Weekend School Prospectus

4 to 7′s classes are confidence building, extremely physically and mentally stimulating and fun! Pupils learn drama, dance and singing with three separate teachers during the hour and a forty five minute lesson. They have slightly more drama and singing than dance, however movement is taught within the singing classes. Stickers are handed out every week in our classes as an award to youngsters who are concentrating well and trying their best. This cultivates an exceptionally positive atmosphere for youngsters to learn in and stimulates their development. Fun is the key to learning and so teachers are trained to teach through fun at all times. Performances are given at the end of every term.

Singing:

Our singing classes have been specially designed to help youngsters to multi-task from a very early age. Youngsters sing whilst performing set choreographed movements so they are always performing two functions at the same time. We have specially designed Hampstead Factory warm-up c.ds to complement the teaching. Youngsters are encouraged to sing with expression and feeling, helping them to link with their emotions and express how they feel inside.

What type of singing do they learn?

Nursery rhymes, Musical Theatre songs, Pop songs, Classical folk songs, and Carols. They devise their own vocal pieces and work with percussion to stimulate their senses.

Drama:

Hampstead Factory drama is specially designed to encourage little ones to broaden their vocabulary, strengthen their speech (strong tongue, lip muscles) and encourage vocal projection. In addition to this the youngsters have a lot of fun playing animals, favourite characters from children’s stories, improvisations (making it up as they go along) and they even get to play grown-ups too! They perform a minimum of three times a year (however all performances are optional) and develop a sense of individuality in these classes as well as positive self-esteem and emotional expression.

Dance:

Dance at Hampstead Factory incorporates many styles from the basics of ballet technique to our main staple of street dance and modern movement. Youngsters learn strong technique in dance whilst picking up quick and often complicated routines. Storytelling and devised pieces are included in their work to help youngsters act throughout a performance even at this early stage. This helps little ones to multi-task earlier as they are performing two functions at the same time namely dancing and acting. When it comes to performances little ones perform musical theatre, dance, drama and singing so that they are performing three functions at the same time. This all helps to create a well rounded child, multi-skilled and quick thinking.

8 to 11′s classes are confidence building, extremely physically and mentally stimulating, dynamic and fun! Youngsters learn drama, dance and singing with three separate teachers during their two and a half hour session. They have approximately fifty minutes of dance, drama and singing each week with a quick 5 minute snack break to re-charge their batteries during the sessions. Stickers are handed out every week in our classes as an award to youngsters who are concentrating well and trying their best. This cultivates an exceptionally positive atmosphere for youngsters to learn in and stimulates their development. Fun is the key to learning and so teachers are trained to teach through fun at all times. A high standard of technical performance skills are taught in every class. Performances are given at the end of every term.

Singing:

Youngsters at Hampstead Factory are encouraged to multi-task at an early age and so they learn movement with singing at every lesson. We have specially designed Hampstead Factory warm-up c.ds to complement the teaching. Youngsters are encouraged to sing with expression and feeling, helping them to link with their emotions and express how they feelinside.

What type of singing do they learn?

Harmonies with Musical Theatre songs, Pop songs, Classical folk songs, and Carols. They devise their own vocal pieces and in some terms are encouraged to bring their own musical instruments in to stimulate their senses and help them become individually creative. Youngsters are encouraged to sing on their own at this age if they wish and are taught strong vocal technique to make the most of their voices.

Drama:

Hampstead Factory drama is specially designed to encourage youngsters to broaden their vocabulary, strengthen their speech (strong tongue, lip muscles) and encourage vocal projection. They learn traditional musical theatre scripts (i.e. Oliver, Annie) as well as TV/Film Scripts (i.e. High School Musical, Harry Potter) and plays (i.e. Alice in Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach). Youngsters work in groups on improvisations dealing with issues that may affect them from bullying to peer-pressure and disputes between friends.

Dance:

Dance at Hampstead Factory incorporates many styles from the basics of ballet technique to our main staple of street dance and modern movement. Youngsters learn strong technique in dance whilst picking up quick and often complicated routines. Storytelling and devised pieces are included in their work to help youngsters create for themselves and act throughout a performance. Performance is a key in our classes as all too often youngsters are not taught how to perform and can lose out on precious auditions to other youngsters who may not be as technically good but may perform better. This helps to create a well rounded child, multi-skilled and quick thinking.

12 to 17′s learn drama, dance and singing with three separate teachers during their two and a half hour session. They have intensive classes with approximately fifty minutes of dance, drama and singing and a quick five minute snack break to re-charge their batteries during the time. Stickers are handed out in our classes as an award to youngsters who are concentrating well and trying their best. This cultivates an exceptionally positive atmosphere for youngsters to learn in and stimulates their development. Fun and motivation is the key to learning for this age group and so teachers are trained to teach with these in mind at all times. Performances are given at the end of every term.

Some 12 to 17s come to us for an enhanced social life and to improve their life skills, others come to us as a stepping stone to performing arts school. Youngsters have successfully auditioned for London schools and scholarships (i.e. Brit School of Performing Arts) and we can offer guidance in audition technique and performance pieces. Strong performance skills are taught at Hampstead Factory (in many county classes this is sadly lacking) and our youngsters have an excellent chance of getting that precious role/audition over and above a candidate who may be strong technically but may not have the correct material or charisma on stage.Strong technique is taught in all three disciplines and youngsters are encouraged to perform individually as well as in a group. 12 to 17s are always working towards a performance (spring work-in-progress, summer show and group examinations, Christmas show) and extra performances are offered (i.e. The Home and Garden Show every year at The Centaur, Gloucester summer in the Park, Tewkesbury pantomime-auditions and many more via our backstage web news).

Singing:

We have specially designed Hampstead Factory warm-up c.ds to complement our teaching. Youngsters are encouraged to sing with excellent technique (diaphragmatic support, rib reserve breathing) and with expression and feeling. Youngsters sing harmonies, Musical Theatre (Cats, West Side Story), popular songs, devised songs of their own (with instruments if they play), carols and classical folk songs.

Drama:

Improvisations, plays, musical theatre, TV scripts all help youngsters to express themselves in an imaginative and caring environment. We discuss issues such as bullying and peer pressure through improvisations and a free masterclass by a TV/Theatre professional is offered every term for free to Hampstead Factory students.

Dance:

The basics of ballet are taught alongside our main staple of street dance. Quick, funky street dance routines as well as musical theatre dances are taught and often youngsters are required to sing and dance at the same time in performance.

Our number one aim is to “build confidence for life” through our classes and we try not to dilute this message however as an indirect result of the quality of the classes many youngsters have successfully gone onto performing arts schools from us. All teachers are trained by Miss Whittard in “The Factory Method” of “core confidence” teaching skills. Every term has a set-syllabus given to teachers however their is flexibility within the structure for teachers to put their own unique “stamp” on their classes.

Classes timings:

Each discipline is taught in a separate class with a specialist teacher. Ten lessons are given every term (three terms a year) running alongside the academic year.

Bespoke lessons:

At The Hampstead Factory we pride ourselves in giving ‘bespoke lessons’, tailor making each class to each individual within the group. How do we manage to do this? By introducing a special forum every term where teachers discuss youngsters in detail with their other teachers-their progress, their problems and more importantly what type of teaching works for each child. Did you know that every child ‘learns’ in a different way? Some through ‘pictures and imagination’ others through ‘logic and detailed discussion’. It is our job to see youngsters within a group as individuals-how else will they grow and learn as individuals if we don’t treat them as such?

Staff:

All staff are experienced teachers many of whom continue to perform professionally. All staff are CRB checked and receive termly teacher training sessions. We have a child protection policy and many teachers attend First Aid Training for youngsters with St John’s Ambulance.

Examinations:

Groups are entered for Trinity College London examinations. Class work includes many board exam requirements and learning techniques developed by the founder.

Discipline:

We encourage students to work within an obedient and disciplined structure, with reports given at the end of the spring term outlining a student’s effort, attitude and potential. The Hampstead Factory reserves the right to dismiss students who constantly disrupt classes.

Presentations and professional work:

A presentation on stage is given at the end of the summer term. This is a set piece for friends and family that may be combined with Trinity Musical Theatre examinations. Reports and a work-in-progress demonstration of class work are given at the end of the spring term. Awards are given on presentation days.

Any youngsters attending group lessons (with parents’ written consent) wishing to be considered for occasional professional castings will automatically be suggested for appropriate roles that come to The Hampstead Factory agency’s attention. Youngsters may also join our online agency. All agency services are optional. Parents will only be notified of a casting if an audition is offered. This in no way guarantees work but gives students a realistic view of the industry when considering a career in the performing arts.

What to wear?

Dance shoes and Hampstead Factory T-shirts are compulsory uniform for all youngsters attending, with shoe order forms and stock kept at our weekend schools. Leggings or jogging bottoms are acceptable but jeans are restricting so please leaves these at home!

Trinity Musical Theatre Examinations:

Pupils with The Hampstead Factory take part in Trinity College London Musical Theatre Examinations combined with their end of year show every summer. Trinity College London is a government accredited and QCA approved examination board (one of the largest of its kind in the country). These exams help pupils and parents to benchmark the performance levels of their youngsters. Exams of this kind help youngsters to work towards a set standard and results are useful when applying for colleges/universities or any other form of higher education as extra curricular government accredited/QCA results are taken into consideration on university entrance forms (UCAS forms).

For a trial please call us on 01242 234664