Task 2c

Muscle memory and articulation of reflective Practice- Task 2c

     As performers, we often find communicating our ideas in different, creative ways, more effective than writing them down using our tacit knowledge to convey our thoughts. As discussed in 'the creative habit' (Tharp and Reiter, 2006) muscle memory comes into action for many performers as a tacit knowledge, being described as 'Automatic. Precise. A little scary'. I completely agree with this description, as often when performing a routine repeatedly, for example in a tour, your muscle memory seems to take over, without having to think about the movements consciously. Yet when it comes to teaching this routine to others, eg. a cast change or masterclass, suddenly you question your body, and forget. Tharp shares this same experience saying 'she will hesitate, second-guess herself, question her muscles, and forget. That’s because she’s thinking about it, using language to interpret something she knows nonverbally.' This is when we have to find different ways of notating and recording our ideas so we can articulate more effectively to others.  I have looked at many ways of doing this within the module.
 
 This whole section has been a journey of discovery for me; finding new ways of evaluating and reflecting upon my practice. Many practitioners including Jennifer Moon (1999) and Karen Osterman (Osterman and Kottcamp 2004) have stressed the importance of articulating and communicating ideas in different ways.
    Moon uses a 'map of reflective writing' (Moon 1999) as a way of beginning the reflective process; A way of putting down ideas and reflecting upon them. By splitting an event up into sections including observations, feelings, and suggestions from other people, it successfully makes it clearer to reflect upon with a guide to work alongside ensuring all areas are covered. I particularly like this framework and  this has helped me during my journal writing, using the map as an aid throughout the process.
  It is important to draw upon many different theorists and practitioners when developing your critical thinking skills, as the broader your knowledge, the more ideas you are open to and have to work with within your own practice. I aim to be in a continuous state of learning, so I am constantly developing and growing, taking in many different thoughts and opinions to create my own ideas and theories.