Storytellers learn their stories in
many different ways. Some read or listen to a story over and over.
Some meditate on it. Some type or write out the story. Some draw
charts. Some begin telling the story at once. However you do it, you
must absorb the story until it becomes second nature. Find the best
way for you.
Some parts of the story can be
memorized word for word beautiful beginnings and endings, important
dialog, colorful expressions, rhymes and repeated phrases. But
don't try to memorize an entire folktale that way.
Strict reciting creates a distance from your listeners that is hard
to bridge. Instead, picture the story. See the scenes in your mind,
as clearly as you can. Later, these pictures will help you recreate
your story as your tell it whether or not you consciously call them
to mind.
It's best to practice your story with
a "mirror." This can be a real mirror, or an audio or video recorder,
a friend anything that helps you "see" how you're doing.
First practice to get tire storyline.
Your version won't convey everything from the story you found, but it
must convey enough to make sense. Then, once the story is straight in
your mind, focus on how you tell it. Use repetition. In folktales,
events often repeat themselves in threes a magic number. Pay special
attention to repeated rhymes and phrases. Repetition helps your
listeners stick with the story by providing familiar
landmarks.
Alongside repetition, use variety.
Vary the tone, the pitch, and the volume of your voice, your speed,
your rhythms, your articulation (smooth or sharp). Use silences.
Remember, variety catches and holds attention.
Use gestures, but only ones that help
the story. Use them to mime the action; or just for emphasis. Make
them big! Gestures keep the eyes on you.
In your story, pay special attention
to beginnings and endings. You may want to practice an introduction
along with the story. This introduction can tell something about the
story or about you. But don't give away the plot!
Endings should be clear, so your
listeners know that your story's over without your telling them. You
can do this by slowing down and adding emphasis. For example, many
story endings use a "slow three"-- "happily ever after," -- "that's
the end of that," "and they never saw him again."
Pay special attention also to how you
portray your characters. Good characters bring a story to life so put
life into them, with face, voice, gesture, body posture. Try to make
each of them different enough so they're easily told apart.
When portraying two characters
talking together, try a trick called "cross focus": Make each one
face a different 45 degree angle. You'll tell stories at your best if
you prepare not only your story but yourself. Your voice and body are
your instrument, and it helps to use them well.
To project and sustain your voice,
you must breathe deeply and correctly. To check this, place your hand
on your stomach. As you inhale and your lungs expand, you should feel
your stomach push out. Many people do the opposite, holding in their
stomachs and breathing only with their upper chests. Also be sure to
keep your back straight, so your lungs can expand fully.
Don't push your voice too hard or use
it unnaturally (except maybe when speaking as a character.) To avoid
strain, relax your throat and jaw muscles, and the rest of your body
as well. A big, loud sigh will help this. Also try the "lion's yawn"
open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out as far as it
goes.
Pronounce each sound of each word
distinctly. Tongue twisters are good for making the tongue more
nimble.