Interpretive Reading


Interpretive is a wonderful way to improve your vocal skills. Our club usually conducts an Interpretive Reading Contest each year.

Here are a few tips from my own experience with this contest. Someone else might like to add theirs.

Choose a passage that will demonstrate your vocal variety. Something with a bit of dialogue is good, but try not to have too many characters in it, otherwise its confusing for the audience to distinguish who is speaking.  I like to have about 2 characters

Unless you are good at accents or dialects, don't try. It won't sound authentic
I try to stick to my own gender as much as possible. Its hard to make your voice sound like a member of the opposite sex.

The timing is 4-6 minutes. If you aim for about 5 minutes, you'll have a bit of leeway either side. Mark a small section toward the end that can be left out if it looks as though you might go overtime. eg if the red light has come on.

There are some good (and bad) examples of interpretive reading on youtube.

These are the official guidelines:



Interpretive Reading Contest Guidelines

Introduction....

The Advanced Manual “INTERPRETIVE READING” states: “Interpretive reading has many other names: oral interpretation, oral reading, dramatic reading, reading aloud, interpretive speech.”
Whatever you call it, it’s an important yet little understood form of communication. You read from the printed page-a work of literature using your  voice and body to convey the ideas,
emotions, attitudes and intentions of the author. You make the author’s words come alive
through your voice and your actions.

CONTEST RULES
1. PURPOSE
This Contest may be conducted at Club level only, and is designed to give Contestants the opportunity to develop their skills at delivering a reading, to highlight the need for preparation, rehearsal, and to explore the use of vocal variety and dramatics.

2. ELIGIBILITY
(a) The Contest is open to all members in good standing in a club in good standing.
(b) There is no minimum speech level requirement.

3. SPEECH PREPARATION
(a) The subject matter must be dramatic in character and in good taste. It should not conflict with the high standards that apply in Toastmaster meetings.
(b) One continuous article must be read in total or in edited form, and not be parts of several articles.
(c) Subject matter may be any written work, poem, excerpt from a book, magazine or play.

4. GENERAL PROCEDURE
(a) Prior to the Contest, the Contestants shall provide to the Chairman, the name of the work and the author.
(b) The Contestants shall draw for speaking order prior to the Contest under supervision of the Contest Chairman.
(c) The Contest Chairman shall call each Contestant in order, giving the name of the Contestant, the title and author then the author, title and the Contestant’s name.
(d) In the interests of creating the appropriate atmosphere from the opening word or gesture, acknowledgement of the Chairman and audience is not recommended. The Chairman should advise the audience of this procedure.
(e) Only the text is to be read by the Contestants. To preserve the atmosphere of the characterisation, the Contestant shall not make any opening or concluding remarks by way of explanation of the material to be presented. This can be done by the Contest Chairman, if requested by the Contestant.
District 69 Appendices
(e) There shall be one minute of silence between Contestants’ presentations to enable Judges to complete their judging form.
(f) A protest by any Contestant must be lodged with the Contest Chairman prior to the announcement of the results who consults with the Chief Judge. The Judge’s decision is final.

5. TIMING
(a) All readings shall be from 4-6 minutes. Contestants who speak for less than 3 minutes 30 seconds or for more than 6 minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified. A green light will be turned on at 4 minutes and remain on for 1 minute. An amber light will be turned on at 5 minutes and remain on for 1 minute. A red light will be turned on at 6 minutes and remain on until the Contestant has finished speaking.
(b) Timing will commence with the first word or gesture.

6. JUDGING
Maximum points allocations will be as follows:
Effective use of voice 40
Selection of Text 20
Stage presence and poise 15
Impact on audience 15
Gestures and Body Language 10
MAXIMUM 100

7. CONTEST RESULTS
In contests with five or more participants, a third place winner (if wanted), second place winner, and first place winner will be announced. In contests with four participants, a second place winner and first place winner will be announced. In contests with three or fewer participants, only the first place winner will be announced. Announcement of contest winners is final.

8. JUDGING CRITERIA
This Contest requires the Contestants to select appropriate material to allow for effective interpretation of the text with appropriate characterisation.
Whilst rehearsal wilt result in a recall factor, the Contestants must maintain a ‘reading role’, whilst involving eye contact with the audience whenever appropriate.

QUALITY OF TEXT
Contestants should ensure that the chosen material is in good taste, and of general appeal. Whilst editing is permissible, the text should be taken from one only article, and not be excerpts from various works.

EFFECTIVE USE OF VOICE
If a Contestant uses material with one or more voice characterisations, the ‘voices’ should be appropriate for the characters portrayed.

STAGE PRESENCE AND POISE
Dressing appropriately to the theme is an option to Contestants. However, stage presence and poise includes the need for handling the written material, and the general command of stage movements.

2 comments:

  1. I want to know if I would be allowed to read an excerpt from a speech I wrote myself? As rehearsal practice for future contests?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, I think it would be up to your particular club. I suggest you have a talk with your VPE about it.

    I think you would get more out of it if you chose something written by someone else. The idea of interpretive reading is to use your voice to convey the meaning of another person's words.

    This page needs to be updated. The Interpretive Reading Manual is no longer used in Toastmasters, which is a pity - I loved it! If you want to practice your speech, why not use it as one of the Pathways projects?

    ReplyDelete

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