Doing Poetry Right: Poetry Performance Tips
Teachers! Students! Poetry lovers!
Lend me your ears!
I’d like to present the first in what I hope will be several videos to help people get on their feet and share poetry out loud. This introductory video is called
DOING POETRY RIGHT
This video will now live permanently on its own page under the RESOURCES tab in the navigation bar.
Pass it on!
If you’re so inclined, please share this video with teachers and students who might find it helpful in their own poetic pursuits.
Thank you!
The three video poems used as samples in the tutorial can be found in their entirety here:
Jabberwocky
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The Moo-Cow-Moo
What do I know about poetry performance?
Before becoming a writer (way before), I got an MFA in acting and directing and then an MA in English Education 7-12. I did theater in one capacity or another for seventeen years, and then spent a few more as a high school teacher of English, theater, and public speaking. For me, performing poetry is a combination of all three of these passions. And I love it! I hope you will, too.
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23 Comments
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[...] Yikes, I hate my recorded voice and that high note lol. I’d better improve before Nov 9th Now if you’ve been wondering about reading poetry to an audience, Renee has a fabulous vlog about how to read a poem. Check it out here. [...]
Iza Trapani
236 days ago
Oh this is wonderful, Renee, and so useful! It will really help me in my storytimes. It’s a joy watching and hearing you!
Renee M. LaTulippe
236 days ago
Thanks, Iza! I do hope the video can be of help to teachers, students, or even authors!
David Harrison
236 days ago
Dear Renee,
I love your video on doing poetry right. Thank you for making this one. It deserves to become widely distributed in schools and writing groups everywhere. It’s that good!
Janet F.
236 days ago
I was lucky to get a sneak peek yesterday thanks to Amy LV. Not only is the essence of your video so helpful for teachers and students and others who want to have tips for presenting a poem, the way you made the video is very appealing. I loved your insertions of the text and the comical asides!! I would like a tip or two on how to do that. My students learn to recite over 40 poems by year’s end. Since they work as a group with minimal adult interference, they can get sing-songy, however if the teacher gives a nicely expressive reading at the first (number of times) they can help the children with tone and mood and pacing. Bravo, again to the very talented Renee. I agree with David. As a side note, Renee, there is a video on Youtube of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening read/presented by Susan Sarandon. Her choices really informed my teaching. As will yours. Learning poems by heart is not rote learning.. I don’t know what the top-limit would be to knowing poems, but I am a believer that we all have a greater capacity than we realize. 99% of the kids I have worked with love doing this! And approach it eagerly!
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
I just found the Susan Sarandon video and it’s GORGEOUS! Oh my, just perfect, really. What a great teaching tool, too. So wonderful that you have your students memorize so many poems – it’s such a gift to give them!
Here’s the Sarandon video for reference:
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
Yay! Thanks for saying so. I hope someone gets some use out of it.
Hannah Holt
236 days ago
Loved it. Your tips were very helpful and your presentation was sparkling. (What video editing program did you use?) Also I will try to stop swallowing my words. Gulp.
Doraine Bennett
235 days ago
Wonderful advice. Love the examples. I passed it along to a friend who’s working with a group of students for Poetry Out Loud competition.
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
Oh, that’s great, Doraine! I adore the Poetry Out Loud program – wish I’d had it when I was in school. Such a great thing for kids to do.
jama
235 days ago
You’re the best! Fabulous resource that needs to be shared far and wide.
Betsy
235 days ago
I sent this to my husband. It would be a great tutorial for his drama students! Great job
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
Wonderful – thank you so much, Betsy! How wonderful that he teaches drama.
Catherine Johnson
235 days ago
That was fantastic advice Renee, you are so good at this! My friend will be filming me so hopefully it can come on here, though I bet I’ll be so nervous. I love your Jabbawacky poem. Is that in Lizard Lou? Thanks, Renee!
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
No need to be nervous – it’s supposed to be fun! Just have a good time and be yourself.
Jabberwocky is not in Lizard Lou, but the whole video is on the blog here: http://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-monday-kids-classics-jabberwocky-by-lewis-carroll/
Ruth
235 days ago
Renee, this is fabulous! Thanks so much! I have bookmarked it for future use.
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
Yay! Hope it helps!
Lori Degman
235 days ago
Renee, you are SO good!!! This will really come in handy for future readings!!
You couldn’t have done this BEFORE I read my poem?!
Renee M. LaTulippe
235 days ago
Hee-hee! You were great, Lori!
B.J. Lee
235 days ago
Wonderful Renee! Great tips for reading poetry and public speaking of any kind. You’re a natural
Linda Baie
235 days ago
I too will pass this on, Renee, for the teachers in my school, also the Frost video too. Loved all, & think you helped much as far as the deliberateness of reading poetry. I liked the extra examples you showed (instead of just talking). Young teachers could use something like this for when they read aloud to their students-expression and pauses are so important. Thank you!
Erik - This Kid Reviews Books
234 days ago
Great video!
Ken Slesarik
230 days ago
Renee, this is fantastic!
Vikram Madan
230 days ago
Fabulous, Renee. I added a resources section to my blog just so I could point to this post. Happy Halloween