Create a Music-Inspired Character
It’s time for an Arts Break! As a storyteller, you can use music to inspire your next creation, from character to mood to movement. Let’s follow along with New Victory Teaching Artist Marisol Rosa-Shapiro as she creates a character inspired by music and then choreographs a scene using everyday objects.
Materials Needed: A device to play music, a backpack with a few everyday items inside
- Select a piece of music, ideally something with few or no lyrics. While listening, think about what sort of character the music could inspire. Then fill out the following template to help guide your character creation:
Because of the (tempo, instruments, etc.), this music makes me feel (emotion). I imagine a character who is (character trait), moves with (a style or attitude) and who’s feeling very (state of mind). Their name is (name).
- Get a backpack ready with a few different items. These can be items you normally keep in your backpack, or any other props you have on hand that might fit.
- In an open space, decide where center stage is and head there with your backpack prepped. As the character you imagined, remove each item one at a time and react to it. Think:
- How does this item make your character feel?
- Is there a moment in the music that you can time your reaction to?
Once you are done showcasing your items in character, take a bow and exit the stage.
- Think back to how you moved with each item and when in the music you moved that way. Repeat those same moves in time with the music until you've memorized them. And just like that, you have a bit of choreography that you can perform for an audience!
Have fun choreographing to all different kinds of music, inspiring a variety of characters that can move, dance and react in unique and beautiful ways.
New Victory Arts Break videos are designed for kids, families and educators to engage with the arts in any space—including at home or in the classroom! This video's instructions can be modified to meet the needs of you and your kids.