I wrote a letter to parents of kids who would enjoy taking my improv class later this winter. Most families just know me as a Latin teacher, and they may or may not know what improv is or how it could benefit their kids.
Here’s what I wrote to them.
—
Improvisation — creating unscripted theater on the spot — helps students develop their performance and leadership skills. It’s also a laboratory for learning to love their neighbor in the moment, and it’s an enormous amount of fun!
Your student might want to take improv if:
- They love creative writing once they’ve thought of something to write about, but they wish coming up with new ideas didn’t feel so hard.
- Their biggest complaint about the annual school play is that their character is in only a portion of it, and they want to be in the whole thing. They would live onstage if they could.
- They would have auditioned for a bigger part in the play if it weren’t for all that memorizing.
- They want a chance to perform at an actual improv theater at the end of the semester.
As a parent, you might want your kids to take improv if:
- You want them to listen well rather than just waiting for their turn to talk.
- You want them to grow in confidence and learn to take the lead sometimes.
- You want them to share focus with others rather than always needing the spotlight on themselves.
- You want them to understand that they can be a leader without being the sole person in charge.
- You want them to cultivate awareness and generosity in their daily lives and have a lot of fun doing it.
—
If you or someone you know home schools a kid age 12-18 who might like this class, there is more information here.
If you’re thinking, “Never mind about home school kids ages 12-18 — I am an adult and I want to get good at that stuff, too!” then check out the free class I teach at Westside Improv.
