The Listening Ear and the Teacher's Voice

Book excerpt: This book gives teachers an understanding of speech training through specially selected exercises. The book's exercises aim to help develop clear speaking in the classroom. Methodically and perceptively used, the book will assist those concerned with the creative powers of speech as a teaching art. In Part 1, there are sections on the links between speech and child development, the speech organs, the effects of artificially produced sound on speech development, rhythm and meter, and the sound groups. In Part 2, the consonants are linked to the constellations of the zodiac and applied to classroom work. Part 3 contains: a bibliographic note from Imma von Eckhardtstein; "Introduction Motifs of the Twelve Constellations" (Fiona Tweedale); "Appendix: Live Music and Recorded Sound" (Norbert Visser); 30 references; a bibliography and a list of useful addresses and resources. (CR)