<p>Having been a "lurker" here for more than a year, I simply have to thank all of you for the insightful perspectives and information from your own journeys into musical theatre. This is a fantastic place! ^:)^ </p>
<p>Okay...Here it goes...my very first CC post! :D </p>
<p>I find very few songs for females with extremely low notes, and the songs I do find are for characters I'm not old enough to play, or I find a song with a few E3s (E below Middle C) at the beginning before turning into a huge belt number. The other option is the seductress' song--which I would NOT do for an audition!--but even those songs are not as low as I would like to sing. Though I am able to go lower without problem, I find B2 (find the C below Middle C; it's the B right below that) very strong and comfortable, and since I consider my alto-ness to be the strongest part of my voice, I would really love to show that off. </p>
<p>I've thought of taking a song that traditionally uses more mix voice (not high belt or head voice) and either transposing it or singing down the octave. Would it be acceptable for me to change a song in that way, as long as it is not a "standard" that would be expected to be sung in a certain key, is a song for my age range/type, and follows all the other rules about audition songs?</p>
<p>Also, is it wise to show a part of my voice that could never (or almost never) be used in a production? Is the fact that I cannot find low alto songs an indication that it is useless for musical theatre? Would my voice be likely to pique the interest of the audition panel, or would it be a waste of time since I'm not be showing them what they really need to hear? And since the stigma seems to be "the higher the better," is a low voice ever considered a good voice? </p>
<p>If given the option of performing two songs, I would love to begin with my alto song, and then follow up with a belt while having my other head voice and belt songs prepared as backups (I am capable in both of those areas). I'm not applying for college this year, but between intensive school year programs, Pre-College summer programs, and planning ahead for college itself, I would love to know what you all think. :D Thank you so much for taking the time!!!</p>
<p>Until someone like VoiceTeacher who is truly knowledgable comments, I’ll give this a whirl. (there’s my disclaimer). Its my understanding it is perfectly fine to transpose into a different key. But I have heard that its not so good to move it more than a step or two. As for singing down an octave, probably not a good idea. Your focus should be a song that fits you. The auditors dont want to hear 16 bars of a female singing 3 notes on either side of a B2 anymore than they want to hear someone sing 16 bars of high Cs! All they need to hear is one or two notes to know you can sing those low notes. Its more important to act a musical theatre song that suits you and that shows emotional and vocal range than an exercise in demonstrating how low you can go. If they really want to know they’ll ask you to sing scales.</p>
<p>I agree with tramsmom. Honestly, I’d double check with the colleges directly if they are ok with transposing. Sounds like you’re really planning ahead, so why not? Call the departments of the colleges you’re interested in. You don’t have to even give your name, you can call up and say something like, “Hi I’m an 11th grade student and I"m beginning planning for my auditions for your school, which I love. Do you have a policy on transposing? Is it ok if I transpose for an audition?” Something like that. </p>
<p>I agree I would definitely not do an octave shift, because you need to show them what you can sing in a song that would be written for your voice range. It stinks that fewer songs in low alto are your type, but I’d persist and find them. Go through the MT repertoire from the 1920s and on. The fact that you sing low alto is a plus in my book as it is much less common, so it will stand out.</p>
<p>You’ve gotten some good advice here already. I’ll add that a low range is appealing if:</p>
<ol>
<li>It fits how you look in some way (you’re tall, or charactery a la Mary Testa)</li>
<li>You have and demonstrate strength in your middle voice as well, since virtually nothing in musical theatre sits solely in your chest/low register, and since singing only in your low range in a song connotes that you might be avoiding other parts of your voice due to lack of skill there</li>
</ol>
<p>Transposing slightly is always ok unless it’s an iconic song in which auditors are listening for specific notes. </p>