The Spoken Word in Life and Art


Book Description

This is a new release of the original 1938 edition.







The Art of Spoken Word Poetry


Book Description

Helpful tools, tips, and techniques that can improve your spoken word poetry performance.The goal of this book is to provide a "How to" guide with principles that can be used to improve content and stage performance. This book doesn't come with the promise of making you a great spoken word artist or the experience of a world famous poet. Instead it provides tools, examples of techniques and it offers tips, which if practiced correctly, can improve your confidence, focus and execution. Every artist comes equipped with their own amount of creativity, imagination and inspiration. Storytelling is a big part of spoken word poetry as well, but if you are not able to tell that story or relay a message clearly to people then there might as well be no one listening. By utilizing examples from the P-Arts (Performing Arts) program and workshop courses that have been implemented in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego area of Southern California through DM Ink Publishing. You will be able to apply the same techniques which have helped many spoken word artist and poets to develop and improve their skill. I've spent years performing, writing, reading, listening and publishing spoken word poetry. With three published spoken word poetry paper back and E-Books as well as two spoken word albums available internationally it has been a great learning experience. As a fan, an artist and facilitator of workshops I can relate to the frustration of having a good performance piece and not being able to get the message through to the audience. Or being nervous and not having any prior training or years of experience that would assist with speaking in a small or large venue. By incorporating a few tips used by spoken word poet professionals, readers will find this book will-Provide helpful tips of structuring the content to your piece so that it flows. -Go over various spoken word techniques.-Provide tools to improve your delivery. The areas of focus covered are just a few pieces to a larger puzzle in the areas of communication and writing that could benefit an aspiring spoken word artist. This book has been used in performing arts workshops and the tools have been successfully applied during performances and network writing sessions. Principles are universal and I'm not saying that every artist needs to adapt these tips in order to be considered great, because in the spoken word poetry market everyone is unique, or at least they should be. Each person has a story to tell and it can have a powerful effect depending on how the writer delivers it.




Spoken Word


Book Description

A “rich hybrid of memoir and history” (The New Yorker) of the literary art form that has transformed the cultural landscape, by one of its influential practitioners, an award-winning poet, professor, and slam champion “Bennett…transport[s] us back to the city blocks, bars, cafes and stages these artists traversed and inhabited…an instructive text for young poets, artists or creative entrepreneurs trying to find a way to carve out a space for themselves…Shines with a refreshing dynamism.” —The New York Times In 2009, when he was twenty years old, Joshua Bennett was invited to perform a spoken word poem for the Obamas, at the same White House "Poetry Jam" where Lin-Manuel Miranda declaimed the opening bars of a work-in-progress that would soon revolutionize American theater. That meeting is but one among many in the trajectory of Bennett's young life, as he rode the cresting wave of spoken word through the 2010s. But in this book, he is not a memoirist so much as a participant historian, who goes back to the roots of the spoken word form, considering the Black Arts movement and the prominence of poetry and song in Black education; the origins of the famed Nuyorican Poets Cafe in the Lower East Side living room of the visionary Miguel Algarín, who hosted verse gatherings with legendary figures like Ntozake Shange and Miguel Piñero; the rapid growth of the "slam" format that was pioneered at the Get Me High Lounge in Chicago; the perfect storm of spoken word's rise during the explosion of social media; the stories and perspectives of many others on this journey, as they helped shape spaces dedicated to literature as practiced with urgency by people of color and to the pursuit of human freedom. A celebration of voices outside the dominant cultural narrative, who boldly embraced an array of styles and forms and redefined what—and whom—the mainstream would include, Bennett's book illuminates the profound influence spoken word has had everywhere melodious words are heard, from Broadway to academia, from the podiums of political protest to cafés, schools, and rooms full of strangers all across the world.




The Spoken Word


Book Description




Take the Mic


Book Description

Get on Stage and Perfect Your Performance Have you ever enjoyed a slam or two and thought, "I could do this," but felt apprehensive staring at that empty mic—or worse, you climbed up on stage and struggled? Let Marc Kelly Smith, the founder of Slam Poetry, teach you everything you need to be a confident performer, from writing a powerful poem, to stage techniques, to going on tour (if that's where your muse leads you). Take the Mic is filled with insider tips, backstage advice, and tons of examples of slam poems that wake up an audience. With this book, you'll also be able to link to the PoetrySpeaks.com community to listen to samples, meet poets, and unearth inspirations for your next performance. The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing with Power Take the Mic is an essential guide for lifting your poetry from the page to the stage. Marc Kelly Smith (So What!), grand founder of the Slam movement, serves as you personal coach, showing you how to craft stage-worthy verse and deliver a poetry performance that shakes the rafters and sparks thunderous applause. In Take the Mic, you discover how to... Pen poetry that's conducive to on-stage performance Overcome stage fright Practice powerful performance techniques Rehearse like a pro Shape a loose collection of poems into a killer set Connect with your audience — heart and soul Master the art of self-promotion Schedule your own slam poetry tour Transform your hobby into paying gigs Act professional to establish a solid reputation in the Slam community Take the Mic is packed with practical exercises you can do alone or in class to hone your skills and transform your body, mind, voice, verse, and spirit into an engaging stage presence. You'll also find a brief history of slam, the rules and regulations that govern official slam competitions, and a list of PSI (Poetry Slam, Inc.) Certified Slams, so no matter where you are, you always have a place to Take the Mic!







The Art of the Spoken Word


Book Description

The Art of the Spoken Word by Tobias Matthay: The Art of the Spoken Word by Tobias Matthay is a comprehensive guide that explores the principles and techniques of effective public speaking and oratory. Drawing from his expertise as a renowned music educator, Matthay offers valuable insights on voice production, diction, expression, and stage presence. Key Points: Vocal Technique: Matthay delves into the intricacies of vocal technique, providing practical exercises and guidance to improve voice production, articulation, and resonance. He offers valuable insights on breath control, vocal range, and the nuances of tone and timbre. Expression and Communication: The book emphasizes the importance of effective communication in public speaking. Matthay explores methods to convey emotions, capture the attention of the audience, and deliver messages with clarity and impact. Integration of Music Principles: As a music educator, Matthay brings a unique perspective to the art of spoken word. He draws parallels between music and oratory, incorporating musical concepts such as rhythm, phrasing, and dynamics to enhance the expressiveness of spoken language.




Playing with Words


Book Description

Playing with Words: the spoken word in artistic practice is an anthology of works from over forty leading contemporary sound artists and composers who use words, particularly spoken words, as their material and inspiration.




The Spoken Word Revolution


Book Description

"A dynamic and clarifying volume chock-full of fresh and informative commentary...and an exciting array of knock-out poems." —Booklist Starred Review "Accompanied by a terrific CD that showcases the great variety of styles performance poetry embraces, from the purest of recitations to seductive musical presentations, this dynamic anthology embodies the thrilling and mutually beneficial rapprochement between the traditionalists and the slammers, something that seemed about as likely 10 years ago as that proverbial cold day in hell." —Chicago Tribune The Spoken Word Revolution brings to life the written and performed works of more than 40 of the most influential slam, hip hop, performance art and contemporary poets in the world today. This defining collection of spoken word poetry captures today's electrifying words and voices, in text and immediately live on one audio CD.