Auditioning For A Musical For The Uninitiated
Keywords: musical, musical performance, audition, face fear, musician
Preparing to audition for a part in a musical is daunting at best and petrifying at worst for those whose lives have not revolved around singing since early childhood. Some people just know music from having grown up around it. They seem to breathe it and it oozes out their pores. They know every song from every musical, even the obscure ones. At the least provocation they will start to belt out a song so appropriate to the moment that it’s scary, and on key too, hitting every single note. And they don’t seem to freeze up in the face of their audience either. While singing, they’re in their element.
Not everyone is blessed with such a natural command of the audio waves, or with such finely tuned vocal cords. Nor is everyone able to act natural and at ease in front of an audience while singing.
There’s no question that it’s fun to participate in a play, and many people are willing to have a smaller role in a community theater production. Many can shine in such a situation. But what about when the only production your school or local theater is planning is a musical, and you know your singing voice is less than angelic?
Perhaps you enjoy lifting up your voice in singing, but others ask you politely (or not so politely) to refrain from joining in so as not to ruin the song. Maybe even you as well as everyone else can hear your voice crack or warble on many of the notes. And yet, you really want to be in the musical, and you don’t want to just do tech once again this year.
Here are some tips for how to handle this worrisome event.
Tip #1: Read the script. Know what the musical is about and know the characters. Choose a character to audition for that you are well suited to. The character should have your body type and (obviously) your gender. If you’re a large, hairy older male, don’t audition for the part of a slim, innocent teenage maiden.
Tip #2: Choosing your music. Choosing the right music to sing for the audition is of utmost importance. Usually, you don’t sing a song for the audition that is from the musical. Chose another piece of music. Choose one that is in your voice range, without too many high or low notes. You can choose any song, however, songs from other musicals often provide you with a platform to showcase your strong points. You can usually show a lot of expression and movement with them, and this will show your abilities even if your voice cracks. Songs from musicals are likeable and you can usually find the music for them.
Tip #3: When to start. Don’t wait to start preparing for the audition. Searching for the right music can be very time consuming. Sometimes the most important criteria for your choice is not how much you like the song, but whether the music is available!
Tip #4: Finding music for your song. Usually the casting director requires you to bring the music without lyrics on a CD or audiotape or the sheet music for piano. You can buy sheet music online, but you can also get it at a music store or in the music library of a local school. Many songs are available online for free as midi files, although the quality is not necessarily the best. Often you will only have 30-60 seconds to sing, so you can usually find just a portion of the music online, enough for one or two verses and one chorus. Download it, save it and burn it to CD or hook up your computer to your audiotape player and copy it to an audiotape.
Tip #5: Practice, practice, practice. There is no such thing as too much practice. Be sure you have the words memorized so that you never wonder what the next word is. Sing the song everywhere you go when you’re alone. Belt it out in the shower. Sing in the car. Practice with the music until you have it perfect to the note. Practice your hand movements, facial expressions and actions too until they have become ingrained and you don’t have to think about them. Let the actions follow the words. Use your whole body to sing and sing from your belly, not from your throat.
Tip #6: Consider getting a voice coach. If you’re not a singer, this is a very good idea. A voice coach will help you improve your singing and your presentation considerably, and they will give you confidence.
Tip #7: Get a good night’s sleep. Go in to the audition rested, not frazzled and worried. Show your best side. Wear appropriate clothing.
Tip #8: Warm up your vocal cords. Before you sing your song at the audition, do all your usual voice warm-ups and more. Warm up your body, too, with stretching and movement.
Tip #9: Dealing with fear. Everybody is scared at an audition. Everybody really wants to get a part; so freezing up is not unusual. The casting director is aware of this. The very best thing you can do is to relax and allow spontaneity in your performance. Show your best side. Show your expressiveness and acting ability even when you know you’ve missed a note. And don’t sing quietly. Stage singers need to make their voices reach the farthest corner of the auditorium.
Tip #10: The actual audition. When you perform your song, forget all your practicing. Just be spontaneous. You know the material very well - now just have fun with it. If you make a mistake, just go right on. (Don’t stop in the middle and say “Oops” or “Sorry.” Be energetic. The casting director wants to see how well you can act as well as how well you can sing. Keep smiling. If you miss a note, or if your voice won’t obey what your mind tells it to do, just keep going and don’t look like you think you’ve made a mistake. And when you’re done, give a little bow and walk off the stage with confidence.
Good luck! With a smile and a song in your heart, you’ll do well!
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development. www.MusicianHome.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
RSS - Mini Database Of Websites (1)
Click the orange graphic - this is the RSS feed icon. Take note of the URL of the RSS feed; this will be displayed in the address bar (for Internet Explorer).
Using RSS Fields In Communication (2)
So go ahead and look for a directory where you can place your feed. Some may require fees for uploading a directory. Some offer it for free. Scout around and round up all the free sites you can have and place it there.
Top Writers Around The World Will Write For You ? Outsourcing (3)
You must have gnarly vigorous written articles that incorporate the keywords and keyword phrases properly in their sparkling and articles. There are many of those who cannot afford the time to write their own website contents and articles.
Helpful Advice On Food And Drink For Your Backpacking Trip (4)
Food can seem like a hassle, but it doesn't have to be if you know some helpful advice that can make planning the food and water for your backpacking trip simple.
Flipping A House For Real Estate Profits (5)
There is a lot more information out there on this subject in such places as your local bookstore, local library, and there are also a number of very helpful and informative Blogs on the subject.
Goat's Cheeses Of The Loire Valley (6)
The taste is slightly sour and salty with a touch of sweetness. A glass of Sancerre or Pouilly Fume accompanies this cheese beautifully. Pouligny-Saint-Pierre nicknamed the Eiffel Tower or Pyramid because if its shape.
Free, Fast As Lightning Traffic (7)
If you have a local service business, maybe you can find a community, association, or newspaper-owned site serving your community. If you have a retail business, maybe some of your manufacturers will list you on their sites.
Executive Coaching Consultant Says: "Combat Confidence Is Answer For Burned-Out Executives" (8)
"It's about eliminating the stress, ambiguity and self-limiting talk that stands in the way of living a more balanced and productive life and career." In conjunction with speaking, corporate training and seminars, Schiller is an executive coaching consultant to clients all over the U.S.
Are There Any Benefits Of Fitness Training Other Than Just Losing Weight? (9)
In fact the advantage far outweigh the disadvantages. Just remember to check with your doctor before starting anything and you will be glad you did. Check out www.1-stop-fitness.com for articles on the best home gym products.
Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Tips (10)
Your job is to provide all of the information to them in an honest and timely manner. Hiding something that may come up later does neither of you any good.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Rss Feeds With An Rss Aggregator (1)
Some even do not allow you to customize at all. Product and service advertisers are realizing the potential of RSS aggregators in internet marketing. In fact, several submit RSS codes to several popular web-based aggregators to reach the growing technophile and internet-based market.
No Time To Read A Book? Then Listen Up! (2)
Audio books will provide a new way of learning for busy individuals and professionals who want to enrich their knowledge in a multi-tasking environment. This is an increasingly popular mode of knowledge acquisition.
5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy A Top-Rated Moneymaking Program! (3)
Because you can be sure your investment in time and money will be protected. And you want to be reassured that it's scam-proof. Don't be taken in by the hype.
The Non-Job Option . . . Is It Time To Do Something Really Different? (4)
When you take a careful, constructive approach to a non-job option, you will find that there some amazing opportunities that can supplement you current income. Or possibly, in time, become your sole source of income.
What Is RSS (5)
To be able to use an RSS feed, you need to have an aggregator, also known as a feed reader. These aggregators are available widely online, so it won't be that hard to scour the net to find the one that you're looking for.
Is An Online Distance Education Degree Right For You? (6)
Jesse Whitehead earned his B.S. in Business Administration degree with honors from an online university in 2005. For more information about online distance education degrees, visit Online Schools Review at onlineschoolsreview.com
What To Get A New Baby (7)
They'll take away the dirty diapers once a week, wash them, and then bring them back again. Any new parents will love you for that gift! Baby gifts are a wonderful way to get the new family started in their life together, and you can do a lot to help that process.
Loan Officers Beware: Exposing The Loyalty Myth (8)
I just wanted to know if your loan officer has informed you that interest rates are at a 25 year low, but that the window to refinance and take advantage of these rock-bottom rates is quickly closing.
The Lighthouses Of The Outer Banks (9)
Just as the lighthouses represent a means of security for sailors finding their way through difficult weather at sea, they also symbolize the romanticism of the nautical life. Each year, thousands of visitors come to the Outer Banks to see these impressive monuments, if only to briefly live vicariously through the light keepers of old and enjoy the stories they have to tell.
How To Find Vintage Cowboy Boots (10)
So if you're interested in collecting vintage cowboy boots, be prepared to spend time searching for them, and be ready to pay for them too. Many good pairs sell for over $1000, with some costing substantially more.