Do not sing list

[Momofnine]

<p>In perusing through this forum, many have posted that there are lists specified by each school of songs or plays not to choose audition music from. Are they pretty much the same school to school, or does each school have a unique list? Can some people give examples of what is on these lists, and do you know if it changes from year to year. Thanks so much!</p>

[broadway95]

<p>Otterbein used to have a do not sing list but has done away with it this year. A good rule of thumb is no JRB or Sondheim because of the accompaniment. Matthew Edwards from Shenandoah put out a list on auditioning for college that lists a great deal of songs but it is from 2011 so a little outdated. If it is a song you think is overdone it probably is. Basically when all is said and done show them you and if you can kill it in your song you will be fine.</p>

[EmsDad]

<p>Requirements vary from school to school, so be sure to check the audition requirements carefully for each school that you are interested in. Some schools give general recommendations, some are very specific about what to avoid, and some are very liberal in their requirements. Schools do make changes sometimes, so check in the Fall that you apply for the latest requirements.</p>

<p>CCM has a widely recognized list of do’s and dont’s, here are some of their recommendations:</p>

<p>

DO avoid overly familiar material, songs that are performed continuously. There is a wealth of material from which to choose without resorting to “Much More,” “I Can’t Say No,” “All That Jazz,” “If I Were a Bell” or “Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine.”</p>

<p>DO avoid songs associated primarily with particular artists. “New York, New York” is Liza’s song, “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is Barbra’s and “Over the Rainbow” is Judy’s. Comparisons are inevitable.</p>

<p>DO avoid the current hit from the current Broadway smash or revival. These songs are simply performed too often at auditions to work to your advantage.</p>

<p>DO NOT present a choreographed routine. Dance skills are evaluated at the dance audition. DO, however, approach the material with a free body and move whenever appropriate. Body movement should be relaxed (not casual) and should not “illustrate” the lyrics (pointing at your head then at your watch on the words “I know now.”) </p>

<p>DO select material suitable for youthful performers. Many students hide behind phony elderly voices and mannerisms, the characterizations that won them acclaim in the high-school play. Remember, we want to see who you are. </p>

<p>DO NOT attempt songs obviously created for mature characters – song such as “I’m Still Here,” “Send in the Clowns,” “Fifty Percent,” “Rose’s Turn” and any Sondheim song written for a mature character. </p>

<p>DO beware of choices that are difficult to perform under stressful conditions. Many of the patter songs (“If,” “Another Hundred People,” “Funny,” “Giants in the Sky”) are notoriously difficult and require careful coordination between pianist and singer. These songs are hard to perform without adequate rehearsal and under the naturally competitive circumstances of an audition. </p>

<p>DO avoid excessively emotional pieces. It is difficult to build a sentiment quickly and convincingly. In her concert appearances, the legendary Lena Horne sings the song “Stormy Weather” twice because, as she says, she has to “build up to it.” And consider that selections like the transformation scene from Jekyll and Hyde without the benefit of costume, make-up and lighting are often unintentionally hilarious in the unforgiving light of an audition room.

</p>

<p>You can find their entire list of recommendations here:
<a href=“http://ccm.uc.edu/theatre/musical_theatre/auditions1/dos_and_donts.html”>http://ccm.uc.edu/theatre/musical_theatre/auditions1/dos_and_donts.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Very common recommendations in addition to those noted by CCM include:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Nothing by Sondheim and JRB (as noted by broadway95) - in addition to accompaniment problems, it is very difficult for a high-schooler to deliver these songs well.</p></li>
<li><p>Nothing by Andrew Lloyd Webber.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>In my opinion (I am not an expert, but I have talked to lots of pros and college department heads), many “Overdone” lists are “Overdone” and tend to include a ridiculously large part of the Broadway Canon.</p>

[FutureMillie6]

<p>I agree that if you really own a song, go for it even if it’s considered “overdone”…unless it’s Defying Gravity. Don’t do that.</p>

<p>One of my songs is on a couple do not sing lists, but was recommended to me by a program head as something to add to my rep after he heard me sing at a practice audition. This song however is not on any of the do not sing lists at the schools I am applying to. If it were, I would do something else for that school.</p>

<p>Definitely pay attention to the requirements of each school so it doesn’t seem like you don’t care to follow the rules or take the time to research if the school has any.</p>

[FutureMillie6]

<p>List of recommended material to avoid taken from James Madison’s website:</p>

<p>The following material is not recommended:</p>

<p>SONGS – A Way Back to Then, All That Jazz, Always True to You Darling in My Fashion, Art is Calling Me, Blue Hair, Defying Gravity, How Many Tears, I Am I Don Quixote, I Enjoy Being A Girl, I Hate Men, I Speak Six Languages, I’m Not At All In Love, If I Can’t Love Her, Impossible Dream, In His Eyes, In My Own Little Corner, Much More, My New Philosophy, On My Own, Popular, Roxie, Shy, Summer in Ohio, Ten Minutes Ago, This is the Moment, When I Look at You, When You’re Good to Mamma, or anything from Spring Awakening.</p>

<p>MONOLOGUES – Any of the monologues from Promidy, “Peter Pan” from ‘Dentity Crisis, “Mr. Cornell…” from Star Spangled Girl, “Sunbonnet Sue” from Quilters, “Jesus, ham sandwich” from Picasso at Lapine Agile, “Please God, please don’t let me be normal” from The Fantasticks, Rosie and Harold in the attic at his grandmother’s house… from Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, “Well, Tommy proposed to me again…” from An Ideal Husband, All of George and Emily’s monologues from Our Town, “Jack & Jill” from Butterfly’s Are Free.</p>

[RabunGapDrama]

<p>I love these lists, and they are great to have as a resource. But never let one of these lists take you away from a song that you OWN.</p>

<p>There is a young lady I recently met who I auditioned for a program and she sang “Rain on my Parade” better than any performer I have ever heard. She was a high school junior when she sang it (not at my school - darn! - and is a college sophomore now). I had a similar experience with Disneyland at a Thespian Conference. </p>

<p>Respect the lists, but sing your best song!</p>

[kategrizz]

<p>Agreed… one of my D’s songs is on a couple of DNS lists (and for schools that specified - she did NOT sing that song) but she sang it for many of her auditions and prescreens with positive feedback (she sang it for the program she has been accepted to thus far.) </p>

[cgrochalski]

<p>Kategrizz, honestly it depends on the song, some have exceptions due to the performance quality and if it was a good song. some songs on the DNS list are actually great songs, just a lot of other people sing them. What did she sing?</p>

[kategrizz]

<p>Always True to You from Kiss Me Kate. So - we knew it wasn’t an accompanist issue - probably just overdone. But, all who worked with her agreed she did it well, and for most of the schools that didn’t specifically request that she not use it - she used it.</p>