Speech Choir

It is also called choral speaking, has a hallowed tradition.

The first plays put on by the Greeks featured choruses of speakers.
Today, speech choir is a popular teaching as well as a performing art.
It operates like a musical choir minus the music, instead of singing, speech choirs
perform spoken-word pieces like poems.
2 TYPES OF SPEECH CHOIR

1. Conventional Speech Choir

-it is also called traditional
-it does not require to use costumes, props, nor choreography.
-the choir just simply speaks or reads a literary piece
2.

Dynamic Speech Choir

-it is also called theatrical
-it is the reverse of the conventional speech choir
1. Pieces

Selections are typically poems or poetic passages, such as from Greek dramas or
Shakespeares plays. The conductor gives some thought to the passage, breaking
into parts. Facial expressions and intonation are also carefully planned so all the
members can practice in unison. Solo parts for specific members can add dramatic
effect.

2. Choreography
Choreography of movement is not necessary component for speech choir. Many
successful competition choirs recite their pieces while standing in place with their
hands at their sides, attention directed solely at the conductor.
*However, in Greek tradition, speech choirs marched from side to side in alternating
patterns called strophe and antistrophe.
Thus, movement is a part of the rich history of speech choir and some conductors
choose to choreograph elaborate movement to accompany their pieces.
3. Costuming
As with any other performance art, thought should be put into how the speech choir
will dress. Costumes can be as simple as matching outfits or robes, such as a vocal
choir would wear, or elaborate theatrical garb.
*Plain uniforms allow the audience to concentrate on facial expressions and allow the
choir to recite several very different pieces in one performance.
*Themed costume for a single piece can highlight its meaning or help to differentiate
between voice groups.
5. Voice Quality

Elements of a Speech Choir

1. Members

The speech choir is typically the same size of a singing choir having anywhere
from 12 to 100 members or more. However, most schools and competitions
features choir of 25 to 40 members. The group is typically are divided into
groups based on the members natural voices or speaking voices.
The ability to combine successfully the light, medium, and dark voices in the

choir . it is the ability to communicate through voice, reactions to thoughts or

emotions.
2. Number of Voices
The ability to add or subtract whole sections, banks, smaller groups, or solo
speakers to increase or diminish the power or richness of the sound to better
express the meaning.
3. Pitch

Pitch refers to the variations of the voice on the musical scale and is generally
referred to as the inflection. Children generally have little problem with pitch
because they use it naturally and freely.

4. Power
Ability to use volume, force, or loudness as emphasis in appropriate places to
better express feeling and meaning. A power build should be related to the
elements of a sentence and growing emotion.
5. Phrasing and rhythm
Ability to use phrasing and rhythm as reinforcements for each other. Each
much blend to better express the meaning of the verse.
6. Tempo

Tempo refers to the rate of speed at which a reading progresses. The ability to
balance the rhythm of a piece and the tempo of performance. Tempo should
relate to the central beat of the poem. If it is too fast or too slow.

7. Staging
The ability to successfully organize and position the choir on stage or risers for
the performance effect. The ability to stage entrances and exits which
enhance the mood of the poem and the performance. The ability to costume
speakers in a way which also enhances the performance as a whole.

What are the things to be remembered in doing speech choir?

*Speech choir requires technical skills that must be honed and remembered in both
rehearsal and performance. These are the following:
1.Breathing
The most important part of any performing art, from playing an instrument to
acting in a play is BREATHING. While we breath involuntarily all the time,
many green performers forget to breath while on stage. Mark your speech
choir piece like a sheet of music, noting where it makes sense to take a
breath, so you dont 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.
2.Articulation and Diction
The audience wants to hear what you have to say. If you dont articulate, all
they will hear is a bunch of mush. By practicing your articulation and diction,
your words will be clear and vibrant. Strive to make every word lucid and
colourful.

*Diction is a learned skill; articulate strongly in rehearsal and in your everyday

life. People will notice how well you command language.
3.Connection to the group
A speech choir is a living organism made up on individuals, never forget that.
You are not performing a monologue, you are a part of a group performance.
Onstage, the choir is your family. Connecting with them will eliminate any
stage fright. If anything unexpected happens, the group must respond and
correct together.
4.The Text
The text is your guide; its what the audience came to see and hear you
perform. Performing the texts requires you to know the text inside and out.
Once you know what you are saying, add color and meaning to the words. Let
the audience see what you are saying. Let your personal reaction to the
words sprinkle meaning on the performance.

SOME TIPS FOR SPEECH CHOIR

To be able to present a good speech choir, keep in mind the following:
1.

Teach the students pronunciation. Simply use a dictionary that has a pronunciation guide to it. Refer
to its pronunciation key which you can find on its introductory pages to determine how a word is
pronounced. If you are still unsure of its pronounciation, you can listen to it athttp://www.howjsay.com.
2.
Teach them stress and intonation. You can refer to your English Expressways II book pages 6465. Things such as rising intonation and falling intonation are crucial in speech choir. Which word to be
stressed depends also on your intended meaning.
3. A good number for speech choir is 40 members. But you can have 20-25 participants if so desired.
4. The contest piece is often a poem.
5. Divide your participants into three voices: light, medium and dark. Light voices are often
chosen from the first year females. Medium are also females with deep voices (preferably from the
fourth year). Dark are of course only males with very deep voices. There should also be a solo for
each voice: solo light, solo medium and solo dark.
6. Arrange the contest piece before giving it to your participants. This means that you have
already assigned parts for each voice, for the solo and for the unison (meaning all three voices).
Keep in mind though that even if all three voices speak together but their voices should be clearly
distinct from each other. This is called blending.
7. Memorize the piece. If you are the conductor, the more you should memorize it. Before giving the
contest piece to your participants, see to it that you have double-checked its pronunciation in the
dictionary or the web.
8. Drill into your participants to feel the piece. Their facial expression should reflect what they are
speaking. Facial expressions cant be taught. It should come from within. It should not look artificial
but should come from their hearts.
9. Deliver with the intent to be understood; hence, for conventional speech choir, actions and props
are unnecessary. Simply standing with hands on their sides is enough. What counts are the voice
and the facial expression. Remember the audience should understand what you are talking about.
10. The conductor may stand at the back of the judges. He may conduct in any manner he wants as
long as he is able to guide his participants for an effective speech choir presentation.

11. Speech choir participants should only look at the conductor the whole time of their presentation.
They should not fidget or make unnecessary moves throughout their delivery. Nevertheless they
should not be standing tensed in front of the crowd but relaxed.