Comparisons between music and public speaking usually start and finish with the voice. The voice is a 'musical instrument'; therefore, much can be made of comparisons in terms of pace, pitch, projection, and pause.
However, the comparison can go deeper as we consider speech structure about musical structure.
Looking back at the Baroque period's simple voice and dance structures, we see two primary forms: Binary (two-part) and Ternary (three-part). A binary structure is a piece of music in two sections, A and B. It is usually a dance movement, so the music's mood and feeling remain the same throughout. Concerning speech structure, it can be seen as one theme introduced, explored, and then returns to the opening theme.
For instance, a speech on 'my mother's cooking' may start with memories of the family dinner, explore all the exotic foods I have eaten worldwide, and conclude that nothing quite beats my mother's cooking.
In musical binary terms, Section A takes the listener from the mother's cooking into the wide world of other food experiences; Section B takes us from those experiences back to mother's cooking.
As a speech structure, it is simple and satisfying; it is not profound, as all it does is 'inform' the audience about one theme or subject. This structure is not meant to challenge or confront. Like the Baroque dance movement, it entertains and pleases the listener.
The ternary structure is a piece of music in three sections: A, B, and then A again (notice - not C). Although basic speech structure is seen in terms of 'Beginning, Middle, and End', the most satisfying speeches often end where they started, back at the beginning. The difference between this and the binary structure is that we may go further afield in our exploration's middle section. In musical terms, section B was used to contrast the two sections A's (a typical traditional musical form would be a Minuet and Trio, where the Trio section determines with the opening minuet, which is then repeated after the Trio).
So a simple speech about fishing could explore all the joys of peace and tranquillity experienced by the solitary, patient fisher of one's youth; section B would take you into another phase of the speaker's life - maybe when he moved to the big city and got involved in team sports like rugby or football and how they influenced his life; section A would then return to the tranquillity and love of fishing.
This is a beneficial structure for comparing or contrasting two different themes; dogs and cats - explore both and conclude that (for instance) dogs are best.
Similarly to the A, B Binary structure, there is not necessarily a great sense of development in the material of the speech; an opening theme is introduced, contrasted with the second theme and then returned to as the conclusion. We need to look at Sonata Form as the model for more dramatic development. I would not attempt to go into great depth here, but the classical sonata form is broadly a fusion of both Binary and Ternary forms. It is defined in 3 sections: exposition, development and recapitulation. This allows us to deal with more complex and challenging issues. In contrast, the middle section will enable us to examine a difficult or controversial set of ideas and return to them at the end with new knowledge or perspective.
For instance, the speaker introduces the two unrelated themes of politics and picking up his young son from the nursery in section A; section B 'develops these ideas, compares and contrasts them, dissects them and re-evaluates (for instance, comparing prime ministers Question Time to a playground fight; comparing childhood school drama to more profound political struggles). Therefore, when we return to the two themes again, we view them in a new and enlightened way.
Another example would be to start with the rhetorical question:
'Who believes lawyers are self-interested and money-grabbing?'
If the audience agrees, the development will explore the tremendous personal sacrifice and dangerous work many lawyers do worldwide defending people's rights.
The speaker then returns to the question at the end: 'Who believes lawyers are self-interested and money-grabbing?' The question is the same, but our understanding of it has changed.
The parallel between musical and speech structure is not intended to be taken too literally. An impressionist painting cannot be compared point for point to impressionist music; however, the comparisons are valuable and stimulating if we look for better ways to express our ideas.
Learn more about our world-traveled train the trainer courses in London. Turn your training practice into a life-long fascination.
Vince Stevenson - Founder College of Public Speaking 2006 Ltd.
If you have a great attitude and look forward to making a difference in your life, I hope you consider joining one of our training the trainer courses or public speaking course soon. It's always possible to improve your skillset and take your work and achievements to a higher level. Three strong reasons to support training
