Acting Instruction Guide – Tips for Beginners Preparing for Acting School

If you are interested in acting instruction, you’ll be glad to know that there are some great schools in PA, such as Cavod Academy. You can learn everything from Shakespeare acting to theater production. You don’t even have to wait until you are enrolled in an acting school – here are some beginner’s tips to help you practice:

• Practice getting in the mindset of characters – Don’t wait until audition time. Pick a character – any character – and start practicing their lines. Try to *become* them. Anybody can say some lines, but not anybody can actually ACT as that particular character. It involves much more than memorizing and saying lines – it involves your entire body and mind.
• Observe others and practice – The more you watch yourself practice, the more you learn. Spend a few minutes every day standing in front of a mirror and practicing various expressions and poses. For inspiration, watch other actors perform live theater. Analyze their techniques. Observe as many examples of “good” and “bad” performances. Read critics’ reviews of performances. What are the low-rated actors doing wrong? What are the high-rated actors doing right?
• Do stretches and light exercise – You need to loosen up those muscles in order to move more fluidly on stage. Be aware of how your body works if you want to “become” a character for awhile. Do a set of leg stretches and shoulder rolls every morning. It might help to do a bit of cardio as well to get the blood flowing.
• Understand the script – If you’re going to practice becoming a character, you must understand the story itself. Only when you fully understand the world the character is living in can you truly become the character, and understand the lines and psychology behind it all.
• Practice collaborating with others – When you attend acting school, you will be expected to work with classmates. Teamwork is an extremely important aspect of acting. If you don’t currently know any other actors, or are unable to set up a practice session, as your family members and friends to help. It’s okay if they don’t have any acting experience themselves – it’s all about collaborating and practicing. Some of the individuals you end up taking classes with might not have any experience either.
• Practice different types of roles – Don’t just practice acting as a character you like or feel a connection to. You never know what kind of role you might be auditioning for in the future. Practice acting as a character who is the complete opposite of you. Try out a variety of roles in different genres. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

No matter what type of acting school you are planning to attend, keep these practice tips in mind to help you prepare.