<p>So I need a contemporary song and a pre-1960's, 1 a ballad and 1 up tempo so I have chosen "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" as my Classic ballad and "Breath" from "In The Heights" as my contemporary up tempo. I'm singing "Somewhere" in a lower key as I'm not classically trained or a soprano so Idk if that can hurt me? My other options were "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" as my Classic Ballad and "Blue Hair" as my up tempo but I just feel SGOS might be more overdone and BH I just recently learned and it's a bit tricky to accompany.</p>
<p>I would not recommend changing the key of a song as well-known and iconic as “Somewhere”. There are so many classic songs to choose from that might be in a better key for you. </p>
<p>I agree with your decision about your second choices, though. “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” is overdone and not really a ballad, anyway; “Blue Hair” is very difficult to play.</p>
<p>Not an expert, but I know that I have heard many times not to do a contemporary song from a show currently on Broadway or on tour.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought,I’ve just been looking for songs for a while now and I don’t really have time to learn something new.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that it’s not advised to do songs from shows currently on Broadway but Neither are, I believe ITH is on tour but never heard that before, either way thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>I would stay away from SGOS, good call. If you execute Somewhere nicely by tailoring it to your own voice, I think you come out better for it.</p>
<p>If the song were from the 30’s or 40’s at a time when any gender or voice type might sing the song, a different key is probably fine.
BUT if the song is strongly associated with a certain vocal type, don’t mess with the key! My daughter recently auditioned somewhere singing a well-known old soprano song shortly after someone else sang the same song in a lower, alto key. The pianist made a comment to my daughter about being glad she had sung the song in the “right” key. The look on the pianist’s face was enough to tell my D that the other version wasn’t appreciated.
If you are singing a song in the wrong key, you are not singing a song for your type. You want all your audition materials and your appearance to match your type.</p>
<p>Would “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Oh Kay be considered old enough to transpose to a lower key?</p>
<p>Through all the research I have done in preparation for my own auditions, I have come across a common theme that you should not use anything that is from a show that was on Broadway in the last five years. I would suggest picking different songs altogether. Picking songs that really compliment your own voice and also show a good contrast will be really appreciated by the auditors. Not only will you be more memorable to them because you have a unique package, but they will also see your dedication at really looking to find the specific songs. Finding songs and monologues that are perfect fits is a really hard and frustrating process, but I promise it is way more rewarding to deliver an audition that is you worked hard at putting together.</p>
<p>Ok so I’ve been looking for songs a lot lately and would “Cabaret” from “Cabaret” be ok and also “The Girl I Mean To Be” from “The Secret Garden” i know this one is meant for someone who is way younger but I am 4’11 and I could play 12/13. Anw the colleges/programs I am applying to don’t have “Do Not” lists. Also does the intro of the song count as part of the 16/32 bars? Thanks again.</p>
<p>Intro doesn’t count towards your 16/32 bars.</p>
<p>I know they say not to lower the key, and not to sing anything recently on broadway, etc. etc. - but this season one of my daughters songs was from a show recently on broadway, and she sang it 1/2 step lower. And, I’m sure lots of other girls sang it. So far, her acceptances for MT are: Point Park, University of the Arts, Ithaca and CCM. Granted, she has her share of rejections as well - but her choice for her ballad did not shut her out of competitive programs. Was it the ideal song? I don’t know, but at a certain point you have to go with something you feel like you can act well without focusing anymore on the technical aspects - and of course still nail all the vocal technical aspects. For my daughter, whose acting and belt and belt/mix are her strong points and whose upper register is still a work in progress - this was a compromise we made after looking at a lot of different songs with her coach.</p>