Music is a very versatile speech topic, with a range of different sub-topics about which you can speak. Ranging from specific musicians to different styles of music, a well-written speech about music can both inform and entertain a captive audience. However, it is important to conduct thorough research before writing an informative speech about music to ensure you are well-versed and comfortable with the topic.
Choose a topic. A good informative speech topic would be something along the lines of the history of classical music or a profile on a group of musicians, such as composers from the Baroque period or a speech on country singers of the 1990s. Whatever the topic, you should be able to speak authoritatively on it. Conversely, the topic should be entertaining as well as educational to ensure that your audience is captivated by your speech.
Do thorough written research. Written research is key to ensuring that you have facts correct throughout your speech and that you are providing a good depth of educational information to your audience. For example, if you are giving a speech about composers of the Baroque period, written research would tell you exactly what the Baroque period was, which composers are considered to be part of it and why it is such an important part of music history. You can find solid written research online by searching through some of the major search engines under the keywords "music history" or a keyword relating to your topic. You might also pay a visit to your local public library for additional information.
Interview living musical experts about your topic. Interviews with renowned musical experts will enhance your informative speech. This approach works if you are doing a profile on a musician or set of musicians or if you are doing your speech on a period or style of music. Interviews will give your speech an anecdotal flair and provide the audience with a real-life connection to the topic you are discussing.
Draft your speech. Make a draft of your speech ahead of time so you are sure you have covered all of your major points. Write it out in outline form first before drafting it in a more structured format. Many speeches sound too much like a term paper being read out loud, which is a pitfall you'll want to avoid. Instead, try to write it like a conversation you are having with a person who can't speak. You don't want to bore that person, so you would write it accordingly. Don't linger too long on one point. Be clear and concise about what you are trying to say. Don't be afraid to incorporate visual aids and props, particularly on a subject like music. You might illustrate some of your main points with a sample of a piece of music relating to your topic.
Conduct a practice run of your speech on an audience that is familiar with the topic of music. This is a better way to gauge how interesting your speech is, because anyone familiar with music will either be completely put off by your speech or completely enraptured. Their response to your practice run will let you know if you will need to make adjustments to the speech before delivering it. Moreover, practicing ahead of time gives you an opportunity to perfect your speech and fix any problem areas.
Writer Bio
Lynda Moultry Belcher is a writer, editor and public relations professional. She worked for a daily newspaper for 10 years and has been a freelance writer for more than 15 years. She has contributed to Divorce360 and Revolution Health Group, among other publications. She is also the author of "101 Plus-Size Women's Clothing Tips" and writes "Style At Any Size," a bi-weekly newspaper column.
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