<p>I'm sure that is the way to go NMR and Soozie - I guess I just get vicariously frustrated for these kids.</p>
<p>I think there are several factors at work. First, at least at the college admissions level, MT is often seen as more competitive and cutthroat than VP. There is unlikely a top music conservatory is only going to admit 1-2 sopranos in any given year, but in the MT world, that is a distinct possibility, given the notion of "casting" a class. Music schools are much more likely than MT programs to load up on a particular voice part, if that's where the best talent lies in a given year. (Not to say that top VP programs aren't exceptionally hard to get into as well - just the perception is different.)</p>
<p>Second, I agree with the notion that people don't want to be negatively compared with others auditioning with the same song, so unless someone is sure that they "own" it, they may prefer not to have head-to-head competition.</p>
<p>Third, often "Do Not Use" lists weren't created because of overuse of a song - they were made to steer kids away from choices that wouldn't be great for the kids acting-wise, or performance-wise. Some songs seem to read as just being about the pretty voice, and the auditors want to be able to see acting choices in the material. Some parents, coaches, and possibly students have read their own take into these lists, which may not have been the original intention.</p>
<p>And - interesting choices which totally suit your voice show the programs that you are interested enough in pursuing this path to know more than Rent and Wicked. You'd be amazed at the number of kids who think they want to do MT who know no shows beyond those, plus whatever their own high school has done.</p>
<p>However, I would rather hear a well-sung, well-acted, well-prepared chestnut of a song, than something thrown together, because too long was taken searching for that impossibly perfect song, and I think most college programs would feel the same.</p>
<p>I am glad others feel that looking for obscure material- whether song or monologue- is not the most important factor in all of this... D does have other songs in her repertoire that she can use, but I hate to see her change- One of the songs she has selected won her a scholarship, so it must have been a good choice for her (or just her lucky day!)...I still am unclear about whether is okay to use the song as her pre-60 piece since it was written in 1933 and first performed on screen, not on Broadway until the 80's... I am sure that the auditors get tired of hearing the same things over and over, but when a student connects with a piece of music or a monologue and is able to make it work, maybe the auditors will recognize the commitment and work that went into it, even if they have already heard it numerous times... I know that they will have to be able to "connect" in MT, but what I have read on several college websites keeps saying they are looking for potential, not choreographed songs- they want to see what the student is capable of... If this is true, then I have to believe that the student should audition with the material that is best for them, artistically and personally, even if it is a popular choice... I don't mean current shows or songs that other people "own"- just that it doesn't have to be the song-nobody-ever-heard-of from the most-obscure-musical-in-history... It seems that spending hours rehearsing and developing singing and acting is a better use of time than spending hours googling for archived, remote, obscure material, especially if that material is not better than what you orginally planned to use...</p>
<p>I did not mean to sound negative or to imply that one should just stop looking after finding the right material- It is always important to keep researching, learning, and growing, and there is a wealth of material to find and embrace. I am sure that the adjudicators see the same things over and over, and that has to have a negative effect eventually, so maybe the do not use/overdone suggestions are to protect the students who are auditioning. I guess I am just anxious/frustrated/concerned/confused---and that is why I am reading/posting on CC! At least it is good to know there are others out there who might be feeling the same things, and I do appreciate the input and advice!</p>
<p>I can only speak for myself, but I would consider a song from 42nd Street that was in the 1933 movie before it was in the 1980s show a pre-1965 song.</p>
<p>Do "The Kite Song" from You're A Good Man Charlie Brown or "Johnny Can't Decide" from Tick...tick...boom! qualify for the Do Not List?</p>
<p>I would think they are both in the overdone camp - although someone from the US please do contradict me, if it's different there.</p>
<p>"Johnny Can't Decide" isn't terribly overdone here, but musically, it's not a strong choice for an auditions piece because it's not rangy enough or musically dynamic enough (when done as a solo).</p>
<p>here's my dilemma. I'm having a very hard time finding pieces post-1960 for a male baritenor that i like! I have two pre-1960 pieces, actually three and could probably find a whole lot more... is it needed to have pieces that are more modern vs. traditional broadway? I only thought this in case they said well, do two pieces that are more modern, that way I could. any comments on this? and if you feel the same, any recommendations for shows or songs to look at???</p>
<p>oh yeah, what about "Going Down" from Hair????</p>
<p>IchBinKunst (I like the name by the way. Ich hab' die Gefuehl, dass du Deutsch sprichst, oder?), I had a similar problem finding one for me (I'm also a baritenor). Your schools will say whether they require a pre-60's peice on their website, however it is always better to have one prepared just in case. I can only suggest looking on websites to find shows that were written before the 60's, then look for male solos and you might come out with something. </p>
<p>One of my audition pieces was first staged in '63, but I can't find the date it was written. The show is She Loves Me. Anyone know?</p>
<p>As for "Johnny Can't Decide" and "The Kite", both are overdone. I'd try to stay away from Tick, Tick... Boom! because it's probably overall too popular. The Kite from Charlie Brown is probably the only song I can think of from that show that is overdone. You might look at Beethoven Day. It would be a great audition peice if you can sing it well because it shows off vocal and acting range really well. Be cautious, though, because it is a very vocally demanding song.</p>
<p>Do you think bc of the recent movike, johanna from sweeney todd is off limits? Or, what about "the best of times" from la cage.</p>
<p>I would avoid everything from Sweeney right now with the movie just coming out. Hair is not overdone as far as I know. "Best of times" from Cage aux Folles is more of a point number and doesn't show that much in terms of an audition piece, so would probably avoid.</p>
<p>Post 60's - there are loads, many in my book haha....;) For example "Shouldn't I be less in love with you" from I love you, you're perfect now change.</p>
<p>She loves me opened on April 23rd in 1963, is that the date you are looking for? :S</p>
<p>No, I was looking for the exact date the writer, Jerry Boch, completed it to see if it truly qualifies as a pre-60's piece. It's close enough, I guess. I'm going to try emailing MTI to see if they can tell me</p>
<p>One song I have seen a guy or two do that I always enjoy and it demonstrates some acting skills is "Smile" from the Marvin Hamlisch musical - is that done a lot for auditions?</p>
<p>how about snoopy from youre a good man charlie brown... looking for this whole obscure song is really starting to kill me! and i'm feelin the pressure of february auditions coming on!</p>
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looking for this whole obscure song is really starting to kill me!
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<p>Please know that it is not crucial to find an obscure song! It is MORE important to find a song that shows off your skill set than to find one that nobody else is singing. You are not going to get extra points for the most unique song of all. You should avoid very overdone material that is likely to be sung by lots and lots of candidates. But you don't have to avoid songs that may be sung by others, as long as they are not the most popular choices of all. Yes, avoid the most overdone ones, as they come across as a bit "green" and invite many comparisons. But other than that, do not fixate in trying to find an obscure song! It is better to sing a song really well than to sing an unknown song so so. Further, it is really late to be selecting your audition material. At this point, find songs that really work for you. If they are not as obscure as you had originally wanted, let that goal go for now. It is far more important that you be prepared. Material should have been finalized a while ago and be in serious prep mode at this juncture. Stop looking and use what you know you do well. You could search forever! If you really wanted obscure songs, that search should have been done months ago. Right now, focus on songs that sell YOU. Avoid the popular songs of the moment and after that, it's fine. Remember, your talent and presentation is more important. The points aren't for obscurity, but for skills, talent, presentation, suitability of the material for your type, etc. So, put aside the search of obscure songs now. Go with what is working for you at this point. Hopefully, once in college, you will familiarize yourself with the MT genre and know many more options that exist. It would have been good to do that by now but you are not a "finished" MT learner and so it is what it is and go with what you do well. Just stay away from the MOST overdone material. But if someone else sings what you do, so what? </p>
<p>If it makes you feel better......from my own child's experience...she had three audition songs. One was her pre-1960 song used for the schools that required that. Hers was more obcure and likely nobody else sang it. Then her contemporary upbeat song was not the most overdone and I haven't met others who did it but likely some others may have. I have seen the musical it comes from mentioned on CC as overdone. Her ballad was not that common but actually her friend/roomie at CAP21 also sang this song. Both got in. My D had several BFA acceptances. I would only classify one of her songs as obscure and she did not sing that at each school. Her two main songs were not obscure but not the most overdone. It worked just fine. She also spent way too much time trying to find obcure stuff and regrets that fixation. She would never do the most overdone material but is not so caught up on singing the most unique songs out there any longer. She is more caught up in finding songs that are right for her voice. Plus she is very knowledgeable about the MT genre. </p>
<p>What I think looks negative is kids who ONLY seem to know the most popular MT songs of all. So, if your material is not the MOST popular, but others may also sing it, that's OK. Stick with it. Don't worry about finding obscure material so much.</p>
<p>freedom -- the pre-1960s requirement would refer to when the show was performed, not when the composer happened to complete it. The requirement for a pre-1960s piece (or pre-1965 piece at some schools), most likely has to do with the schools wanting to hear something that is not contemporary.... something more "legit" or from more "Golden Age" musical theatre. I would put She Loves Me in the category, but if a school has specified pre-1960, you may want to stick to material performed before 1960... </p>
<p>for example-- Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Leonard Bernstien, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, etc... performed originally before 1960. The one exception might be songs that were performed in a film before 1960, but where the stage show was not produced until after 1960... RE: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and 42nd Street...</p>
<p>Some schools may be taking into account how well you follow directions as part of the admissions decision package... you may choose not to risk it?</p>
<p>Great! Thats what I needed to hear.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Break a leg in your upcoming auditions!</p>
<p>Kate</p>