When choosing an audition song...
When choosing an audition song...
When choosing an audition song...#1
Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:38pm
How important is the genre of the song when you pick your audion song? For example, for all of you who auditioned for Spring Awakening recently. They ask for an idie rock song that shows off your range. That presents problems.
1) Finding sheet music for indie rock groups is really hard, at least for me. I was going to do a song by CWAF, but couldn't get sheet music.
2) Rock is heavily based. Piano accompinant is hard to come by and dosen't sound the same.
3) For a lot of Broadway singers, Broadway songs are what we listen to, what we can sing well, and what we know. I understand that Spring Awakening is a rock musical. But shouldn't they just be concerned with hearing us at our best? Unless we're allowed to sing something from the actual musical.
Naturally I didn't audition. But my question is how important is the genre of the song? Like if I went in there and had sang "If I Can't Love Her" from Beauty and the Beast, would I have had a chance? Or for any audition (Hairspray comes to mind, in that they ask for 60s music)
Broadway Star Joined: 3/6/07
re: When choosing an audition song...#2
Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:54pmI can't say you wouldn't have had a chance. But if you were a casting directer auditioning for Spring Awakening, and I came in and sang How Could I Ever Know, would you take me seriously?
re: When choosing an audition song...#2
Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:18pm
I don't see why not. A good voice is a good voice. And if that song shows you off better than some rock song, I'd say why not?
I'd be a crappy casting director anyways. :)
re: When choosing an audition song...#3
Posted: 12/6/07 at 12:10am
"I don't see why not. A good voice is a good voice. And if that song shows you off better than some rock song, I'd say why not?"
I gotta agree with this.
But at the same time, you sort of have to cater to the casting teams needs and bring in what they require. Pick something from the rock genre that you know you can nail and will show off your voice/range.
re: When choosing an audition song...#4
Posted: 12/6/07 at 12:25ami'll just say when i was in auditions for rent last year my friend only had brought a music theatre song and they bairly saw her. but the fact that they asked for a pop/rock song and she didnt sing one really hurt her chances. the casting director seemed pretty pissy that she had ignored their request.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: When choosing an audition song...#5
Posted: 12/6/07 at 5:00amSong choice is VERY important, especially sticking to the right genre. If the casting people ask for rock - sing rock. Never mind how hard it is the get sheet music, do what is asked. Sure, bring along some other songs as well that are of a different genre and then let them choose the song but more often than not, they will choose what runs along the lines of their original audition request. A friend of mine recently auditioned for Spring Awakening in the UK - the production coming over from Broadway next year. She sang a song from Jewel, so modern and folky. She was told it was fine but to sing a rock song next time like they asked for.
re: When choosing an audition song...#6
Posted: 12/6/07 at 10:32amI vaguely remember someone saying that the casting team likes to hear The Beatles.
re: When choosing an audition song...#7
Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:09am
I have to disagree that "a good voice is a good voice"...if that were the case, any singer could sing any kind of music, and, at least IMHO, they can't always.
If I were to audition for a show like Spring Awakening or Rent with an operatic piece, it may show off my amazing voice, but wouldn't give the casting directors any idea of whether I could handle the music from those shows. You've just wasted thier time and yours.
Sing what they ask. There's a reason it's being asked of you.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
re: When choosing an audition song...#8
Posted: 12/6/07 at 3:06pmThere's a reason that casting notices tell you what genre of song to prepare. If you choose to ignore that, then you do so at your own peril. In any case, if you are serious about pursuing musical theatre, then you should have songs from every possible genre in your book, prepared and ready to go. Choosing appropriate audition material is very personal, and it is of vital importance in determining your chances of being cast. It takes research and hard work to develop your book of audition materials. If you're not willing to do that, so that you're properly prepared for any audition, then your success will be limited.
re: When choosing an audition song...#9
Posted: 12/6/07 at 4:42pm
For my SA audition, I got my sheet music from musicnotes.com. Just be sure that you can sing the song with only the chords playing in the background. That's what did me in. I practiced with the regular accompaniment track, but when it came time for the real audition, the pianst only played chords and it threw me off. Oh well. I know for next time to be better prepared.
But you're not auditioning so that bit of advice won't matter. I think it's important that you choose a song in the style of the music of the show. If the casting notice specificly says to prepare something prepare it. But then again, a girl who went before me in the SA audition sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow and sounded absolutley amazing. I think she got a second callback. So I guess early in the audition process you should be more concerned with sounding your best.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/6/07
re: When choosing an audition song...#10
Posted: 12/6/07 at 4:48pm
"I don't see why not. A good voice is a good voice. And if that song shows you off better than some rock song, I'd say why not?"
So you think Renee Fleming (ignore the age problem and focus on the voice) would make a good Amber in Hairspray?
re: When choosing an audition song...#11
Posted: 12/6/07 at 5:08pmChoose a song from another rock musical. I have not seen Spring Awakening before (some call it a sin, but it doesn't change that I'm still too poor to afford Broadway tickets), but do a song from whatever kind of rock musical that matches genre wise, like maybe "Somebody to Love" from We Will Rock You or something from "Tommy". Just be smart and NEVER not audition for something.
re: When choosing an audition song...#12
Posted: 12/6/07 at 7:46pm
My voice repitoire has every genre in it, including rock. It just seemed like another song choice would have shown my voice off better. Its not like I didn't look into it. I have about 17 new CDs in my collection because of it. But finding the sheet music was difficult, not to mention piano sheet music (cuz rock is so heavily guitar based).
My voice teacher told me when we were preparing, "This sounds great. But are you sure you can't sing this song instead?" Ha, that's why I'm asking.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/6/07
re: When choosing an audition song...#13
Posted: 12/6/07 at 10:17pmIf they ask for a specific genre, then that's what they want. You CAN sing something else, but its to your disadvantage.
re: When choosing an audition song...#14
Posted: 12/6/07 at 10:32pmThanks for everyone's help. Its actually going to be put to good use. Me and my friend want to to go the Hairspray chorus auditions. They ask for a pop song, and I have one. Lets cross our fingers that its what they're looking for.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/6/07
re: When choosing an audition song...#15
Posted: 12/6/07 at 10:58pm
oooh, what is it? Now I'm curious...
(and good luck!!)
re: When choosing an audition song...#16
Posted: 12/8/07 at 2:51pm
I'd have to agree with most everyone above. If you're asked to bring a rock song, why would you go against their wishes and bring a different genre/style of music?
Musical theatre singing is very different from rock singing. Sure, the lines are becoming blurred with "rock musicals" coming into play, but they're both vocally demanding in very different ways. Maybe I'm the only one, but I feel like "Don't Do Sadness" (on the cast recording, at least), specifically during the "With the taste of dust in your mouth...", etc. lines, sounds VERY much like Kurt Cobain/Nirvana, which is pretty much the opposite of what music in shows like Hairspray or something by Sondheim sound like. So why try to mix one with the other?
re: When choosing an audition song...#17
Posted: 12/8/07 at 4:09pm
Juliash- The notice that my friend saw said prepare a pop song or a 60s song. I'm still looking for a 60s song, but I'm going to bring both.
I realized that you could send in a video for Spring Awakening. So now that I've found some rock songs that I really like, I think I might do that. Would it be ok to record two songs. I've found two that show my range off really well (I'm a baritone and they show off my really low range and my tenor belt). I mean I've heard that they have offered the tour cast the job, but I wouldn't mind being put on file, AT ALL.
re: When choosing an audition song...#18
Posted: 12/8/07 at 6:34pmYou sing what they want you to sing because they are the people who have the casting power and they might be the ones paying you.
re: When choosing an audition song...#19
Posted: 12/13/07 at 4:07pmBuilding an audition repretoire is a process. You should have a variety prepared for this reason. If you sing and they like your voice, they might ask you to sing another one maybe from another genre or style. But you should pay attention to audition details because the casting staff knows they will see a lot of people, making people sing the same genre helps distinguish who they want to call back. It also show you listen and follow instructions. So if you come in and don't have the appropriate music, that is one strike against you. Yes if you have a phenominal voice you can pull off just singing anything, but you better believe you have phenominal voice.
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