Vocal cadence and tempo make the difference between a performance that captivates the audience and one that leaves them indifferent. Whether working on the stage or screen, narrating an audiobook, or voicing a character in a video game, capturing the audience is something we all hope to do. How do we make our delivery believable and unforgettable? Read on to find out.
Vocal cadence is the ebb and flow, or the rise and fall, of our voice as we speak. These fluctuations in pitch and volume are influenced by grammar, accent, and even the context of the situation. For instance, a job interview might warrant a more measured speech cadence, but a conversation with a child could invite a broader vocal range.
Tempo is the speed at which we speak. A hurried pace may convey urgency, while a deliberate, unhurried tempo could be employed to articulate a crucial point.
Why should performers understand cadence and tempo?
Cadence and tempo are the conduits through which we express ourselves. While words convey information, the speed and rhythm of our delivery reveal the underlying emotions and intentions.
Imagine a performer at the climax of their story; they’ve got only 30 seconds to deliver a crucial message to someone who can hardly hear them amid the chaos of the action. If the delivery is painfully slow and lacks inflection, the audience may struggle to believe the urgency of the moment. From grand climaxes to the subtlest scenes, every nuance of the moment is expressed through our speaking cadence and tempo.
Moreover, voices that skillfully play with cadence and tempo are inherently more engaging. Think of Morgan Freeman’s soothing tones or Christopher Walken's unpredictable verbal pivots. If we are to be believable as actors and inspiring in our performances, we must perfect these powerful tools.
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1. Do a self-assessment. Begin by understanding your natural cadence and tempo. Do you sound monotone, or do you speak well in conversation but speed up when you perform? Seek honest feedback from trusted individuals to identify areas for improvement.
2. Understand that nuance matters. Avoid random fluctuations in pitch and speed in the hope of sounding more charismatic. Cadence and tempo are expressions of how we feel; we must ensure they are deeply connected to the moment.
3. Perform daily vocal warmups. Keep your voice healthy to maintain access to your full vocal range and articulation control so that you have maximum vocal freedom.
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4. Conduct a character analysis. Delve deep into your character’s given circumstances to find out how they might sound. Are they deeply stressed, causing them to rush their speech? Do they have a slow, laid-back accent? Are they an extravagant person who utilizes vocal range more than you naturally would?
5. Experiment with different tempos. Changing the speed at which we do things can completely change the effect (a concept that Konstantin Stanislavsky called “tempo-rhythms”). Play with this in your performance.
If your objective is to convince everyone to get out of a building because there’s a fire, a fast and loud delivery might convey urgency. However, speaking slowly could ensure everyone stays calm and efficiently exits the building.
6. Focus on tactics. Your vocal cadence will shift when employing different acting tactics, such as “to threaten,” “to panic,” “to calm,” “to educate,” or “to command.” Imagine how these tactics would change the way you say this line: “There is a fire; you all need to leave.”
7. Break down repetitive patterns. There are many traps we fall into, like dropping our voice at the end of every sentence, only emphasizing personal pronouns, or emphasizing so many words that we lose meaning. To break bad habits, analyze the text and choose only one word in each passage to emphasize. Afterwards, if you’re still struggling with the habit, try over-exaggerating the emphasis. Once your cadence is established, you can dial back the exaggeration to perform the sentence more naturally.
8. Embrace rhetoric. Learn to identify rhetorical devices, like antithesis (“To BE or NOT to be”) and alliteration (“I coulda had CLASS. I coulda been a CONTENDER. I COULD’VE been somebody”). Allow the rhetorical devices to drive your cadence.
9. Listen to the text. Language and punctuation can lead you. In “Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players,” theater director Peter Hall says, “Monosyllables always indicate a slowing up.” Short words back-to-back or short sentences are simply difficult to say quickly. Don’t fight against that. Let it inform you. Then back it up with connected acting choices.
10. Trust yourself. If you’ve thoroughly prepared and connected with your character, trust your instincts. Humans are strange beings; we often exist in contrast to the expected. You might plan to scream a line to the heavens, but in the moment, it comes out quiet and slow and cold. This can catch your audience completely unaware, and be the most authentic and magical moment of your performance.