Alright, my voice teacher (who I've been with for one year - my previous one was around for 4 years) keeps telling me that I'm a bad actress. I sing opera and musical theatre both during lessons. I am just upset, although this sounds juvenille, that he keeps hammering me for it (and I am actually growing as an actress by being in shows and learning from others). I started a new school last year, and was somewhat selfconcious and didn't make a good impression on him I suppose, and now since he's telling me I am a terrible actress, I feel worse and then perform worse.
It's odd because when I do performances that he isn't involved with, people commend me for my comedic timing and staying in character.
I want to improve. Please help. How do I show HIM that I can act? It's bugging me!! Plus, half the time I'm singing in Italian, and since it's not my native language, when I sightsing opera songs I have no clue as to what I'm saying. Thus - acting is difficult to opera at first.

Thanks.

Any teacher who would simply say "You're a bad actress" is a rotten teacher, IMO. It's a completely unhelpful comment. Of course a teacher shouldn't say "you're wonderful" if you aren't, but he should be giving CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and suggestions on how to IMPROVE your performance. Not simply a flat "You're terrible", which makes you feel bad while giving you NOTHING specific to work on.

All I can say is screw him. He's one person. All you should worry about is constantly working to get better, and not let compliments or insults stop you.

I say compliments because if you stop and say I am a fantastic actor, I don't need to do anything else, hate to break it to you, but you probably aren't. The best actors work hard and constantly/consistently work hard.

So basically to sum it up if you didn't want to read what I just said: Work hard, and relax. Do what you do for you, not for being accepted and to get everyone to like you.

F&%k him !!!! I agree with Pros screw him. I hate people(teachers) like that. I'm the first one to tell a person to be honest with me, but there are ways to convey that without crossing that line. He's probably a bitter old teacher who once had showbiz dreams and never made it, so he want to destroy other people's dreams. Keep doing what your doing and just continue to get better. That's why we train to get better at things.

quote:

Originally posted by Dorothy's Not in Kansas:
How do I show HIM that I can act?

You don't. You find a new teacher. End of story.

The more you try to show him how good you are, the more he'll demoralize you.

Get out.

You need a new teacher. Good teachers never say that to their students. There are no bad students anyway, there are only bad teachers.