Pursuing a career in acting is an exciting journey, but your success can heavily rely on choosing the right acting course. Acting courses vary hugely in terms of teaching style, course content and industry connections. It’s essential to find a course that aligns with your future goals, and this article will help you do this.

We’re going to discuss tips for finding the right acting course, focusing on 5 essential areas you should consider.

Understand Your Goals

The very first step towards choosing the right acting course is understanding your goals.

Are you looking for a basic intro to acting or do you want to consider 3-year acting degree courses? Do you want to work in film and TV or are you all about the big stage?

Some courses are about introducing you to the world of acting, whereas others are a chance for in-depth training with a professional focus. Some courses are focused on musical theatre and classical acting, whilst others are all about film, TV and modern methods.

Understanding where you want acting to take you will help you pick the course that best aligns with your goals.

Teaching Styles

Every acting course and teacher will offer a different style, and finding the style that suits you is essential for making the most of your training.

Some courses, like musical theatre acting courses, might focus on classical methods, whilst other courses will involve modern methods or a blend of the two. Some programmes will be all about hands-on learning with plenty of performances, whilst others might be more studio-based.

Visit the course provider’s website, read reviews and look for videos of instructors to get an idea of that school’s approach.

Course Content

A strong acting course will provide well-rounded training that covers all the essential aspects of performance, including voice, movement, improvisation, character analysis and scene work.

If you’re more interested in musical theatre, look for courses with a mixture of acting, singing and dancing training. Or if you would prefer to work on the screen, look for courses with on-camera training and insight into the technical aspects of screen acting.

Reading through the course content will give you an idea of the skills you’re likely to develop and then you can decide if these align with the acting roles you want to pursue.

Networking and Connections

Networking opportunities are just as important as teaching style and course content. In acting, industry connections are incredibly important.

Reputable acting courses, in established schools, will offer students strong links to the industry. Performers will be able to meet and network with casting directors, agents and performers. This kind of exposure is invaluable when transitioning from training to professional roles.

At Italia Conti, we are incredibly proud of our alumnX and our #CONTInued Success programme, which supports students as they move from their course to their careers.

Reviews and Recommendations

Before completely committing to a course, it’s a great idea to look at reviews from former students. Reaching out to their alumnX network can give you valuable insight into what life is like on that course. You can also ask for recommendations from people you trust in the industry or friends who are also pursuing a career in acting.

Italia Conti Acting Courses

We offer a range of acting courses, from a Certificate of Higher Education Introduction to Acting to University Acting Courses. Through our courses, we develop versatile students who are ready for successful careers in the performing arts industries.