LAMDA Lessons and 100% Distinctions for the Tenth Time in a Row!
Susan Lockwood, Head of LAMDA at Woodbridge School, recently invited us into the classroom to join Year 9’s Lola and Year 8’s Imogen for their LAMDA lessons; learning about what they do and how they spend their time. It was the perfect time to visit them as the results of our recent LAMDA examinations were in – and they were superb once again!
Following the news that 100% of our students achieved a Distinction in their recent LAMDA exams, from Grade 1 to 6, Mrs Lockwood shared,
“I’m of course absolutely thrilled at the recent exam success, this is the tenth time in a row that Woodbridge School students have achieved one hundred per cent Distinctions in these exams, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of them. I know that what they are learning and achieving will support them not only at School, but in life now and beyond their studies.”
LAMDA stands for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and is the oldest specialist Drama school in Britain. Offering training to actors as well as examinations to the general public since it began, a LAMDA exam is the speech and Drama equivalent of a music grade, which begins at basic levels and culminates at Grade 8.
Year 9’s Lola and Year 8’s Imogen are both taking LAMDA lessons with Mrs Lockwood. During their tutoring, they each worked on specific scenes, reading through their lines and focusing on voice and expressions, body language and physical presence on stage, taking direction and encouragement from Mrs Lockwood. Ensuring that by the end of the lesson they had improved their delivery, and felt confident going forwards, they both shared that they enjoyed their LAMDA lessons thoroughly and they’d certainly helped them improve their acting skills, as well as boosted their confidence.
Lola said,
“To prepare for my LAMDA exams, Mrs Lockwood always makes sure to ask me what I want to work on, as well as offering me her opinion too. We work together to find something to improve every lesson, whether it’s voice or movement. Talking through pieces we stop and discuss points, if I have questions Mrs Lockwood answers honestly and encouragingly, making the whole learning process smoother, and so I always feel prepared for my exams.”
Imogen shared,
“We’re given two pieces when we’re prepping for LAMDA exams, either monologues or duologues, depending on if you’re performing solo or in a duo. We have to consider the pieces we’re given, and Mrs Lockwood asks us questions about our understanding of them, such as when we think they’re happening, where they’re happening etc. Providing lots of encouragement, direction and guidance, during our lessons Mrs Lockwood focuses on going through the pieces, and working on areas that need improvement. We also rehearse at home ahead of being ready for, and taking our exams.”
LAMDA lessons can begin from Year 7 in School, with Mrs Lockwood delivering personal tutelage, alongside her colleague Mrs Robinson.
Designed to support the development of communication skills, deliver dramatic text to an audience and generally encourage confidence and belief, LAMDA also provides the opportunity for students to prepare themselves appropriately to develop interpretive, technical and performance skills as Mrs Lockwood, explained,
“These lessons help students to build confidence and learn how to manage themselves, their voices and their body language in different situations – both creative and day-to-day life.”
She continued,
“Self-expression, control and the ability to work with others are key skills we can help students to develop, skills are completely transferrable.”
Thank you to Imogen and Lola for inviting us along to experience LAMDA lessons, and huge well done to all those students who achieved 100% Distinctions in their exams:
For further information about LAMDA at Woodbridge School visit woodbridgeschool.org.uk/the-arts/lamda/.
