-speech choir or choral speaking has a
hallowed and proud tradition.
-The first plays put on by Greeks featured
choruses of speakers.
-Today, speech choir is a popular teaching tool,
as well as a performing art in itself.
-Speech choir operates like a music choir
minus the music. Instead of singing, speech
choirs perform spoken-word pieces.
A speech choir is a powerful art that is
experiencing a revival. There is tremendous
satisfaction that comes from learning to
speak well, and even a greater enjoyment
that comes from speaking elegantly and
powerfully as a group. The abilities and
techniques you will learn as a member of a
speech choir will become an asset in your
social life. Your words become better
understood, richer, and more significant
than daily speech.
In the book, Choral Speaking and the
Verse Choir, Kingsley Povenmire offers this
definition of the choir itself: "A verse choir is
a group of people experiencing together,
expressing thoughts and feelings largely
and freely for the purpose of communicating
with each other and an audience, being led
by a director and adapting themselves to the
disciplines of the art of group oral
interpretation."
2 Types of Speech Choir
Conventional Speech choir
-it is also called the traditional
-has no use of costumes, nor props, nor
choreography
-the choir simply speaks or read
Dynamic
-it is also called the theatrical
Elements of a Speech Choir
 Members
A speech choir is typically the same size as a
singing choir having anywhere from 12-100
members or more.
More schools and competitions feature
choirs of 25 to 40 members.
 Pieces
Selections are typically poems or poetic
passage such as from Greek dramas or
Shakespeare's plays.
Choreography
it is not a necessary component for a speech
choir. However, in the Greek tradition,
speech choirs marched from side to side in
alternating patterns called “strophe” and
“aristrophe”.
•
I’ll Never Fall in Love Again
Burt Bacharach
What do you get when you fall in love?
A girl with a pin to burst your bubble
That’s what you get for all your trouble
I’ll never fall in love again
I’ll never fall in love again
What do you get when you kiss a girl?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, shell never phone ya
I’ll never fall in love again
I’ll never fall in love again
Don’t tell me what it’s all about
Cause I’ve been there and I’m glad I’m not
Out of those chains those chains that bind you
That is why I’m here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So far at least until tomorrow
I’ll never fall in love a- gain
I’ll never fall in love a- gain
Costuming
As with any performance art,
thought should be put into how the
speech choir will dress.
Costumes can be as simple as
matching outfits or robes.
Plain uniforms allow the audience to
concentrate on facial expressions and
allow the choir to recite several very
different pieces in one performance.
However, a theme costume for a
single piece can highlight its meaning
or help to differentiate between voice
groups.
 Voice quality
The ability to combine successfully the light,
medium, and dark voices in the choir.
The ability to communicate, through voice,
reactions to thoughts or emotions.
Pitch
It refers to the variations of the voice on
the musical scale is generally referred to
as infection.
Power
Ability to use volume, force or
loudness as emphasis in
appropriate places to better express
feeling and meaning.
Tempo
It refers to the rate of speed at
which a reading progresses. The
ability to balance the rhythm
Staging
The ability to successfully organized
and position the choir on stage or risers
for performance effect.
The ability to stage entrances and exits
which enhance the mood of the poem
and performance.
Things to remember in doing
Speech Choir
Breathing
-noting where it makes sense to take breath,
so you don’t interrupt the word flow but
have enough breath to make it through the
line.
-Breathing in performance links you with
your whole group, calms your nerves, and
gives your performance life.
Articulation and Diction
-By practicing your articulation and diction,
your words will be clear and vibrant.
-Diction is a learned skill; articulate strongly
in rehearsal and in your everyday life.
Connection to the group
-onstage, the choir is your family.
-Listen to those around you. Connecting
with them will eliminate any stage fright. If
anything unexpected happens, the group
must respond and correct together.
The Text
-the text is your guide, it’s what the audience
came to see and hear you perform.
- let your audience “see’ what you
are saying.
- let your personal reaction to
the words sprinkle meaning on
the performance.
Thank you!
God Bless You!