Like all memorized pieces, your ability to effectively coach a student is minimized if their piece isn’t memorized. If a student attends a practice session with most of the piece not memorized, encourage them to spend that practice session memorizing the piece instead. Although you may have a little leeway with Prose since the student has the manuscript with them, you still won’t be able to practice effectively if the student is reading straight from their black book the whole time.
Pay attention to eye contact. Is the student looking off-distance when they should be looking at the audience? Do they constantly shift eye contact to the point that it looks like they are bobbing their head?
Because blocking with a black book can be difficult, it may help to spend one practice session specifically focusing on using the black book. Some of these blockings might be simple (like turning a page to show emotion) and others may be more complicated (like using the book as a prop). Additionally, it might take some time for students to remember all the blockings. Be patient with them if, in the next practice, they have forgotten some of the blocking.
Is there mostly one character in the prose selection? If so, do you have a strong grasp on who that character is? Help students use specific aspects such as voice, movement, facial expressions, etc. to portray a realistic character.
If there are other characters in the piece, make sure the student portrays each character differently.
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