To be understood on the stage, actors must have proper diction!  To use proper diction, a student must first warm up the lips, the teeth and the tip of the tongue, and many students do this by practicing tongue twisters.  Usually incorporated into the group warm-up, these can also be practiced at any time. Notice whether it’s easier to perform these in the mornings or evenings, or before or after lunch.
Here are some of the more popular exercises among the Ridgewood students – you may recognize a few here or there!

 

 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

SNAP Crackle Pop
Snap CRACKLE Pop
Snap Crackle POP…*

Sheena leads, Sheila needs….**

Stupid superstition!…

Very well, very well, very well…..

Red Leather, Yellow Leather….

Luke Luck likes lakes.
Luke’s duck likes lakes.
Luke Luck licks lakes.
Luck’s duck licks lakes.
Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes.
Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

 

 

*Words in capital letters are to be emphasized.  By practicing these different emphasis, you take control over your ability to choose what you emphasize in your speeches.

**An ellipses (…) indicates that the tongue twister is repeated another two, three, or infinite amount of times.