Drama School Rehearsal Breakthrough

Handy Acting Tips: Using music to inspire new emotion

So I have my final recall for Royal Central School of Music and Drama next week, and I have been worrying about how I can present my monologues in a truthful, honest way. Last time I was there, I felt really in tune with my speeches and performed them the best I ever have. However, the pressure is on for my final round and the last thing I want is my nerves making me strain the words out and messing them up. I have been working my monologues (Juliet and Cressida as my Shakespeares and Educating Rita and Stella from Whale Music as my contemporaries)  for ages now, and they are not feeling very fresh when I rehearse. However, I had a eureka moment as I was watching Masterchef last night. Hear me out! They were announcing the winner and dragging it out as usual, and in the background a beautiful acoustic cover of 'Take me on' was being played. I wasn't even listening to who they crowned champion because I was so absorbed in how emotional and powerful this song was. Out of nowhere, I thought oh my godness, this is exactly how Cressida feels in her speech telling Troilus she loves him. I had a sudden vision in my head of the scene in a film with that song running underneath it as she puts her heart on the line. I then made a mental note to try saying the monologue with this music playing quietly in the background, and when I did, sure as anything it struck a chord I have never been able to engage with before! I am definitely going to summon this track into my head as I perform this on Thursday, perhaps even listen to it before I go in.

I then got spotify up and searched through my playlists to find songs to emotionally inspire me. The songs had to be very well known and meaningful to me to have any kind of effect, and the experiment did take some trial and error. However, I managed to pull together a list of music to help me work with all of my monologues. The thought of doing these monologues for Central seems a lot more exciting now I have this strategy in place! I will post how it goes - it would be fabulous if anything came of it, but I rest assured that I still have a place at East 15 awaiting. What will be will be, I've just got to give every opportunity my best shot. Positive vibes!  

An Everyday Sort of Magic

Each day offers new opportunities, and it doesn't take a genius to see how beautiful the world can be when you open your mind to positivity. When you stop seeing the world as an obstacle and begin to embrace life, that is when magic begins to happen. If you are having an unproductive day, stop for a moment. Just clear your mind from whatever it is that's stressing you out - unpaid bills, exams, deadlines or even something smaller. Take a breath and let it go. Detox your mind. Love what surrounds you- and if you don't, change your surroundings. 




If you've read this far, then I am glad I have intrigued you. If you were wondering, I took this picture in my hometown, Chester, on my way to the shops from college. After a long day of acting classes, I was off to reward myself with a starbucks with a friend. I can remember the bounce in my step, because I am at my happiest when I am busy doing things I love! Although this picture is of nature, I still get the buzz of excitement from what I was doing that day which has nothing to do with trees and flowers when you think about it. But it is indeed a very pretty picture, and brings me a smile when I look at it. This day was magical, in a very normal kind of way. I guess the look of fairyland in the picture shows that even a simple old walk to a bus stop I have used a million times can be special if caught at the right moment, with the right attitude.


I guess the big idea of this post is my message for you to find what makes you happy, and fill your time with it. Then, will you start to see a transformation in yourself and your surroundings.