2013 Reflections

Yo there thespians!
I apologise an awful lot for not having written a word since the day before my Guildhall audition! (I did not get recalled, if you want to know, that's okay though because that was my practice audition so I was not too bothered how far I got in that process system.) I have been extremely busy with... well everything.
I just wanted to write this because, as the last day of the year 2013 I thought that it would be good for myself to see what I have learnt over the previous 12 months in terms of life. Also because, as you might of seen on the news yesterday, a guy called Adam Pickup was found dead in Manchester yesterday. He was 17 (like me) and he also went to my collage in Stockport. And although me and my friends are going down to collage today to lay some flowers for him; it has made me have a serious think about life in general. I could be dead any minute so do I actually want to spend the precious moments that I have pursuing a goal that could never happen? My conclusion was, yes. Because it makes me happy when I am on the stage performing. I feel like I am doing something productive with my life, that I can share the stories of others is my idealistic view of doing something good with the world.
That said, I really do need to start working much more harder in many more aspects of my collage and acting work.
So what have I learnt this year? Well I'll tell you:
1.People do not mature at the same pace. - I learnt this when a good friend of mine managed to get pregnant three times over the course of the year. Now like me you would of thought that getting pg'ed once would of made you realise that you need to wear protection. But then I learnt that she needed to do these things in order that when she gets older she can look back and think why she did it. I.e. you gotta give space to people to grow in their own time.
2. I am not very good at exams. - But that does not mean I won't try to improve my skill at them.
3. I am a very strong willed person.
4. Kick Ass 2, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and Anchorman 2 were brilliant sequels. Nuff said.
5. Festivals are dirty but fun. Nuff said also.
6. I can overcome my fears. -  When preparing for Les Miserables I had no sang in front of an audience of people on my own since I was 10, so you can see why I was happy when I got through.
7. I can do well when put under pressure.

Of course I have learnt other things but I honestly cannot think of anything else at the moment.
I am looking forward to the new year, plus slightly dreading it (well the first half of it.) Mainly because within the next six months I would of found out if I will be going to Drama School or the National Youth Theatre Summer Course. Plus I'll be having my A level exams in which I want to be considered for MMU then I need like a B and three C's. Therefore I cannot get distracted!

Speaking of Drama School, NEWS UPDATE!!!!!!!!!:
I have TWO AUDITIONS NEXT WEEK!!!!!
The first on monday for MMU at 1:00 (thank fuck as I get a lie in.)
The second on Tuesday for RCS at 11:30 (not so good as have to get a train at 6:15 :/ .)
Both school's are in my top three within my choices so I am both utterly excited and terrified that I might muck it up. As with Guildhall I am using the Helena moaning speech for my classical, my Port speech for the modern and The Serpent Speech for the alternative.
All I know very well so I shouldn't muck up on my words (I can say the Shakespeare one backwards. Fact.)
I just don't want to let myself down, I want it so badly that I guess if nothing happens then I would get on a proper downer.
However I am quite glad that they are next week as I know that with the death of Adam, collage will feel so depressing and I would rather have a pleasant time while studying rather than be depressed. (I already get depressed with how much I don't understand in my maths lessons, and knowing that I've got an exam in it too.)

ALSO! Have applied to another Drama School! Drama Centre in fact, I don't need to learn anything extra with it but just go along and pay the audition fee. Plus it does look amazing.

Right well, I guess I'll be posting on Monday and Tuesday on how the audition's went.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
(Oh and Happy New Year!)
Cheerio 2013,
Terri ;D

Almost at the Audition!!!!!

Hey peps!
Now just thought that I would let you know that Tomorow is my Guildhall audition, and to be truthful I am feeling the nerves kick in already. But I am going to be telling you guys what happens at it and what I might learn for the experiance. Of course I understand that the likley hood of getting a recall id very slim but I do hope that my hard work will pay off. But for now I am going to continue practicising in the car.
Cheerio,
Terri :D

Midsummer Night's Dream review and One week to GO!

Why hello my furry friends!
^That is if you are furry.
After a few strenuous days revising and line learning I have decided that I need some fun... Sooo last Wednesday me and mum headed down to old London town on the train to go see a Midsummer Night's Dream on the west end, staring David Walliams and Sheridan Smith.
The main reason we are going is so I can talk about it at my auditions, As I am doing Helena's speech in ONE WEEK for the GUILDHALL audition pannel.. Not that I am panicking what so ever about the whole thing but this should help tug a few strings in my favour if they ask about it (i.e. shows an interest about the subject  and a passion for it.)
Anyway the Play was fabulous, definitely worth all the money we spent on getting there. Especially David Walliams who, on his Shakespeare debut played the camp Bottom, and he did it perfectly! I particularly liked the fact that in Athens the cast are dressed in 1930's dull day wear whilst in the Magical Forrest the costume changes to a 1960's hippy drug taking feel.
On the note of the guildhall audition, I will write about what will go on during the day of the actual thing. but know I need to practice my pieces and start packing.
Toodiloo
Terri :D
.

Guildhall Audition preparation

Yo gang,
So this morning I'm finding it hard to type as the man of my life - i.e. my kitty Noo Noo - has decided that I am a very good bed so I've got the laptop perched at the edge of my knees to accommodate both the laptop and my man. #worldproblems
Oh and the other one - Smudge - is yowling because she wants more food...
Anyhow enough of my cat problems I wanted to discuss where I am up to with the whole Drama School thing. So I will tell you.

Now that both the play I was in has finished (tank the frigging lord) and collage has broken up for half term for a week + a bit, it has allowed me enough time to get several things sorted.
Firstly I have sent off and paid for my UCAS and CUKAS applications. That means that Manchester Met, Italia Conti and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (!) should be sending me information soon on what I need to do next! And of course I'm happy that everything is moving now in the right direction in comparison to a few months ago where I was just dithering about with nothing to do on the acting aspect. (I re-read my posts from a few months ago and I sound like a plonker.)

But for the major part of this is where I am at on my preparation for my audition at Guildhall which is on the 6th of November so not that far away really.
Now I know my Shakespeare and contrasting piece off by heart, I could literally say them in my sleep but I am still trying to learn my modern monologue which is proving a problem. I guess it's because I'm trying too hard to learn them that they won't stick.
 But I think that by the time of my audition I will know it, or be very familiar with it.

And then the song choice. Now from all the blogs that I have read with people who I have auditioned at the Guildhall, they have all said that they were not asked to sing at the first round. Now I am not a very good singer, I mean I can hold a tune alright but when people talk all the technical rubbish about singing then I get very confused. I have chosen a song and if I have to sing it (please please no) then I will be singing the second verse and chorus of David Bowie's life on mars, OR the song I stand alone from the Movie a Quest for Camelot (man I love that movie). As I know both and I like both so there.

The interview part though... is nerving me out. Mainly because Guildhall hasn't specified what sort of questions they would ask... if any. So I have gone to the over love of my life (2nd to the cats and family I mean) of the Drama UK website. And the advise they give is...

What happens at the interview?

Most schools interview candidates. There will be a different procedure at each school; some interview all candidates, others only those who have successfully completed another part of the audition. The interview is an opportunity for the audition panel to find out more about you and for you to ask questions too. It is worth thinking about some of the typical questions you may be asked:

• Why do you want to act?
• What sort of actor do you want to be?
• What are your ambitions?
• What play or film have you seen recently that impressed you and why?
• Who is your favourite actor and why?
• Are you applying to any other drama schools?

It is important to think about questions that you may want to ask the panel as well.

I have thought about those questions a great deal actually. My question to them would be about their learning support side of things (since I am dyslexic this is a major part of my decision making side of things.) I already know that they offer accommodation (!) to first year students and that they have a library full of helpful books (I do love a library). In terms of my basic answers for the questions they are likely to ask me are:
Why do you want to act? - Because acting makes me happy (cheesy I know but true) and I want to do a job that makes me happy so acting is the obvious choice.
What sort of actor do you want to be? - Shakespearian mainly but wouldn't turn down a TV or Film role.
What are your ambitions? - To be performing as a Shakespearian actress with the RSC within the next ten years.
What play have you seen recently that impressed you and why?  - I have recently been to see  Midsummer Night's Dream (well I will have, it's next week!!!!!) at the Noel Coward Theatre, I was impressed with it because... (I don't know yet as I still need to see it.)
Who is your favourite actor and why? - Ben Whishaw (Too easy). I love him because he never over plays a part and he acts with his eyes. I particularly enjoyed his performance in Peter and Alice (yes I did go see that) and The Hour.
Are you applying to any other drama schools? - Yes I am applying to six in total but you are the first and I have enjoyed it immensely. (Latter a possible lie but will go with it anyway.)

Transport and the hotel is mostly paid for. Since my Audition starts at 9:15 I intend to set off at 7 ish as the tube takes around an hour at that time of the morning from where we are staying so we (i.e. mum and me) should make it in good time.
Then a train back home and back in sunny stockport (depending on my mood as at Guildhall they tell you the results of the recall on the day.)

I am going to bugger off now as my cats are annoying me.
Toodiloo
Terri :D

P.S my man say hi.

Personal Statement For People... (Acting)

HI!... again.
Now as I promised (6 months ago) that I would re-post this. SOooo here is some information for people who need help writing their personal statement for Acting. This is from the CUKAS website so you can access this and more there. I'm putting this here though as I know how little examples there are for Acting Personal Statements (TIP do not get confused between a Drama personal statement and an Acting personal statement as a Drama course will be more academic based so the Uni's will not be looking at practical skills unlike acting.)
^In regards to myself I did around 10 drafts of my personal statement before I sent it off on my UCAS and CUKAS applications but don't worry if you haven't started you're one yet as I know for a fact that the CUKAS deadline is the 15th January for UK applicants (and later for overseas).

So here it goes...

What to include in your personal statement:

Most courses have an Entry Profile that you can view in Course Search - these explain what the conservatoire is looking for in their students and what qualifications or experience you'll need for the course. Check these because they'll give you some ideas about what to include in your statement

You do not have to use all the space provided. Consider carefully the information you give to support your application and the best way to present it effectively. Remember, you must be truthful and accurate in what you write. Make this a true match of you, your aspirations, personality, feelings about your chosen study area and experience. Showing understanding of today's competitive music or performing arts profession where versatility is required is helpful and indicates a suitable temperament. It is up to you how you write your statement, but we suggest you include some or all of the following points.

• Your reasons for choosing the courses you have listed. Remember that each conservatoire will be able to see the other conservatoires and courses to which you have applied.
• What interests you about your chosen study area (whether playing an instrument, acting, singing, conducting, stage design or another specialist area).
• Your experience within your chosen specialist area and in any other activity related to the course(s) for which you have applied.
• Membership of national and/or international orchestras, choirs or chamber groups, eg NYO, EUYO or National Youth Theatre.
• Your career plans for when you complete your course.
• Any job, work experience, placement or voluntary work you have done, particularly if it is relevant to the course for which you have applied. You may want to list the skills and experience you have gained from these activities. Try to link any experience to skills or qualities mentioned in the Entry Profiles.
• Any involvement in widening participation schemes such as summer schools or mentoring activities.
• Involvement in master classes or other Gifted and Talented programmes.
• Details of non-accredited skills and achievement that you have gained through activities such as:
  • ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network awards), for example, Universities Award
  • Diploma of Achievement
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • OCNW Level 3 Certificate in Personal Development for Progression (previously known as the Liverpool Enrichment Programme)
  • vfifty award
  • Millennium Volunteering Certificate of Volunteering Achievement
  • Young Enterprise.
• Details of accreditation achieved for any activities in preparation for higher education, for example through the ASDAN Aimhigher Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE qualification).
• Your future plans: if you know what you'd like to achieve after completing your course, explain how you want to use the knowledge and experience that you'll gain at the conservatoire.
• Any subjects you are studying that do not have a formal assessment.
• Any sponsorship or placements you have or for which you have applied.
• If you are planning to take a year out, your reasons why.
• Your social, sports or leisure interests and any other achievements that you are proud of. Think about how your interests and social activities demonstrate your skills and abilities. If there's anything that relates to your course or to the skills needed to complete the course, include it - the more evidence the better.
• Any positions of responsibility that you hold/have held both in and out of school, eg form prefect or representative for a local charity.
• Attributes that make you interesting, special or unique.

While you should not include details of your performance in individual units of qualifications (such as GCE AS and A level) in the education section, you may put this information in the personal statement.

If you are a mature student, you should give details of any relevant work and performance experience, paid or unpaid, and information about any current or previous employment.

If you want to send more information, perhaps a CV, send it direct to your chosen conservatoire(s) after we have sent you your Welcome letter and Personal ID. Do not send it to us.

If you are an international student, also try to answer these questions.

• Why do you want to study in the UK?
• How can you show that you can complete a higher education course that is taught in English? Please say if some of your studies have been taught or examined in English.
• Have you taken part in any activities where you have used English outside of your studies?

Make sure that your personal statement is your own work

We will carry out checks to verify that your personal statement is your own work. If your personal statement appears to have been copied from another source, we will inform the conservatoires to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider appropriate. We will also contact you by email to tell you that this has happened. Find out more...

Now kids go live your lives!!!

(^I don't know where that came from but OK)

Terri :D.

Another brilliant Drama School blog

Hey,
Wow I really seem to be writing loads on here atm compared to the last month (probably because of my sheer panic about the whole Drama School audition in a THREE WEEKS thing.)
Anyhow a couple of days ago I came across a relatively old blog by a guy called Tom, and it's basically a diary of his experiences with Drama School auditions. And he got in! (To Guildhall too!) So no surprises I have devoured the entire thing to see if it could help me get in as well (perhaps not but you have to try).
But I thought I might leave a link here for you guys to look at, as I know I found it interesting sooo

http://anotherlondonactor.blogspot.co.uk/

Tadahhh!!!!!!  ( #jazzhands )
^And yes I did just do a hashtag on a mac #score !
 ^ Yeah I really need to stop that now.

In terms of Preparation for my Guildhall audition (which is in less than THREE WEEKS) I showed my drama teacher all of my three pieces (but not my song choice - which btw is David Bowie's Life on Mars, risky I know but I know all the lyrics and I enjoy singing it) and she gave me notes on how to improve. Like some actual movement for my Port monologue as before I was just awkwardly standing there and saying it.

I am going to do another post later but at the present time I want to drink my latte.
Adios
Terri :D

Mad times for Mad People

Hello,
Now I realise that I haven't wrote on here for quite some time, not because I have forgoten you but because a) I have been verry very very busy and b) I've had writer's block... badly. (Oh and I appologise if much of this is spelt wrong but I am currently on a bus writing this on my iphone, which let me say, have very arkward keypads.)
But today has been mental, because today everything hit me... like BOOM hit me with your disco-stick thang. And writing on this always seems to calm me down so I'm just going to get everything out in one list of things that have happened in the last month ish.
So here goes:
- I started College
- I am doing 4 A-levels...
-... and a diploma (in which I have to write a 5000 word essay)
- I was told that I am in a play and have had to learn a ridiculous amount of lines in two weeks
- The play is on Saturday
- I have wrote a personal statement for many drama schools, plus filling in too many forms as well
- I have had two orders from my esty shop in the last two days, both deciding that they wanted it shipped abroad to them making me confused about posting and packaging rubbish
- I auditioned for my college's production of Les Miserables to try and get over my fear of singing in public (too long a story to explain this irrational fear so just go with it).
- I got in the college's production of Les Miserables (chorus thank god I dont think I could deal with a main role) with reherals every night after college.
- I have applied for a job... in the libary (coz I is well kool man)
- I have bought tickets to see Midsummer Nights Dream at the Noel Coward Theatre (this isnt a negative but I just wanted to put it out there)
- I sent off my application for Guildhall (Costing me £60!!!!!!!)
-Guildhall have given me a date for my audition, its in less than a month!!!!!!!!!
-I have been ill for the past two weeks, and the cats have chewed through my charger...

!!!!!!!!!!! SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Guildhall audition is on the 06 of November and although I know (due to all the research I have done) that as a 17yr white female I have a minimal chance as it gets but there is always hope and I will always be one to look for hope in these circumstances.
For my peices (which you need three) I have a deffinate selection of (yes another list) :
Helena's  How happy some o' other some can be. (Shakespeare)
Racheal from Port (Simon Stephens)
The Snake in Back to Methuselah (G.B Shaw)

They need to be two mins long so they all need shortening down but that is rather easy to do once its all learnt.
 But a month to do all this, to get everything done... Its going to be ridiculous.
Thank fudge that I've got half term in the middle of it all as then is going to be my knuckle down and just get on with it.

I am going to go and start preparing. Because, as I have just read, it is the lack of preperation which is the biggest dreamkiller for drama school aplicants.
On that note...
Cheerio,
Terri :D

P.S And I have a maths test tomorow.

RCS open day

(this is from ages ago, but since I forgot to post it on the day from tiredness then I guess that I should do it now...)


Hey there dudes.

I know that I havent wrote much over the past couple of weeks which I am very sorry about but I have being up to very little except spending time with ny cousin as she is leaving for Aussie at the end of the month, oh and applying for an application form for winbeldon (and let me just say this, it is a very british process of applying i.e. for thoese with patience.) I'm applying for me and my mum so at the end of my A levels we can go watch it together. :D

Anyway today I am heading up to Glasgow (again) to attend the RCS open day, I realise that I have already looked round when I 

did the summer course but we weren't able to ask many questions about the initial Acting BA course which I will be able to do today; plus they are having a audition workshop so we can get a feel for what will be happening in like December. 

8:17 - So at the moment I am on the train to Carlisle to transfer there to Glasgow Central. Thankfully the train station is on the same street as the Conservatiore so I dont have walk that far. Trains are bloody expensive aren't they. it's cost me £50 to get here and back! And that is with a railcard!! My parents did offer to take me but it would of cost them more for them to get the petrol for the journey and they would of lost a days wage so it is altogether easier this way.

8:35 - Just got my timetable out, apparently we were ment to register at 10:00 but I'm not going to get to Glasgow until 11:15 so I hope they will forgive me :/ ... The acting Q&A is at 12 untill 1, then I have a meeting with one of the learning support staff because of the dyslexic thing. There is a tour of the studios at 2 but it depends on how much time I have after the meeting to get lunch as I'm quite hungry already. Then there is the acting audition workshop at three for a hour then the train back home at 4:40!
Evaluation of the event: Awesome! I'm deffinatley applying there!
Cheerio
Terri :D

Today I am extremely miserable.
My parents found my tortiose this morning who has fallen asleep forever. She will never wake up, they think that she must of had a heart problem that we didn't know about because up until that point, she was perfectly happy and healthy. So yes I am sad. I have just lost something that I have loved for many years and I don't think that I have fully excepted that I won't see her again.
I'm sorry for writing such a depressing thing but writing about it seems to be doing the trick of making it better and more real to me.
I think I may put another post on later an say what I have being up to during the last few weeks and what I am planning to do over the rest of the holidays.
Good bye.
Terri.

RCS - Day one

Hello there

So today was the first day at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the summer course Acting with Text.

And it was amazing! the facilities and staff are brilliant and if I had the oppotunity I would love to study here for my BA. 

Started the day getting from the student halls to the School (the hall that are available are very well suited to the requirements needed for working students with the rooms being both spacious and clean). It wasn't a very long walk, about 15mins max and when we got there there was a talk on what would be happening during our stay here at the school.

When we met the people we were studying with we had a few ice breaker games so we could learn the guys names (all of which I have forgotten) and afterwards we were given some tasks and homework to do so it was a verrrry busy day!

^I'm sorry for sumarising so badly, I will go into more description tommorow but I am quite tired and I have to be up at half 8  so I kinda wanna get a good nights sleep :D.

Righto, cheerio now.

Terri ;D

^ BTW this is the info/ homework that I was given today! (not the hairbrush though :( thats there to stop the paper going wild and springing back...)

Just to let you know

Hey guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just to let you know that I am going to be going to a summer school acting workshop at the RCS next week starting monday and that I will be blogging about what we got up to each day there :D

^As you might of noticed I am very very very very excited about going as it is such a good opotunity to gain more knowledge about drama schools!!!!!!!!!

Going to start packing now as we will be heading up sunday!!!

Right, BYE.

The word drama --> Room 101

...

hello...

So I have spent my day doing nothing...

that is my news for my lovelys.

Basically today at my college they had a thing called Carrers day where people from different carrers gave talks on their jobs and how they got into the industry. And an actress was coming, only she didnt. So instead the drama teachers gave a talk on drama and teaching, telling us how brilliant teaching drama is and why we should do it at a bad university (chester to let you know) and how if you tried to become an actor it would be really boring and unfulfilling unlike teaching drama e.c.t.

Then at the end they said that if you want to be an actor then you should go to RADA and if you dont get in then it will never happen.

... I was fuming. 

It said on the schedual that we would be given infomation about how to become an actor like how we should prepare for auditions and the other stuff like that.  But this ^ not a single bit of basic infomation was given...

And I have decided that I hate the word drama. Its false and I hated drama lessons at high school as they caused me alot of pain.

I am now going to try and daydream about Jon Snow from game of thrones in a cave with me. Goodbye.

The awkward hello when you haven't seen a person for a long time because you have being avoiding them hello.

Hello,
If you are wondering about the title of this post it is because, well I have being avoiding this blog...
Im sorry people but I have had nothing to write about since my life have being, well, very dull for the past week and I have no (ish) stories to tell you all.
BUT now I do so I thought I might write it down, which I am doing now...
Anyways it is two weeks until I head up north to Glasgow to attend the Summer Course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am very excited/shitting ones self/god knows about the whole thing, I hope to learn a Scottish accent when Im over there as at the moment my accent is awful.
Also next friday I finish for the Summer Holidays!
However before I am free for 8 weeks we have to come in to attend two days, one of them is when people from different careers talk about their work and why they love it. It's called Careers day which is the most original name for it. Also on thursday we have to apply for UCAS and start our personal statements (which I have already done) so that sounds super fun.

In other news I have started watching Game of Thrones, I know that I am like three years behind everyone else but Im quite glad because I kind of know what is going to happen to people so I won't be too shocked when it happens. BTW Jon Snow is so dam hot! I don't give a dam if he is a bastard I would still have him easily. Also I am in love with the dwarf Tyrion and Starks youngest daughter Arya cos she kicks butt.

And because I am addicted to it I am going to leave this noisy room and watch a few episodes.
Adios 
Terri D

More Monologues...

Hello there people.
Since I have had an extremely busy week this is the first chance that I have had just to sit down and write on the blog for a while.
Manchester Met was A-MA-ZING! I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want to go there as there is such a buzz feeling there and I know Manchester like the back of my hand so it won't feel like I'm entering a foreign country.  
Anyway in other news I have bought a play called Port by Simon Stephens (by the same man who co-wrote the west end show A curious incident of a dog in the night-time.) Basically it's about this girl who comes from Stockport (like me) and just wants to get out, it tells her story from 1988 to 2002.  The main reason for buying this play was for my auditions in December/January because when I went to Manchester Met in the lecture they gave on the Acting course the man said that they wanted pieces which related to you in some way, especially with the contemporary one.
And for me, coming from Stockport and feeling similar things about the place to Racheal (the main character in the story) I just got her and could relate to her on many levels.
From it I have chosen tow bits from the play to try out tomorrow with my Drama teacher to see what she thinks. One of them technically isn't a monologue but it can easily mash together to make something like a monologue.

The first one is when Racheal is 22, it's new years eve in 1999 and she has just been physically assaulted my her Husband in a posh hotel room. He leaves her on the floor.

Stage directions - Stands up after a while. It hurts. She goes to pick up the wine glass. Drains it. Gets the wine bottle from the fridge and refills her glass. She goes where Kevin (The Husband) has dropped her phone and picks it up.

Sits back on the bed. Drinks from her glass. Phones her brother.

Racheal - Billy? It's me, Racheal. How are you? Good lad. Are you? That'll be good won't it? I'm ok love. I'm fine. I don't know. I don't think so. Kevin's had a bit of a bad one mate, you with me? No I'm fine. He's just. I hate him Billy. I want to kill him. I think I might. I fucking could. I bet you. No. I won't. No don't worry about that. I'll be fine. I will. I'll be be magic. I just wanted to talk to you. I was thinking about yer. Got yer perfume on. I have and all. I like it. It's really nice. Oh, fuck him. I think it's lovely. I just wanted to wish you Happy New Year. I now well. I'm doing it early aren't I? Happy New Year. I know. Happy New Century. Happy New Millennium. It's mental int it? Listen Mate, I'm gonna fuck off. I just wanted to, you know, I just wanted to talk to you. No I'll be fine. I'm cracking. Yeah I know. I love you Bill. Well. I do. I'll see you later. You have a good night mate. See you later.

She turns the phone off. Sits up on the bed. Staring out of the window.

Now this second one is when Racheal is 24 years old and it is 2002. She has been living in York for the past 10 months to get away from her abusive husband. She is in a beer garden and is talking to her old friend and ex Danny about what she sees what has changed in stockport while she has been gone.
(Please note people that I have edited this slightly so it will flow well as a monologue.)

Racheal - When I was a kid I used to think the clock tower in the Merseyway was massive. Fucking big skyscraper. I couldn't understand how come, when they had programmes about the tallest buildings in the world, I could't understand why they never mentioned the clock tower in the Merseyway. I went back there at the weekend. It's tiny. Very Squat. Really short. I was quite disappointed. 
Noticed the Viaduct. I'd never really paid any attention to it before. I never really noticed it. But I was looking at it, on my way into town. It's actually, y'know, it's quite impressive. There's something about it.
I noticed  how many pubs  there are. Pub's fucking everywhere in this place. A lot of the shops have changed. Smartened up a bit. Some of them are all right. And I was up at the station. Looking down. Noticed the way the valley curves down. When I was little, Used to love geography. All about continental drift. And the ice age. Stuff like that. And looking at the town centre I could just have imagined what it must of been like. All the ice and that. How it would of settled. See all the curves of where the water was like underneath the sea. That was a bit mad. 
Funny going back into manchester. All that rain. Went in with Billy. It was pissing down. Felt, kind of, it felt all right. Felt like it was meant to be raining here. Felt OK.


^Both these monologues will be on the monologue page if you want to get access to them more easily.
I understand that I don't write many monologues for males and Im sorry guys if you feel like I have a limited sources when it comes to that but I am a female so I will be looking for me.
No I need to get some food to get the alcohol which I consumed last night out of my system.
Cheerio,
Terri ;D

Updates people!

Hola!

So people so many things to update you guys about in the last couple of days.
Firstly that yesterday I started my application for Guildhall's BA Acting course, I need to wait until I get my grades in the summer and my references from my Drama teacher (plus another!) but I'm glad that if I have started then I will know that I need to finish it. (the deadline for London auditions is mid October.)
Next is that the open day for Manchester Met is tomorrow and there is a big talk on acting so clearly its a big course there, I am also meeting up with my friends before heading home to see my best friend off to her prom.
Then I've managed to get on to the Model United Nations team for a competition on friday which will be very good to put on the personal statement when I make another draft.
And finally my friend who I am going on the summer course with has just been signed by an agency! It looks really good and she is asking me if I want to also apply for it so I am going to look into it.
Now I need to sleep as I am extremely tired.
Adios
Terri ;D

The Audience Reveiw

Hey guys,

So yesterday to my suprise I discovered that I had booked myself a ticket to go see the national theatre live screening of The Audience staring Hellen Mirren ( I did book it at midnight like two weeks ago so it was easy to forget). Anyway it was amazing, there was humour and a guenuin sense of getting snapshots into the queens past. Hellen Mirren was amazing as per usual but I was deeply impressed by the young lady who played a younger queen and she had such long monologues which she handled very well.

So I suggest you note down the name Nell Williams because if she continues to be that good then she has got a solid carrer ahead of her.

I would like to also say that if you want to go to the theatre but can't afford the prices (It cost me £110 to go see Peter and Alice a few weeks ago) then the National theatre screening program is brilliant and I would highly recomend it, especially to all thoes who want to apply fir acting courses as it will keep you up to date of what is playing at the moment.

So with all this I am going to give this play a 9/10, mainly because the changes hellen mirren did were spectacually quick.

Adios

Terri ;D

Grrrrr

Yo,
So I have finished all my exams!!!!!!
But now all my mates are trying to persuade me into going out with this guy that keeps asking me out because he's really nice.
Look kids let me get this straight.
I am the victim of sexual abuse, yes it was a year and a bit ago but THIS GIRL NEEDS TIME TO...
Heal? no more like get things straight in my mind before perusing something with someone I know well. And in my books I don't know this guy well enough to start something like that.
OK so lets just move on please to having a laugh with the need for romance, I've got Harry Potter, I don't need anyone else.
Bye
Terri.

The need to get healthy

Hiya there,
I realise that I haven't been writing on here for a while, but I thought that I might update on a few things, for example in the next 5 mins (well as soon as I finish this post) I will be starting a new diet.
Now I don't agree with diets where you starve yourself just to get a nice body but I have been reading up about what the drama schools look for in a candidate when the audition and what has popped up several times is that they are looking for stamina and energy, and at the moment, I struggle walking up stairs without getting breathless so clearly something has to be done about it.
Now my mum has suggested that I go swimming everyday since I am rather good at it (I was on the North West synchronised swimming squad until I got bored) but also I have been looking on the internet and there is this thing called the Couch to 5k running plan set up by the NHS where within 9 weeks you can be running 5k, all you have to do is download the free podcasts and just follow the instructions!
So now I am going to get a sports bra on and start!
Bye
Terri

Drama School Potentials (UCAS/CUKAS applicable)

Heya there!

Now firstly I should really think up a less cheesy way of starting a post because at the moment what Im doing is just saying "yeah she still watches High School Musical and Camp Rock in her spare time..." Which I don't, well not camp rock.

Anyway the point of this post is to discuss the different drama schools that I really want to audition for.

If you have done your research then you will know that there are 100's of different places which offer Acting/Drama degree's. 

Now personally I have avoided all courses which offer a Drama BA because according to my "So you want to go to Drama School" book these courses are very academic in structure and have little pratical lessons, so this to me would sound a bit like torture. In a lecture theatre having some old person waffle on about Shakespeare seems to me, rather dull plus a waste of three years. (Also you have to get the top grades to get onto these courses which for me will never happen.)

Now because of this, with places that offer the Acting BA the number of places offered in minute compared to the amount of applicants. For example at LAMDA they only take 3.5% anually so they really do want the best of the best.

And to be the best of the best you need to know what they want from you.

OK so I'm going to first start with the one's that you can apply for via UCAS...

1. Manchester Met.

One of the few Universities which offers a high standard Acting BA course it has trained the likes of Julie Walters and the late Richard Griffiths.

Number of places available - 80

Fee for audition - £45

Qualifications needed - 2 B's and a C at A2 level. (Or 280 UCAS points)

The initial audition peices (3 monologues are wanted) - 

*One Shakespeare which must be written in blank verse (this is when there is a flowing beat but it does not rhyme, usually it is iambic pentameter).

^Don't worry too much if you don't understand that, the majority of Shakespeare's monologues are written in this form, but if you are not sure then ask someone who has a good knowledge of the english language (an english/drama teacher perhaps) to check it just in case.

*The next needs to be from a play written after 1970.

*A monologue of your choice, from any era/genre.

Remember - These monologues can last up to 2 mins so they will probbably need to be cut down to the time limit. (In saying this, ensure that they are not too short either and that you understand the character and what they are saying - i.e. particually with shakespeare - and where this monologue is in the play.)

Why I choose this course...

-This course has been acredited by the NCDT. (Always look for this as it shows that the teaching standard is of a high quality.)

-It is very close to home so I would not have to spend money on rent and live at home instead.

- The course looks interesting and would help to be employable afterwards.

-The University has a very good special needs department that could help me with my dyslexia.

http://www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk/courses/ba-acting/

2. Italia Conti

 One of the oldest stage training schools in the world, covers a vast range of art training including opera, musical theatre and many others.

Actors who have trained there include Karen Gillan (Amy Pond - Dr Who), Noël Coward, Russel Brand and many more...

No. of places available - 24

Fee for Audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 C's at A2 level

The initial audition peices (2 monologues wanted) - 

*A shakespeare peice to be chosen from a list on their website :/

* A monologue from a play written after 1870.

The duration of each of these peices needs to be around 1.5 mins, if it is alot longer then you will be stopped.

Why I choose this course...

- It is a NCDT acredited course

- I belive this course would challenge me in the different aspects of theatre.

- If you don't get onto the BA course they also consider you for their foundation course which looks the best out of all the foundation courses that I have looked at.

http://www.italiaconti-acting.com/

3.Drama Centre London

Within the St Martin Central Campus the place is surounded by a creative energy (god I sound like a hippy) which the school focuses on in its aspect of learning. Famous students include Oscar winning Colin Firth, John Simm + more.

No. of places available - 16!

Fee for audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level

The initial audition peices (2 monologues are wanted) -

*A Shakespeare peice

*A monologue from 1830+

Remember - the monologues can be no longer than 3 mins (so they can't be too short either).

Why I choose this course...

- This course has been acredited by the NCDT.

- It offers something very different compared to the rest of them which I really like.

- Unlike the majority of drama schools in London it has accomadation.

http://www.csm.arts.ac.uk/dramacentrelondon/

And now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which you have to apply for via CUKAS (a website which works in a similar way as UCAS).

Based in Glasgow in the summer I am doing a course there with my freind and the School has trained people like David Tennant and James McAvoy.

No. of places available - Around 25

Fee of the audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level

The initial Audition Peices (2 monologues needed) - 

*One shakespeare, any of your choice.

*A moden one, now the site dosent say how far back you can use one from but I'll say go back about 50 years max as I feel that is a safe boundary.

Why I choose this course...

- An acredited course

- Has a broad range of ways in which to improve an actor

- Based in Glasgow so will be cheaper to live there in comparison to London.

http://www.rcs.ac.uk/

I will do another post on the Drama Schools that I want to go to which you have apply by their website individually but I don't want this post to get too long so I am going to bugger off now and do some maths revision...

Byeeee

Terri ;D

This is a very short, bragging post really.

Yo there homies,

Look what I just recived!!!

As you might of knowticed I am very happy with what I got. But now I have to go do some revision since I did none yesterday, however there is a really fat chinese guy who keeps talking to himself at a computer so I guess that I wont get much done.

Geromino 

Terri ;D

Results....

Hola
I realise that I said this a long time ago but I did say that when I got my LAMDA exam results I would tell you... - just to inform those who have no idea what is going on, in April I took my gold LAMDA exam in manchester because a) when it comes to applying for drama schools in September it would give me an edge and b) they are quite fun to do. -...
And, I got a DISTINCTION!!!!!! (i.e. the highest grade)!!!!!
^This is basically equivalent to an A at AS level, so obviously I am very happy because all the hard work paid off and it will be a very good thing to show to the people who audition us so YAY!!!!

This has to be the best weekend so far of this year, probably of my life really.
Wow I feel like Im gloating a lot here. I will stop now by saying that I have a maths mock tomorrow for the exam next week which I think that I am going to fail, miserably.
But still who cares, it's maths. As long as I can do the basic sums then I'm sweet. :D

But because of this I should be revising now.
Adios thespians,
Terri ;D

Peter and Alice - The reveiw

Hey Guys!
So if you have being reading this blog lately then you know that last night I went to see the play Peter and Alice staring Dame Judy Dench and Ben Whishaw.
And Oh My Word it was the most incredibul sight I have ever seen!

So the play is about a man called Peter Llewelyn Davis (Ben Whishaw) and a woman Alice Liddell Hargreaves (Judy Dench) both whom were real people who inspired the characters of Peter Pan and Alice from Alice in wonderland where the two of them met in a bookshop
The play showed the struggle of both Peter and Alice through being made to grow up too fast and the sense of loss.

I loved the play soo much. It made me both laugh and (I blame Ben) cry. Dench and Whishaw bounced off each other well and the abstract world which was created through the Characters and the set design was breath taking.
And also, Ben Whishaw is just as beautiful on stage as he is on screen, I was within 10 meters of him!!!!
I would also like to say that the people who played the book versions of Alice (Ruby Bentall) and Peter Pan (Olly Alexander) were really good aswell, with Peter Pan he really made me laugh and helped break up the sadness which this play revolved around.

Overall I would give this play a 10/10 because this has made me even more determined about becoming an actor...

Right back home now apparently we go!
Adios amigoses
Terri ;D

London!! (Chapter 2 - The adventure)

11:09 am - So dudes, currently I am in a quiant palce named Beckton. Its a area on the outskirts of London where our hotel is.
Currently I think the plan is to dump the car and go to Kue Gardens and something else before heading up to the theatre!!!
12:26 pm - Were in London!!! Currently we are on the District line to Kue Gardens to have a look around and then we can do something else. I think that this is good practice, getting on the different tube lines because (hopefully) if I become a Drama student here then I will be relying a lot on the tube since it would be stupid to get a car here with the cost of it.
12:49 pm - still on this tube vessel thing...
1:16 pm - We're off the tube vessel thing!
And I have decided that if I end up living in London I want to live near Kew Gardens (sorry I have being spelling it wrong up until now :/ ) this place is soooo cute and preety and the houses are realllllllly nice.
Im going to go now and enjoy the sight seeing.
See you soon
Terri ;D

London! (Chapter one - The journey)

Hey there dudes!!
So at the moment it is 5:39 am where I am and I an currently on my way to London (!!!) via the car, I have no idea why my parents insist on driving down here when it would be cheaper and shorter timewis
to get the train but hey ho I aint the boss round here so...
5:45 am - We have stopped at another service station as my adorable sister has said that she does not want to be picked up until 10:30 so we have alot of time to waste...
6:32 am - Still at this flipping service station, the parents are insisting that they sleep so Ive gone to get a coffee and a bacon buttie (actually I hot my drink paid for me by this guy since he had spare cash on his voucher and it would of being wasted otherwise.) I've got changed out of my traveling gear into "the london" outfit basically consisting of my boston top, union jack cardigan, floral skirt, leggings and of course the docs. Ive got the theatre outfit sorted too in my rucksack so I can just jump into it when we get near the theatre.
6:40 am - Only 3 hours and 50 mins til I am reunited with my beloved sister and her lovely boyfreind, joys.
Im going to head to the car now to get the others moving as there is only so long I can stay still knowing that I will be seeing Ben Whishaw in about 12 hours!!!!
I am going to post this one now as I don't know the next time that I will have internet. I'll keep you up to date though on the day.
Hiya and Byea (is Byea even a word?!?!)
Terri ;D

Iron man 3 and my sister...

Bonjorno geeks,
I have just been to see iron man 3 (by myself as everyone I know has lives...)
AND OMG IT WAS AMAZING, FORGET THE FIRST TWO THIS ONE TRUMPED THEM BOTH BY A MILE!
There were twists, fights and Stark being, well, Stark.
If you haven't been to see it then drop everything and go, because honestly you are not living until you have gone to see this movie.
The little kid in it was real cute too.
Oh and Sir Ben Kingsley, there's a reason why he was knighted. And this is it! (And his performance in Gandhi might of helped...)

In other news my sister will be returning back from her round the world trip tomorrow, although (thankfully) we are not meeting up with her until friday when we head up to London where I will be seeing BEN WHISHAW in Peter and Alice!!!!
I think that it a possibility that I am more excited seeing Ben Whishaw then my sister, besides she's going back to America on Wednesday so I'm not going to have to put up with her long.

Also I am going to be seeing the Great Gatsby tomorrow with my pals so I need to start packing now for London if I am going to be ready on time.
^I must admit in regards to the Great Gatsby I really did try reading the book but I found it very dull, however the movie looks amazing and I would never miss out on a chance on seeing Leonardo Dicaprio's beautiful face so hence me attending.

I am now going to bugger off and do some actual packing instead of blogging as it won't get me very far in being presentable.
Cheerio dudes...
Terri ;D

Me on relationships...

Hello there thespians.
Now I guess that this is sort of off topic but if I don't get these thoughts out of my brain then I may explode with it all.
So a few weeks ago a guy in my maths class asked me out on a date to the cinema, and at first I was like urrm maybe after the exams. But then my mates were like "yeah you should totally go out with him" e.c.t. e.c.t.
So that made me really think, Do I want to go out with this guy? Because in the past I have had some very bad relationships and I haven't dated for the last two years because one went very, very messy and knocked all my confidence away. Im not saying I shouldn't go out with a guy because of what some other knob did, it's just much harder to get back into the dating things when you have been out of it for so long.
Also Im sort of getting over someone, I mean we weren't going out but we were very close and I foolishly blew it with my lack of tact and also I didn't know how much I loved him until he was gone...
So I don't want to jump into something that I don't totally have my heart set on. So I said no to the guy who asked me out. Even though he has the most BEAUTIFUL speaking voice I have ever heard I think it would be wrong of me to date him at the mo.
I am now going to bugger off and watch some rom-com's.
Cheerio Terri ;D

Exams are (almost) over!!!!

Helloooo
Have only got one exam to go and since its the holidays next week I intend to relax :D :D :D
Although saying this I have been checking out the open days for drama school's but apparently they expect us to audition without even knowing that the facilities are decent...
Oh and...
ONE WEEK TILL I SEE BEN WHISHAW ON THE STAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
^I'm not excited at all for that at all...
Well since Im finding it difficult to eat cake and type I think I might put all my energy into eating the cake.
Hello and Goodbye Gang,
Terri ;D

P.S. To those cool people who have started looking at my blog in South Korea, HI!
Now Geronimo.

Some Alterations...

Hello there Dudes
If your new to this site then this will be a bit weird for you but for the others as you can see I've made a few big alterations with the colour scheme of the blog as the other one was just too... dull for me.
So I like this one better (and who knew that purple and green went together????)
God why am I sounding so american! Jeeeesee this is weird, and that's coming from me.
Anyhow I've got an exam tomorrow so I shouldn't really be on this but hey ho I've gotta live.
Oh and 9 days till I see Ben Whishaw on the stage!!!!!!!!! (and Dame Judy Dench but who cares about her when there Ben Whishaw on stage...)
Ok going to go now and watch the apprentice as some exam prep.
Byeeeee
Terri ;D x

BTW

Hey
Just seen the statistics of the site and I would just like to thank the person in Romania who just came on the site, I didn't even know that you could get it over there so thanks!
And thank you to everyone else for coming onto my site including the gang in the USA, Germany, Russia the UK and everyone else really.
OK I am definitely going to do some revision now as it's passed 12 already!
Adios Terri ;D

I hate exams...

Hello
I hate exams I hate exams I really hate exams!!!!!!!!!
... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Ok rant over.
Now back to revision
Bye Bye Terri D:

(Btw I havent forgotten you guys, I will be blogging again soon - Mainly because in about two weeks I'm going to be heading up to London to see BAFTA winning star Ben Whishaw and Mrs Dame Judy Dench in the play Peter and Alice which is extremely exciting - but at the moment I have three exams on friday so we are all going to have to be patient.)
Now bye (again).

Scary Movie 5 = Five scary movies too many...

Hello there Chums/Chumlets
I have been very busy with all this revision so I haven't had much me time at the mo. but here in this delightful hour before bed I some spare time before I really need to switch off...
So on saturday after I had had my Maths Tutor go over some silly mathematics me and my pals decided to go into manchester and watch a movie, like a small break from our revision.
We were going to see A place Beyond the Pines with the hot Ryan Gosling in it yet for some bizarre reason we ended up watching Scary Movie 5... And MAN wasn't that a waste of £4.80.
To prove it, it had Lindsay Lohan in it in which she preforms a sorta sex scene that was a bit of a bad joke.
Ashley Tisdale plays the lead showing that she really has got desperate since High School Musical.
Snoop Dog's a druggie (surprise surprise) and Usher had one line. And that is all I have to say about that movie except please, for the sake of your brain cells Don't go and see it.

In other news my Collage arranged for several of the universities to set up stalls and convince us to study with them and actually one of them convinced me. Manchester Met actually. I already knew from the So you want to be an Actor that it was one of the best uni's for Acting and since it's the localist one for me I guess I should try out for it next year, however they want about 2 B's and a C at A level so that might be a tough cookie, it also means that I should be revising, like now.
:( I don't wanna revise, it makes my brain go weird, and it makes me feel ill :( ...
Nigh Night dears
Terri ;D

A slight dyslexia outburst...

Hey you cool people.
Really sorry for not writing any posts for a while, I've had a lot of catching up to do.
Just a quick update on me, although it is not really acting related I have been given permission to use a laptop in my exams! I might have forgotten to mention that I am dyslexic and in exams I struggle to finish due to the amount of reading which is involved so in getting a laptop at least I know that I write a hell of a lot faster so I will spend less time panicking about how much time I have got left and more on the initial questions.
I know that people think that dyslexia is a common problem theses days and that it isn't looked down upon in prejudice with people thinking that you're dumb but you would be surprised at how medieval some people still are about it. Especially teachers! For example in High school I was in an english class and our teacher Miss Nicholas (I can't be bothered making up a pretend name for her since I think she should be named and shamed for this.) was writing the notes down too fast for me to catch up with her, so I put my hand up and asked her to slow down since I was having trouble keeping up due to me being dyslexic - which incidentally she had already been informed of - and her reply; "And how is that my problem, you should hurry up" with a face that clearly showed that she thought that I was stupid... And it was in front of the entire class, making me feel highly humiliated and that I was just as silly as she thought I was.
To let you know that I did pass english with a C (language) and a B in lit. Not with the help of her though.
I had the same problem too in a science class in year 9 with a teacher calling me stupid and informing me that I really shouldn't take all three sciences next year as I wasn't up for it.
^ And to let you know on that score I did take all three sciences (just to annoy him) and ended up getting straight A's in all three! HA you dick, couldn't stop me!!!

Generally I did have a big problem with the teachers at my High School. (Marple Hall High School in Stockport if you're interested, don't go, it's a shit hole.)
Although a couple of the teachers didn't think that I was an idiot, Mrs Hind being the main one, the only one who made sure that I had all the notes at the end of the lesson.

In fact this has got me so wound up that I've just wrote a letter to my old school saying:

Hello old school,

It has taken me a while to have the courage to write this to say that now I am in collage and I am experiencing what real teaching is like then you to know that I spent the worse 5 years of my life with you and that I am going to be telling every young child's mother who I know not to send their kids to Marple Hall.

Not only did you not care about our well being except if our grades were good enough to not make the school look like shite but there was nothing really about the school that I remember that I have good memories about.

I also want to thank you on how little help you gave me after I told you I had learning difficulties and needed extra support but nothing was done. I know now that this was because it costs money to have these checks done when it could be spent on maintaining you're lovely website. This includes the fact that to my face I was called stupid and told I shouldn't take a certain subject because I wasn't up to that standard (Mr Howard if you want to know when I was in his year 9 class) Oh and he said that in front of the entire class ensuring that was totally embarrassed and felt wrong for not being able to think like the other kids. I would just like to inform you that I did go on to do separate science to annoy him and I got three A's, not with any of his help. 

The only teacher's in your entirely worthless school who are worth some credit are Mr D and Miss Wilson for telling me that I was good at a something. Mr Wales since his classes were a lot of fun and Mrs Hind who I believe is the only teacher who generally wanted us to do well, when I told her I was being bullied helped me as much as possible and finally she would (to the annoyance of the class) make sure that I had all the notes finished before moving on to the next topic. She should go to a better school because she went beyond being a normal teacher. And I would like to thank her for doing what she did for me.

As for the rest of you I present my middle finger,

Yours not sincerely,

Terri Donovan.

Well at least now I've got out what I wanted to say to them.

Cherrio

Terri ;D

Plus another...

Hello I'm back again quick...
Anyway just seen a post on twitter for Ideas tap asking for your questions that you have about auditions and that may be answered, you have to be a member though so if you would like to find out more just google Ideas tap and sign up. They have great opportunities (like jobs and competitions) plus lots of advice on artistic careers.
Right I am defiantly going now,
Cherrio
Terri ;D

This one is just a quickie mind you ;)

Hey this, this is just a quickie,
But I have just remembered that a few days ago I set up a twitter site so I can connect with the other poor souls struggling to archive their dreams , so if you want to follow me and keep up to date, then please do, I only have 5 followers atm :( due to me not being popular... any way the link is ... here!

https://twitter.com/Iwannabeaactor

Btw if you fancy mentioning the blog on there then hashtag #iwannabeanactor and I'll retweet and follow you on both my accounts :D

Told you it was a quickie, like a taster really (this post, nothing else)
Lurvee yays...
Terri ;D

Whatcha have to put into you Personal Statement...

Hi again dearys,
So as I said in the blog before that I was going to put up a post on the what you need to put into a P.S to get a place at Drama school, well here it is!
(This has been copied from the CUKAS website so if you want even more guidance into the Personal statement (greedy guts) then just google CUKAS and it should be the first thing that pops up :D.)
BTW I will probably be reposting this in june/september so don't worry if you can't be bothered writing it now I will remind you agin nearer the time...

What to include in your personal statement:

Most courses have an Entry Profile that you can view in Course Search - these explain what the conservatoire is looking for in their students and what qualifications or experience you'll need for the course. Check these because they'll give you some ideas about what to include in your statement

You do not have to use all the space provided. Consider carefully the information you give to support your application and the best way to present it effectively. Remember, you must be truthful and accurate in what you write. Make this a true match of you, your aspirations, personality, feelings about your chosen study area and experience. Showing understanding of today's competitive music or performing arts profession where versatility is required is helpful and indicates a suitable temperament. It is up to you how you write your statement, but we suggest you include some or all of the following points.

• Your reasons for choosing the courses you have listed. Remember that each conservatoire will be able to see the other conservatoires and courses to which you have applied.
• What interests you about your chosen study area (whether playing an instrument, acting, singing, conducting, stage design or another specialist area).
• Your experience within your chosen specialist area and in any other activity related to the course(s) for which you have applied.
• Membership of national and/or international orchestras, choirs or chamber groups, eg NYO, EUYO or National Youth Theatre.
• Your career plans for when you complete your course.
• Any job, work experience, placement or voluntary work you have done, particularly if it is relevant to the course for which you have applied. You may want to list the skills and experience you have gained from these activities. Try to link any experience to skills or qualities mentioned in the Entry Profiles.
• Any involvement in widening participation schemes such as summer schools or mentoring activities.
• Involvement in master classes or other Gifted and Talented programmes.
• Details of non-accredited skills and achievement that you have gained through activities such as:
  • ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network awards), for example, Universities Award
  • Diploma of Achievement
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • OCNW Level 3 Certificate in Personal Development for Progression (previously known as the Liverpool Enrichment Programme)
  • vfifty award
  • Millennium Volunteering Certificate of Volunteering Achievement
  • Young Enterprise.
• Details of accreditation achieved for any activities in preparation for higher education, for example through the ASDAN Aimhigher Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE qualification).
• Your future plans: if you know what you'd like to achieve after completing your course, explain how you want to use the knowledge and experience that you'll gain at the conservatoire.
• Any subjects you are studying that do not have a formal assessment.
• Any sponsorship or placements you have or for which you have applied.
• If you are planning to take a year out, your reasons why.
• Your social, sports or leisure interests and any other achievements that you are proud of. Think about how your interests and social activities demonstrate your skills and abilities. If there's anything that relates to your course or to the skills needed to complete the course, include it - the more evidence the better.
• Any positions of responsibility that you hold/have held both in and out of school, eg form prefect or representative for a local charity.
• Attributes that make you interesting, special or unique.

While you should not include details of your performance in individual units of qualifications (such as GCE AS and A level) in the education section, you may put this information in the personal statement.

If you are a mature student, you should give details of any relevant work and performance experience, paid or unpaid, and information about any current or previous employment.

If you want to send more information, perhaps a CV, send it direct to your chosen conservatoire(s) after we have sent you your Welcome letter and Personal ID. Do not send it to us.

If you are an international student, also try to answer these questions.

• Why do you want to study in the UK?
• How can you show that you can complete a higher education course that is taught in English? Please say if some of your studies have been taught or examined in English.
• Have you taken part in any activities where you have used English outside of your studies?

Make sure that your personal statement is your own work
We will carry out checks to verify that your personal statement is your own work. If your personal statement appears to have been copied from another source, we will inform the conservatoires to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider appropriate. We will also contact you by email to tell you that this has happened. Find out more...

Now kids go live your lives!!!

(^I don't know where that came from but OK)

Terri ;D xxx