Director's Note: Expressing key words in your poem

How to Use Your Voice to Emphasise Key Words When Performing a Poem

Performing poetry is an art that goes beyond simply reading words from a page. It involves engaging your audience, evoking emotions, and bringing the poem to life. One of the most effective ways to enhance your performance is by using your voice to emphasise key words. This technique helps to highlight important themes, create rhythm, and add depth to the poem. Here are some essential methods to master vocal emphasis in poetry performance.

1. Vary Your Volume

Adjusting your volume can dramatically alter the impact of a poem. Raising your voice on a key word can add power, urgency, or excitement, while lowering it can create intimacy or suspense. For example, in a poem about loss, a hushed tone on words like "gone" or "whisper" can enhance the feeling of sorrow.

2. Adjust Your Pace

The speed at which you speak can affect how words are perceived. Slowing down on significant words allows the audience to absorb their meaning, while a quickened pace can build excitement or intensity. For example, in a poem about a storm, slowing down on "the rain fell" and then speeding up on "the wind howled and thunder roared" can create a sense of escalation.

3. Use Pauses Effectively

A well-placed pause before or after a key word gives it more weight. This allows the audience to anticipate or reflect on its meaning. For instance, in the line "She was... gone," the pause before "gone" heightens the emotional impact.

4. Change Your Pitch

Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of your voice. A higher pitch can convey excitement, curiosity, or fear, while a lower pitch can indicate seriousness, sadness, or authority. If a poem describes a child’s wonder, a higher pitch on words like "magic" or "dream" can enhance that sense of awe.

5. Use Stress and Inflection

Placing stress on particular syllables or words makes them stand out. Inflection, or the natural rise and fall of your voice, can convey meaning and emotion. For example, saying "I love you" with a strong emphasis on "love" expresses passion, while a monotone delivery might sound indifferent.

6. Incorporate Emotion

Your tone should reflect the emotion of the poem. If the poem is joyful, let your voice be bright and lively. If it is melancholic, let your voice carry a heavier, softer quality. Connecting emotionally with the words ensures that your emphasis feels natural rather than forced.

7. Rehearse and Record Yourself

Practicing your delivery by recording yourself can help you refine your vocal techniques. Listen back to identify whether key words are effectively emphasised and adjust accordingly. Practicing in front of a friend or a mirror can also give you valuable feedback.

Conclusion

Using your voice to emphasise key words is a powerful tool in poetry performance. By varying your volume, pace, pitch, and tone, you can create a more dynamic and engaging recitation. With practice, these techniques will help you bring the poem to life and leave a lasting impression on your audience.