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Introduction to Teaching Mask: 2nd Edition

Created by Allison Williams

Introduction to Teaching Mask: 2nd Edition

In Introduction to Teaching Mask: 2nd Edition, Allison Williams gives you a toolkit of mask and movement exercises to teach students to make big, confident physical choices, to work in their bodies, and play different characters - masked and unmasked.

By working through the exercises in this course, you, the teacher, will also gain an understanding of basic physical acting and learn some easy specific tools to coach your students – not just in mask, but in all their performance work.

Access to masks is required, but previous experience with masks is not.

Module 0: Introduction 6:23 FREE PREVIEW
This module introduces the course and what is covered throughout.
Module 1: The Running Man 3:51 FREE PREVIEW
This module describes and explains the Running Man exercise, which helps the students understand that committed physical action creates a sense of emotional expression.
Module 2: Exploring the Architecture of the Mask 5:48
The module covers how to identify specific shapes in a mask and how to create a character body based on those specific shapes.
Module 3: Character Zero 24:59
This module introduces the concept of a character zero, how to use the body to create a character zero, how to physically commit to that body before moving, and how to coach your students to make bigger choices both in their character zeroes and in their movement.
Module 4: The Qualities of Movement 28:58
This module explores the qualities of movement to give more variety, texture, and richness to movement choices.
Module 4B: Bonus Exercise 4:42
This modules covers how to combine the qualities of movement with a mask character.
Module 5: Mask and Countermask 13:15
This module covers how to coach your students to create multiple characters with one mask, how mask and countermask work as a physical expression of emotional responses, and how two physical interpretations paired with each other and opposite to each other become the mask and the countermask.
Module 5B: Mask and Countermask & Qualities of Movement 3:10
This module explores how to incorporate the qualities of movement with countermask.
Module 6: Mask Scenes 6:32
This module explains how your students can create short solo and duo improvised mask scenes, and how your students can start acting as mask characters.
Module 7: Unmasked Roles 8:58
In this module, you will learn how to take everything we’ve learned so far and apply these exercises to a “normal” play, and how to lead students in mask exercises in a way that supports character development.
Module 8: Taking Mask into Text 16:05
This module explores: how to lead students in mask exercises that physicalize the text; how to associate specific gestures with text; and how to scale down mask-work into realistic acting.
Module 8B: Using Qualities of Movement to Explore Text 5:28
This modules describes an exercise you can add in about using qualities of movement to explore text.
Module 9: Wrap-Up 5:16
This module wraps up the course and reviews what has been learned.

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Standards Addressed

National Core Arts Standards

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6

TH:Pr4.1.6.b - Experiment with various physical choices to communicate character in a drama/theatre work.

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Pr4.1.HSII.a - Discover how unique choices shape believable and sustainable drama/ theatre work.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6

TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 8

TH:Pr5.1.8.a - Use a variety of acting techniques to increase skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade HS Proficient

TH:Pr5.1.HSI.a - Practice various acting techniques to expand skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Cr2.1.HSII.b - Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6

TH:Cr3.1.6.b - Identify effective physical and vocal traits of characters in an improvised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7

TH:Cr3.1.7.b - Develop effective physical and vocal traits of characters in an improvised or scripted drama/theatre work

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8

TH:Cr3.1.8.b - Refine effective physical, vocal, and physiological traits of characters in an improvised or scripted drama/ theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient

TH:Cr3.1.HSI.b - Explore physical, vocal and physiological choices to develop a performance that is believable, authentic, and relevant to a drama/theatre work.