Acting in Plays, Singing/Jazz ensemble Auditions

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Expert: - 4/3/2009


Question
I'm a very energetic person and I love upbeat songs, I normally sing tenor for chorus but I can hit notes comfortably up to mesosoprano. Do you have any songs in mind I might be able to use for my audition? They prefer Jazz and I need 10min. worth.

Answer
Hi, Carrissa –

Thank you for the question.

I want you to get the following anthology of Jazz standards.  Just click on or paste the URL into your browser to order on-line.  Many of the songs may be available on sites that have transposable digital downloads so that, if necessary, you can adjust the key to best suit your range and needs.

The Jazz Music Collection
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=32001285122&item=397509...

Included in the anthology are such greats as:
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) – by Duke Ellington
Eccentricity – by James P. Johnson
My Baby Just Cares For Me – by Walter Donaldson
I've Got The World On A String – by Harold Arlen
Taking A Chance On Love – by Vernon Duke

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  When you want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List – http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/1123151017.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.

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

THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM PRESENTS – Chagall And The Artists Of The Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22321

RUBEN MARTIN – Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

SUEDE – Tonight & Tuesday At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22047

KING TUT – Returns to the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21921

SCOTT NEVINS – At the Rrazz Room, Tonight and Saturday
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

SF BALLET – Program 6 Opens Friday Night, April 3rd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21440

KEELY SMITH – Making Magic at the Rrazz Room Through April 5th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21301

VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR – Director Matt Tyrnauer At The de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21266

ACT A LADY – Opens Saturday Night At The New Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21171

GREASE – Begins Tonight At The Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20959

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ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S REQUIEM – This Saturday At Mission Dolores Basilica
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20440

CD – BRUCKNER'S 5TH SYMPHONY – NEW RELEASE FROM TELARC
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20288

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http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20244

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THE DRAGON’S GIFT – The Sacred Arts of Bhutan
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FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS – Remembered in Souvenir at A.C.T.
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CHI McCLEAN – CD Release at the Cafe du Nord, March 4th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19736

BURN THE FLOOR – Hot Latin and Ballroom Dancing Now at Post Street Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19658

SWAN LAKE – A WORLD PREMIERE AT SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19584

ARTISTIC LUXURY – Fabergé, Tiffany, and Lalique
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19503

STAGE BRIEFS – WICKED, SF FOLLIES, TENNESSEE IN THE SUMMER
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19386

TELARC AND HEADS UP WIN 3 GRAMMY® AWARDS
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19352

WICKED – Now at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19280

SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Presents A Valentine’s All-Day Event
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19208

SF FOLLIES THE PERFECT ROAST OF SAN FRANCISCO PERSONALITIES, SAN FRANCISCO’S PAST AND PRESENT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19152

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET OPENS TONIGHT – Casting Announced For Programs 1
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19079

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS – DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY, FALSETTOS, and ZANNA, DON’T!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19068

THE DEAD SYMPHONY – West Coast premiere of symphonic tribute to the Grateful Dead
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19022

ZUILL BAILEY – Dynamic Cellist Makes Telarc Debut
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18898

A.C.T. PRESENTS – RICH AND FAMOUS
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18725

CD – THE FOUR SEASONS – Telarc Introduces Violinist Christina Day Martinson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18684

FALSETTOS – Begins Thursday January 8th At Theatre Rhinoceros
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18550

SF BOYS CHORUS AT INAUGURATION – An Interview with Ian Robertson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18330

NEW YEAR’S EVE – MARIN MAZZIE & JASON DANIELEY At the SF Symphony Concert
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18338

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY – The Results of Fiscal Year 2008
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18276

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – The Audited Financial Results, 2007–08
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18211

DAVID CONTE’S GIFT OF THE MAGI – Receives West Coast Premiere
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18047

BRIAN PATTERSON – Local Hunk In Bay Area Premiere of ZANNA, DON’T
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17927

CD – LA BOHÈME, Grammy Nomination for Sound Engineer Michael Bishop
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17846

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – What Becomes A Legend Most
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17798

AUSTRALIA – For Baz Luhrmann, There’s No Place Like Home
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17716

MILK – A Magnificent Film
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17658

CHRISTINE ANDREAS – A Conversation with Beautiful Broadway and Cabaret Star
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17442

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http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17408

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

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http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17164

SAMUEL RAMEY IS BORIS GODUNOV
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17140

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

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

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

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

BERNADETTE PETERS – A Triumph In San Francisco
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JENNIFER SIEBEL – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=6361

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

Best regards,
Seán 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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