How important in Music Theory or playing instrument - Quadruple threat now?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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Hi-
My junior D getting ready for next years BFA insanity. For MT I am noticing more and more (Great Comet etc.) that the actors, on top of their marvelous talent…are also accomplished musicians.
My daughters HS is weak when it comes to music and the arts. She has a strong dance background. I know they will study music theory once in BFA (hopefully) program but aside from various choral groups and the plays and musicals D has no real music theory training.
Of course any added skill is a major plus especially in music but is this becoming almost expected as these programs become more competitive and this market saturated?
I was FB snooping a bit being curious about the girls ('cuz I have one and there are so many) that got the golden tickets at CMU also Michigan. At least two were excellent musicians. Singer/songwriters with stuff on youtube. Also most of the other handful had NYC agents or several awards (beauty pageants …CMU?) not just talent awards. No shade there, just different than what I expected. More bold faced commercial perhaps in some respects .

It’s early and no coffee so I’m rambling…sorry but-
Have things gotten so competitive that they are expecting Quadruple threats now?

I’m trying to get my D to take some of these crazy top top tiers off her list. I fear the daunting task ahead…

(no food or coffee for blood work this AM apologize for the brain fog).

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It never hurts to have more skills. Whatever makes the actor more versatile and well-rounded cannot hurt and will certainly put those actors in the running for specific roles (Beautiful, Once, Bandstand, etc). Also, music theory training is quite helpful. My S is pursuing a BM so has taken a great deal of music theory. He was a decent pianist going in to school (a better one now) and uses the theory to what I’ll call “accompany with chords” for people. All that said, none of this is necessary or required to pursue MT but it does give you more tools in your tool chest.

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I don’t think that music theory and playing an instrument are necessary for admission to a BFA in MT program.

That said, based on my experience with a D in this field (already graduated), I must admit that such skills have been a total asset to her career. I do think it is beneficial to have additional skills and certainly music theory and playing an instrument come in handy in this field.

My D started piano lessons at age 7. This was not in order to pursue a MT career. In fact, my other D took piano from age 7 to 18 too. Our piano teacher emphasized music theory, so much so that my MT D placed out of the two year Music Theory course requirement at her BFA program in MT. She also studied a second instrument throughout her years of school. An understanding of music theory really helps when learning new music and being able to sight read music too. In professional auditions, you may be given very little time to learn a new song for a callback.

Playing an instrument has been a big part of my D’s performance career so far. The last 4 Off Broadway shows she was in, she played an instrument as part of her role. Not all shows require that, by any means, but if one does, that eliminates some talented people who can’t play an instrument. In fact, for one show, my D had to learn accordion very fast, which was not that hard to pick up since she plays piano and understands music. She loved that instrument so much, that she bought one and now uses it in her performing career as well.

Further, if you understand music, you may be able to do other things…and this has happened to my D too, including soon after BFA graduation. She no longer does “survival” jobs, but when she did, her survival jobs involved being a musical director, coaching BFA MT students, being an accompanist for BFA shows, and so on. The skill came in handy for jobs like that. Now, she has become a singer/songwriter, and while not trained as such, her music skills have propelled that. In college, she wrote arrangements and musically directed her a cappella group. Now, she is commissioned to write/compose original musicals (and gets to be in them too) and so her career has become multi-faceted, even though she went to school to be a performer. I really think those early years of piano and understanding of music theory played a part.

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@soozievt Your posts are always so informative and interesting. Thank you. My D and I spend much time in NYC and are theatre lovers. I come from a NY music background myself a few thousand years ago ( not as well trained your daughter- she’s amazing #fansofgreatcomet). You must be so proud!! It’s late in the game but my girl would like to learn a little if she survives the end of Junior year crunch.
Thanks also @artskids Yes indeed, more skills is a good thing. There are many great shows that involve playing as you say. Wish my D had stayed with her early childhood piano lessons. There are only so many hours in a day. Mine spent many hours in dance class and is expressive in that way. I think we are about to enter a whole new level and a whole new world of talent going forward. I hope she can retain her spark and love of process. Big, Scary, World!

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I agree with soozievt, training in Music Theory and/or one or more instruments is not required to be competitive for college MT BFA admissions. However, it helps, no doubt. At my d’s program, many of her classmates play one or more instruments and at least two write music. Two have been Music Directors for black box shows as Sophomores, including conducting from the keyboard (in one case, the student MD played several instruments during the show while also conducting). One plays in a woodwind ensemble in the music department, two or three play in club bands on weekends. One or more work as accompanists for voice lessons.

Out in the professional world, it seems that being a “quadruple threat” is becoming more of the norm. You definitely see more and more shows with leads who not only sing, dance, and act, but also play one or more instruments during the production. I noticed that the Senior Showcases from various programs such as Baldwin-Wallace now feature many, or all, of the students playing an instrument at some point during the show. My brother works as a Music Director for summer stock and he features actors playing instruments whenever he can - example: he wrote a descant clarinet part for an ensemble member to accompany Eliza during the reprise of “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” for My Fair Lady. Shenandoah now requires students to learn guitar as part of the BFA MT curriculum.

My d had four years of piano with an emphasis on theory during high school and just finished taking a year of guitar classes as electives to bolster her music skills. She was readily hired to teach MT this summer at an Equity theatre in town, and I think the musical training on her resume was a factor (her dance training was definitely a factor).

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Going in the other direction, my S - rising senior at Wright State - says they are relaxing the BFA requirements for this fall’s freshmen, apparently so students have an easier time fitting in academics and will be more likely to graduate on time. One of the requirements to get ejected is Music Theory. My S finds this disappointing. He took Theory in HS, plays piano and started violin in 2nd grade. He lobbied to get into Music Theory for Music Majors and feels that theory is critical knowledge for MTs. He finds it very frustrating to work on ensemble pieces, duets, etc. with other singers who can’t read music. He often uses his instrumental and reading skills to play accompaniment, to direct and write student original shows. He prefers working with others who can also read and play music - it’s just more efficient for everyone involved.

As others have said, getting into many BFA programs w/o music theory may not be an issue. But staying competitive and being able to steer your own ship through college and beyond will be greatly enhanced with as much musical knowledge as you can get.

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It’s actually very exciting. I’m a bit agog when I see such talented performers in every aspect also playing beautifully… It seems to be another part of this expansive time we are in for Musical Theatre and the performing arts. I can feel my girls love of it and see her excitement in discovering all the cool parts in ensemble singing . I wish she had learned but it’s something to look forward to in College.
It’s kind of a beautiful thing!

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Last year, after seeing a national tour production of Cabaret, S and I talked to an ensemble member (known from MT Prep days). Everyone in the cast played an instrument in the cabaret band (at least those in the ensemble). We asked him if the cast members already knew how to play their instruments before they were cast. “No”, he said, some had never touched the instrument they were playing and had only learned it “well enough” to play the songs in the show (sounded great to me). He was billed as a “dancer” in the show (perhaps dance captain??), but that said, he is a BW grad with a BM degree, so I’m sure he had a heavy dose of music theory in college - if not prior. I suspect the other cast members were similarly schooled.

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I saw a recent touring production of Into the Woods, where all the actors were on stage the whole time and they all played an instrument at some point, they all also played the narrator and the cow! :smiley: It was very clever, but highlighted that playing an instrument can help you land a roll!

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@KTvoice- I think that production of ITW was part of a string that has been done recently of Sondheim musicals where the actors are the musicians (company and Sweeney Todd have been done this way too) tbh - not my favorite interpretation of the shows - b/c the playing seems extraneous to the storytelling. And since the actor may or may not be great at the instrument, you end up with the la la land effect (cast singers!) Plus, hey, musicians need gigs too! But I did read that Sondheim himself approved… so not for me to say

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The shows my D have been in where she played an instrument (5 so far), you had to truly know how to play and playing it was part of the audition. I watched a video of an interview of my kid where she describes taking the red eye from Las Vegas (where she was performing in a show where she played an instrument) and practiced her accordion in the taxi on the way to the NYC audition (!) and landed the role.

There are shows like Once or Beautiful, where the lead female must play piano well (I doubt casting someone who just learns to play the songs for the show would suffice). My D was a finalist for those two roles, and I feel her ability to play piano was a plus, because it knocks some out of the running who can’t play, which isn’t the case for other roles in musicals.

Some, but not all of the roles my D was cast in that involved playing an instrument, ALSO required writing the songs, and/or arranging music, and/or musically directing, on top of singing/acting/dancing. She is now working on a NYC show that involves ALL of those things.

The more skills you have, can sometimes open you to more work.

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This is an interesting conversation.

Sondheim is extremely generous and open about his shows; correct me if I’m wrong, but I actually don’t know of any show of his he hasn’t approved of. I personally strongly disliked two productions of his shows I saw in which actors simultaneously played instruments. To me it a) takes away from the story being told as you cannot suspend disbelief and b) is a cheap way of cutting costs by not having to pay an orchestra. Personally, I hope this is a passing phase!

But on the other hand, I 100% agree with @Soozievt that playing an instrument well is a big plus, and there are definitely cases in which you are cast in part because of this skill–straight shows included (even Shakespeare).

However, to those whose kids don’t play - like my D - don’t panic. I think the aspiring performer should diversify as much as possible given their own personal skillset. If that means branching into creating films or doing stand-up comedy or writing scripts or whatever, do so. The one thing that’s risky is to think that with your singing and acting and dancing, you will graduate and walk into an equity show and be more or less set.

Know your skills, know your type, build connections, market yourself.

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I love this story for the local connection but it is also interesting for this discussion.

http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2017/04/broadways_bandstand_casts_nort.html

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I saw Bandstand when it was a work in progress Oct of 2015 at Papermill playhouse - Cory was NOT turned toward the audience or “really” playing during the show… saw it in NYC this spring, and it was interesting how the staging had changed and how much more he was doing. Good for him!! Nicest kid you’d meet in day’s walk too :slight_smile:

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My D took AP Music Theory as a sophomore in HS. She only tested at a 3 - so most likely will need to take again in college - I can tell you Music Theory is valuable tool to have - it certainly in not required to apply to any BFA MT program, as most programs will either make you take music theory or allow you to test out. She actually had to take a MT placement test when auditioning at American. I agree, anything that makes a performer MORE marketable is a great asset. My D plunks at the piano - took lessons for a few years - i keep telling her to brush up on her skills - she may need them someday!

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Thanks @soozievt - good story on your daughter’s success. Best wishes for it continuing.

I’m glad my daughter (now a freshman in high school) has been playing piano since elementary school and has a few years of violin under her belt. She also recently started playing guitar. She doesn’t practice anything as much as she should, but she is pretty competent on the piano and probably should have tested out of her Music Theory class at her school, but for some reason, they don’t allow Musical Theater kids to test out of Music Theory 1. A friend of hers that is there for a musical instrument was able to test into Music Theory 3.

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To quote a song from Smash - does it feel to anyone else like “they just keep moving the line”?

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@Sammy8028, I don’t think it’s a case of moving the line. It has always been of benefit if actors have musical skills and can play one or more instruments. This is nothing new. And it isn’t just MT students who will have these skills. My D who graduated ten years ago and was in Atlantic studio at Tisch, played several instruments as did many of her classmates.

One other aspect of this discussion is that having these skills and abilities will be beneficial not only for shows that require the actors to play instruments but probably even more so for work/gigs/benefits/cabarets outside of actual plays and musicals. Many of the most successful, and constantly working, actors I know are also skilled musicians.

And I have to say that I can’t imagine someone who is planning a career in MT not knowing how to read music.

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My boys are both musicians – that’s actually how they got into MT in the first place – and have been cast in musician-actor roles and have had dual roles at summerstock / professional theatres (where they were actors but also assistant music director or music director for the kids’ shows, for example). IMHO, it isn’t a deal breaker to not play an instrument, but if you can play, it’s a great asset. Moreover, if you can play and understand music & music theory, you can WRITE music / songs / musicals and/or produce your own cabarets, thereby creating your own work and opportunities for you and your friends! THAT’s magical and I know @soozievt knows what I mean. And even if you don’t write music, perhaps you are a lyrical genius and can write lyrics or book – team up with friends and write the next big show!!!

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Another thought, kids who are STRONG in music theory (whether or not their school offers the course) should look at taking the AP Music Theory exam. (You can buy a study guide to see if your skills are strong enough and your school should be able to order the exam if you are willing to pay the fee.) Passing this test with a high score MAY (check with your schools for sure) allow you to test out of preliminary music theory requirement.