<p>I am thinking of using "Left Behind" from Spring Awakening (I'm a girl, I would just take it up an octave) and "Many a New Day" from Oklahoma. I emailed Dr John from Otterbein and he said songs from new shows are fine for him, but I am a little worried about other schools. However, as someone said already it's really late to be picking songs (I had a huge personal trauma in October/November and I was not able to apply to alot of schools on time, nor prepare for the auditions, so I am petitioning late application at alot of schools or just barely making the deadline) and I just want to settle with these. Do y'all think anyone will cut my head off for using a newer show?</p>
<p>Letscrshtheparty,</p>
<p>I'm sorry to say that I would advise against Left Behind for a few reasons and when taken all together, these reasons add up. First, it is a current Broadway hit and I would shy away from current Bdway hits (ie., Wicked, etc.). Second, this song was written for a male character. And third, I likely would not sing rock/pop for college auditions, but would consider contemporary Broadway material that isn't as classified as rock/pop. I realize it is late but you are already saying you are just getting going on audition prep anyway. It is not like you have been rehearsing this audition song for months. You must know other songs. Pick another and just practice practice practice between now and your auditions and get some coaching as well. This is just my opinion.</p>
<p>"Smile" is not done a lot at all as fas as I know. I don't think "Snoopy" from Good Man Charlie Brown is overdone either. I would also advise against anything from Spring Awakening for the same reasons mentioned above.</p>
<p>I read earlier in the thread that CMU has a specific Do Not use list on its website, could someone share a link?</p>
<p>Actually, links to all the schools Lists and Audition tip pages in general would be really helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>how about "I Can't Stand Still" from Footloose?</p>
<p>Fine where I am. I would just make sure that your college are happy with rock type musicals for audition material.</p>
<p>Just a note for the Spring Awakening comments....I am not saying that this means you should definitely use it but my friend used "Dark I Know Well" from Spring Awakening for her NYU audition and was accepted into CAP21. </p>
<p>I think there can be something to be argued for using a more pop/rock piece...If you look at new musicals coming out, there are more and more scores that have the pop/rock element in them as opposed to the traditional broadway feel. In some ways it could show that you are keeping up with the times and that you will be able to be cast in the newer material (assuming it is performed well and a good fit for you). I am by no means an expert on college auditions and this thought process might very well be wrong but it's just a thought.</p>
<p>Also, where are you getting the sheet music from? To my knowledge, it's not out yet.</p>
<p>typecastme, you are right. The sheet music for Spring Awakening will not be available til later this month. Where did your friend who auditioned at NYU with it obtain the music? I think using a song from SA is a risk, in this case, for two reasons. One, that the show is currently a hit on Broadway (which should put it 'out of bounds') and two, the music would have to be obtained illegally (a huge no-no).</p>
<p>It's not really a huge no-no to use as-yet-unpublished music. Many auditionees do that, with great success - and professional auditioners do it all the time as well. Also, it can't be assumed the music was obtained illegally - often auditionees have "insider" ways to get the music with the composer's approval. The SA music has been circulating in the professional community for quite awhile. As I think has been discussed here before, music copyright law and especially the application of that law in an MT audition setting is nebulous at best.</p>
<p>CoachC, I agree that unpublished music is circulated through the professional community. I also agree that auditionees can sometimes obtain music with the composer's approval, occasionally even provided by the composer himself. I have a friend who often provides music from his shows to students who request it. If that is the way that auditionees are obtaining it, that's fine. However, too often it is obtained without the composer's approval, through "insider" methods, and, in my opinion, this isn't the right way to go. Just because some people do it, doesn't make it right. Whether or not the application of music copyright law is nebulous is beside the point. Personally, I don't know any composers who want their copyrighted material being shared in this way, without their permission.</p>
<p>CoachC - a follow-up question to your comment above about using not-yet-published music. My daughter has chosen a song from a new musical that isn't yet out as a "book." The music HAS been published and is available from the composers and online. However, as far as I know, the show has never actually been staged yet. The song is absolutely dead-on-perfect for her, and her voice teacher says it's the perfect choice for her as a contemporary/ballad selection. </p>
<p>Do you think that any of the schools she auditions at will take issue with the fact that it's not from the STANDARD Broadway repertoire? We've looked over all the schools' requirements, but no one spells this one out anywhere. Does anyone know what the standard opinion is about using new music from NEW musicals?</p>
<p>TIFF, I think your daughter's song will be just fine. I don't think it matters that the musical has not been staged. The music is published and in the MT genre. It will be cool as they will take an interest in where it is from. She need not sing only from the standard Bdway repertoire! (singing from a new musical is fine)</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>Thank you! I keep worrying, as moms tend to do. I just needed a little back-up that we're not doing anything on the secret no-no list! (Gee, if we could all just have access to that list . . . :)</p>
<p>i know it's been said a thousand times not to use sondheim BUT i must ask. my voice teacher thinks i should give a go at "green finch and linnett bird" because i am quite the pipping soprano and it shows of my voice very nicely. but, i'd like someones opinion on this since it's currently out and because it's sondheim. also... i have an audition for u. of alabama and it says just to use 2 songs: uptempo and ballad...should one at least be pre 1965? they didn't give much info. thanks!!</p>
<p>I had a question on the Sondheim issue as well. Only because I have a song in mind that I was thinking about using, but I would only be using it at unifieds. Therefore I will be providing my own accompaniment. As long as it is not an overdone piece, and since no accompanists is needed to learn the music quickly would you recommend still using it?</p>
<p>We have the same dilemma with the monologue. As my daughter has practiced the Shakespeare is becoming my favorite. I'd love to swap it for one of her 2 monologues but I'm just afraid it is going to say to the colleges "she can't follow directions". I'm just hoping they ask her to do a third monologue and it will be ok to do the Shakespeare then.</p>
<p>In my opinion (and I am NO expert ... just a parent!), don't present a Shakespeare monologue at a school that specifies contemporary monologues. Of course, there's nothing to prevent your D from having the Shakespeare on hand and, as you say, offering it if they ask for a third! Break a leg! :)</p>
<p>^^^agree with NotMamaRose. If they ask for contemporary, do contemporary. Only do Shakespeare at schools that ask for that. VERY important to follow the audition requirements.</p>
<p>I would agree to not present a Shakespeare monologue at a school that specifies "no classical".</p>
<p>Green Finch and Linnet Bird is very overdone in auditions... and I bet it might be even more so this year because of the Sweeney Todd movie.</p>
<p>The biggest hindrance to doing Sondheim in an audition where you will not bring your own accompanist or a taped accompaniment is that he is difficult to sightread. Yes, the audition accompanists should be strong sight readers, but why risk that?</p>
<p>If you bring your own accompanist, or are singing with a tape/ CD and choose to do Sondheim you will want to make sure that you are spot on with rhythm and pitches. In general it is not a good idea to take liberties with Sondheim :)</p>
<p>On a side note -- I was just thinking and back to the dark ages when I auditioned for MT schools -- I sang a Sondheim uptempo and a Weill ballad, and got into MT schools... whatever that has to do with anything :). I do remember at one of my auditions noticing a person behind the table counting to make sure that I was on top of the Sondheim piece rhythmically. </p>
<p>Good Luck with upcoming auditions!</p>
<p>If a school says do not use a song written by JRB or Sondheim, would that include a song with lyrics by Sondheim. My D had planned to use a ballad but it was from J&H, which some say do not use, so she revised her plans to sing a song from West Side Story by Bernstein. However, the lyrics are by Sondheim... Also, is WSS too overdone?</p>