Brendan Bennetts is an improv performer and teacher in Christchurch, New Zealand, and has a great improv blog, story robot. A while back he posted some learning strategies that he uses when he coaches improv groups. (The original link to the source material is now defunct, but the tenets, I think, are still valid.)
They were initially taken as just strategies for teaching, but as I read through them, it occurred to me that they also relate to improv performing.
They were initially taken as just strategies for teaching, but as I read through them, it occurred to me that they also relate to improv performing.
Everything Speaks.
| Teaching: Everything, from surroundings and tone of voice to distribution of materials, conveys an important message about learning. | Improv: Everything you do on stage potentially says something about the scene, about your character, about your relationship to other characters, etc. Be aware of everything you do. |
Everything is On Purpose.
| Teaching: Everything we do has an intended purpose. | Improv: Let everything you do on stage have a purpose. (See above.) |
Experience Before Label.
| Teaching: Students make meaning and transfer new content into long-term memory by connecting to existing schema. Learning is best facilitated when students experience the information in some aspect before they acquire labels for what is being learned. | Improv: This one is a synonym of "Actions before words." Whenever possible, do something rather than just saying it. Actions keep things moving, and can get scenes flowing in ways just dialogue can't. It's also much easier to remember the truth of a scene if it's been done rather than just talked about. |
Acknowledge Every Effort.
| Teaching: Acknowledgment of each student’s effort encourages learning and experimentation. | Improv: This is the embodiment of "Yes, and." Acknowledge a scene partner's effort (offer) to move the scene forward. |
If It's Worth Learning, It's Worth Celebrating!
| Teaching: Celebration provides feedback regarding progress and increases positive emotional associations with the learning. | Improv: When a scene is finished, break it down. What worked, what didn't... Praise good choices, and give constructive criticism of choices that didn't work (for whatever reason). Maintain a fun, supportive, safe atmosphere to critique scenes. |
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