Should I Change my Audition Song?
Should I Change my Audition Song?
ChangingMyMajor
Swing Joined: 3/11/16
#1Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 9:15am
I am auditioning for Crazy for You tomorrow, and I want to be one of the Follies girls. I initially wanted to do Always True to You in My Fashion from Kiss Me Kate, but my voice teacher said that I needed to do a specifically Gershwin song. He gave me S' Wonderful from An American in Paris, and I was initially concerned that it did not show off my range enough. He told me that I did, and that I should audition with that song. When I voiced my concerns to my mother, she said that I should do the song that he told me, because who am I to argue with someone who works in musical theatre for a living. So despite my unease I went with it, and now it is the day before the audition. I went on Musicnotes, saw the note range for my cut and panicked. It's entirely too low in my voice, and I seriously don't think it's putting my best food forward. The top note is a B flat 4, and I can belt up to a C5, I don't know why he chose to give me such a low song. Always True to You in My Fashion is my go-to song, and I am seriously considering switching songs, despite the late hour. Is the late switch going to throw off my audition? Is it worth it to sing a song that doesn't tell tell the creative team that I sound like Brandon Uranowitz when auditioning for a cute, bubbly, chorus girl.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm sorry this is on the broadway board, but I really need guidance.
Thanks!
#2Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 9:39amI think you should go with your guts and switch songs.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 9:41am
1. If you had to look up the range to "see" it was too low for you, it is't.
2. Do the song you've worked on, switching the day before is inviting problems combined with nerves.
3. Don't you think both your mum and your voice teacher KNOW you? Certainly far better than anyone here.
4. If you're "right", you're right, egardless of whether they hear your high range or not.
5. You also cannot determine whether you made the right choice by the results. (ie. you might get cast no matter which choice you make -- or not.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 12/10/17 at 09:41 AM
#4Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 9:53am
I agree with everything that drammamama said, BUT. So much of a good audition depends on the confidence you project, so if you go into it using a song leaves you with doubt in the back of your mind, you may need to go with your "go to song". Analytically drammamama's correct, but only you can filter your own emotional, mental state into the equation.
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.
#5Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 9:54am
Always True is a much better audition song since it has comedy built in. S'Wonderful is a play on words and shows the cleverness of the lyricist not the actor. It is smarter to do a non-Gershwin song since they have to sit through Gershwin all day and Porter certainly is close enough.
Sometimes, your choice as an artist is better than someone else's choice. Always True has a better ascending line to sing show the voice. Still, it could be that you do not sing it well and your teacher knows that and wants you to show yourself at your best.
You do know that you may change the key on Musicnotes so the song can go as high or low as you care to present it. Pick whichever key is more thrilling in your voice. No one cares what the original key is since you will not even be singing that song in the show and the creators would have picked a different key to show off your voice if you originated their piece too.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#7Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 11:26am
You do know that you may change the key on Musicnotes so the song can go as high or low as you care to present it.
This is what I was going to say; why don't you just transpose it on Musicnotes?
#8Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/10/17 at 11:41am
For an initial audition for Crazy for You, the people behind the table need to find out three things.
What you look like in person.
What you sound like.
That you can dance.
Oh, and that you can sell it all with confidence. They'll have their answers well before you get to any "money" note.
That's it. There's nothing about being a Follies Girl in Crazy for You that you need to show a wide range for. Go in, show them that you know what you're doing and are right for the piece. You don't need to do Ophelia's death speech for a toothpaste commercial.
You've hired a professional to train and guide you as an artist. Trust them.
#9Should I Change my Audition Song?
Posted: 12/11/17 at 6:07am
“The top note is a B flat 4, and I can belt up to a C5, I don't know why he chose to give me such a low song. Always True to You in My Fashion is my go-to song, and I am seriously considering switching songs, despite the late hour. Is the late switch going to throw off my audition? Is it worth it to sing a song that doesn't tell tell the creative team that I sound like Brandon Uranowitz when auditioning for a cute, bubbly, chorus girl."
why not just sing it up the octave if you can?
also is it a good thing for a chorus girl to sound like Brandon Uranowitz?? i feel like they’d rather sound like someone more feminine.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
