Music help? Audition help? Questions?

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:11am

Hey guys, if anyone has any music questions about shows or auditions or good places to find music send me a message. I'm an audition pianist in NYC and I deal with lots of music and casting types, I'm just trying to help out, because I'm on the other side of the acting thing. Song suggestions, audition questions, show questions, vocal questions, whatever you have I'm more than happy to help out. Plus I can find lots of hard to find music if you guys are looking for anything in particular.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 6:45pm

Wow thanks for offering your help...of course now I can't think of any questions, but I'll keep you in mind.

[broadway_baby_17]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 10:58pm

hey ummm.... i dont know if you saw my post below but in case u didnt im trying out to be in the sound of music i would probably be chosen to be lousia so.... do you have any song suggestions??

[lukeboy25]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 6:09pm

Hi Scores. I'm going to be auditioning for Sweeney Todd later this month and was wondering if any of you had suggestions for what to sing. I'm going for the part of Toby, and even though I'm traditionally a baritone I'm pretty sure all of his singing is within my range. I was thinking Mr. Cellophane but it seems kind of seems dull or boring when you only have 45 seconds to wow them. Any Ideas? Thanks alot.

[B Girl]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 7:12pm

hey i posted this below
i read that in the "fake book" series they simplify the song so many people can play them. Is it ok to use this sheet music in auditions?

if you can let me know thanks a lot!

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 7:40pm

Generally I would stay away from FAKE BOOKS, LEAD SHEETS, CHORD CHARTS, you are always putting yourself in the line of fire with the pianist. You don't know what's going to come out of his fingers. While most decent pianists will give you what you want, I have many a horror story about my friends auditioning and the pianist blowing it up, and it always made it back that they used a FAKE BOOK. My first response is always to yell at them for bringing music like that in. As often as you can you want 'real' music, vocal line and a written out piano accompaniment. While most pianists won't play exactly what's on the page, they will keep the general style of what's printed. In a FAKE BOOK the pianist has free raign, and that can come back to haunt you.

Hope it's helpful.

Aaron

[Glindafied]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:13pm

wow, thanx for the help. im auditioning for aida in a few weeks. have any ideas for songs? i just found this song i really like called Stars and the Moon by jason robert brown, and im thinking of using that, but im not totally decided.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:32pm

Although that song is fabulous , it is VERY frowned upon to use JRB music at auditions. VERY frowned upon...

[notsovirginmary]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:14pm

Not to mention that Stars and the Moon is completely inappropriate for a teenager- no matter how talented you are you will look silly.

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 4:18am

Several things. Jason Robert Brown's music is not looked down upon at auditions. At least not here in NYC, I've played many a JRB song for auditions, if it's appropriate for what you are auditioning for have at it. I would however refrain from his more challenging stuff, you always gamble with getting a bad pianist. STARS AND THE MOON however isn't a problem for any pianist worth note.

Secondly, STARS AND THE MOON bad choice for AIDA, well not entirely, but as it was posted earlier a teenager shouldn't sing that song (in public), there's too much going on to get a grasp on. It's like Sondheim, Sondheim is often thought to be looked down upon at auditions as well, and for the most part it is, unless it's done WELL. Personally if you are under 35 you should never consider singing most of Sondheim's work. As brilliant a composer as Stephen Sondheim is, he's a million times more talented as a lyricist. You really have to go through some of that stuff he talks about to even begin to remotely understand where it's coming from. Songs like "Losing My Mind", "Belng Alice", and "Not a Day Goes By" are so incredibly challenging to get your mind around that most people fail at them. But when the songs are done correctly there isn't anything better (ok there is, but for the most part... no)

For a show like AIDA I would look around to more standard pop composers, see what Elton John you can find, don't even consider music from RENT, you don't have to stay in the realm of stage shows for this audition, a radio song would work as well. Send me an email at [e-mail] if you want to chat some more.

Aaron

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 4:27pm

Keep bringing on the questions and music requests... Glad I can help you guys out.
Aaron

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 4:59pm

i've been looking for the sheet music from VIOLET and haven't been able to find it.

any suggestions, aaron?

thanks!

maggie

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:01pm

I sent you a PM but I don't know if you got it...

I'm trying out for Assassins in a while. I would like to be Squeaky Fromme or the Housewife who sings "Something Just Broke" and I need an audition song. I'm a high mezzo-soprano... any ideas for me?

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:05pm

Sporti - Send me an email at [e-mail] I have the full score to VIOLET.

Aaron

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:04pm

everyone --

BroadwayScores is an EXCELLENT resource and is very very helpful. don't hesitate to ask him anything, he just really helped me out a lot!

thank, aaron!

maggie

[Pasty]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 11:13pm

I have been looking at a few songs to audition for Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm a baritone, can't comfortably go higher than an F/F#. I have been looking at the following...

Saturday Night Fever - Stayin' Alive
Cats - The Rum Tug Tugger
Aida - Another Pyramid

I have a few songs in my rep, but nothing that would fit. Any ideas?

Chris

[BroadwayScores]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:37pm

I don't really check this board often, so send me an email if you have questions. [e-mail]

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:50pm

I'm auditioning for Rosemary in How to Succeed...Trying. I'm a mezzo, any song ideas?

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 4:06pm

Jess, he asked for people to email him.

I emailed you, aaron.

[i love idina]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:05pm

Oh my goodness you are an answer to my prayers! my voice teacher is amazing but she tends to reccomend many of the same audition pieces to her students. i'm auditioning for bye bye birdie, any ideas for me? i want to be kim, and i have a strong mezzo soprano belt