What is a SPEECH CHOIR?

Speech choirs are performance

groups that recite speeches in
unison, often with elements of
choreography and costuming to
help bring the speech to life.
It is also called choral speaking. It 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.
 There are two (2) TYPES OF SPEECH CHOIR:

1.Traditional Speech Choir -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 the
reverse of the conventional
speech choir
SEVERAL CHORAL ARRANGEMENT

1. REFRAIN

is one of the most common forms of choral speaking.

One person reads the narrative portion of the text while
the rest of the class joins in the refrain.
2. UNISON

Calls for the whole group to read the material

together. Additional sound effects might be
incorporated.
SEVERAL CHORAL ARRANGEMENT
3. ANTIPHONE

Calls for the class to be divided into two or more

groups, w/ each group being responsible for a certain
part of the selection.

4. CUMULATIVE

Choral reading or speaking refers to a method where

groups of voices are added to or subtracted from the
choral reading, depending on the message or the
meaning communicated by the selection.
SEVERAL CHORAL ARRANGEMENT
5. SOLO LINES

Is a type of choral reading where individuals read

specific lines in appropriate places throughout the
group activity.

6. LINE AROUND or CHILD-A- LINE

Is more solo work where each line is taken by a

different person in the group.
 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.
2. Pieces
Selections are typically poems or
poetic passages, such as from Greek
dramas or Shakespeare’s 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.
3.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.
4. 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
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.
6. 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.
7.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.
8.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.
9.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.
10.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.
11.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?
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.
2.Articulation and Diction
The audience wants to hear what
you have to say. If you don’t
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.
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; it’s 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
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.
2.Teach them stress and
intonation. 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. Medium are also females
with deep voices. 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. 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.
7. Drill into your participants to
feel the piece. Their facial
expression should reflect what
they are speaking. Facial
expressions can’t be taught. It
should come from within. It
should not look artificial but
should come from their hearts.
8.Deliver with the intent to be
understood. -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.
9.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.
10. 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.