There will be several classes at Mid-Realm Bardic Madness. If you are interested in teaching a class, please contact the provost, Cerian Cantwr.
Morning Session
Bodhrán and Bones - Alexander de Seaton
Basics on how to play a bodhrán or a pair of bones.
Using Improvisation to Discover Commedia dell'Arte Characters - Midair MacCormaic
Commedia dell'Arte is, specifically, "comedy of the art of improvisation." Instead of scripts, people performing Commedia based on the scenic "beats" of the scenario (running order). Therefore, though the story to be performed is known, as are the stock character archetypes, there is still plenty of room to discover these characters, and bring those insights to enhance the performance. This is a class on how flesh out the characters you perform on stage, with a focus on the Commedia dell'Arte character archetypes. This is not a class about Commedia, nor will it present a comprehensive list of archetypes. Instead, we will take the high level foundations of some of the major characters, and learn how to discover more about them using techniques from improvisation.
"What the F$&@ do I do with my hands???!!"... Movement for the performer - Juliane Bechaumpe
You know the story, could sing the song backwards, are ready and willing to wail away on the recorder. But the rest of you gets stiff, stilted and awkward. This class will give you some tools and basic movement vocabulary to get past that feeling. Your performance will be the richer and deeper for it.
Not a dance class, nobody gets put on the spot, doable in garb.
Meter Halfway: An introduction to writing poetry - Llywelyn Glyndyverdwy
An introduction to meter in poetry, for beginners or experienced bards who need a refresher. By contrasting passages from Shakespeare, Beowulf, and the Ballad of Gilligan's Island, we'll explore the use of rhythm and how it influences meaning.
Afternoon Session
Improvisation Warm Ups for Commedia Troupes - Midair MacCormaic
Just as an athlete shouldn’t compete, let alone exercise, without warming up, so shouldn’t a performance troupe start acting without improvisation exercises. The following warm up exercises were chosen to meet three distinct goals:
To, well, warm up the group so they have high energy and are ready to perform,
To reinforce specific skills that actors, especially those doing Commedia based improvisation, need to have, and
To be a lot of fun!
For each warm up practiced during the class, there will be an explanation of the skills it is intended to train, as well as possible variations. I will also have a handout with a much larger selection of warm ups. There is no way to do all of those listed exercises in less than a couple of hours, so pick and choose according to the Commedia troupe's preferences and needs.
Authenticity and the Bardic Arts - Lorelei Skye of Sans Nomen
Can you tell if something sounds period, is period, or not? What makes something "sound period"?
How closely are bards creating original works in a period style? Do bardic arts provide an authentic experience?
To be discussed and demonstrated: Authenticity within the bardic arts; music and oration styles through history; the changing role of 'filk' and derivative works; finding source material; selecting for ones venue/audience; creating an entertaining authentic experience.
Will include listening examples of things from period, about period, that could have happened in period, and works about SCA culture and traditions.
How to Teach - A Class; Part I - Jose Sao Pacian
In a world where expertise does not always translate to great teaching, one emerges with the knowledge and experience to help understand and translate skill into educational prowess. In this first in a series of classes, we explore the value of lesson planning and the use of learning styles, concentration levels, and brain hacks to enhance your teaching prowess and never make someone feel like they have been turned away.