Rehearsals for growth: Applying improvisational theater games to relationship therapy.

Improvisational Theater Games for Children in Park Interpretation

Journal of Interpretation Research ◽

10.1177/109258721001500102 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 7-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. Kim Macklin ◽

Glen T. Hvenegaard ◽

Paul E. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

National Park ◽

Role Playing ◽

Perceived Learning ◽

Improvisational Theater ◽

Group Activities ◽

Banff National Park ◽

Age Appropriate ◽

Park Interpretation ◽

Theater Games

With children increasingly disconnected from nature and much interpretation geared toward adults, agencies need age-appropriate techniques for children. Improvisational theater games use group-based role-playing to solve problems through dialogue and activity in a creative, spontaneous, supportive, and interactive atmosphere. This paper highlights children's enjoyment and perceived learning resulting from a new improvisation program in Banff National Park, Canada. We thematically analyzed open-ended evaluations of an improvisation-dominated program. The activities enjoyed most included improvisation, because they involved fun, physical activity, creativity, challenge, and novelty. The least-enjoyed activities were physical activity games and an interpretive talk. Perceived learning was highest from an interpretive talk and nature walk and least from games focused on physical or group activities. Most perceived and desired learning related to natural history and park management topics. Despite being nontraditional and non-thematic, improvisation can contribute to children's enjoyment and perceived learning in park interpretive programs.

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Introduction

10.1093/oso/9780197576311.003.0001 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Bruce Adolphe

Keyword(s):

Emotional Memory ◽

New Music ◽

Musical Expression ◽

Inner Life ◽

Improvisational Theater ◽

Instrumental Technique ◽

Listening Experience ◽

The Mind ◽

Physical Challenges ◽

Theater Games

The Introduction explains the purpose and method of the book: to improve the musical imagination through creative, fun exercises based on improvisational theater games that have been reimagined for musicians. A sense of playfulness and spontaneity is central to this approach. The primary goal of developing the mind’s ear is to improve the ability to imagine and remember music in silence and to be able to hear in the mind music that is printed on the page without the aid of instrument. It is essential to attend to the musician’s inner life, to explore emotions in relation to musical expression, rather than only emphasize the physical challenges of instrumental technique. Strengthening emotional memory as actors are trained to do, as well as deliberately exercising the imagination and the mind’s ear will lead to more meaningful performances, more personal compositions, and will enrich the listening experience. The introduction also addresses related concepts in subsections: Something to Say; On Interpretation; On Performing New Music; Hearing in Silence.

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