She is 12 and she's taking theater in school.She loves acting and the whole prosses but how can I help her overcome stage fright. She's doing a musical in four weeks and has a solo part. She sings beautifully but, she freezes at the rehersals. Suggestions?
2006-10-17 04:33:15 · 11 answers · asked by solstice 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
I promised her that she can do this if she does well in school, I'm very worried that she will drop school for this(she said it once) she's good but I preffered she studied more. On the other hand I feel bad for her and I want to help her. As a hobbie of course.She is so passionate to sing and act ,that it brakes my heart to tell her don't do it. We came up with an arragement she gets A's and B's and I'll help her with her problem. But I don't know how. help me.
2006-10-17 05:53:53 · update #1
I've suffered from singing-related panic attacks for several years now and was just in my first musical as an adult a few weeks ago with a solo number. If general encouragement hasn't helped (and you should keep it up regardless of additional tactics), sometime focusing on the technical is helpful.
For me, I had accept how scared I was and look at the things my body did when I started to panic. The biggest problem was that when I started to freak, I lost control of my breathing. So my teacher had me say "What do I need to do when this happens?" Then, whenever a problem arose, I had a solution I could go to. It's sorta like mentally making sure you're prepared for all possible situations. Once I realized that I could handle anything that happened when I started to panic, the panic attacks became far less scary and then stopped all together.
2006-10-17 05:05:30 · answer #1 · answered by Hope V 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If this is how she is Nothing you say will help her get over her stage fright. Some kids are just more high strung then others and we can't tell them to stop it because they can't. My daughter is going to be an actress and gets soooooooooo nervous for weeks before a performance (practically drives us crazy complaining about it constantly) but gets up there and does really well. If your daughter freezes at the moment that she shouldn't then maybe it's too much for her now. She may also be worried about her grades(or should be). As I told another mom if she "ain't" got the grades she "ain't" going to go to college. Talent is important but so is motivation. Colleges want to see both. They won't take someone with 1 and not the other. Ask her what she wants to do about the 2 problems she has (the stage fright and her lack of motivation in her school work). Good Luck!!!!
2006-10-17 13:45:30 · answer #2 · answered by PROUDJEW 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the above are helpful suggestions and ideas to help your daughter overcome her stage fright.
Tell her nerves are normal. In fact, they're good. It means you want to do your very best. Even the greatest performers, singers, & actors get nervous before they go onto the stage. It's all how you deal with them. Confidence has a lot to do with nerves.
She has to learn to build her confidence. This is something that every performer has to do. Even professional athletes have to do this too. Confidence comes from doing. The more she does the stronger her confidence will grow.
We're talking singing in the church choir, playing in the school band, joining the debate team, serving on school council, the yearbook committee, dance class or ballet, playing at local nursing & retirement homes. The more experience she gets the more confidence she'll have.
This also will lay a nice foundation for her acting career. Actors rely on broad-based experiences. The more experiences they have, the more they can bring to the table.
My advice. Get her involved in the local community, church, volunteer opportunities, talent shows. Anything that involves working with people in a performing capacity. The more she does the more confidence she'll have thus shrinking the stage fright.
Good luck & remember have fun! Acting is a wonderful career and it's a fun career!
2006-10-17 08:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by shotsofnature 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With no offense meant at all, I suggest being supportive of course, BUT PLEASE do NOT be a STAGE MOM.
Allow her the option, even if she misunderstands, that she is truly playing to no more than Spotlights, and that the audience is distant enough, and GETS IT that it's ACTING, that they will forgive much in a youth performance. Also consider this. In the BIG picture,,,you might be the only one in the audience on opening night who actually CARES about your daughters performance, while others might be as narowly focused.
Let her "be",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, as she has the ability to be, and in doing so allow that she will heal,,,even from errors. I submit that even Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, stumbled in moments.
Offer her opportunities without any critique,,,GOOD or BAD, to rehearse alone, and submit to her the idea of "focus" on the lyrics, not any audience.
At 12 many of her peers endure the same, and let her know that as well,,,perhaps even encourage her to network with THEM rather than ANYTHING you might offer even in a positive way.
Sometimes the best therapy is the worst tasting medicine.
In your Q I assume she has already secured the part, yet you don't state any support mechanisms that might exist in the context of coaches, directors, theater mentors on hand, etc.
If you have to suggest anything, try to relate "failures" you've experienced, that became positive experiences in the end result.
Steven Wolf
2006-10-17 05:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Sit in the front row during her solo and have her look at you while she sings.
2) Invite a buch of people over, have you and that one and have her sing, then the next person and you, the 1st. and repeat the prosses until every one is in the room. then have her sing it 1 last time. Then go to rehearsal see what happens. Then invite the people back over and do it a go if she still has trouble.
2006-10-17 15:31:47 · answer #5 · answered by DANCER12 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does she freeze in front of family when she performs? If not then take her to the place she is going to perform and have her perform in front of family the slowly add a few friends - she will get lots of pracice - and ofcourse after each performance tatally praise and gush over her.
2006-10-17 05:04:05 · answer #6 · answered by onceaniannuzzi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can give her confidence.She can do rehersals at her free times ,in holidays and in her freetimes.Well, it's normal for all kids.
2006-10-17 05:14:41 · answer #7 · answered by Kathleen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make herself rehearse in front of mirror and in front of family members.
2006-10-17 05:23:25 · answer #8 · answered by ninnu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell her to be a lawyer or doctor. acting is the worst profession for anyone. why would you even suggest it to her at all?
2006-10-17 15:15:49 · answer #9 · answered by irish_jimmy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theater games at home and with friends
and practice at home with a karaoke machine
most of all........have fun!!
being nervous just means you care
2006-10-17 04:48:20 · answer #10 · answered by miatalise12560 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋