A rehearsal reflection is only as good as the notes behind it. This lesson gives a three-part note and shows how to build a reflection from it.
It belongs to the SPM subjects and learning resources collection. If you need to settle your reading of the character first, see backing a character reading with the script.
What are the three parts of a note?
- Tried. What choice did you make? Be specific: a pause, a gesture, a change in voice.
- Observed. What happened? What could you see or hear, or what did a partner say?
- Decided. Did you keep it, change it or drop it, and why?
Write each part in one or two sentences. Keep the note short enough that you will really write it.
Worked example: an original rehearsal note
Scene (original). Two characters, a sister and brother, argue about who will tell their mother about a broken vase.
Note before the change.
- Tried: delivered the line “It was your ball” quickly and loudly.
- Observed: my partner stepped back and the pace of the scene dropped. My voice became hoarse by the second run.
- Decided: try lowering volume and adding a pause.
Note after the change.
- Tried: said “It was your ball” quietly after a two-second pause, looking at the vase.
- Observed: my partner stopped moving and waited. The pause made the line feel heavier, and my voice was steady.
- Decided: keep the pause and quieter delivery, since the partner’s reaction showed it landed, but test the length of the pause next rehearsal.
Reflection built from the notes. “In my first attempt I delivered the line loudly. My partner stepped back and the pace fell, which showed the volume was working against the scene. I changed to a quiet delivery after a pause.
My partner stopped and waited, showing the line landed. I kept the change.”
The mistake: a reflection from memory
The common slip is “I tried different things and the final one was the best”. The marker cannot see what you tried or what showed it was best.
| Part | Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|---|
| What you tried | “Different things” | “A quiet line after a two-second pause” |
| Evidence | “It felt better” | “My partner stopped moving and waited” |
| Decision | “I kept the best one” | “I kept the pause and will test its length” |
Keeping notes practical
Keep a small notebook or phone note for each rehearsal, and write the three parts within a few minutes of finishing. A note written the next day has lost the detail.
Record only one or two choices per rehearsal. Too many choices make each note thin.
What stays outside online lessons?
Rehearsal is supervised by your school, and assessed practical work and recording rules are set by your school and teacher. Online lessons can help you write and structure reflections on your own real notes, and can discuss an original scene like the one above.
Check yourself
Notes (original). Tried: stood still while saying a farewell line. Observed: my partner said it looked stiff, and I saw in the mirror that my arms were crossed. Write the Decided part and a two-sentence reflection.
Answer
Decided: open the arms and take a half-step toward the partner on the last word, and test it next rehearsal.
Reflection: “When I stood still with my arms crossed, my partner said the farewell looked stiff. I decided to open my arms and step toward her on the last word, and I will check whether it makes the goodbye feel warmer.”
What to study next
Start a three-part note at your next rehearsal, then check the clarity of your written reflection with the structured-answer self-review tool.
If you want a teacher to go through your own notes with you, see online one-to-one Acting tuition.