How to Make Good Rehearsal Notes, For Student Actors

As a director, I can’t stress sufficient to my college students how irritating it’s to have to provide the identical word time and again throughout rehearsals. It seems like I’m not being listened to, and it wastes time. On high of that, I understand how irritating it’s for my college students to listen to the identical word time and again. To college students, it will probably really feel like they’re being nagged or picked on, and ultimately they might simply cease making an attempt. How are you able to alleviate this downside? By instructing college students tips on how to make good rehearsal notes!

It’s so satisfying to look over a script that’s been marked up, famous on, and effectively used. The script is an actor’s device, in spite of everything, and instruments are meant for use. They’re not meant to remain pristine just like the day they’re handed out. And it’s equally irritating to not solely discover a script that’s been left behind after rehearsal, however one that appears prefer it’s barely been opened, not to mention written on. 

Writing notes on a script not solely helps to determine whose script it’s (scorching tip, college students: write your identify on the entrance of your script!), but in addition exhibits that the scholar is placing thought and energy into their onstage efficiency.

There are plenty of alternative ways for pupil actors to make rehearsal notes, and there’s nobody proper approach.* But there’s a mistaken approach — not taking notes in any respect. Any notes are higher than no notes. Ultimately, the most effective notes are those that the scholar understands, that they may keep in mind, and that they may apply to their performances. 

Here are our high seven note-taking tricks to share together with your pupil actors. There’s a printable model accessible under, so you’ll be able to print out the guidelines and hand them out to your college students at your subsequent rehearsal. 

1. Write out bodily notes in your script. Always use a pencil — your director could ask you to alter one thing later. Physically writing the notes out will assist them stick in your mind — it’s all about muscle reminiscence. If you sort quicker, you may strive making notes in your cellphone or dictating notes right into a voice recording app. However, be sure you return and duplicate any digital notes into your script by hand. (Many administrators don’t enable telephones in rehearsal, so get into the behavior of writing your rehearsal notes by hand.)

2. Don’t depend on your reminiscence. Make notes the second you obtain them. If you attempt to keep in mind them for later, you received’t. Yes, you do should ultimately memorize your traces and cues, however while you’re first listening to your notes and doing the preliminary work, make your life simpler and write your notes down straight away so that you don’t neglect them.

3. Be exact. Write notes the place they occur within the script. For instance, when you enter in the course of somebody’s line, make a mark (resembling a circle or an arrow) on the precise second throughout their line while you enter.

4. Write notes that make sense to you. You may select to write down out full, descriptive sentences, or use shorthand (for instance, XDS for cross downstage). You may draw photos or diagrams of the place you could transfer. You are the one who wants to know and apply the notes, so strive totally different approaches till you discover a note-taking system that works for you.

5. When receiving line notes, circle or underline the phrases that you just missed, so you’ll be able to guarantee your traces are word-perfect when you’re reviewing. You additionally may discover it useful to circle or underline just a few key phrases in your scene accomplice’s cue traces to assist jog your reminiscence.

6. If you’re performing in a musical, be sure you make notes about music and choreography, even when there are rehearsal recordings. Circle your concord notes and write out or draw a fundamental define of your strikes, and word the place within the script they happen. 

7. During a post-run word session, hearken to everybody’s notes, not simply your personal. You may discover that you would be able to apply sure notes others obtain to your efficiency as effectively. Write down something your director mentions a number of instances — clearly, it’s one thing they assume is vital. Treat a word session like a free performing masterclass — the knowledge is there, so use it!

Again, the most effective notes are those that the scholar understands, that they may keep in mind, and that they may apply to their performances. You could should verbally remind college students to take notes, present pencils for them to write down with, and quit just a few treasured minutes of rehearsal time for college students to scribble down notes of their scripts. However, getting college students into the behavior of creating rehearsal notes will solely be a profit — much less stress, fewer frustrations, and extra assured performances.

* Remember that that is aimed toward pupil actors — a stage supervisor (whether or not pupil or employees) should have extra-clear notes in order that anybody might choose up their immediate binder and name the present from it. Check out our put up How to Prepare a Stage Manager’s Prompt Book for extra on that.

Additional Resources:

Click right here for a free printable tip sheet.