You are here:

Acting in Plays, Singing/Into the Woods Audition Piece

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/29/2008


Question
Hi Seán,

I've got an audition for a uni production of Into the Woods coming up in a few months, and was looking for advice on an audition piece - ideally the Baker, but realistically perhaps the Narrator or Wolf. I planned to sing Sondheim, but I don't have any real familiarity with his work outside of Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd

I'm a bass/bari, and my range is approximately low E to high G. I'm 19, sang in choirs for 5 years in school and have been in several musicals over the past 6 years, but I have never been formally trained. Also, I'm quite out of shape vocally, as I've been concentrating on straight theatre for much of this year - short of formal training (which I can't really afford), can you give me any tips on increasing my range and strengthening my voice before the audition? As I've said, I've got 3 to 4 months up my sleeve.

Thanks so much for your help,

Dylan

Answer
Hi, Dylan –

Great question.  Thank you.

The musicals of Stephen Sondheim are very demanding and require excellent musicianship.  That includes being absolutely secure with your vocal category and being prepared to demonstrate your vocal range.

Based on your information – if you were being professionally trained, then I would trust you being a bass-baritone.  However, it's my experience as a professional singer and vocal coach that at 19 you probably have not worked with anyone who knows how to develop your upper register as a Soloist.  It very often happens that choir directors assign the singer with certain attributes, i.e., the "sound" of a bass, to a section where they are most needed.  That is a far different approach then being trained according to your true vocal category.  That's where I come in.  My job is to determine what that is during a vocal session.  Once we establish that, the training begins.

All my baritones exercise to at least a fully-balanced High B-flat, some go higher.  All my bass-baritones exercise to at least a fully-balanced High A-flat, some go higher.  You may be able to access a Low E, but can we hear it out in a standard theatre or concert hall – in the course of your repertoire, unmiked, and with no less than piano accompaniment?  If so, then the role of the "Wolf" is not for you because he is also a "Prince".  Their roles sit high in the register and can be sung extremely well by a 2nd Tenor or high baritone.

The role of "The Baker" is wonderful.  He is a standard baritone without any really high notes.  Consider any of the following songs:

Consider the following songs by Sondheim:
"Buddy's Blues" – FOLLIES
"Everybody Says Don't" – ANYONE CAN WHISTLE
"Marry Me A Little" – COMPANY

Also consider:
"Bye Bye Baby" – GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
"Tonight At Eight" – TONIGHT AT EIGHT

Whatever you sing, push The Baker's agenda through your delivery.

Getting in shape means working your scales everyday.  Never rehearse or learn material on a cold voice. Get into shape physically!  Given the time frame between now and the audition, get your abdominal muscles into centerfold condition.  If you do, then you will notice greater control in your upper register and, perhaps, the ability to access High A-flat or A.

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  To book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List – http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/903291218.html
I am also the fine arts critc for SanFranciscoSentinel.com.  All my articles and interviews provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Take a look at my You Tubes:

Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
SAMSON & DELILAH – Meet Seán Martinfield
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – A Preview Look with Seán Martinfield

Below are links to recent articles and reviews:

THE STATE MUSEUMS OF BERLIN AND THE LEGACY OF JAMES SIMON
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17223

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – Lon Chaney Silences SF Symphony For Halloween Night, Friday at 8:00
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17181

CARNEGIE HALL OPENING NIGHT – Tonight on PBS’ GREAT PERFORMANCES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17164

SAMUEL RAMEY IS BORIS GODUNOV – Now at San Francisco Opera through November 15th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17140

CD – BRAHMS: Ein Deutsches Requiem
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17012

BORIS GODUNOV – Opens tonight at the War Memorial Opera House
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

IDOMENEO – Star Treatment For Mozart Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

CD – DAS LIED VON DER ERDE: Superb Live Recording by Stuart Skelton and Thomas Hampson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16897

WARHOL’S JEWS – Series of ten original paintings on display at The Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16860

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Ray of Light Theatre Begins New Season October 17th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16805

JOSHUA BELL – At Davies Hall, October 23rd – 25th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16790

HISTORY BOYS – A Degree In Excellence at New Conservatory Theatre Centre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16716

EMANUEL AX – Renowned Pianist Appears with San Francisco Symphony October 9th – 11th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16700

ALONZO KING – RECEIVES 2nd ANNUAL MAYOR’S ART AWARD
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16683

A BRONX TALE – At the Golden Gate Theatre through October 19th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16594

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – Opens this weekend in Golden Gate Park
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16534

UNDER THE DOME – Fabulous 100th Anniversary Party at Westfield San Francisco Centre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16542

DIE TOTE STADT - A BAD HAIR DAY IN THE DEAD CITY
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16512

BONESETTER’S DAUGHTER – New Opera Stands Alone
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16321

THE WOMEN – NOT WHO YOU ARE EXPECTING
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16231

SPRING AWAKENING – A Breath Of Fresh Air, Now At The Curran
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16219

STORYCORPS – Oral History Project Opens October 12th at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16473

CORKY'S HOT ICE – Latest Bling In Gay Cinema
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16287

SIMON BOCCANEGRA – WASHES ASHORE FOR OPENING NIGHT AT SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16116

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS – More Lucas-Cloned Crap
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15557

SHOUTING OVATIONS FOR PIANIST YEFIM BRONFMAN – SF Symphony 2008-09 Season Opens In Fabulous Style
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16091

DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY – Stars in Opening Night of San Francisco Opera, Friday, September 5th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16003

TOM ORR – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15981

VIOLINIST JASSEN TODOROV – New Director of SF State University School of Music and Dance
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15848

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – Opens Wednesday, September 27th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15685

AT THE LEGION OF HONOR - The State Museums Of Berlin And The Legacy Of James Simon
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15655

NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTRE – The Season Begins
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15450

THE MIKADO – Opens 56th Season of The Lamplighters Music Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15450

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S 2008-09 SEASON
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15362

BERNADETTE PETERS – A Triumph In San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15150

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE – Detours Ahead
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15107

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE – at Broadway By The Bay
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=14777

JENNIFER SIEBEL – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=6361

A CHORUS LINE – at the Curran Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=14702

‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE – At A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=13840

A CONVERSATION WITH IAN ROBERTSON – Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=13747

SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – At the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=14576

ERIK BATZ – A Conversation With “The Scarecrow” At The Mountain Play
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=12892

NORMA SHEARER in “MARIE ANTOINETTE” – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=8783

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield

Acting in Plays, Singing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Sean Martinfield

Expertise

I am a professional vocal coach in San Francisco. In addition to answers from a previous web site (Askme.com - where my "tag" was "VocalCoach") I have published over 2000 responses related to vocal training - particularly as it relates to Musical Theatre and Opera. I have 24 years of experience as Personal Trainer to singers and actors in the San Francisco Bay Area. I sang professionally for 20 years and know what it means to live the life of a musician. I can determine your voice category, i.e., Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Alto Belter, etc., and how to broaden and strengthen your range. Need an audition song for a Broadway Musical? I will give you suggestions that are appropriate to your vocal category and to requirements specified in the audition notice. I have also created a vocal methodology, "The Belter`s Method". It will enable those in Musical Theatre to practice more efficiently because it focuses on the demands of professional performers as well as to those auditioning for school and community productions, and as University and Conservatory performing arts majors. If what you want is a better voice and more control over your career moves and choices, contact me. Also, as the Editor of SanFranciscoSentinel.com, it is my privilege to review productions at the San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony, as well as Broadway National Tours booked into San Francisco's Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres. I also review works by A.C.T (the American Conservatory Theatre) and Magic Theatre. I cover select films, tributes and retrospects, and various international film festivals – particulary those booked into The City's opulent Castro Theatre – including the LGBT Frameline Festival, International Film Festival, Silent Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, etc. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Look under: Seán Martinfield, Sentinel Editor and Publisher.

Experience

As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My students range from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation. I know how to identify any singer's vocal category, i.e., soprano, tenor, alto, baritone, etc. I know how to muscle-up every singer's vocal range and to expand it beyond conventional definitions. I have developed a vocal methodology for those who want to know how to belt, THE BELTER'S METHOD. As a singer who spent half of his career doing Bel Canto, I know that classical or Italian methodologies do not work in Standard American music. Bel Canto cannot be "adapted" to meet the needs of contemporary American music, including the demands of the Musical Theatre. There are a number of major components to my work as a vocal coach. The first is to identify the client's vocal category and to strengthen and maximize the vocal range accordingly. Then it's about teaching a reliable vocal workout that will enable the client to gain better control of their musicianship. That includes scale work to expand the vocal range and to improve placement, breath control, and diction. Then we work on material for the audition portfolio, the immediate job or assignment, a recording session, etc. My task to is to better equip singers and actors who are hoping to or relying upon their performance skills and vocal endurance to maintain a career in the Performing Arts. My clients regularly appear in cabarets and musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. For more information, Contact me at: Broadwaybelters@yahoo.com

Education/Credentials
San Francisco State University – BA in Theatre Arts; graduate work in Theatre, Philosophy, and Comparative Reiligion. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley – Graduate work in Ethics

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.