tips and tri

There’s a classic saying in theater, “acting is reacting”, meaning it’s not about reciting lines, it’s about listening to your fellow performers, and making your lines a response to the other characters. Which is all great advice – but what if you’re doing a monologue and you have no one to react to? Does that mean monologues aren’t really ‘acting’?  Fortunately, there are a few warmups and tips you can utilize to make your monologues just as believable, character-driven,

“Acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Sound familiar?  This notorious phrase is the very foundation on which the Meisner Technique is build. What is the Meisner Technique, you may ask?  Simply put, it is the lifework of renowned acting master and teacher Sanford Meisner, whose technique has molded the modern American knowledge of what constitutes good acting.   The Meisner Technique was born and bred in the heart of New York City, at the Neighborhood Playhouse,

Are you wondering how to remember lines for a play? Wondering what the best techniques are make sure you're off book when the time comes? Memorization can be tricky business.  When it comes to acting, memorizing lines is a necessary evil. Having your lines down quickly and early on in the rehearsal process is helpful not only for you, but also for everyone around you. The sooner your lines are memorized, the sooner the real work can take place.  In order to really connect with the

Students who want to get into their top choice college often do things to strengthen their application throughout their time in high school. If they want to get into a highly competitive academic program, they may begin thinking about this from the time they enter high school, and they may go above and beyond in their preparation, taking advantage of every opportunity to make themselves stand out as a candidate for admission. When it comes to seeking admission at a college or conservatory vocal

Growing up in the north-east of Scotland, our home was often filled with the sound of music. My father was the local violin teacher, and students often came to the house for lessons. In fact, as early as the age of three, I too had picked up a violin and had begun “playing”. There was also a regular stream of music from our record player. My parents had a sizable collection of old 33 and 78 rpm vinyl records; no doubt a collector’s item these days. Among my favorites were recordings of the

If you’ve ever been in a play or musical you will be familiar with the term ‘stage directions’. For those who don’t know, stage directions are,  “an instruction in the text of a play, especially one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor.” Stage directions can also be instructions for the director, such as the way the stage should be lit or what kind of sound effect could be used.  Stage directions can also tell an actor how to deliver a line— pace of speech, emot

It sure seems that show business favors the young, doesn’t it? When you hear of starry-eyed talents venturing off to Hollywood or New York City, they never seem to be a day over twenty one!  Yet, if you watch any movie, television show, or play, not everyone is a fresh-faced young adult. Although the laments of some older actors would lead you to believe that’s the case. There are many, many reasons why it is certainly NOT too late for you to learn acting if you feel you’ve caught “t