Length of Songs for MT audition?

broadwaycorey · 02-06-2006, 06:53 PM

It just says "One ballad and one uptempo" song... how long should these be?

soozievt · 02-06-2006, 07:03 PM

I think the maximum should be no more than two min. per song if nothing is specified in the audition requirements. I suggest approx. 32 bars for each song. There should not be much in the way of repeating verses and choruses. It could end up being about 1 1/2 min. per song but basically a 32 bar cut or so portion that shows the song without repeating would be about right. You have the liberty of going over 32 bars if they don't say "32 bars" but most schools that say "song" still don't want a lot of repeats and I'm sure the maximum would be 2 min. per song.

actrss100 · 02-06-2006, 07:16 PM

I just auditioned for carnegie mellon yesterday...basically they let me sing my whole ballad (its over 32 bars) and during my uptempo, my auditor told me to skip to the big belt part at the end

soozievt · 02-06-2006, 07:27 PM

I didn't even realize this thread was on the CMU forum and actually my daughter auditioned there last year. Also, NYU last year said two songs. But my recollection was that yes, she had more time than at other schools and could do longer versions, and yes, it may have been over 32 bars but she still tried to cut out overly repeating verses and chorus. I can't recall exactly the portions anymore but even if you do two verses, chorus and a bridge, you are then showing the essence of the song and what you can do with it and there is no need to do every verse and repeat the chorus over and over. So, while there is more leeway than at other schools that may stipulate 16 bars, or 32 bars, you still don't want to go on and on....show the entire song's "parts" without going back and repeating them with different words, is what I am suggesting.

My daughter also sang both her songs there and then some....they asked for more and worked with her.

I think if you are unsure of which parts of the song to do that would make a "complete" song, you might want to consult with your voice teacher too.

Susan

CoachC · 02-06-2006, 09:30 PM

Corey -

I would suggest having someone extremely familiar with both MT auditioning in general and with the standard MT performance practices for your particular songs look at your cuts, as the specific song form dictates the best way to cut each song - and many songs are not written in A-A-B-A form, especially contemporary MT songs. In addition to song form, a truly MT-knowledgeable coach or teacher can point you to the part of the song you "must" sing be because it will be expected by the auditors (because it shows off something particular about a voice) - and although this is usually fairly common-sense, it isn't always! And as Gary Kline at CMU says at every audition, make sure you sing the "fat" notes - meaning the money notes!

Hope this helps a bit!

CoachC

P.S. Don't take it for granted that whatever a teacher tells you will be correct - one of my coachees this year received COMPLETELY incorrect instructions from a VERY reputable voice teacher about the "only" way to sing one of her songs. PLEASE check with a teacher who knows MT!!!

CMUJohanna · 02-16-2006, 07:53 PM

Hi! I am a senior music theatre major at CMU and having sat in on lots of auditions...try and make each cut no longer than 32 bars. They see a LOT of kids and can usually make a decision within the first few bars of each song. Good luck!

cmuhpfl · 03-03-2006, 05:12 PM

Our daughter sang her two 32 bar songs and then was asked to sing two more songs all the way through ...so it seems to be up to them how little or much you sing. She just knows that she did her best that day and it was made easier by the auditioners. They all made everyone there feel so calm and relaxed (unlike other schools we could name!). They were so nice to all the kids. But the reality is only 26 to 28 are going for drama and MT. A small group to say the least.

CMUJohanna · 03-03-2006, 05:37 PM

Hello, it sounds like everything went well. Give her my congrats! I feel like half the battle is the audition. Did she audition in Pittsburgh???

cmuhpfl · 03-04-2006, 12:18 PM

No. She auditioned in LA. They told us up front that only one or two would be going from LA. WOW... lots of people showed up! We were very impressed with the whole process re: CMU. She did see all of the people and had been given direction on both songs and monologues with success...she believes... you really shouldn't jump to conclusions... they were nice to everyone! But she knows someone going to CMU as a junior (DRAMA) now and he loves it.
They went to the same HS together and have stayed in touch.

You should be very proud of what you've done at CMU. Your in an elite group of artists!

danimal88 · 06-14-2006, 10:44 AM

This is going to sound like a very silly question but by 32 bars they mean 32 measures, right? I'm confused becasue I can't imagine 32 measures taking up two minutes.

dancersmom · 06-14-2006, 04:26 PM

Yes, Danimal. The terms bar and measure mean exactly the same thing. The words are interchangeable. Depending on what part of the country you are from, you will probably hear one word more than the other. In my neck of the woods, musicians usually say measure. However, when I teach, I try to make sure that my students hear both terms. By the way, one measure is separated from the next by a bar line. There is no such term as measure line!