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Acting in Plays, Singing/College Musical Theatre Audition

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Expert: - 12/9/2009


Question
Mr. Sean Martinfield-

My last name is Martin.. irony.. ok, on to the point :)
I am auditioning for Millikin, NYU-Tisch, Carnegie Mellon, and AMDA for MT programs within the next three months. I was wondering if you could maybe suggest an audition song or two? I can only comfortably belt to a C (on the staff) and my coloratura goes to an F above high C. My voice teacher specializes in classical peices and is not much help with my Broadway repertoire. I have a very bubbly personality.. kind of a goofball really. My ballad song is "Lying There" from Pasek and Pauls EDGES. It shows my voice nicely and I love the emotion.

The up-tempo song is another story. I am looking for a classic comedic Broadway peice, not extremely well known, that accomodates my higher voice. I wish I could belt to an F but I simply haven't had the training and I don't want to risk my audition by pretending to be something i'm not. I was looking at "Spring Cleaning" by Chris Miller, but then I would still need a classic broadway peice for NYU. If you need to actually hear my voice, I can send you a video via email, youtube.. ect.

I would appreciate any advice you can give! Thank You.

Thanks :)
Trish Martin

Answer
Hello  –

Thank you for the question.

Let me help you, OK?
There is only one reason to become a musical theatre major. It is similar to the student bent on becoming an opera singer. You are in love with the specific repertoire that suits your vocal category, i.e., soprano, mezzo-soprano, etc. Because those are the roles you  will have to compete for after you graduate.

You’re right! Based on your descriptions, it would help to hear you. Besides liking the song – you have too many stipulations for one Broadway piece. You may have to re-think your other choices. Your job is to prove your musical theatre soprano vocal chops. There are only so many sopranos that can be admitted per semester.

Here are some suggestions for your Soprano Audition Portfolio. Listen to the Original Broadway Cast recordings of songs from the following musicals:

Just You Wait – MY FAIR LADY
Vanilla Ice Cream – SHE LOVES ME
Feelings – THE APPLE TREE
Unusual Way – NINE
Gooch’s Song – MAME

I want you to consider investing in the following anthologies. All the songs are from the Broadway Soprano repertoire. They are published in the same keys as the original score. Click on or paste the URL into your browser to view or purchase on-line:

Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Soprano – Volume 1
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=32001285122&type=rec&it...

Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Soprano – Volume 2
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=32001285122&lc=recs:det...

Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Soprano – Volume 3
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=32001285122&lc=recs:det...

Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Soprano – Volume 4
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?item=6721011&cart=3200128512...

Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Soprano – Volume 5
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/17940933

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  When you are in San Francisco and want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List. This week’s connection is:
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You may contact me through my website: http://www.thebeltersmethod.com/The_Belters_Method/Welcome.html
I am also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com.  All my articles and interviews about the Performing Arts provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Download Carmen Milagro’s BlogTalkRadio and her recent interview with Seán Martinfield. It’s all about singing and the 2009/10 San Francisco Opera Season:
Women and Legends Who Really Rock, 9/11/2009

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”Embraceable You” – Gershwin and Rodin at the Legion of Honor
Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
SAMSON & DELILAH – Meet Seán Martinfield
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – A Preview Look with Seán Martinfield

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http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52598

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Best regards,
Séan Martinfield

Acting in Plays, Singing

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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

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