Acting in Plays, Singing/Audition help!

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/22/2010


Question
Hi there, i'm from London and recently found this website whilst looking for online advice and help.
I have an audition for the BBC search for Dorothy in a few weeks and need two contrasting songs...
My only idea is Out Here On My Own from Fame the Movie but i cant think of anything else.
This is the blurb i received it the email...

Think carefully about your song choices, we want to see potential Dorothy's singing modern songs from artists like Pink, Rihanna, Pixie Lott etc. as well as being able to demonstrate a musical number. As we are looking for a Dorothy with attitude you should think of popular well known musicals that can demonstrate your voice and show us that you are potentially Andrew's thoroughly modern Dorothy.

My voice i mezzo-soprano, more of a belt (top being D)

Any help would be great as i really want to do the best i can.

Yours,
Kariss.

Answer
Hi, Kariss –

Thank you for the question.

In addition to “Out here on my own”, also consider “I can see it” (The Fantasticks).

Go through the songs of Pink, Rihanna, and Pixie Lott. A number of Pink’s songs are available as digital downloads which can then be transposed into the keys that you need. Go to musicnotes.com. The titles include: Glitter In the Air, So What, Sober, Please Don't Leave Me, Nobody Home, I Don’t Believe You, etc. Songs by Rihanna and Pixie Lott are available as well.

Check the songs against the recordings. Figure out what keys work best for you.

The producers have told you what they want. Your job is to convince them that even if you weren’t playing “Dorothy” – you could make it as a Pop Star.

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  When you are in the Bay Area and want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List. This week’s connection is:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/1557923877.html
You may also contact me through my website: http://www.thebeltersmethod.com/The_Belters_Method/Welcome.html
I am 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

Take a look at my You Tubes:
”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

Below are links to my recent interviews and articles about what's happening on San Francisco's cultural scene:
CREATION – A Challenging Film Biography on Charles Darwin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=57307

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Announces Repertory and Casting for 2010/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=57087

SF BALLET – 2010 Repertory Season Opens Saturday, January 23rd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56811

DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487

NATHAN GUNN – A Hit At The Herbst
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM – Our Struggle: Responding to Mein Kampf
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55889

HELGI TOMASSON’S 25th ANNIVERSARY – SF Ballet Gala, January 20th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55822

NATHAN GUNN – In Recital At The Herbst Theatre, January 12th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54863

100th ANNIVERSARY – A Landmark Celebration for the American Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55040

SF FRINGE FESTIVAL – Now Accepting Applications For 2010
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=55544

HARVEY FIERSTEIN – Is “Tevye” in Fiddler On The Roof
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54638

CRITIC’S CHOICE: CD – MICHAEL MANIACI: Mozart Arias For Male Soprano
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54523

NEW ORGAN SERIES – Premiers January 17th at Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54383

ROBERT DOWNEY Jr. – Not Holmes For Christmas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53947

CRITIC’S CHOICE – CDS, Pianists: Mitsuko Uchida, Temirzhan Yerzhanov, AND Jonathan Biss
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53812

CARTIER AND AMERICA – Exclusive Exhibit at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53619

DAMES AT SEA – Now At NCTC
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53326

TOM ORR – “Jingle Bell Jock!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=53061

THE 39 STEPS – Hitchcock To Stage Is Too Fabulous
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52598

ME AND ORSON WELLES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52241

THE NUTCRACKER – SF Ballet Is In Grand Form
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52127

CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761

A CONVERSATION WITH LUCIE ARNAZ – This Week At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51605

9 Grammy Nominations To Telarc International and Heads Up International
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51457

SF CONCERT CHORALE – At Mission Dolores Basilica
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51300

SF SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – One Day Only, Saturday, December 12th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51233

THREE GRAMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS – SF Symphony Is The Best
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51083

PETER, THE WOLF, THE AX, a 5th, and HOLIDAY PIPES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=50376

HOB NOB ON THE HILL – Annual Gala at the Fairmont Hotel
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=50108

CARTIER – Exclusive Exhibit at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49806

ON THE ORGAN – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49615

AMISH ABSTRACTIONS – Fabulous Quilt Exhibit Now at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49241

GAUTIER CAPUÇON, Cellist – Debut with San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48337

MEDIEVAL MOURNERS – Coming to SF City Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48259

VERY POST MORTEM: Mummies and Medicine
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47785

JANE MONHEIT – This Sunday At The Empire Ballroom
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083

JOHAN BOTHA – South African Tenor Makes SF Opera Debut As “Otello”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47706

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT – Live From The Nokia Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=47063

EXOTIC EROTIC BALL – 30th Anniversary, Friday and Saturday At The Cow Palace
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46654

SALOME – Now at SF Opera Through November 1st
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46542

JAN WAHL – Action! Monday Night at New Conservatory Theatre Center
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46393

DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT – A Hit for San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=46210

FLEETWEEK – Weekend Bash at Pier 39
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45837

FLEET WEEK – A Conversation with Airshow Pilot Tim Weber
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45460

HALLOWEEN AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL – Nosferatu, The Vampire Film Classic of 1922
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45154

JUAN DIEG FLÓREZ – To Sing “Tonio” in San Francisco Opera’s Daughter of the Regiment
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44753

“Pulp Scripture”, Hélène Renaut, and teenage YouTube vocalist Jesaiah Baer
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44489

CD – THE PLANETS, A Mind-Blowing Meditation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44236

SF OPERA’S “Abduction From The Seraglio” – The Trills and Frills of Captivity
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43985

SOUTH PACIFIC – A Total Winner In San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43862

MACY’S PASSPORT 2009 – Glamour and Giving Galore in San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43233

IL TRITTICO – Patricia Racette Debuts In Puccini’s Trio of One-Act Operas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43109

IL TROVATORE – Opening Night A Stunning Success For San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=42392

NOEL COWARD’S BRIEF ENCOUNTER – Opens September 16th At A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=41449

CD – ZUILL BAILEY and SIMONE DINNERSTEIN, Beethoven’sComplete Works for Piano and Cello
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39415

MAURICE SENDAK – At the Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39005

NORMA SHEARER – Hollywood Dreams Made Real
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38082

THE EGYPTIAN (1954) – A Swords & Sandals Cultural Encounter at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37554

SALLY KELLERMAN – Hot Lips for Hot Hits at The Rrazz Room

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.