Random thoughts about “Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic"

Micheal Close's Explorer 1
Teaching the magic beyond the tricks

Has your magic has plateaued in spite of owning shelves of magic books, a hard drive full of instructional downloads, and drawers full of magic effects?  Enter “Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic” a 6 week online course offered by Michael Close.

 

As you are likely aware, Michael is well known in the magic community for his excellence as an author, a creator, a performer, and a consultant.  For those unfamiliar with Michael’s work, I encourage you to read Jamy Ian Swiss’ 2018 article “The Paradigm Shift – Volume One & Volume Two by Michael Close” at Magicana. 

 

  Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic  

Topics covered include:

• 12 foundational sleights with both cards and coins,
• 7 tricks that incorporate those sleights,  
• Relevant magic theory,
• Critical review of magic effects, 
• Finding your style,
• Insights in constructing and routining,
• Practise suggestions, and
• Presentation considerations.

 

I participated in the beta testing of these classes, in addition to auditing the first run of the course.  The classes methodically cover foundational sleights with both cards and coins.  One of the biggest benefits to learning from Michael, a performer with decades of experience under his belt, is that he teaches fundamental material with an awareness as to how the skills will be applied as one advances their ability.  In other words, the foundational sleights are taught in a versatile manner, ready for use in more sophisticated situations.  This approach results in accelerated learning – you only have to learn a skill once! 

 

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Thinking outside the box.

 

Michael’s approach to teaching magic, mirrors in many respects, The Royal Conservatory of Music's approach to the method and practise of teaching music.  (This comes as no surprise given Michael’s Masters Degree in Music Theory and Composition.)

What do I mean by this?  A music teacher will introduce their student music theory concepts (such as a key signature, and rhythm), and provide them with a piece of music to practise which incorporates these ideas.  As music students practise with the goal of performance in mind, the teacher will discuss musical technique, as well as introduce critical analysis of their student’s efforts.  

On the surface, Micheal teaches foundational sleights, along with tricks which incorporate these fundamental skills.  While the tricks are logical a vehicle to demonstrate the use of the newfound technical expertise, they more importantly serve as case studies for broader theoretical concepts important to maximizing the entertainment value of magic performance. 

Simply put, the tricks are not the lesson.  They are the springboards that permit Michael to introduce theory that elevates the performance of magic.

 

Michael presents his well crafted lessons in a manner which is clear and easy to follow.  Nuggets of wisdom gleaned from years of performance and consulting pepper every session.  The classes are a safe and nurturing environment that puts the students at ease.  In these classes, questions in search of understanding are always welcome.

 

  Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic  

1. A foundational sleight is expertly taught
2. An effect is introduced using the newly learned sleight
3. Michael’s Secret Sauce:
1. Insights are given about the effect’s construction, 
2. Thoughts are added about routining to elevate the spectator’s experience,
3. The effect is critiqued in a constructive and informative manner with the goal being an improved effect,
4. Presentation considerations are discussed, and
5. Related reading material is assigned, providing a greater depth of knowledge about the topic from other experts in the field.

Michael provides a manageable amount of assigned and supplemental reading, invoking wisdom from magicians such as Jamy Ian Swiss, Juan Tamariz, Larry Hass, Jon Racherbaumer, and of course Dai Vernon.

As an added bonus, course enrollment includes exclusive, limited-time access to the Ask Alexander Digital Library, provided by the Conjuring Arts Research Center. 

 

  Nuts and bolts  

• This is a 6 lesson course.  Classes are delivered weekly.
• The class size is capped at 12.  This allows for personalized attention during class.
• Classes are virtual and they are recorded.  
• If you have a conflict preventing you from attending a class, you can watch the recording at a later date.  
• If you’re having difficulty mastering a sleight / effect, you can re-watch class video as required and even slow it down if needed.
• Michael encourages members to ask questions during and between classes.  
• He also encourages students to submit videos of them performing the class material for him to critique.  
• On its own, the opportunity for personal evaluation, is worth the cost of the course!  (Compare the cost of the course, to the price tag of a Michael Close private session.)
• Michael also offers great suggestions about how to creatively make an effect your own.
• There is no requirement for students to perform during class.
• To get the greatest benefit from the course, it is recommended that you set aside a minimum of 15 minutes a day for practise.  (Michael provides practical practise tips which deliver meaningful results.)
• Explorer 2 will be the next rung on the course ladder, and it builds upon the skills mastered in Explorer 1.

 

In keeping with the music class analogy, during the course Michael said this about foundational sleights:

“... one of the good things about developing a toolbox of techniques of sleights that you are competent at, is it makes reading magic books a lot easier.  You're almost like musicians when they sight read a piece. If I have all my scales and my arpeggios and all these things under my fingers to a reasonable degree, then as I look at a new piece of music, I can get a sense of what that piece of music is as I sight read.”

 

Similarly, if you embrace the theoretical concepts, while also developing your analytical and critiquing muscles, you will be able to utilize this knowledge to enhance any magic performance, from close-up to stage.

I had an overwhelmingly positive experience participating in these classes.  If you’re looking for a way to shore up your sleights, and elevate your presentation skills, this is the course for you!

To register, or for more information, visit Micheal's website at MichaelClose.com.

Disclosure:  I beta tested and audited the classes as a guest.  The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.