<p>What schools require songs from specific time periods? I though it was more of a suggestion...</p>
<p>DANIMAL,
It is imperative to read the audition requirements for each of your schools. They vary WIDELY. Some want contemporary songs. Some want one song to be pre 1960. Some want the entire song, some want 32 bars, and others want 16 bars. Some want contemporary monologues, others want classical, others want Shakespeare, and so on. Some want two min. monos, some want one min., some 1 1/2, etc. That means you will likely be preparing more than two monos and more than two songs total, plus variations in length for each. If a school says that one song must be pre 1960, then it HAS to be. That is different than a school that doesn't stipulate that at all. In those cases, you could sing a song that is pre1960 but you do not have to. Some schools even say two contemporary MT songs. Pre 1960 is not required at all schools, only those that mention it as a requirement. I can't run down each schools' requirements, nor do I know your list. I'd also have to look them all up as they change year to year. I also would be doing you a disservice if I made an error and it is very important that you look up the requirements for each of your schools. I know my D had to have a pre 1960 song at UMich and Penn State. I can't recall at the moment where else, if anywhere, from her list.</p>
<p>syracuse had a pre-1960 requirement, as well.</p>
<p>Sporti...the ya go! These auditions are starting to be a distant memory. I guess my D did sing her pre 1960 song also at Syracuse then. </p>
<p>This year's audition requirements for Syracuse (I have them in hand as one of my students is aplying there) does not mention pre 1960 like it was in my D (and your) cycle. It refers to contrasting time periods, however.</p>
<p>Michigan has now changed to pre-1965 and yes, after talking to Syracuse, they do not have any specific time period requirement, just the mention of contrasting time periods.</p>
<p>This may be a really dumb question, but I LOVE the song "Sailing" from A New Brain. I realize that it is sung by a guy in the show, but it is sung by a woman in Infinite Joy. I know that that is not in context of the show, but would it be rediculous or risky to sing that song as a female in a college audition? It complements my range so well!</p>
<p>I'm currently looking for a Soprano ballad, preferably not too recent. I'm pretty much in love with Sondheim because his songs all seem to somehow fit my voice perfectly. However, while accompaniment shouldn't be an issue (I'm auditioning at the Unifieds where I'll have recorded accompaniment), I know to be VERY wary of the too-mature songs that he is famous for. Does anyone have any suggestions for songs that would be more age-appropriate (besides Forum)?</p>
<p>It is probably going to be difficult to find a soprano ballad from Sondheim that is not mature... Although if you are a lyric soprano "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" could be a good choice but only if you can nail it.</p>
<p>I would suggest looking up older composers. Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kern, Lowe, Gershwin and others have all written some wonderful pre 1960 soprano songs. It will also fulfill meeting the pre 1960s requirement for some of your schools. Even if your school does not request it, I'd sing a standard anyway. From what I hear, auditors love hearing young people sing classics. It may earn you some brownie points :)</p>
<p>also about to audition for musical theater programs...
i just cant seem to find the right ballad
i need something for a soprano/mezzo
the school i am auditioning for is more towards contemporary pieces..but i have no idea whats right and whats wrong to use, i get mixed opinions from everyone i discuss it with
i love Somewhere Thats Green from little shop of horrors
or i was also thinking There's a Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q
the uptempo song im doing is blow gabriel blow and i just need something that is a little different from that, that is why i didnt know if i should do a belty ballad
i wanted to show a little diversity
any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks!</p>
<p>Theatre is Life - Cincinatti's website with audition do and dont's really is excellent and CC has a lot of strings about this. It's sometimes a real nightmare I know picking a song and when you consult the overdone list you start to wonder if there are any songs that aren't overdone. I think the most important thing in the end is to pick a song you really "own" and showcases your voice the best and you can act out. Somewhere in all this research I think we found a general guideline to stay away from any musicals currently on Broadway or that have been on Broadway in the past 5 yrs. You might want to research this. In any case - BREAK A LEG!</p>
<p>I am looking very carefully for a male (preferably tenor) up-tempo that showcases a very nice range! So far, I haven't had much luck (that comes with having the "best of broadway" Edition 2 book, and a few others. I Wonder why it is so hard to find uptempos?! </p>
<p>Originally, I was thinking of "put on a happy face" from birdie, "cabaret" from well cabaret (only because I Have heard sometimes if you mix up the gender of the song it makes for a well listened to performance--not that the song is overdone or anything :P,) and "What do i need with love." There were a few others but I really wasn't sure about the range and whether or not they were age-appropriate/overused.</p>
<p>"What Do I Need With Love" has been overdone recently; I wouldn't suggest crossing gender lines with "Cabaret". If you like Kander & Ebb, take a look at the show Starting Here Starting Now for some terrific songs.</p>
<p>Starting Here Starting Now is by Maltby and Shire. Did you mean World Goes Round which is Kander and Ebb? Or maybe you were just suggesting Starting Here Starting Now due to good material and I misunderstand.</p>
<p>Oh! I just remembered a song from kiss me kate, "another op'nin', another show," I hope that could be good enough for an uptempo? Lol.</p>
<p>Jeremy....you're a guy, I presume. Another Op'nin', Another Show for one thing is a group number sung mostly by the company in Kiss Me Kate and the solo is sung by Hattie, a female part. In an audition, I would shy away from singing songs written mostly as an ensemble number or else written for the opposite sex to sing. If I were you, I'd look at male solo songs.</p>
<p>oy vey lol. I am almost out of thought EXCEPT...there's one more song. I actually had to look for this one it's "Grand Knowing You" from She Loves Me. I hope this is good. It's fast, energetic, definitely for a male, so...lol.</p>
<p>Jeremy, I tried to post this last night, but apparently, it did not come through:
I am no expert, but I am becoming more and more convinced that, in the end, the most important thing isn't <em>which</em> song you perform, but is, in fact, <em>how</em> you perform/sing/act the song. In the end, it's gotta be about your own connection to the material and how you bring it to life in your unique way. (Can you tell I have been sitting in on numerous sessions with my own kid and her singing teachers/coach?:)) So, the bottom line is: choose a song you love and which meets the school's requirement and work it. I am guessing you must already have something in your book that would work as an uptempo. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Jeremy....I truly don't know you well enough to suggest songs best suited to YOU. I'll throw several male tenor uptempo songs out there to look at and you can determine fit....</p>
<p>I Believe in You from How to Succeed in Business
Purpose from Avenue Q
She Loves Me from She Loves Me
Something's Coming from West Side Story
Tonight at Eight from She Loves Me
Why from Tick Tick Boom
Dear Little Girl by Gershwin
Fifty Million Years Ago from Celebration
I Hear Bells from Starting Here Starting Now
I Can't Stand Still from Footloose
What Is It About Her from The Wild Party (Lippa)
Grand Knowing You from She Loves Me
Bargaining from Do I Hear a Waltz?
Lost in the Wilderness from Children of Eden
All I Need is the Girl from Gypsy
What Do I Need With Love from Millie (may be overdone?)
Run and Tell That from Hairspray
Run Freedom Run from Urinetown
Dames from 42nd Street
Beethoven Day from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown</p>
<p>(I've been searching for you and you cross posted while I was searching! and you can see I also have Grand Knowing You as a possibility!)</p>
<p>Oops -- I DID mean World Goes Round by Kander & Ebb, but Starting Here Starting Now is also one of my favorites -- I find Maltby & Shire to be similar in style to Kander & Ebb, which is probably why I made the mistake!</p>
<p>Ooohh, i'm auditioning for Urinetown Sunday at one of my local community theatres and this list helps a lot! Thanks.</p>