Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 12/17/2010

Question
Hi!  My school is doing Annie as our winter musical I would like to audition for Annie, however, I'm having so much trouble finding a song to audition with.  I would like to pick a song that shows Annie's personality, but also fits my voice category.  Also the song must be from a Broadway Musical.

I am 13 years old, and my voice is between an alto and mezzo-soprano.  I sing soprano in my school's chorus, but I always get really nervous for auditions, and I would rather sing a song lower than soprano so I'm a bit more comfortable with it.  My voice is loud and belty when it's in the alto range, but as I get higher and into my head voice it is a little softer and less belty.  Please help!

Thanks so much.

Answer
Hi there, Cori...And thanks for writing.

The best thing I can do for you is to encourage you to go to the library in your local town and look into mezzo soprano section in the musical section of your library.  Go listen to a number of options and pick one.  You want to pick a song that you like, that you can sing (that is not too difficult), that is in your range, and that you understand.  

Another thing you can do is to choose a musical that you are particularly fond of and find a song that way.  

Without knowing you, hearing you sing, seeing you in action and without really understanding your experience on the stage, it is difficult for me to determine what is best for you.  If you have sang in your school's chorus, you could also ask your chorus director for ideas or songs they might suggest.  That's another option for you.  They know you better than I know you.

Regarding the nerves...Congrats on doing the audition anyway.  That is awesome!  It is essential that you prepare well for this audition.  And next, it is absolutely critical that you remember to breathe.  One of the first things that happens to us when we are nervous is that we stop breathing.  It is important that you do not.  Also, tell yourself to feel the floor under you.  Tell yourself to feel the air around you.  Take breaths before starting and smile and be yourself.  Enjoy it.  Make a choice that this is going to be fun and go and do it!  If you do these things, you will find that it is a much better experience for you.

Does that help you at all, Cori?

Wishing you a whole bunch of success...


Wanda