Do you need to be an expert in this to be on Broadway?

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:35pm

Reading music? Do you need to be an expert in reading music to be on Broadway? I mean obviously you need to be able to read somewhat...but do u need to be an expert? I can read music fairly well, but if someone handed me a song and said "go ahead, sing it" and i didnt know it a little...I would be lost! But if they played the piano I could catch on...I doubt everyone on Broadway can read music perfectly...but what do u think?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:39pm

I am just about 99% sure that there are a lot of broadway performers who don't even read music in the least - its not about that. Sure, it helps - but I can barely follow a melody line in printed sheet music and I've worked in the business for many years. I have a good ear and pick up fairly fast, so the inability to read well has only slowed me down a bit here and there. Obviously, I wouldn't join a group or choral organization that requires great sight-reading, but other than that, I get along fine.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:40pm

I don't think so. I have a friend on a national tour right now and he can't read a lick of music.

[NBRISBY]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:45pm

Pavarotti can't read music at all. I'd say a good 50% of the people I work with don't read music well. I wouldn't worry about it. If you can follow a part and hold onto it, you'll be fine.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 5:45pm

You need to be able to at least understand the intervals so if you are holding the note, you can "site read" how far up/down etc to go -- an understanding of rythems and markings will also be helpful for dymnamics --

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 6:23pm

You should be well-versed in musical notation. Oftentimes, it is VERY helpful to be able to sight-read or have a working knowledge of it, at any rate. You'll find yourself at several auditions where they throw a piece of music in front of you and expect you to sing it cold. They'll usually play it once or twice through, but for readings, workshops, etc...they need people who can pick up the music fairly quickly. And if you leave an audition with them thinking you are prepared to come in and do a bang-up job on a role, then you're a step ahead of a person who can't. Learning how to sight-read should be as important as any other skill you learn for auditioning.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 6:26pm

Brad Little is unable to read music.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 6:38pm

Barbra Streisand (sp?) doesn't read music at all.

[Guido Contini]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 7:06pm

Andrea Bocelli can't read music either...but I suppose that's different isn't it? Actually, he sings by ear too as do ALOT of others. Matthew Broderick swears up and down he can't read music either. He said in an interview that during H2$ the cast heckled him all the time for slowing things down.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 7:19pm

I can't read music and I have been a proffesional musical theatre performer (getting a few leads like Motel and Seymour)for the past 2 years now...As long as you have the singing, acting and dancing chops to make up for your lack of musical knowledge, most musical directors will be patient with you. It also helps if you have good ear. I can pick up harmonies instantly and play piano by ear, but can't really read music at all. However, that said, I would suggest taking a musical theory course if possible. I always feel i could be that much better if only I knew how to read music.

Akiva

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:36pm

""Brad Little is unable to read music.""
True, as many know Brad is dislexic. He has to record the script and music and practice with someone vocally. Imagine doing this with everything you need to learn in a few weeks!

I agree with Jamie, learn as much as you can... it can't hurt!

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:38pm

i dont think that you need to know it perfectly NOW, but you should definately just make an effort 2 brush up on ur music reading cuz when i did gypsy last yr. it was pretty important and we were just kids. :)

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:39pm

The more you know, the more you know.

[Elphie Pingleton]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:43pm

I really don't hope so cause i can pick out a tune and somewhat get the rhthym and melody but other than that i don't really read music my piano ranges from mary had a little lamb to the melody for somewhere over the rainbow. Let's just say I'm no pro. But I'd really like to be on broadway someday (like so may do) but hey I'm still young i have time i guess.

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:17pm

Yeah, I'm not saying it's an absolute necessity, but it's one more special skill that makes the lives of the people you are auditioning for, that much easier. And you also don't need to be a brilliant reader. I never took an extensive theory course and can't really play the piano. Sight-singing is a little different from being able to really read music. Sight singing is an easily learnable skill. I learned in high school, primarily from taking vocal scores out of the library and following along with the recordings of shows, to the music. You quickly lear about where the notes are going, their values, their dynamics and eventually start to understand what's in front of you in an entirely different light.

Most of all, you really need to know some basics. When a musical director says to you "add a crescendo at the end of the second system." You shouldn't have to be lost. And learning about it is not really time consuming or troublesome.

Again...it's a skill that will put you a few inches ahead of a performer who doesn't have that particular skill.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:45pm

Well said Jamie. Learn all you can, and never stop learning. Keep improving your craft. Music is very learnable. I've taught young kids as well as folks in their 80's. And it's fun too...gives you a good feeling to have that knowledge.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:03am

I just don't understand how people can have a career involving music without knowing the basics of musicianship.
It actually depresses me to see Broadway singers who can't read music. Makes you wonder what the integrity of the biz is coming to.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:07am

I agree, J_i_d.

For some reason, I feel that getting in without being able to read music is...cheating. But that's the business!

I can read music, tempo I'm a bit shaky on, but it's almost very good.

I would just learn how to read it, and try to understand music as much as possible. It definitely puts you above the others who wouldn't know what to do if they were handed a new sheet of music and told "SING!" Updated On: 9/1/04 at 12:07 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:00am

Judy - some people just can't learn to read -= I've had a block against it for my entire life (some emotional thing involving my father, no doubt!)...but all my teachers and directors and musical directors have always complimented me on my musicianship - the fact that I have a good ear and pick up very fast and seem to know my way in and out and around a song,...so I don't think that because someone can't read music it necessarily says something bad about the state of musical theatre...there are simply people who do it better than others. I personally feel that if someone is a good mathmetician, they have a better chance of learning to read music well - they seem to go hand in hand (most of the pianists I know who are very good at sight reading are also great mathmeticians for some reason)its a technical thing - I'm a right brain thinker as opposed to left brain - I have problems with all technical things - computers, math, mechanical equipment..but I'm a much better artist, on the other hand.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:05am

"Matthew Broderick swears up and down he can't read music either. He said in an interview that during H2$ the cast heckled him all the time for slowing things down."

And if he weren't Matthew Broderick would he have been "heckled" or "fired" for "slowing things down"?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:08am

thats an interesting question

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:18am

To me, I never started singing at all until I was in my early twenties so whatever talent or ability I might have is natural. I didn't grow up in a musical family, I wasn't in a school that had a strong music program but in my twenties I realized I could sing -- I just can't read music. I feel if I'm a better singer/actor but can't read music I'm of more use to a director AND musical director than someone who might learn it more quickly or more easily but isn't as strong with the actual performance.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:22am

JohnPopa - perhaps the most interesting thing you've said so far...
I believe that natural talent far outweighs anything anyone can learn in an acting or music program (not that someone shouldn't get as much education as possible - ) but I've seen many MANY people try to perform after years of classes and still they just don't "get it"...and others who never had a lesson in their life who are simply magnificent...

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:30am

But redhot, you learned to read english.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:33am

Whenever I'm asked if I can sight read music I say 'I can barely sight read the newspaper.'

Comic. Gem.