<p>I'm trying to get an early start on college auditions next year, and I have a few audition songs but I just want to increase my repertoire. Currently I have On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady, We Kiss in a Shadow from the King and I, and Don't Marry Me from Flower Drum Song. Are those good audition pieces? </p>
<p>Plus can anyone give me some recomendations for both a ballad and up-tempo song. I'm a Baritone and I don't know my lowest note but I have a pretty good medium range and I can go up to a F#. A G would be sort of a reach but I'm sort of looking for something in that medium range where I'm comfortable.</p>
<p>By the way, for audition pieces is it true that you should not only learn the 16 bars but the entire song as well?</p>
<p>I would try to get some more variation in the styles of music. King and I, My Fair Lady and FDS have very similar sounding music, so I would try to find something a little more contemporary in addition to one of those classics. I'm not very familiar with My Fair Lady, but I think the guy that you'd probably be singing for is kind of an older man. As for FDS, you might want to reconsider this, because most colleges frown upon doing songs/monologues that must be performed by a particular race. </p>
<p>I might suggest for the uptempo something from She Loves Me. Tonight at Eight is a really funny song if done right and shows a broad range of dynamics in your acting. Since She Loves Me is an older style musical, try to get something more contemporary. I would definitely look into buying a couple volumes of The Singers' Musical Theater Anthology Baritone book. They provide a lot of popular and not so popular sheet music. So try to look into that.</p>
<p>I would suggest to learn the whole song. It never really hurts...</p>
<p>I would learn the entire song for both your ballad and up-tempo. You should feel like you "own" your songs and when you do your cuts it's important to really understand how they fit musically and contextually into the body of the whole song. Remember, you are not just singing but acting the song and it's tough to act it if all you know is a 16 bar cut. In addition, some auditions require 16 bars, some 32, some 90 seconds. More the reason to know the entire song.</p>
<p>Also, you should have 2 ballads and 2 up-tempos prepared in case at your audition you are asked to sing a second song of one type or the other.</p>
<p>On the Street Where You Live is okay as far as age -- Freddie is a younger character. Don't Marry Me is a great song, but intended for an Asian character, as is We Kiss in a Shadow. I'm not sure if that applies to you, or in fact if anyone would consider it a problem. You certainly should learn the entire song, not just the 16 bar segment. There's always a possibility you will be asked to do more. And make sure you understand the context of the song in the show -- be familiar with the plot.</p>
<p>It probably would be a good idea to add some more contemporary songs. To narrow it down, stay away from shows that are currently running on Bway; many people also advise you to avoid anything by Webber, Sondheim, & Jason Robert Brown, as their songs can be notoriously difficult to play (and sing!) </p>
<p>To get you started, check out some shows from the 1960 - 1980 era. For example, you might want to look at Pajama Game, Roar of the Greasepaint, Half a Sixpence, Charlie Brown, Shenandoah,The Magic Show -- all shows that are under-utilized and have good songs to look at. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would avoid On the Street Where You Live...Just because anywhere you go to audition there will most likely be at least five other guys singing it.</p>
<p>I agree with what has been posted above. Some schools will also ask for a classic or art song. Best to check the web sites of the schools you are interested in. Even though you have a year or so before you start auditioning most schools probably won't change what the ask for in audition songs by then and by checking you can get a good idea of what they are looking for.</p>
<p>You don't HAVE to stay away from Sondheim and JRB, because not everything they wrote is hard to play, but you do need to be careful. I am doing a JRB piece for my auditions and it's probably the easiest piece I have ever played before (other than easy piano versions), and this is coming from just an intermediate pianist. But remember; pieces written by other composers than JRB and Sondheim can be just as difficult, for instance Beethoven Day from Charlie Brown and King of the World from Songs for a New World.</p>
<p>Just take a look at the sheet music if you can read music and look at the difficulty. If you can't read music, listen to the song and see if you can pick out parts where it might be problematic to play. If you can't do that, then ask a voice teacher or a pianist you know. If you can't do that, go crawl back in your hole that you came from :D</p>
<p>^ (Songs for a New World was composed by Jason Robert Brown)</p>
<p>to the OP: I highly recommend Cole Porter. And not just because he's my favorite composer, either. ;) Unfortunately I can't recommend specific songs, as, being female, I'm rather unknowledgable about male singing ranges.</p>
<p>Response to Freedom -- Yes, I am aware that every song from the composers I mentioned is not difficult to play. And I happen to like those composers myself. I was only trying to narrow things down for claydavisdbc because he seemed to be starting from scratch. </p>
<p>Oddly enough, however, I sat in on a master class taught by JRB last weekend -- and he advised students NOT to use his songs for auditions! His comment was: "You're never going to perform it better than the original singer -- so why invite negative comparisons? Better to stay with something more generic so you can really make it your own."</p>
<p>My daughter has her list of songs that she will use for auditions so I was wondering what you (CC) thought of it. Are there any songs on her list that are RED FLAGS. She is a Belty Mezzo.</p>
<p>Welcome to the World - John & Jen
Mister Snow - Carousel
With Every Breath I Take - City of Angels
Wherever He Ain't - Mac & Mabel
My Own Space - The Act</p>
<p>I think she also has "I'm not at all in love" from Pajama Game. She probably has a few others up her sleeves that I am not aware of. I am watching from afar and only get involved when needed... like for traveling arrangements and such. Most of my knowledge is coming from CC and her coaches. I am not musical at all. In fact we don't know where it comes from in her. So I am mostly along for the ride. I hate to ask her to many questions or give advice because this is her world not mine and I make her more nervous. I only step in when my mother's intuition tells me to.</p>