Level 2 Performance BTEC

This subject is broken down into 35 topics in 8 modules:

  1. Individual Showcase 3 topics
  2. Preparation, Performance, and Production 4 topics
  3. Acting Skills 5 topics
  4. Dance Skills 5 topics
  5. Music Performance Skills 5 topics
  6. Musical Theatre Skills (Optional) 4 topics
  7. Physical Theatre Skills (Optional) 4 topics
  8. Performance Project (Optional) 5 topics
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  • 8
    modules
  • 35
    topics
  • 12,818
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Performance

Individual Showcase

Audition preparation

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Audition preparation

Audition Preparation

The Study Material

  • Prior to the audition, acquire a good understanding of the material. It could be a play, a musical, a dance piece or a song.
  • Understand the context of the piece. Where and when does it take place? What's the overall mood of the piece?
  • Thoroughly familiarise yourself with your character, understanding their motivations, emotions, and background is crucial for an authentic performance.

Practise

  • Practise daily. You should know your material fluently, so you can focus fully on the performance during the audition.
  • Do a practice performance for a small audience (friends, family, or classmates) and ask for feedback.
  • Record yourself performing and watch it back. Note areas of improvement and work on them.

Health and Well-being

  • Ensure you get a proper night's sleep the night before your audition. Being well-rested will enhance your performance.
  • Drink plenty of water on the day of the audition to keep your vocal cords hydrated, especially if you will be singing or speaking a lot.
  • Have a wholesome meal before your audition, but avoid eating anything too heavy that may make you feel sluggish.

On the day of the audition

  • Dress appropriately. Your clothes should make you feel confident, but also allow for free movement.
  • Warm up before your audition. This should include vocal warm-ups, and physical warm-ups if you are going to be moving around.
  • Plan to arrive early. This will give you time to familiarize yourself with the room and calm any nerves before you start.

Post Audition

  • After the audition, reflect on the process, noting down what went well and what could have been improved upon.
  • Constructive feedback is great for development, whether it is from panel members or from your own reflection.
  • Keep a positive mindset. Not every audition will be successful, but each one is a learning opportunity.

Course material for Performance, module Individual Showcase, topic Audition preparation

Performance

Music Performance Skills

Technical skills

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Technical skills

Understanding Technical Skills

  • Technical skills in music performance are essential to playing an instrument or singing effectively and expressively.
  • These skills are not simply about playing the right notes, but also about understanding and effectively manipulating sound.
  • Technical skills involve a knowledge of your instrument or voice, the ability to keep time, the physical coordination to execute musical ideas, and the ability to express yourself emotionally through music.

Instrumental and Vocal Techniques

  • Each instrument or voice type requires specific techniques to produce sound.
  • For example, playing the piano involves finger placement, key striking, and pedal usage; while singing involves breath control, pitch accuracy, and tone quality.
  • Mastery of these techniques allows performers to accurately play notes and to convey the desired emotions or textures.

Rhythmic Accuracy

  • Rhythmic accuracy is key to maintaining the flow of a piece and ensuring it fits with other musicians if performing in an ensemble or band.
  • It involves understanding and executing rhythmic patterns, time signatures, and tempos.

Physical Coordination

  • Physical coordination is especially important in playing an instrument, as it involves synchronising multiple parts of the body to produce sound.
  • It might involve coordinating fingers on a guitar fretboard, for instance, or synchronising bowing and fingering for a violinist.
  • Good physical coordination helps ensure smooth, error-free playing.

Expression and Dynamics

  • Expression in music is about conveying emotion and intent through your performance.
  • It may involve manipulating dynamics (playing louder or softer), altering tempo (playing faster or slower), or changing tone or phrasing to fit the mood of the piece.

Improving Technical Skills

  • Regular practice is key to mastering technical skills. Musicians should aim to practice daily, gradually increasing the length and complexity of practice sessions.
  • Focused practice, where musicians pay attention to specific elements such as rhythm, articulation, or dynamics, can be more effective.
  • Recording and listening to performances can help musicians identify areas for improvement.
  • Partaking in workshops, receiving tuition, or collaborating with other musicians can also provide invaluable opportunities to improve and refine technical skills.

Applying Technical Skills

  • Technical skills allow musicians to faithfully interpret and perform music, but they also provide the foundation for creativity and improvisation.
  • Musicians can apply these skills to reinterpret pieces in new ways, or to compose their own original music.
  • Remember, the ultimate goal isn't just to master technical skills for their own sake, but to use them as tools to express oneself through music.

Course material for Performance, module Music Performance Skills, topic Technical skills

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