Lesson 1: First Things First

FIRST THINGS FIRST

One of the first things learned in school was that a story has three parts: a beginning, middle, and an end.  The secret to the success of the final product depends on how those elements are used.  Think of a car since it also has minimally three components: body, tires, and engine. The end result will be much better if the parts are put together in a logical whole where each part performs the function it is best suited to perform. 

Visualize the parts of the story as a mountain you are attempting to climb. Analyze a story of your choice into scenes or movements representing the BEGINNING, MIDDLE, and END elements.    Notice that the beginning will include some introduction that sets the stage, introduces characters, explains the problem and PULLS THE READER/LISTENER IN.   The middle section will connect the events, contain the action, propels the story forward to the CLIMAX. Here the problem is faced and solved.  The end of the story comes quickly after the high point of the story seen in the climax and presents the RESOLUTION to almost all the problems, and challenges that propelled the action in the story.  Like guests at the end of a party, be brief and quickly conclude the story.

TYPES OF TALES

Stories come in various forms.  Some tellers find that they have a natural strength in one or more of these, some can work with ease through them all, be aware each is individual – find the voice that is true and comfortable for you.

• Folk tales

• Family / personal

• Fairy Tales

• Inspirational / Religious

• Science and  Pour quoi Tales

• Humorous Tales

• Lesson / moral tales

• Jump tales & trickster tales

SHARING STORIES – Bits & Pieces

Some of the most common means of sharing stories:

Read aloud from a written work. 

• Oral Storytelling. 

• Puppets. 

• Musical story/songs.  

• Acting out/ theatrical. 

• Tandem told stories. 

• Dance.    

• Magic. 

• Writing   

•  Visual expression 

HEAD WORK

Make a list of several stories or films that you really enjoy.  What do you like about each one? What do these have in common? What does this say about you and your culture? What are the negative aspects of these same works?   What do the negative elements say about you, and your upbringing?  Would your parents or grandparents have appreciated these same stories or books?  Why or why not?

--Marilyn A. Hudson (c2011)

Lesson 2: Types of Tellers

Types of Tellers

Storytelling is an art form of infinite diversity in content, performer, setting, and style.


Storytelling in Education
These storytellers include teachers, counselors, and guest artisans who prepare stories specifically suited to the developmental needs of children, teens, and adult students.

Storytelling in Business
Any manager, trainer, or administrator can benefit from perfecting their ability to identify their company story, communicate that story to motivate, persuade and train customers or staff as to company value.

Storytelling in Health Care
Nurses, doctors, therapists and care-givers can all contribute to the health and wellbeing of patients, individuals undergoing treatment and those in recovery from serious concerns. Stories of courage, strength, and hope help patient and family deal with hard situations through humor, empathy, hope, and support. 

Storytelling in Religion (see Worship Arts tab)
Church school teachers, ministers, leaders can all use stories to bring a new dynamic to sharing the message of faith to people, community, and nation.  They can instill role models for positive social change and transformation and communicate possibilities.

Storytelling in the Home/Family
Families can teach members lessons of values, heritage, and team work through stories.

Course Requirements

Course Description

Welcome to Class

BECOMING A STORYTELLER

Every person has the potential to be a storyteller.  There are no “born tellers” – only people with differing levels of gifts in sharing human experiences. Everyone is already involved in the process of story sharing every time they share their experiences, recount historic events, tell a funny anecdote, and share core values.  All these individuals need to become intentional story bearers is for them to make the decision that they will learn to do it better, with greater self-confidence and skill.

WHAT STORIES ARE BEST FOR ORAL TELLING?
Family history stories, magazines, newspapers.
Events from your childhood or personal experiences
Folktales, fairy tales, myths and history books
Simple picture storybooks

WHERE DO YOU FIND SOURCES FOR STORIES?
The 398.2 area of the library
The picture book area of the library or a bookstore
Older family members or people in the community
Newspaper articles, old magazines
Historical events, oral histories, or biographies of historical people

HOW DO I LEARN AND TELL A STORY?
Find a story you really like (you will be living with it for awhile)
Become familiar with the story (read it several times)and any different versions
Picture in your mind the major parts of the story in the beginning, middle, and end.
Practice telling it to yourself.  Repeat adding details. Repeat until story is firmly in your mind.
Tell it often and enjoy.

HOW DO YOU GAIN SKILL AS A STORYTELLER?
Tell every chance you can.
Record yourself: are you too fast, too slow, too soft spoken, too monotone?
Add a gesture to bring your story alive
Practice using voices to help tell the story.
Add a prop (a hat, an object from the story, a visual, a costume, or puppets)
Add music from hands or an instrument
Review what works, delete what does not, and keep learning more stories.
Become a member of a group that will provide training, feedback, and constructive criticism.
Attend training events, workshops, and concerts.  See if the library carries tapes or CD’s of well-known storytellers - listen and learn.

BEGINNER’S RESOURCES

Bauer, C.  Caroline Baur’s New Handbook for Storytellers. 1993.
Cabral, L. Len Cabral’s Storytelling Book. 1997.
Hamilton, M. Stories in My Pocket. 1996.
Macdonald, Margaret Read. Three Minute Tales. 2004.
Pellowski, A. The World of Storytelling. 1977.
Storytelling Etiquette at http://lis.uiuc.edu/~ccb/storytelling_etiquette.html
Storytelling: It’s Not Just Kid’s Stuff, Milbre Burch homepage at http://www.laig.com/kindcrone/article_2.html
Story Cue Cares at  http://www.ils.unc.edu/~!sturn/storytelling/cuecard.html (blank form)
http://www.ualberta.ca/~lmireau/plan.html (tips on building cue cards)