MOUNTVIEW – BUILDING YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVE CONFIDENCE WITH MUSICAL THEATRE

Many parents and carers are already fully aware of the transformative effect drama classes can have on their children. Whether the aim is making friends, working creatively alongside others, expressing individuality or simply boosting self-confidence, performing can be a great way to inspire and challenge young minds.

One way to take your child’s love of performing to the next level is through graded qualifications. These are often organised by their drama teacher and offer a way for young performers to nurture their skills and experience the thrill of working towards a recognised qualification.

Mountview brings originality to the examinations industry

Mountview, one of the UK’s leading drama schools, launched Mountview Exams (MX) to stand out from traditional and often restrictive performing arts qualifications. It has developed an exam process which is:

• child-centred, flexible and fun
• perfect for building confidence, creativity and communication skills
• delivered in front of a peer audience of performers
• suitable from age 4+ with no upper age limit
• overseen by an industry-trained examiner

“It’s refreshing to have a syllabus that reflects the contemporary state of Musical Theatre” says Emily Gray, Artistic Director of British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT), “And it really encourages our young performers to consider how their individual journey contributes to the success of the whole production.”

Total creative freedom within Mountview Exams syllabuses

A major and unique advantage of MX is the focus on creativity and doing things differently – shown by the fact that performers have total freedom to choose their material (or even write it themselves!).  And the response has been phenomenal, with an incredible array of talent on show. “I loved having the creative freedom to pick my own pieces!” enthuses one child. Another adds that “it’s great because you can write your own monologues and had a lot of freedom – that’s what makes it a good opportunity”

“The flexibility that comes with the examination process means that it really caters to everyone at the school and becomes such a positive experience for everybody,” says Emma Otway, a Stagecoach Principal from Wilmslow. “We are absolutely loving it!”

Hear from one of our Mountview Examiners

Of course, it’s perfectly understandable for children to experience a few nerves ahead of their exam! MX Examiner David Malcolm shares some tips for how to approach exams:

• Please know that the examiners are absolutely on your side! We are not there to catch you out, but rather to reward you for the work you have put in.
• Being nervous is a very normal part of the process but also remember that this is an opportunity to share your work with a warm and receptive audience.
• If you need to take a short moment to breathe, perhaps a sip of water, or would like some help setting up props or furniture for one of your pieces, please do ask. We are there to support, as well as to assess.
• We encourage you to find the fun and joy in performing. If you are able to enjoy your work, it will shine through, and that always enhances a performance!

Once any nerves have passed, the pride the young performers feel for their achievements is clear. “Thank you for making me feel so comfortable while performing! It was an amazing experience!” beamed one student.

Why choose Mountview Exams?

Of course, the examiners play a vital role in creating a warm, child-centred environment – and avoiding unnecessary pressure and stress. “Our exams were a wonderfully relaxed and positive experience” recalls Rachel Calvert, Principal of Centre Stage Theatre Academy. “The examiner immediately put both myself and the performers at ease, creating an atmosphere that felt supportive rather than intimidating.”

With drama teachers increasingly exploring options when it comes to awarding bodies, it’s a great time to try something new. “I know there are many other syllabuses out there, but, finally, we have something where the students can use all their training in one exam” explains Lynsey Britton of Britton School of Performing Arts.

Rachel Calvert agrees. “The freedom and flexibility offered within the exam parameters are refreshing and, in many ways, far more inclusive and creatively empowering than what we have encountered with other boards” she adds.

And the big grins after a Stagecoach group finish their exam say it all!

Find out more at mountviewexams.com