Being successful at something is never about luck or coincidence, it’s about making steady and consistent progress towards your goal. When we launched the RSL Exam Programme nearly 5 years ago, we weren’t launching on the off chance that it may offer something of real value to the students, we where launching it after 10 years of consistent hard work and a deep understanding of what good training and performing arts practice looks like.
It therefore didn’t come as a shock to me that the first set of results received in 2018 where excellent and have continued to be excellent ever since. People have said things like, “it depends on the cohort” or “It depends on the songs we pick” or worse still, “it depends on what examiners we get”. All of these bare little relevance to the end result. For me the reason for our continued success is the exceptional training our students receive.
When we look at the most effective ways of learning; we know we learn from things that we read, see and hear but nothing is as effective as the actual “doing”. It’s like learning football or driving from a book; skills are only developed in practice. I believe this is what sets The Artz Centre apart from nearly all of its competition. The sheer wealth of opportunities that students have to perform, the amount of chances they get to try and fail.
Putting on a show is a HUGE undertaking, they are stressful, expensive and extremely technical, but what they offer is huge value and priceless training to students and staff. They present a real set of problems to solve, skills are honed under the pressure of deadlines and expectation of live performance. Students receive bespoke, person centred feedback; all designed to aid them improve and develop at their own pace. No sooner has that amazing opportunity ended, another one is approaching. Doing shows is not the easiest way to develop skill but it’s certainly the most effective and that is why we do it. Everyone has the potential to become amazing at something, but not everyone has the types of opportunities that Artz Centre have created.
For 20 years now I have been developing a blueprint for what excellent looks like. This year I have been able to step back and take up a much more observatory role and still the standard remains the same. I first want to pay tribute to Jamie who continues to embrace the challenges and opportunities presented to him, I am sure the students will look back with fondness of the support and guidance you have given them throughout this process. Finally I want thank Joe, (my new Artistic Director and the first person I ever considered for the RSL programme), for continuing to trust the Artz Centre process, for continuing to listen and learn, for being courageous enough to take the reins of this show, and for continuing to walk a path that others may follow.
Good luck to the class of 2023. You all have another opportunity to BE YOUR BEST YOU!