Stanley's Musical Academy : combining the disciplines

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GENERAL VISION

Having been active for a great many years as a teacher, coordinator and head of a department in several training facilities in the performing arts and the privat sector, it was inevitable to further develop my ideas. The start of stanleysmusicalacademy is the logical result of all this. Bringing together a different approach to looking at teaching, being taught, scholing and training.

Next to the monodisciplined performing arts the multidisciplined performing arts are a challenge, both for the performer and the teacher alike. With a vast experience in both we have developed a clear vision of the simularities and the differences.

We offered classes in part-time for musical theatre and musical comedy, lessons for both the aspiring stage performer and entertainer alike. As of september 2005 the classes at pre-professional training levels have been postponed. We do offer workshops, private-lessons and instruction at post-graduate levels. Starting a professional training course for performer in musical theatre is being established in our working relationship with the new training center in the performing arts, the Broadway Academy in Amsterdam.

Goal
The aim of our lessons is to develop the students individuality, so they know the difference between what happens in a class (in a group in a classroom) and what can happen through privat studying (practicing alone at home). The result is growth through gaining the techniques (tools) for preparation of a life as a professional performer. This life encompasses auditions on a regular basis and always working in a group but keeping one's own individuality. The challenge is enormous!

This approach brings selfawareness and selfconciousness, resulting in the development of the students own argumented ideas. The personal growth of a performer in the stage arts is in our view of the utmost importance, since it brings out the uniqueness of the individual. This is also the way of continously reviving the craft of stage performance, which is a musit for growth of the art form.

Where does musical theatre belong?
A much debated question. The musician says : not within music, the dancer says : not within dance, the actor says : not within acting. So no eagerness to "own" musical theatre and this is a good thing, since this is an other form of stage art. Here the combination of the disciplines music, dance and drama is not because it could not be helped, but because it is developed into another discipline : a multidisciplined stage art. No commercial opera or operetta, no, a totally new medium originally based on "Song & Dance" entertainment as developed in musical comedy, but well developed since it's beginnings in 1927.

An example : thé major difference between the performance of a lied (classical music) and a song (musical theatre) is the attention for the body language : telling the story with the body as well. This is a strengthening of the communication as typical in musical theatre. Dance could even be a part of it.

Yes, this is a totally different form in the performing arts : a multidisciplined stage art, where the performers are multidisciplined by nature. That is why a proper preparation is essential.

Well balanced program to develop professional thinking
We have developed the vision that within the domain of musical theatre the performer needs to develop all the disciplines in the arts simultaniously. This is also called the triple approach : music and dance and drama. To get results our program consists of classes in choir-practice, musictheory and eartraining, classical ballet, jazzdance, drama, ensemble and warming-up techniques (a.o. taichi-qigong). Some years we offer tapdance and stage combat as well. Next to our program, individual lessons for voice are required. Here we start with the same approach as in dance : classical training first followed by jazz, pop, broadway style, belting, etc.

A workable knowledge of health (to gain and to keep) is stressed in all lessons, since this is a profession which takes a lot, both physically and mentally. Therefore our students are obligated to be free of the use of tabacco, drugs and tongue piercings. The use of alcohol is restricted.

For the profession the term musical performer has been developed. Although not a proper English term, in the non-English countries the term is being used to state the occupation.

Two ways of learning
Doing something yourself is one thing, looking and listening to others another, both in and out the classes. For this reason we organise trips to performances in the theatre, Open Houses of schools, workshops, expositions, etc. All in the domain of musical theatre. It is fun to go out with the group and see and hear others work hard. Next time you might be there on that stage as well!

Results
Since the start of our academy at 25th March 2001 our goal has been reached every year again. Our students went to study at the professional training facilities (institutes) : conservatories, dance academies and theatre schools in The Netherlands. Of course some found out this is not for them and have gained a fair level for there own pleasure as an amateur. We are proud of them all.

How to enter
To become a student at our academy one needs to take part in the Auditions. There we look out for talent, the development of the talent and the possibility for further growth into professional levels. The pre-professional training course is often used by youngsters who need to know whether or not they are able to develop further and/or have the discipline to do so. In the month of May we have an Open House for everybody to come in to meet us, our students, follow the classes and ask questions.

A picture tells a thousand words
This website is primarily in the Dutch language (157 pages). Pictures however have a universal language. Please come and have a look at the fotoboek.

We and the future
Our newly set goal is to expand the academy. Amongst others we shall set up classes for foreign non-Dutch speaking students. This way we can offer pre-professional training to students who are eager to study in the EU-countries. A special interest group are students of Asian origin, since The Netherlands is traditionally the port to Europe. Several of our teachers speak Asian languages as well (Indonesian/Maleis and Chinese/Mandarin), but the non-Dutch classes shall be taught in English and/or German. If you are interested already, please contact us (in English or German).

At present our regular classes are being taught in our studio in Rosmalen (center of the country) and occassionally in Amsterdam and The Hague.

How to contact us
telephone office +31 - (0)73 523 05 48 / telephone mobile +31 - (0)6 53 812 841
e-mail stanleysmusicalacademy@planet.nl
Please consider we live at the time zone GMT + 1.

Thank you for your visit to our website. Don't be a stranger!

STANLEY E. VAN WEL
Musician - Master of Music
artistic & educational director, headmaster

MMI - MMVI © 2001 - 2006 stanleysmusicalacademy for Stanley's Music
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