This Saturday will be my final Will Hines ASH class and it has without a doubt been the best class I’ve had at UCB so far. I feel lucky that my first experience of advanced study has been with some of the strongest, funniest, and most importantly, friendliest improvisers I’ve had the pleasure…
Read his full post, but I just wanted to call out John’s point about Will: “He is the most encouraging and insightful teacher I have encountered at UCB and is clearly still as passionate about improv now as he was when he first started.”
As I get further along in the program, I realize this is an extremely important quality for a teacher to have. Will has this times a million.
It happens at different times for everyone, but eventually a turning point comes when I feel like being taught how to do improv is less helpful than being taught how to become an improviser—the best improviser you have it within you to be. It looks different for each individual person, and the most effective teachers/coaches will help you hone your own instincts. They help you make happen what you think should happen in a scene, instead of telling you what should happen. Maybe it’s not “right.” But in my really short time doing this, I’ve seen “wrong moves” build into something right and totally magical.
It’s far more interesting and unique and vibrant than a bunch of improvisers who are technically great but hesitant and scared to make mistakes.
I don’t know much, but I know I love Will Hines. He’s had one of the biggest impacts on my play—and I’m far from the only one. I hope he knows how great he is at what he does. Does he know it?
Do we need to Mr. Holland’s Opus it? If so, I’m down.
