Some of my best memories and closest friendships came out of the musicals I
performed in when I was a younger. There is nothing quite like the excitement of
opening night: all of your friends and families sitting in the audience, your fellow
actors and actresses prepping behind the curtains, and the amazing feeling when you walk out on the stage to perform your first musical number.
With APA’s upcoming mini-musicals, I thought it was the perfect time to write
about the benefits of being in a musical, especially for those of you who will be
trying it for the first time.
1.) BUILDING LIFELONG SKILLS: Not only will you develop your more artistic
skills, like singing, dancing, and acting, but you will also refine the skills you
will need to be successful in everyday life, such as communication, literacy,
teamwork, confidence, creativity, problem solving, and time-management.
2.) MAKING FRIENDS: When learning and working alongside individuals with
shared interests and goals, you can’t help but become closer and build
friendships that can last a lifetime.
3.) FEELING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY: Just the act of creating and learning
together builds a strong sense of community. This unites us and gives us a
sense of belonging that has a positive impact on both physical and mental
health.
4.) BUILDING YOUR COLLEGE RESUME: Depending on your age this may seem
a little early to think about, BUT along with academic success, colleges look
for well-rounded individuals when determining who will be a successful
candidate for their programs. Being in a musical indicates that you have
several important skills and abilities that colleges, not to mention employers,
are looking for in their applicants.
5.) HAVING FUN: We can’t discount the importance and benefits of having fun
while learning. When you are having a good time and stress levels are lower,
it is EASIER to learn and retain new concepts which helps you perform at
your optimal level.
No matter your background or experience level, being in a musical will help you
develop and hone the skills necessary to achieve success in your social and
educational life for years to come!
Tiffany Sullivan
APA Music Director