How To Learn English Through Music
It is known or believed that music can be an effective tool of learning English (and/or other subjects) or
any other foreign language though there might be other ways. Like in the
original versions of films, song lyrics are the best source of words and
expressions to memorize with fun. In addition, listening or imitating foreign
songs helps to increase the pronunciation level. I will provide with you some
useful ideas to help you learn English with music and invite you to practice
this method which I personally appreciate. I have used it for so long and found
it working. Learning a language through music, you must follow some
guidelines :
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Choose the song you like
It is not necessary to complicate things choosing the kind of music to
listen to. The advice is to begin with the songs you already listen to and find
their lyrics. We do listen to many songs that we may like a day, but we do not
pay attention on the content/message and the meaning of the spoken words within
them. I hope you know that practice makes perfect. Repeating is the key tool to
learn in any domain of life.
Try to sing and imitate without reading
When you need to increase your pronunciation level, it is important to
sing the song you are listening to, trying to imitate the same pronunciation
without looking at the lyrics. So, when you read singing, your bad way of
pronunciation will pop up again. Don’t have a problem that you don’t understand
what you sing, the important is to pronounce well. Here you try to write the
words as long as you listen to them.
Find the lyrics
You may search for the
lyrics on the internet via Google « lyrics+song name+artist(if you know)”.
Whether you need a translation, it is easy to translate it on Google translate to find out the
meaning but I do not encourage you to translate by Google. Otherwise, find someone who may explain that for you.
Listen to the song while reading the
lyrics
It’s time to listen and read. You will be surprised to find the words and
phrases that you already knew the meaning, but you didn’t mind about them
before (i.e it is not always easy to understand the words of a foreign language
by yourself). Concentrate yourself on interesting phrases for you or just the
chorus. When you know the chorus of all your preferred songs, that’s all to let
you learn new words in English.
Listen again and begin to sing
Now you know some phrases or words and the general meaning, you can
continue listening to it while singing. When you get used to it, you can make
it yourself and master all the words, getting in the mood of the song than
before. You will find out that you are singing the same song in the car,
bathroom, restaurant,…whereby you will begin using the same words in different
context. This is not automatic, you must keep on repeating. After a certain
time used to this exercise try some songs which have as many words as possible
like Rap songs and learn the words but make sure you don’t focus on the
Rappers’ pronunciation because they have their own way to speak. Take the words,
the general meaning and judge them.
How To Succeed In Drama Career - 7 Effective Secrets
You're not the only one asking this question. The
answer is simple but applicable. I've been working with Theatre learners for
years and this question popped up when I tried to talk about the importance of
drama. Many people ask themselves whether there is a way of being successful in "Drama". I will not say that there are such ways because it is a large industry that everybody
steps in differently. The best way to live drama is imagining and imitating. I
am going to share with you some tips that I found working and that many other
famous dramatists applied. I made this research during four years studying
theatre and being a practitioner with street kids in Kigali. I applied the same
and it worked. I don't regret a one year no job, no vacancy... after graduating
from the college, but learning from every possible corner made me stand up
and still. Find these tips below and analyze them more
carefully:
1. RICH
AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS with DETERMINATION: Life is only
about how you make it happen! Life is designed the way you can plan building a
house, finding the resources, the means and even the interest. It doesn’t end
by just establishing the building. But furthermost, you begin by configuring a
certain target. What would you do with the house when it’s there? Whatever
skill you choose in drama asks determination and passion. What do you expect
from it? This goes by what would you like to be or accomplish in a given period
of time to come? Set goals and try in one way or another to think beyond money.
When you consider yourself as a simple person, you will find yourself a losing
individual in life with nothing really working.
2. LEARNING
SPIRIT: When you are done with some drama courses, don’t
assume that you are skilled enough to go. Keep learning. The course you got is
the basis that leads you to deep learning. Read books, go to concerts and
performances, watch movies and attend workshops. There is no big workshop or
small, what matters is what you get from it. All are there for you to extract
some essential skills to foster your knowledge. Consult other experts however
it is possible to you. Acquire new knowledge and try to rehearse. If you are in
drama, there is no need for you to be a football fan; if you go there by just
assisting, you are failing because there is nothing getting improved to your
creativity. Learn as much as you can. By learning more, you’ll be selective and
figure out what works better what doesn’t.
3. PASSION
AND COMMITMENT: Once you get in, you don’t get out
easily for it asks you to commit yourself and love it even though you are
gaining a zero tangible income ("money"). Many people and many theatre companies
failed they have put money on the first spot. Whether you are looking for money
fast, go elsewhere like in trade, teaching and other businesses. But if your
focus is the well-being of the people, do theatre. You will even spend much than
you can earn. Profession in theatre is much about being recognized than how
much you get paid. Our work is closer to God, humanity and spirits. So, you
deal with people and the entire world. Whoever judges theatre, judges life
because theatre is life and acting the art of living. Nobody will wait until he
needs you. They will wait until your skills are needed. Don't panic or waste
your time and money applying for such jobs because you won't be shortlisted. At
least if you did some small staffs that made you seen.
4. NETWORKING
AND TEAM WORKING: Like in many other businesses,
networking is an important and a core element for the growth. Doing "Drama" asks
nothing other than connection. Team working doesn’t mean the team of
practitioners behind you every day. People may know you with what you do, and
that’s all it takes. Don’t think of people like you or those who are lower than
you and even the experts. You need them all. Imagine if you taught somebody who
earlier becomes famous. Won’t he/she spread you out? Keep connecting until your
world ends.
5. PERSISTENCE
AND HARD WORKING: Never tire up while in drama because you
will find most of the jobs boring and discouraging especially when rehearsing.
A successful career in theatre requires persistence too, though trainings,
skills and talent must be present to get on it. You are working on a piece of
theatre but five hours are gone without a single scene fixed. If you are not
persistent, you will drop so immediately. In Drama, be ready to be deceived,
thirsty, hungry, annoyed and sometimes out of control. But it is not time to
let it go. That’s the right time to work on your improvisational motives.
6. INNOVATION
AND CREATIVITY: Theater-makers are like sponges that
absorb water. They are like a tree that accumulates carbonated air and
transforms it into oxygenated air. Think critical and show to the world the new
trials you bring in. Keep researching for new and improving what’s already
active.
7. IMPROVISATION:
This
term is not new for you if you've been in the game for some
time. You cannot rely on the things done or established by other and become a
professional theatre-maker. Think thrice on the things that none else has ever
thought of or innovate the existing ones. By this you will have a go. Keep
motivating yourself that nothing is impossible for you make and whatever comes
into your mind, exercise it and see what it makes. Don't waste time on copying
otherwise you'll find yourself making mistakes that are being done by so many
people and you will automatically fail.
Musical Theatre Performance In The Classroom
Objective:
Students will demonstrate their understanding of musical theatre by performing a musical theatre act with a song and body movement.
CONTENT STANDARD 1: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions.
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Students will demonstrate their understanding of musical theatre by performing a musical theatre act with a song and body movement.
Class Level: Beginning
Main Concepts: Voice, Dance
CONTENT STANDARD 1: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions.
CONTENT STANDARD 2: Comparing and integrating art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, and visual arts, and new art forms.
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of musical Theatre by filling out a form which will include what they know, what they want to know, and what they learn.
Students will demonstrate a knowledge of their voice type and vocal range by singing few bars of music in their range.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of vocal warm ups and technique by learning and performing them that day.
Students will choose their final choice of their musical performance (and know if they are doing a solo, duet, trio, or ensemble) by turning in the Musical Theatre Performance Checklist.
Students will demonstrate and understanding of body movements and dance steps for musical theatre by performing a simple choreographed dance that will give them ideas for their final performance.
Students will demonstrate and understanding of the importance of “perfect” practice by giving a perfect dress rehearsal preview of their performance.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of doing a musical Theatre performance by performing their musical act in class.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of terms and singing styles of Musical Theatre by watching a musical show and writing down the musical terms and singing styles in the show. (They also will hand in their musical Theatre report if this is the last lesson of the unit.) .
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1: Introduction to Musical Theatre
Lesson 2: Typing the Voice
Students will demonstrate a knowledge of their voice type and vocal range by singing few bars of music in their range.
Lesson 3: Vocal Warm Ups and Style of Singing
Lesson 4: Final Choice of Musical Scene, Solo, Duet, Ensemble, etc.
Students will choose their final choice of their musical performance (and know if they are doing a solo, duet, trio, or ensemble) by turning in the Musical Theatre Performance Checklist.
Lesson 5: Body Movements and Dance
Students will demonstrate and understanding of body movements and dance steps for musical theatre by performing a simple choreographed dance that will give them ideas for their final performance.
Lesson 6: Practice Makes Perfect
Students will demonstrate and understanding of the importance of “perfect” practice by giving a perfect dress rehearsal preview of their performance.
Lesson 7: Musical Theatre Performance
Lesson 8: REVIEW of Musical Theatre (not included; a suggestion to synthesize all the elements of what has been taught in previous lessons)