Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 10/24/2007

Question
QUESTION: I am looking for a audition piece for a high school musical theatre department. I
am a 13 year old Caucasian girl and have lots of musical theatre experience.  I
am confident but want a different piece to wow the school..Any suggestions??

ANSWER: Hi there, Sam.  Thanks for writing.  

To pick an audition piece, there are some questions to answer:
1.  Do you have a lower voice or a higher voice?  Lower will do alto range (up until a C above middle C) and higher will do soprano range (up until 2 octaves above middle C).
2.  Do you want to do a comedic piece or a dramatic piece?
3.  What sorts of songs have you done before?  Is there anything similar about those pieces?  And how can you do something different now?
4.  Where can you find and listen to pieces to easily pick one that you like?  Where's the nearest library?
5.  And finally, what is most important to you - wowing the school or doing you best?

Listen to a wack of songs at your local library to find one that you really like and that suits who you are in your range as well as the kind of work you are looking to do.  Once you have it, practice it until you know it inside out and backwards.  Then, go and do the best job you can with the audition for that's the key - doing your best.

If you are having trouble with finding a piece still, I would suggest talking with a voice teacher and asking for some suggestions.  They may be able to help you as well.

I know you are probably looking for actual names of songs.  However, I don't know you well enough nor have I enough information to suggest actual songs.  So that is why I gave you the questions I did first.  I think by answering these, you can pretty well set out to find good songs for your voice.

I hope that helps.  

Wanda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i am an alto and i need both comedic and dramatic piece, i have sang songs
from
Broadway musicals such as white Christmas and Annie also the secret garden.
finally i would LOVE to wow the school!

Answer
Thanks for writing back, Sam.  If you have done both dramatic and comedic, then you are familiar with some musicals.  Great.  Maybe look in those same musicals for other pieces at your library.  Look for melodies that are no higher than the top space on the staff since you are an alto.  Pick one and go over it/ listen to it until you know it.

As I said, I don't know you well enough to suggest actual songs.  The best I can do is help you know a little of what to look for.  If you are having trouble, it would be better to talk to a voice teacher in your home town or school.  They will probably be able to point you somewhere.  

Picking a song is about the voice but it is also about personality and performance ability.  Those are things I cannot tell just from an email.  I'm sorry but that is the way it is.

In regards to wowing your school, I want to re-emphasize the importance of going out there to do your best. Although impressing is an ok idea, I don't want to you to be disappointed if people are not wowed by your performance. I'm NOT saying that you won't be able to wow.  You might have the ability but without me knowing you better, I can't say if this is what is going to happen.  What I can tell you is that if you go into the audition with the goal to do your best, you have a better chance of reaching that goal.  

I hope this helps.

Wanda