#4: It Started Out Like A Song
7/4/24
Oh, this may be my favorite topic - how do I communicate with the accompanist? Don’t worry, I got you.
Here are my FAST FIVE hard & fast rules for reviewing your cut before you sing… and by the way, if you know me, you know I have very few “rules” - everything I share is simply based on my experience and are only recommendations. However, for this… these are rules lol.
BEFORE I START - this should take less than 20 seconds. Rehearse these steps for each song in your book. Time yourself.
When you get into the room, move with urgency if possible and head straight to the accompanist.
GREET THEM by introducing yourself & your piece (song title & show title). Introduce the piece even if it is written large & clear as day on your music. As you say the sentence below, be placing your audition book on the piano ledge open to the 1st page of the cut.
“Hi/hey i’m julie how are ya - i’m singing Some People from Gypsy.” - THAT’S IT!
2. Point to where you are starting and where you are ending the cut. Now, this should be marked clearly but you still need to point the markings out.
“I’m starting here (point) and ending (flip if needed) here” - then flip back to the start.
3. Demonstrate the tempo and review any tempo changes throughout the cut. A good rule of thumb for this and #4 is that if it is written into the music, they will most likely follow anything because they are musicians and read music! I like to do this by singing a but of my cut starting from the top and lightly tapping the beat/quarter note on my thighs or chest to give the pulse. You need to rehearse this for each song!
“My tempo is (singing) “but IIIIIIIIIII, at least gotta TRYYYYYYY”” - while tapping the quarter note lightly on myself until they pick it up or they say “got it”.
OR
“At the top you can just follow me lightly, and then here (point) i’d like it to really move fast “sings a bit” until they pick it up
4. Point out anything that may be unexpected or different than your song may typically be played like “keep the tempo going straight through the end” or “I like to take it brighter than normal”. A lot of the time, you’ll be able to skip #4.
5. Say “Thanks” and go to the middle of the room to begin!
At this point the team will most likely say hi to you and PERHAPS even ask what you are singing. Generally there is not live “slate” - I only answer questions that are asked of me aside from “hi everyone!”.
Remember to take your binder on they way out! If you are able to, move with urgency entering and exiting the room. Again, only if that is possible.
Dreams Don’t Die :)
Julie