This week’s teaching Tuesday comes courtesy of Fellenz, who shared a gem in the ZAO Discord: prosody.

At its simplest, prosody is the pattern of rhythm and sound in language. In music, it’s the alignment of lyrics and melody so they reinforce one another. Think of a voice lifting on the word rise or a soft chord trembles underneath a fragile lyric. That alignment is what makes songs not just heard, but felt.

In music, it’s the force that makes every note feel like it had to be there.

I’ve attached Fellenz’s initial post here so you can catch the spark. To read the full write-up (and future gems like it), you’ll need to step into the Discord itself: discord.thezao.com.

What struck me most in his breakdown was how prosody isn’t only about music—it’s about coherence. A song without prosody feels off, no matter how strong the parts are. A community without prosody feels the same. When our words and actions line up, when our rhythms sync, when intent and timing flow together, that’s when the message lands and the work resonates.

So today’s challenge is simple: notice the prosody in your life. How do your words match your actions? How does your presence amplify or soften the rhythm of a group? These small alignments are what turn noise into music, and effort into harmony. When what you say and how you say it breathe together, resonance happens.

– BetterCallZaal on behalf of the ZAO Team