How to Select the Best Song for a Musical Theater Audition

How to Select the Best Song for a Musical Theater Audition Sign up successful 1) Follow All Requirements Outlined by the Producing Organization Length (in minutes, seconds, or bars) Time it! Style/Tempo (upbeat, ballad, blues, pop, legit, etc.) Give them what they ask for! Format (CD, flash drive, sheet music, etc.) Make sure karaoke tracks have lead vocal eliminated. They want to hear YOU, not another recording artist. If using sheet music, make sure that all the notes are visible, no cut off lines at the bottom! Sometimes companies specify formats with sheet music.  Follow them! If there is no requested format, taping music back-to-back, 3-hole punching, and putting in a binder is a good way to go. Loose pages can create nightmares! Do not put plastic sleeves over music to protect it.  This can cause glare. Mark all cuts, tempos, vamps, etc. 2) Pick a Song That Makes You Sound Great! Not the song you wish you could sing, and not the song you will sing well next year… the song you sound great on right now!  It’s good to get an objective, experienced set of ears here. Singers often get very attached to a favorite song that is special to them, but it might not be the most the best choice for any given audition. 3) Pick a Song That is in the Style, Range, and character of the role you are auditioning for. Do your homework and find out what the vocal range of the role is and what style of music they sing. Pick a song that shows that you can do what is needed for the character. 4) Avoid Songs That Are Currently Overdone, or Too Tied to a Particular Star. It’s not to your advantage to be the 50th person to sing the same hit song the directors have heard all afternoon. It’s not to your advantage to be compared to a beloved star. Most musical theatre organizations prefer to hear songs not from the show they are auditioning for. There are other considerations to make as well, but this is the survival list for top priorities for finding the best audition songs.  When in doubt, consult your voice teacher or coach. They are there to help! Looking for specific  song ideas? Check out our list of song recommendations! Alison C. has taught at San Jose State University, Chabot College, and privately.  She has appeared as a featured soloist in Opera, Musical Theatre and Concert throughout the United States, Europe, and China. She holds a B.M. in voice from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and M.A. in vocal performance from San José State University. Learn more about Alison here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher  Photo by U.S. Army