What is Choral Speaking? Choral speaking requires a group of performers to orally interpret and recite or speak from memory. In its most formal sense it is considered quite old-fashioned in the UK although it is still organised on a national level throughout many former colonies. Choral speaking is speaking in unison, usually under the direction of a leader who can be likened to the conductor of an orchestra because the performers’ voices play their parts like the various instruments. Choral speaking has three main purposes:

learning performance enjoyment.

Learning Opportunities include: speaking clearly and audibly: improvement in pitch, tone, volume, rate, diction

and enunciation building co-operation. Because it is a group activity, it directs all pupils

towards a common goal problem solving: each group has to work out its own interpretations and

presentation of selections vocabulary building: by becoming familiar with a text through speaking it,

pupils will increase their repertoire of phrases and expressions which they can draw upon in writing

Performance

practising choral speaking does not necessarily mean there must be a performance. Practice has its own value.

Pupils will have opportunities to use language to expand, organise, sequence and explain their ideas

Pupils will participate in group decision making Pupils will experience using vocal and facial expression and gesture to convey

situations character and emotions Inclusion

Choral speaking can be successful regardless of class size or pupil ability Pupils learning English as an additional language will feel supported in a group

speaking situation where they can work alongside their peers EAL pupils can rehearse and experience standard English structures As pupils are not speaking alone, they may feel less conspicuous or intimidated,

and this offers great opportunities for those who are shy

Enjoyment: by becoming familiar with a text, pupils will: develop their comprehension skills develop emotional engagement with writing Enjoy poetry and word play

Tips and Techniques What is Choral Speaking? Choral speaking requires a group of performers to orally interpret, memorise and perform either poetry or prose using the spoken, not singing voice. Types of Choral speaking Refrain One person reads the narrative and the rest of the group joins in the refrain Unison The whole group reads the material together Antiphon The class is divided into two or more groups with each group being responsible for a certain part Cumulative This is a method where groups of voices or individual voices are added to or subtracted depending on the intended meaning Solo lines Individuals read specific lines in appropriate places throughout the group activity Line around More solo work where each line is taken by a different person in the group Making the performance interesting Alternate slow and fast lines, stanzas or paragraphs loud and soft lines low & high voices Emphasise key words and phrases by reciting them in a louder or softer voice Pause for a specified number of silent ‘beats’, before continuing the next line or phrase More tips Unity when groups of voices speak a line together, they must remain unified at all times (count or tap feet). Articulation pay particular attention to articulation, especially the letter ‘t’ and the ends of words Sound effects Use body percussion, clap, click or make appropriate sound effects at the end of lines, stanzas or paragraphs. Incorporate music when appropriate Costumes and props: may be added as long as they are simple and easily handled Bodily movement Use gesture, choreography or other movement to enhance communication or better express meaning

Text-marking symbols for choral speaking texts

This format was agreed during INSET. Speakers Upper case letters at left margin Pause (p) for pause with number indicating number of beats/ duration

e.g. (p4) Faster lowercase (f) at left margin Slower lowercase (s) at left margin Emphasis word in capitals Quiet word in italics Soft-loud < Loud - soft > Repeat x2, x3, x4 etc at end of line

Wet Playtime A good poem for practising the letter /t/ sound

By Dave Ward

Hungry chatter Friendly chatter Pitter patter What’s the matter? Tattered textbooks skim like skates Bad boys batter Last week’s mates Watch the rain Just drench the playground Blowing paper Round and round Here inside The jigsaws clatter Eat those crisps They’ll make you fatter Drop your juice And dodge the splatter Teacher’s coming Quick let’s scatter Pitter patter Nitter natter Friendly chatter What’s the matter?

Criteria for judging Choral Poetry Performance

Name of Poem

Each of the 5 criteria carries 5 marks Judge________________ Criteria Comments Mark out of 5

Audibility It is vital that the audience can clearly hear the words. Shouting is acceptable only for effect.

Enunciation Sloppy or lazy speech will lose marks. Performers should enunciate sounds in words clearly. Dialect or foreign languages may be used for effect for part of the performance.

Content Judges will be looking for representation of the theme "belonging" with a clear message of "community cohesion". It is expected that KS2 will take the theme beyond home and family to a community or national perspective.

Techniques Performances should include a minimum of 3 choral speaking techniques e.g. refrain, unison, antiphon, cumulative, solo lines, emphasis, pause, alternating sounds (high/ low, fast slow) sound effects using body percussion only.

Presentation Judges will award marks for the display of a sense of occasion with appropriate behaviour, for clarity, unity, gestures, interpretation, choreography, facial expressions, beginnings and endings. Teams should introduce their school/club. Conductors are optional, but should be an adult if used with KS1.

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