2/1/2024 0 Comments Spoken word writer![]() ![]() Sources: "Take the Mic: the art of performing slam and spoken word" by Mark Smith, "How to Rap: the art and science of the hip-hop MC" by Paul Edwards. It is important to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, so you can be confident and perform with ease. Take care of yourself before you present your work, just like you would before running a marathon! Proper hydration, sleep, and preparation. Stand tall, ground your feet shoulder-width apart, and try gesturing with your hands and arms. ![]() Slouching isn’t going to sell your poem about ending world hunger. We know they’re awesome, but it’s better to look up at the audience or just above their heads.īody language and positioning. Spoken word poetry should incorporate certain words and phrases that can create vivid images, sounds, actions, and other feelings and sensations in your readers. Try not to stare at your new sneakers while you perform. Try speaking really loudly and slowly, with a dramatic pause in the middle and then speed it up at the end. Experiment with using more than one of these techniques to exaggerate an idea. (in hip-hop, the emphasis usually falls on the first down beat.)Įxaggeration. Try emphasizing different words in a line: I AM the king of Siam/ I am the KING of Siam/ I am the king of SIAM. By simply changing what words you emphasize, you can change the meaning of a piece entirely. This will change the inflection (pitch at which we sound out the syllables.)Įmphasis. From there, stretch syllables to slow down the line. Give definition to all the details of words and how they are spoken in a clear, direct manner. Refers to the time value we assign to each syllable, as well as how we enunciate words. By creating variation in line lengths, this will help you establish set points for breathing.Īrticulation. Without breaths, someone better call the paramedics to resuscitate you! Work with placing breaths at different moments of your poem. It also helps you breathe and re-centre yourself if you tend to get stage fright.īreathe. Dramatic pauses can really pull in the audience, to help them re-focus and ache to know what’s coming next. When and why would you want to adjust the speed? What could this suggest? Alternating between different speeds can create added dimensions to your work. Adjust your volume to change tone, mood, or intensity of the piece. Did the audience hear what you said? Speak loudly enough for someone in the back of the room to hear you clearly. Encode these images in your mind to draw from when you speak. We move you, you move us back, and together everyone leaves feeling different, fired up. Tune in and visualize images when you memorize. Spoken word is an exchange between writer and listener. This will help you build more confidence and give you room to play with how you perform your piece when you don’t have to filter it from page to brain to voice. Like learning to dance, play a sport, or sing your favorite song, it helps to memorize the movements, the next steps, and the next lyrics. Spoken Word Toolkit : Have students use this list of things to keep in mind as they rehearse and perform spoken word poetry.
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