How to Use Improv Tongue Twisters
One way to warm up for stage auditions, rehearsals and performances is by using improv tongue twisters. Read on to learn how how to use improv tongue twisters.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Stretching
-
1
Begin by stretching out the muscles of your face and jaw. Open your mouth as widely as you can.
-
2
Now, close your mouth and purse your lips together. Squeeze your mouth tightly so that you're stretching the muscles along your jaw.
-
-
3
Repeat until your muscles feel warmed up and ready to work. Three to four times should suffice.
Short Tongue Twisters
-
4
Begin warming up your tongue by repeating short tongue twisters aloud. First, try the phrase "Toy boat." When you can say "Toy boat" correctly 10 times in a row, move onto the next twister.
-
5
Now, try repeating the phrase "Unique New York." As in the previous twister, this phrase forces you to focus on the vowel and consonant sounds coming from your mouth. When you can say the phrase correctly 10 times in a row, move onto the next twister.
-
6
This phrase is a little tricky, because you're implementing two different parts. Try repeating the phrase "Red leather, yellow leather; Good blood, bad blood." This phrase is difficult because it forces you to focus on differentiating between the "b" and the "l" sounds, made by your lips and tongue, respectively. When you can say the phrase correctly 10 times in a row, move onto the next section.
Longer Tongue Twisters
-
7
For your first long tongue twister, begin by repeating, "A big black bug bit a big black bear and made the big black bear bleed blood." Because it's a little longer, you may need to read it through a few times before trying it on your own. While repeating the twister, focus on saying each word clearly and correctly. When you can say the phrase correctly two times in a row, move onto the next twister.
-
8
Next, try repeating the phrase, "Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets." Differentiating between the "s" and the "sh" sounds are what makes this step tricky. When you can say the phrase correctly three times in a row, move onto our last twister.
-
9
This twister is tricky. Make sure to read it through all the way before you begin to recite it. Try repeating: "Betty Botter had some butter, 'But,' she said, 'this butter's bitter. If I bake this bitter butter, it would make my batter bitter. But a bit of better butter--that would make my batter better.' So she bought a bit of butter, better than her bitter butter, and she baked it in her batter, and the batter was not bitter. So 'twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter." Whew! You might get tongue-tied just trying to read it, but after you've said it a few times without making any mistakes, you know your mouth is ready to handle whatever challenges you're about to face on stage.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always remember to keep challenging yourself. If you master a twister, try one you haven't done before. These exercises were created to help you.
