Choosing Great Audition songs....

I wanted to share some information with you that I will be presenting later in the term during a voice class on how to select great audition repertoire. For this blog, I will focus on the musical theatre audition and speak mostly to my current voice class students, but the information is for anyone auditioning for musical theatre.

There are a few main rules that I would like people to understand before we get into specifics.

1) NEVER sing A Capella. I have seen this happen a great deal here at EOU and it is not advised. The music provides a sense of emotion to the piece that you cannot bring to the stage if you sing it a capella. The music plays along in your head as you sing, but what if I've never heard the piece before and it's new to me? There have also been many that sing a capella and are unable to stay in the same key for the entire 16-32 bars and wander through several keys throughout. This does nothing to show ability nor does it help to show me your range or and tends to show lack of sense of pitch. If you have no accompanist or one is not provided for you, find one before hand and hire them to make a recorded accompaniment for you. This is not the preference, but a last resort.

2) Learn how to work with an accompanist. When an accompanist is provided for your audition, they will need a copy of your music (usually requested in ADVANCE of the audition) WELL MARKED with the bars you will be singing. When you come in for your audition be sure to take time with your accompanist to answer any questions they have about your markings and to give a clean, clear, and accurate tempo. Your nerves may get the best of you and auditionees tend to give too fast of a tempo. Take your time. Take a deep breath and sing through a few different parts of your song in your head. When you feel you have a good grasp of the tempo, you can count or quietly sing through a little bit for your accompanist so they get a feel for it. Be polite. Introduce yourself and ask their name if you don't know them. Use good manners with pleases and thank yous. They are there to make you look good. :)

3) Don't interact with your audition panel. Your audition panel is there to watch you, hear you, and experience your audition. Try to avoid songs that interact with them. Avoid singing directly to them or making eye contact. The same is true for your chosen monologue. Choose one that does not interact with the audition panel. When they feel uncomfortable or put on the spot, they are unable to engage with your audition they way they need to.

4) The perfect song. Here are a few "do's and don'ts" for your song selection taken from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Musical Theatre website. It has a great list with further details, so please click the link to be taken to their site.

Do Avoid overly familiar material, songs that are performed continuously...

Do Avoid songs associated primarily with particular artists...'Over the Rainbow' is Judy's. Comparison's are inevitable.

Do Avoid the current hit from the current Broadway smash or revival.

Do select material suitable for youthful performers.

Do Not attempt songs obviously created for mature characters.

Do be aware of choices that are difficult to perform under stressful conditions. Many of the patter songs ('If', 'Funny', ...'Giants in the Sky') are notoriously difficult and require careful coordination between pianist and singer.

[this is my favorite from their list]
Do Not imitate your favorite performers. Don't moonwalk like Michael, pout like Bernadette or clutch the air like Mandy. And PLEASE don't wear a white half-mask or a lion's head. :)

Do bring sheet music in the correct key and with all cuts or repetitions clearly marked. DO place your music in a binder or tape the sheets together for the benefit of the accompanist. DO speak clearly to the pianist and articulate the tempi by singing a few phrases. This is preferable to snapping your fingers or yelling "Faster," "Too fast," or "Slow Down" in the middle of "Ol' Man River" or "Corner of the Sky." And please note that if we do not feel your songs adequately represent your vocal range, we may ask you to perform some simple vocal exercises at the keyboard or present another song.

DO consider your deportment. That means the way you behave (and are seen to behave) from the moment you arrive at the audition to the moment you leave. Show that you are well prepared and have done your research about the school and the program. Ask intelligent questions, exude confidence as you enter the room, say your name with authority, answer questions in a provocative way, look your best, thank the faculty for their attention and leave with the air of a job well done. And if you are really interested in pursuing the program, write a note to the faculty on your return home. You may do a brilliant audition and ruin your chances by appearing obnoxious. If you seem to have "attitude," are a "diva" or possess an ego the size of Manhattan, you are unlikely to be accepted into a first rate program. On the other hand, you may be a good performer but slink in and out of the room, appear as confident as a Jello on the San Andreas fault and miss your chance. Find a happy medium!

I will add to that list in saying that your music should be in the original key and the key you plan to sing it in. DO NOT ask the accompanist to transpose on the spot.

Also, males should avoid singing female roles and vice versa.

There will be more blog posts to come, but this should get you started. :) I will be posting the date and times of the lectures on auditions as soon as I set one. :) We'll be discussing all of the above listed etiquette along with what to wear, headshots and resumes, and how it is different for opera auditions. :)