So, stage presence is something you've either got or not, right?
Well, some people seem to conquer stage fright easier than others, but I maintain that everybody can learn to be more comfortable in front of an audience.
Years ago, I was responsible for the Primary Presentations in my ward. That is a program done yearly by the children ages 3-11 at Church. Their teachers and leaders help them learn songs and lines to say that present what they've been learning to their parents and others in the Ward. The Primary Presidency and the Music Leaders work together to come up with the ideas they should present and work towards this presentation throughout the year.
I am something of a connoisseur of Primary Presentations. I have gone to so very many over the years due to having 7 children and nearly 27 grandchildren. I have also worked in Primary for 43 years where I taught the music for most of that time. Let's just say that I have done my share of attending as well as writing and directing these programs.
In the olden days, the Church headquarters sent out the exact program to follow. It included all of the songs, the spoken parts, and even suggestions for "staging." Some parts had a variety of options the director could use such as choral readings, group discussion, solo or small group songs, using instruments, visual aids, etc. Some of these presentations were rather elaborate. They really only worked for Wards with large Primaries that were loaded with talent.
Now, the Primaries throughout the world are responsible for writing their own presentations while following just a few suggestions from Church headquarters.
Well, some people seem to conquer stage fright easier than others, but I maintain that everybody can learn to be more comfortable in front of an audience.
Years ago, I was responsible for the Primary Presentations in my ward. That is a program done yearly by the children ages 3-11 at Church. Their teachers and leaders help them learn songs and lines to say that present what they've been learning to their parents and others in the Ward. The Primary Presidency and the Music Leaders work together to come up with the ideas they should present and work towards this presentation throughout the year.
I am something of a connoisseur of Primary Presentations. I have gone to so very many over the years due to having 7 children and nearly 27 grandchildren. I have also worked in Primary for 43 years where I taught the music for most of that time. Let's just say that I have done my share of attending as well as writing and directing these programs.
In the olden days, the Church headquarters sent out the exact program to follow. It included all of the songs, the spoken parts, and even suggestions for "staging." Some parts had a variety of options the director could use such as choral readings, group discussion, solo or small group songs, using instruments, visual aids, etc. Some of these presentations were rather elaborate. They really only worked for Wards with large Primaries that were loaded with talent.
Now, the Primaries throughout the world are responsible for writing their own presentations while following just a few suggestions from Church headquarters.
The toughest part of doing these presentations is always the same: how to get the children to speak and sing their parts in an engaging way so the parents and others can understand them.
Unfortunately, not all leaders understand how to REHEARSE EFFECTIVELY to help the children learn their songs and lines, to enunciate clearly, to stand with poise and posture, and to never leave the microphone until after they finish their part.
That's when having some training in stage production comes in handy.
I will never forget back when I was then a Primary President and an older lady sought me out to ask me the date of our Primary Presentation. She wanted to know so SHE COULD MISS IT! I vowed from that moment on that all my Primary Presentations would be rehearsed enough so that even the shyest kid could be understood by the nearly deaf 92-year-old sitting on the back row!
Unfortunately, not all leaders understand how to REHEARSE EFFECTIVELY to help the children learn their songs and lines, to enunciate clearly, to stand with poise and posture, and to never leave the microphone until after they finish their part.
That's when having some training in stage production comes in handy.
I will never forget back when I was then a Primary President and an older lady sought me out to ask me the date of our Primary Presentation. She wanted to know so SHE COULD MISS IT! I vowed from that moment on that all my Primary Presentations would be rehearsed enough so that even the shyest kid could be understood by the nearly deaf 92-year-old sitting on the back row!
RSS Feed