24 Jun Mastering the Art of Acting: Is It Built on Muscle Memory?
It’s no secret that one of the easiest ways to master something is to do it repetitively. This is why you see athletes practicing every day to not only strengthen their body but also allow their muscle to memorize a specific motor task through repetition. But muscle memory isn’t only limited to athletes and motor learning. In fact, you can apply the same concept to other activities including acting.
Seasoned actors would agree that honing your acting skills needs a lot of practice. Whether it’s memorizing your lines or playing out a scene, doing things over and over again will allow your mind and body to adapt to your role without forcing it to.
Acting is like being an athlete.
According to Brad Heller, one of the most renowned acting coaches in Los Angeles, acting is just like being an athlete. You spend time practicing your craft and honing your skills and technique, so that when you get on set, you become more confident knowing that your mind and body are prepared to act out a scene. According to Heller, you need to think of it like being in a game. You practice and prepare yourself for that game, and when you’re already there, you play with the best of your ability and hope that those skills will eventually come out because they’re already like muscle memory.
Brad Heller has been in the entertainment industry for many years working as an actor and now an acting coach teaching via Zoom acting classes, both young and seasoned actors the techniques to hone their acting skills and be successful in their careers.
Acting is an investment.
If you want to be the best version of yourself as an actor, you need to invest time, resources and effort in making that possible. Here are some tips that will help you make you a better actor by building your muscle memory:
- Join acting workshops. Just as athletes would train with fellow athletes, you need to surround yourself with fellow actors who can inspire you to practice your acting skills consistently. By joining an acting workshop, you get to learn from the best in the industry and use that opportunity to practice, so you can go to set prepared every time. This can also work by joining Zoom acting classes in a group.
- Do voice warmups. Your voice will have a huge impact on how you will portray a role because it’s what will convince the audience of your authenticity. This is why it’s very important to include voice warmups as part of your daily routine, so you can perform well and embody any type of character that’s thrown your way.
- Practice articulation. Articulation is very important if you want to be an effective actor. Make sure that you practice articulation exercises for at least 5 minutes every day, so you can work on sounds that you struggle with.
Acting definitely takes a lot of work to master, but it is possible with the right professionals by your side and if you are committed to building a great acting career. If you want to start taking acting classes but you want to stay safe, join our Zoom acting classes and start building up your muscle memory.
Contact us at The Heller Approach Acting Studio to learn more and join our Zoom acting classes, which can be done in a group or privately. If you want to check out Brad Heller’s acting jobs, check this out.