Last Updated on 16 June 2023 by Colette
This post features gifted experiences
As you may know, Ben is trying out a term of dance, drama and singing lessons with Stagecoach. I thought with it being half term I’d give you a bit of an update as to how he’s getting on. Stagecoach themselves don’t break for half term but it’s a logical mid point for talking about how things are going.
From the start, Ben has been confident and excited about his lessons and I’m pleased to say that the novelty hasn’t worn off! He’s always really happy to get ready and go out on a Saturday morning, not once complaining or wishing that he were doing something else. The beaming face which greets me at the end of each session says it all.
As I mentioned in my initial post, we decided that Ben should start out with the “Early Stages” class for 4 to 6 year olds so that we could see how he got on. I felt that, with the classes being a new experience for him, he might struggle with the longer “Main Stages” class. Ben is very much the top end of his particular class age wise but it doesn’t seem to have bothered him. That said, Sophie (the Managing Principle) has said she thinks he would be more than capable of coping with the Main Stages class next term.
Through chatting to Sophie I discovered that each Stagecoach school plans and delivers their own series of lessons according to the needs and interests of their classes. I had assumed there would be a standard scheme of work which was taught across the company so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the lessons were more tailored to individual groups. As a primary school teacher myself this really appeals to me. Tapping into children’s interests and learning styles is by far the most effective way of inspiring them and reaching their potential. (Listen up Nicky Morgan, you could learn a thing or two here!)
After each lesson I talk to Ben about what he’s been up to – but I’m sure you can imagine how much detail I get . . . He did tell me that when Sophie comes in the room they have to stand in “neutral position” which he then demonstrated for me. I managed to ascertain that they had been listening to “Singing in the Rain” and he has showed us his “Lion / Lemon” faces which make me crease every time!
Of course, to find out exactly what goes on in his Stagecoach classes I thought it was better that I hear it straight from the horses mouth so I asked Sophie:
“Throughout Early Stage we are working on performing arts technique to help improve performance for our next show as well as teaching the children skills they can transfer to other subjects. In dance we are working on a remix of Singing in the Rain using Soft Tap and Street to display different genres of dances. We are singing “Rain on my Parade” from Funny Girl and are currently working on characterisation through puppetry and accents encouraging imagination and original story telling. Rain and weather are a theme of our class activity.“
I love that, whilst Ben isn’t all that good at remembering what he’s been doing in class, we catch him singing, humming and dancing throughout the rest of the weekend. It shows that not only has he enjoyed his session but he’s absorbing it too.
I must admit that one of my biggest concerns about Ben’s Stagecoach lessons was committing to something on a Saturday morning – I was worried about how it might impact on our weekends. In reality because his lesson is done by 11am we still have the whole day ahead and it hasn’t affected us at all. What it has done is given me a cheeky hour or so to sit in the nearby McDonalds with a drink and my ipad by myself – an unexpected luxury.
So, half a term in and I would say that Stagecoach has been a massive hit for us and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on over the next month as we reach the end of this term.
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Stagecoach sounds fantastic! I think drama is a really important part of childhood and it really improves confidence and they do learn so many other skills that can be used in other subjects. I am so glad Ben is enjoying it and that it doesn't effect your weekend too much 🙂 Lovely post xx
oh I wish we had one close to us and my brood would thrive there
My daughter loved stagecoach and took part in classes for around 5 years until her school started their own singing/drama club. I'm so pleased that Ben is enjoying his time at Stagecoach as I think it can really bring out the best in children.
Sounds like a great class experience for him!
http://bakethebun.blogspot.com/
Oh how fantastic! Anything which encourages creativity in children gets my vote!
This sounds so much fun – I would have adored doing something like this as a child – I very into performing arts. x
This sounds great, and I bet it's wonderful for building confidence too!
It's so good that he's still enthusiastic about them, especially being on a Saturday! x
This sounds like a great out of school activity that is enjoyable and fun.
This sounds fantastic I used to run something similar that was based around radio and film and the passion you get from the children and young people is amazing X
Miss Kitty Kaos – Adventures Of A Riot Grrrl
I used to go to something like this when I was about 10-12, we did an hour of dancing, an hour of acting and an hour of singing. It was great fun every Saturday morning!
This takes me back! I did Stagecoach for seven years when I was younger and got to perform in the West End, countless theaters and play Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz it was so much fun. I used to love to sing/act/dance.
It sounds so great – my friends daughter goes to our local one and loves it! Looks lots of fun. Kaz x
Sounds like a lovely experience for your little one. Nice
Looks cool and fun. Not a bad thing to try for the kids!:)
Wow that sounds like a fantastic experience. Glad he had fun
Sounds like stagecoach is a great success and the pictures certainly back this up. So great for kids to be part of
Stagecoach sounds like a really fun way to spend a Saturday morning 🙂
#triedtested
Sounds amazing, He looks like he is having a great time.
This sounds fab! And I like that they don't stop for half term too! I wonder what Boo would make of that when she is older!
Sounds a brilliant opportunity. Great that they run during half term too!
This sounds brilliant. It's great that they tailor it to the children and don't just use a standard scheme for all the groups. Sounds well thought out and fun for the kids.
This looks right up BB's street! Thanks for sharing your experiencex #TriedTested
Oh my goodness! I used to go to Stagecoach a very long time ago 🙂 It's fantastic and I remember being so excited come Saturday morning. Your little chap looks like he's been having a great time. Annette
Glad to hear he is enjoying it so much and sounds brilliant fun. Good it's not impacting your weekend too as that's always a concern for me with Saturday classes xx
Glad to hear he is enjoying it so much and sounds brilliant fun. Good it's not impacting your weekend too as that's always a concern for me with Saturday classes xx
Sounds like great fun, and it's nice that it's done and dusted early too so you still have the rest of the weekend free x #triedtested
I am always curious about Stagecoach as I never know what exactly goes on! Sounds like he is having a great time, #triedtested
Both my boys did MiniStages and EarlyStages. Son1 loved it but didn't want to carry on to the next level and son2 gave up at same time
I know of children who go to our local stagecoach and love it! Ben looks so happy, he must be really enjoying it.
This sounds fantastic, what a fun thing for kids to do on a Saturday morning. Ben looks like he's having a great time. xx
I think these things have to be a good thing in terms of building confidence. So long as not every parent expects their child to be the next famous person, I am in favour. Sadly my brother teaches singing and music and I find some of the parents are incredibly pushy
I can't wait until I'm old enough to go! We have a great one in the Basingstoke area I've heard 🙂 he's come on leaps and bounds! #TriedTested xx
Aww this sounds great and something I would definitely be interested in sending Mia to once shes a bit older (shes 2). I too like the fact the lessons are tailored to the children as this makes a huge difference. I would also be worried about it impacting weekends as its a Saturday but the fact its done before midday is great! 🙂
#TriedTested
it sounds fantastic. Love your pictures! 😀
Sounds like brilliant fun and he looks very pleased with himself. I love my Saturday morning chill time when S is at ballet!
#TriedTested
Stagecoach sounds fab, and it's so nice that Ben is enjoying it.
My little boy loves singing and dancing so this would really appeal to him.
It looks like a great opportunity for little ones 🙂 x
I am sure middle man would love this – he has started acting class at school and really enjoys it #triedtested
what a great life time experience, Ben looks really happy!
It sounds like he's having a great time – I went to dance classes and did shows with them from being 5 to 18, and I still do amateur musicals now. I would love if my boys wanted to do something like this – it's much more my cup of tea than standing on the side of a football pitch!
Beautiful picture Ben. Jean and Ruby also love going to stagecoach. As you said earlier on they always look forward to it. It has improve their confidence.