CWEA Education Session 1

Sunday Sessions 1/6/2025:

Happy 2025, CWEA! From all of us at the organizational level, we are so excited to see what the upcoming season brings and the fabulous productions you will bring to life.

The Education Committee will be sending out emails every Sunday with tips, tricks, information, and reminders throughout the season. These will be beneficial for physical training, technique, production, logistics, and more.

If there is a topic you’d love more information about, email your ideas to [email protected] to get it covered.

Keep reading for some start-of-season content!

All the best for YOUR best season yet!

Jen Barton

CWEA Education Coordinator

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PHYSICAL TRAINING - Content by Dr. Kellie Simerly

A strong core is vital for any performer. It provides support and stability for the whole body. As indoor pageantry performers, shoulder strength also proves to be very important. Strong, healthy shoulders allow the performer to confidently utilize their equipment and display many different skills, both with and without equipment.

Click the button below for a PDF of a series of core exercises to implement at all of your rehearsals!

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TARGETED TECHNIQUE - Content by CWEA Guard Staff

Right now, you are caught up in getting that dang show on the floor! Keep your eye on the ball and make sure those choices are supporting the needs of your students and your program. Identify areas of concern and work backwards, implementing a change or adjusted focus in your training program to keep your students with a sharp set of skills that help not only creating the show but cleaning the show a breeze.

Download the graphic below for an inspo idea on how to spot a concern and get to the root cause.

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MINDFULNESS AND FOCUS - Content created by Andrew Elkins, Powdersville HS + Etude

There’s a great PowerPoint linked HERE with more information about Mindfulness Journals for your students - this fantastic clinic was presented at the CWEA Summit in November - I highly recommend checking this out if you want your performers to be calm, cool, and confident for 2025.

Here is your journal prompt for this week:

1. Reflect on an Exercise:

• Write down the name of an exercise or sequence you’re currently struggling with.

• Break it down step-by-step. What are the movements, counts, or music that are challenging?

2. Visualize the Movement:

• Imagine yourself performing the sequence perfectly. How does it feel? What does it look like?

3. Create Vocal or Mental Cues:

• For each challenging part, come up with a simple vocal cue to guide you through it. (For example: “to the left,” “grab thumb up,” “look to front.”)

• Write these cues next to the steps in your breakdown, or mark them in your music.

4. Plan Your Practice:

• Write down how you’ll use these cues in practice this week. Can you say them quietly to yourself or think about them as you perform?

5. Reflect on Progress:

• After a few days, revisit this entry and jot down any improvements or insights you’ve noticed.

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LOGISTICS 411 - Content by Jen Barton, CWEA Education Coordinator

Time is of the essence as the days tick by until the Premier Season begins - keep your energy focused where it needs to be - EFFICIENCY. If you do not have a rehearsal game plan for every rehearsal (and class period, if you have them!), you are going to lose time and be caught by surprise right before Game Day.

Step 1: To Do List - a To Do List will keep you objective on what tasks need to be done and give a great accomplishment when you cross the items off. Additionally, include the estimated time you foresee that task taking to complete - even the small stuff (i.e., sabres have 8 counts where they transition to rifle, needs choreography to detail that switch - 10 minutes). Found a few moments, or have a tech that needs a small task? To Do List saves rehearsals.

Step 2: Know How Much Time You Have - if your rehearsal is 4-7pm, how much time is that REALLY? Does it take 4-4:15 to set up and 6:30-7pm to wrap up? Account for each and every task and moment of time - and if you can tighten up your procedure - DO IT.

Step 3: Work Backwards - don’t forget to plan time to practice a TIMED set up, run through, and floor exit. Multiple times. If you have beginning or less experienced students, these run throughs will set up success. Set goals for where you want to be for the show - like how much of the show are you doing, how much is filled in or produced, and what quality level you as a team are striving for. BE REALISTIC. Confidence and excellence are the name of the game - and the show will get done, it always does!

Have you talked about hair and/or make up? Costume undergarments? Do you use rehearsal time to discuss the weekend itinerary, fundraisers, or other announcements? Is all of the equipment taped properly, or do you need to take time to check it? Have you rehearsed with props, working on entrance and exit? Be thoughtful and considerate of ALL the things that you need to do between now and when the announcer says.. “The Carolina Winter Ensemble Association is proud to present…..” and plan for that moment. You can do it - planning will help.

Step 4: Communicate - make sure all the stakeholders (you, your staff, your students, your parents and volunteers, anyone else invested in your program) know of your To Do List, your plans, your rehearsal lesson plan, and your goals. Bonus points if they contribute to all of those elements - inclusion, open dialogue, and mutual investment all work hand in hand to generate holistic success and accomplishment. Team sports aren’t just about the competitors, but the whole environment behind the scenes as well.

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See you on the floor!