Sense Memory 10: Combination Exercise

The Stanislavski Method

COMBINATION EXERCISE Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________ Period: ______

Objective • Assess your progress with your relaxation efforts • Assess your progress with your ability to concentrate • Recreate two sensory experiences simultaneously by combining two previous exercises. Preparation In the context of a performance, an actor can expect to recreate a multitude of sensory experience, often simultaneously. For this exercise, select two of the previous sense memory exercises to perform simultaneously. You are free to make alterations to your previous performance (for example, select a different breakfast drink to re-experience). Check which two exercises you will be combining: ☐

Breakfast Drink

☐

Sharp Pain

☐

Mirror

☐

Taste and Smell

☐

Getting Dressed

☐

Overall Sensations

☐

Three Pieces of Material

☐

Personal Object

☐

Sunshine

Observation Record Your responses to the prompts below MUST be almost ridiculously specific. Use metaphors and similes to accurately conjure up the sensation. Be specific about how the sensation physically affects you. 1)

Describe all of your sensory perceptions for your first choice (i.e., see, hear, smell touch, taste, motion, temperature, etc.): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2)

Describe all of your sensory perceptions for your second choice (i.e., see, hear, smell touch, taste, motion, temperature, etc.): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

The Exercise Now, set any real objects aside. Change your environment. Spend at least 10 minutes relaxing in a chair—as you have been taught. Repeat the process above without the objects or locations. You are not doing this exercise in order to learn to pantomime. Work on reliving each of the specific sensations you recorded above. Do not move on to the next step until you fully recreate each sensation fully and vividly and specifically. Work on this several times for roughly ten-minute intervals. You will be completing this exercise in class, and will be expected to have worked on this significantly at home. You will be guided through each step, and you will be asked to recreate and describe each sensation. Due Date: ________________________________

Reflection [To Be Completed After Your In-Class Performance] Respond to the following prompts sincerely and with specific detail. Keep in mind that sense memory work is intended to be a continual process. You are not learning your times tables; these are exercises not unlike sit-ups or yoga. You continue to develop your ability with no end zone in sight. To achieve any kind of success you must commit yourself to continually working on it. 1)

How did you feel working on this exercise? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2)

Which specific sensations gave you the most trouble? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3)

What specific goals do you have for yourself as you continue to work? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Assessment [for teacher use only] PREPARATION

5

4

3

2

1

RELAXATION

5

4

3

2

1

CONCENTRATION

5

4

3

2

1

DETAIL OF WORK

5

4

3

2

1

ABILITY TO SUSTAIN

5

4

3

2

1

SELF-EVALUATION

5

4

3

2

1

Total ________ out of 30