Hello, friends! Today I’m delighted to welcome author/artist/improvisor Damian Synadinos to the blog. Damian is the creator of “Hank and Stella in Something from Nothing”, a picture book about, as Damian puts it, “improv for life”. Take it away, Damian!
Many thanks to Jane for the opportunity to guest post on Raincity Librarian! In this post, I’ll briefly explain Why I decided to write about improv, What improv is, and How improv might be useful in the classroom.
Why?
I think that understanding why we do things is important. I think that if you first identify and understand the reasons to do something, it can help guide what to do and how to do it.
When I first considered writing a children’s book, I started by asking myself, “why do I want to write a children’s book?” I came up with many reasons, but first and foremost was “to help my kids laugh while they learn”. Like many kids, mine love to do both. And so, I decided to write (and illustrate) a picture book to be entertaining, and about improv to be educational.
“Hank and Stella in Something from Nothing” is “an entertaining and educational book for kids about improv for life”.
What?
“Improv” is short for “Improvisational theater”, which is, essentially, creating something from nothing. Performers create and perform shows simultaneously and spontaneously, without any script, props, or costumes.
Over 10 years, I performed hundreds of improv comedy shows to diverse audiences in a variety of venues. But, it all began with a year of intensive improv training. And, sometimes I’m asked, “How do you train for improv? How can you learn to be spontaneous?”
In improv training, you learn and practice improv rules. Or rather, improv “rules”. I put “rules” in quotes because they are less like “strict instructions” and more like “loose guidelines”. Improv “rules” are basically principles and skills that help performers act and react naturally and intuitively in any situation, and create and perform simultaneously and spontaneously.
And, the fundamental principles and skills of improv are as useful on stage as they are at play and in life!
How?
As a professional speaker and trainer, I frequently use “Applied Improvisation” (re-framing the principles and skills of improv in different contexts to deliver entertaining and educational lessons) to teach adults various life skills. And, teachers can use improv to teach children, as well!
In “Hank and Stella in Something from Nothing”, children are introduced to 8 fundamental improv “rules”. Things like “focusing on the present”, “ways to get and explore ideas”, “how to react to accidents and mistakes”, “the importance of practice”, and “the benefits of diversity”.
In the book, Stella explains each “rule” to Hank as they discuss creating and performing an improv show on a boring, grey, and rainy day. When I read the book to my kids, we often stop to discuss a “rule” and then practice it by creating and playing a short, easy improv game! Just like in my own improv training. And, the book even contains a few silly and simple improv games to help adults and children start making improv shows of their own!
Discussing and practicing these improv “rules” can help children develop their imaginations, play cooperatively, increase their confidence, and much, much more.
And so, I hope that “Hank and Stella in Something from Nothing”will help introduce improv to children everywhere and help them “laugh while they learn”.
For more information, visit https://www.hankandstellabooks.com/.
Like everyone, Damian Synadinos is a lot of things. But, the things that probably matter most to you, here and now, are: he is a father, an author, an artist, and an improviser.
A big thank you to Damian for sharing his thoughts with us on the blog today! If you’d like to guest post here on Raincity Library, get in touch!