My tailored lessons are 50-60 minutes long and take place online. Following a conversation with you, I always start with an initial lesson where I will assess your child’s learning requirements.
What happens in an initial lesson?
I empower my students by giving them the choice of the exam they wish to study.
In an initial lesson, I will offer your child a taste of the main LAMDA exams (Acting, Speaking Verse and Prose and Speaking in Public) and gauge which of them sparks your child’s interest the most.
Whichever exam your child decides to work towards, each is a different route to the same destination – improved public speaking skills, an increase in confidence and a mastery of important lifelong skills. LAMDA’s exams enable my students to develop a powerful presence to captivate and build rapport with any audience or any person now and in their future lives.
If your child has taken a LAMDA exam before and they’re keen to progress to the next grade of the same exam, then I will assess them for the next grade up.
Giving my students the freedom to choose their exam gives them full ownership over their work. It motivates them to complete any exercises they need to practice in between lessons and it is an important first step in them taking responsibility for their journey.
What happens after the initial lesson?
On my next working day, you’ll hear from me to relay recommendations on how your child can best begin their LAMDA journey.
Most of my students then take a weekly lesson and I’ll prepare them for their exam of choice whilst building their confidence and self belief.
I encourage all of my students to learn at their own pace and I do not pressure them to take exams on a particular date.
I assess my students’ readiness for an exam on a regular basis and feedback to you as soon as we’re able to arrange an opportunity for them to share their work in an exam.
Does my child have to take an exam?
Taking the exam itself is by no means mandatory, but they can give some students focus, formal recognition for completing a milestone on their LAMDA journey and a sense of accomplishment.
That said, many of my students who are not working towards an exam still grow their confidence, have fun and gain a lasting sense of achievement by following the LAMDA syllabus in their weekly lessons.
What are LAMDA exams?
LAMDA, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, is one of the oldest drama schools in the world and they have offered exams in speech and drama since the 1890s.
Today, students can take exams as varied as Speaking in Public, Devising and even Miming. However, the most popular solo exams are Acting, Speaking in Public and Speaking Verse and Prose.
The LAMDA grades are a carefully constructed journey where the student builds on their confidence and self belief as they progress. Exam grades start at Entry Level and (like music grades) progress up to Grade 8. LAMDA also offer Solo introductory examinations which are usually taken by younger learners. That said, there are no age restrictions on LAMDA’s exams and they cater for all ages and abilities.
Each exam has different requirements. For instance, in an Acting exam, you’d be preparing speeches and playing characters. In Speaking Verse and Prose, you’d be preparing poems and a piece of prose text. For Speaking in Public, you’d write and present your own speeches. Each exam also has a ‘Knowledge’ requirement which becomes more detailed as you progress through the grades.
LAMDA exams also count towards that all-important UCAS points total for those students looking to apply to university. Not only that; the qualifications can give your child extra confidence in their university interview and future university career.
The exams provide students a foundation on which to build unshakeable confidence, a mastery of spoken English and the belief that they can present themselves in any situation now and in their future life.
