Reading Music

[inick122492]

Reading Music#1

Posted: 9/21/10 at 9:08pm

Just out of curiosity, about how many broadway/musical theatre performers actually read music? I'd like to know if any can slide by with out it?

[givesmevoice]

Reading Music#2

Posted: 9/21/10 at 9:17pm

I don't have actual figures (and I seriously doubt anyone else does), but I'm always surprised to hear performers say they can't read music. I seem to recall Jenna Russell saying she can't read music, and I thought that would make doing Sondheim impossible.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[chewy5000]

Reading Music#2

Posted: 9/22/10 at 6:34am

Believe it or not, I think Sondheim is easier without the music.

[newintown]

Reading Music#3

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:13am

Most professional musical theatre performers with whom I have worked (at least 95%) don't read music.

This was something that, at one time, was taught in every school. Now, it's almost as rare as the ability to read Egyptian hieroglyphics.

[bwaylvsong]

Reading Music#4

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:24am

^Which is incredibly sad. I was visibly upset when I was told to write "reads music" under the Special Skills section of my resume. It shouldn't be a special skill...

[backwoodsbarbie]

Reading Music#5

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:27am

It boggles my mind how somebody can learn to sing without reading music.

http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com

[givesmevoice]

Reading Music#6

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:34am

Very few of the girls I sang with in our high school choir could read music, and we were often the highest (or one of the highest) ranked groups at competitions we went to. I think it would've behooved a lot of them to learn to read music and learn more about theory, but there wasn't the time and resources for it.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[perfectlymarvelous]

Reading Music#7

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:34am

^I agree...I've been singing in choirs my whole life so I learned to read music really young. I also was in band for many years in school and so my skills got better. When I was touring a school for musical theater though I asked how advanced the theory classes were and the tour guide asked me if I read music, and when I said I did he told me I would be ahead of the game and didn't need to worry...my face probably resembled something like o_O.

[tazber]

Reading Music#8

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:39am

I don't think it's that hard. I mean not reading music doesn't mean that an actor can't see the basic structure of the song.

When I was a musical director for a show in college the actors were able to tell when the notes went up or down for example. They recorded me playing during music rehearsals and learned by listening to that.

Plus, if it's not a new show there are always recordings to listen to. My show was Godspell, so the cast came in pretty much already knowing the vocal parts.

....but the world goes 'round

[givesmevoice]

Reading Music#9

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:44am

When I learned to read music in elementary school, we only learned the notes on the treble clef, and probably only the most basic of dynamics, and I was still so much further ahead than a lot of the other singers.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[somuchtodo]

Reading Music#10

Posted: 9/22/10 at 6:42pm

"Sliding by..." interesting.

You want entrance to an incredibly competitive field. Do anything and everything to give yourself a competitive advantage.

[binau]

Reading Music#11

Posted: 9/22/10 at 6:49pm

I find more shocking that there are famous composers (Irving Berlin) who never read music. I heard the same is true for Robert Lopez (Avenue Q) too.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Reading Music#12

Posted: 9/22/10 at 7:43pm

Not only could Berlin supposedly not read music, but according to legend he could only play in the key of F#. He had to have devices installed on his pianos that would transpose them into the appropriate key as he played.

[chewy5000]

Reading Music#13

Posted: 9/22/10 at 8:48pm

F#? Really? That is one of the bitchiest keys possible!

[binau]

Reading Music#14

Posted: 9/22/10 at 8:53pm

According to this it's true:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/an-irving-berlin-piano-heads-to-philadelphia/

So weird :P. Also interesting contrast to ALW who I've heard composes in C Major then transposes to make it 'difficult' :P.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

[SondheimFan5]

Reading Music#15

Posted: 9/23/10 at 2:07pm

Barbara Cook
Frank Sinatra (though I know he was not broadway)

[Weez]

Reading Music#16

Posted: 9/23/10 at 2:39pm

F# is even a bitchy key on the ukulele, which I adore because it's one of the most charmingly simple things I've ever played (after the triangle and the Jew's harp).

Mind you, reading that article, it does actually make a certain amount of sense. On the piano, anyway. XD

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Updated On: 9/25/10 at 02:39 PM