Transmitting Musical Images: Using Music to Teach Public Speaking

Oral communication courses traditionally help students identify the proper arrangement of words to convey particular images. Although instructors emphasize the importance of speaking powerfully, they often struggle to find effective ways to teach their students "how" to deliver a message that resonates with the audience. Given the clear importance of delivery, the authors believe that instructors must find ways to overcome this pedagogical limitation. One technique that instructors can use to teach difficult concepts is to present an analogy. Music, like powerful speech, evokes visceral responses from the audience. However, music is a universal language that transmits images more easily. By exploring the intersection between music and powerful speech, students will learn how they can use their voice as a musical instrument. This paper describes an activity that will not only help students improve their oral communication skills but will also motivate students to think about the song that is playing beneath their words. A list of references and suggested readings is included. (Contains 4 notes.)