8 Effective Ways to Practice Cueing

by Julianna Hane
The art of cueing students through aerial skills is vital for safety and learning in your classes.  As with most things in life, the only way to get better at cueing is to do it A TON.  Here are some creative and effective ways you can practice your aerial cues.

1. Cue yourself through a skill as you practice on the equipment.
Ok, this one is not so creative, but it is the most fool-proof.  Describe what it is you are doing with your body as you move slowly through a skill.  To make it more fun, add imagery and quality words (hover, pop, stir the cake batter, etc.)

2.  Cue a colleague through a skill and ask for their feedback.
That’s right, an outside eye (or ear) is helpful….especially another aerial teacher.

3.  Film yourself doing a skill, then practice cueing it as you watch the video.
This is great for visual learners.  See if you can match up your wording with the movement.  You may wish to perform the skill very slowly so you have time to give the information you need.

4.  Practice cueing just one student, as in a private lesson.
Notice whether or not your student “gets” each skill based on your cueing.  Ask for more direct feedback after the lesson.

5.  Have a friend demonstrate the move while you cue the skill.
This is a great co-teaching style, and is useful if you end up teaching during a pregnancy or while recovering from an injury.

6.  Record yourself teaching (video or audio), then listen only to the audio.
This is great for auditory learners.  Notice if your word choice, pacing, and vocal presentation worked or not by gaining an outsider’s perspective.

7.  Cue a friend without demonstrating the move, and see if they can guess which move you are teaching.
You can practice this almost anywhere - on a road trip, at lunch, on the phone, etc.

8.  Practice cueing aloud while doing housework, taking a shower, etc.
Make mundane tasks much more fun by adding aerial cues to the mix.  You can even sing if you want.  If you have a pet, speak your cues to them, too.  This technique gives you permission to make mistakes in non-threatening situations.  Remember, the key to finding your best cues is to say them aloud, and practice.

What ways have you practiced cueing?  Let us know in the comment section below!