Performing Art Practical UNIT 3 PERFORMING ART PRACTICAL Notes STRUCTURE 3.0 Introduction 3.1 Learning Objectives 3.2 Elements in different performing arts 3.2.1 Music 3.2.1.1Vocal 3.2.1.2Instrumental 3.2.2 Dance 3.2.2.1Folk 3.2.2.2 Classical 3.2.2.3 Creative 3.2.3 Theatre 3.2.3.1 Folk Theatre 3.2.4 Puppetry 3.2.5 Significance of Regional Art Forms 3.3 Planning and Preparation of any Performing Art 3.3.1 Planning 3.3.2 Preparation 3.3.3 Tips for Presentation 3.4 Making a Folder of covering practical activities 3.5 Let us Sum up 3.6 Answers to Check Your Progress 3.7 Suggested Readings and References 3.8 Unit-End Exercises 3.0 INTRODUCTION In the previous chapter you have learned about Visual Arts and Craft. The chapter gives you the knowledge about different aspects of Visual Arts and Craft. It 60 Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) Performing Art Practical describes fundamentals of Art, experimentation with different materials and Exploration and Experimentation with different Methods of Visual Arts and Crafts. Apt implementation by teachers will give ample opportunity for children to Notes explore and experiment .It will enhance the creativity of the child and also help them to explore and enjoy in the immediate environment. As Art figures in almost every walk of life Art and India are almost synonymous. Right from birth singing the soothing lullaby to the child, enacting tales of valor and courage in schools and community celebration from the epics – The ‘Mahabharata’ and The ‘Ramayana’, or Panchatantra we are connected to art. All Art forms foster cultural awareness and promotes cultural practices. This is the means by which knowledge of the historic past of its people, traditions, beliefs, customs can be understood. The achievements of human beings through literature, poetry, important texts can be revisited and transmitted from one generation to the next. It is therefore valuable for impressionable minds to get the right exposure to arts in their formative years by gaining access to our rich and important past. This unit of Art education will give an idea about the varied disciplines in performing arts and how their implementation will be useful to the learner. Performing arts incorporate Music , Musical Instruments, Drama, Dance , Recitation, Narration, Literature etc. It is a very wide gamut and has been a part of human life since the beginning. These forms are embedded so beautifully in our social lives that without them life would be so dull, shallow and unaesthetic. The glory of our traditional and contemporary performing arts hence has to be treasured, glorified, practiced and restored for the benefit of the future generations. 3.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completion of this unit, you will be able to: • Understand the arena and perspectives of performing art. • Understand our regional art forms-music, dance, theater, puppetry. • Relate to performing art activities in day to day teaching • Analyse the importance of our local specific arts and regional art forms. • Strengthen bonding with regional art forms and conserving it for future generations • Explore different art forms and understand their intra-relationship • Understand Integration of Performing arts with other curricular areas. • Enhance creativity, individuality, group work, sensitivity etc. among children Block 1 : Art Education 61 Performing Art Practical Perspectives of the teacher Notes Teacher should encourage and motivate students to take part in different activities. Teacher will play the role of a guide, motivator, evaluator, facilitator, planner, performer, organizer, inspirer, counselor, promoter and modifier as well. Basics of Performing Arts. Listen to a sound of any bird or a street vendor, you will find musical notes interestingly arranged. Look at the tree swinging in cool breeze, you will find interesting dance movements. It is happening every day and every moment, all around waiting to be discovered. There is a deep relation between performing arts and daily life. All the rituals and festivals in our country have elements of Music, Dance and Drama. Playing varied roles in life we express ourselves according to specific characters like mother, child, wife, husband, uncle, grandfather, aunt etc any relationship within the family and in the society. When we like a particular expression that may be a way of talking or behaving, we imitate and this gradually evolves to artistic capabilities. Different art forms are systematic expression of emotions, ideas, action, reactions, attitudes, beliefs etc. When we stylize these expressions we create the basic elements of Music, Dance, Drama, Puppetry, Poem recitation etc. It improves understanding, knowledge , opens and develops new avenues, promotes learning of skills and stimulates interest and creativity. It gives ample opportunity to satisfy curiosity, interest by indulging in varied roles by expressing through any medium of art like song, dance, drama, puppetry etc. 3.2 ELEMENTS IN DIFFERENT PERFORMING ARTS The basics of all performing arts is Listening, Viewing, Imbibing, Imitating, Exploring, Expressing, Performing etc. When we see or practically do a dance, music or drama performance all our sensory motors awaken as we spontaneously indulge in all the above traits . • Expression — All living beings have sensory motors which help us to listen, view, smell, touch and taste. When we actually do the above activities which are spontaneous to any human being we give varied expressions. These expressions help others to understand our thoughts. Similarly whenever we stylize our presentations through any form of art, expressions play a major role. Look at a father with a gift hidden in his palms and the expectant daughter waiting in suspense, you will find elements of expression and simultaneously drama in it. When a child looks at a beautiful flower or smells a rose or suddenly watches a flight of birds in the sky the expressions are spontaneous and anybody around is able to understand the feeling rightly. 62 Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) Performing Art Practical All performing arts are best manifested when the element of expression gathers strength. Notes • Listening –There are varied sounds in our surroundings and environment like chirping of birds, flowing water, animal sounds, pitter-patter of rain drops ,rustling of leaves, the soft mellow of breeze, sound of footsteps, voice patterns of different human beings, etc. also human beings use different sound patterns to communicate many circumstances like birth of a child, death in the family, celebration of different kinds etc. hence the moment one listens the sound pattern conveys the situation. So listening is an important and essential exercise. • Observing — Let’s take a look around— our eyes will witness innumerable things, but do we actually see all or our eyes select only a few things which are of our interest and the rest is ignored. Suppose we have to make a presentation in dance, theatre or music What all do we view; The location of presentation, where all sets can be made, what is the position of the audience etc. Then we come to the performance part- posture, style and colour of costume, jewellery, props, makeup etc, position on the stage of the artist for apt eye contact with the audience etc. This development of keen observation or viewing improves our capacity of exploration, understanding and the proper usage of resources available. This correspondingly facilitates performance and presentation. Hence a teacher should motivate students to develop a sense of viewing every minute detail in their surroundings. This will help not only in planning activities but also gain a better perception of their surroundings which helps them to utilize local resources that are easily available. • Exploring- listening, imitating, imbibing, relating are the basis of exploration. Through performing art forms teachers can motivate students to explore by enhancing curiosity. This attitude of Exploration helps all gain specific knowledge and innovate. We explore with our perception and understanding. Disciplines in Performing Arts - Music, Dance, Theatre, Puppetry The idea of creative art should involve all the elements of commonly known art forms Music, Dance, Drama Poetry, Creative writing etc. One can add many Block 1 : Art Education 63 Performing Art Practical more like recitation, storytelling, mime, puppetry, mask-play, simple choreography and group singing. Inclusion of popular art in the region, whether folk, tribal, or Notes classical is essential. Also depending on which region your school is located in, the children in your class may choose any art form. This will be the best way of introducing the children to dance or music, as the local arts create a much more significant impact. The teacher should never insist on any particular form. At the primary stage the focus should be to learn to be comfortable with the body, to build confidence in standing, speaking loud enough for all to hear, singing together, etc. You can choose songs and stories that are popular among the performing arts of your region. However, if the children express interest in some performing art by name, you could try to get pictures of that art and show them, discussing interesting features like the make-up, the movement, the costumes used in it, which would increase their interest in the arts in general. An Important passage from the text “Historical development of Indian Music- Swami Pragyananda” In the remote days, all rites and ceremonies were connected with the elements of music. Songs of religious character, lullabies, love songs, game and drinking songs, songs/ music of farming, hunting, marriage, burial, war, travel, seasonal songs formed an integral and indispensable part of life of the people. The popular ballads and folk-songs are like narrative accounts of the spontaneous enjoyment of existence and of domestic events of the people.