Tips For Finding Audition Rep!
Don’t you wish that searching for audition/lesson pieces was as simple as, “I’m going to sing this song I love?” because same. However, there’s a lot more to finding good audition pieces for our book or a song to work on in lessons. One of the most important parts of an audition is showcasing who you are, which is why you want to find pieces that can really allow you to show yourself off. I’ll admit, finding rep is something I have the hardest time with. There’s so many different opinions floating around about what’s acceptable and what’s not. If you feel the same way, here are a few general tips about how to search for rep that suits you best.
(Note: The general rules of audition songs are usually more flexible when it comes to high school auditions, but feel free to apply these tips to your search! It’s never too early to start learning about the professional theater world!)
Find something that’s not overdone - This is usually the first rule you’ll hear when it comes to finding pieces but that’s because it’s an important one! We’re usually drawn to those staple musical theater pieces because they’re so good and so well-known - the only problem is a lot of people are drawn to them as well. Casting directors will get tired of the same hearing the same song over and over and you want to stand out in an audition! A general rule of thumb is to not use anything that’s been on Broadway in the last five years and something that’s not an iconic/currently running show (Les Mis, Phantom, Wicked, etc.).
Something age appropriate/within playing age - Sometimes this rule can be bent when it comes to educational theater since everyone will be around the same age and you might be asked to sing from the show. However, if you’re building your audition book or going to a professional audition you’ll want to have pieces that reflect your playing age. For example, I looove “I’ll Know” from Guys and Dolls, but it’s not exactly a role I fit at the moment age-wise and it wouldn’t be the best way to showcase myself.
A song that you can get good 16 and 32 bar cuts out of - Here’s something that’s usually an afterthought for me when it comes to finding a song. It might be a great fit, but can you find a cut that allows you to showcase your voice and keep a coherent story? A 16 bar cut is typically around 30 seconds and 32 bar cuts should be around a minute. Usually if the piece is in cut time or 2/4 time you can double the number of measures for a cut.
A song that showcases your range (vocally and ability) - I’ll use another personal example for this one. When I was auditioning for colleges I used “My White Knight” from the Music Man. While I had the notes in my range to sing that song, I wasn’t exactly able to pull it off. My legit sound wasn’t in place and I’m too young to play the role. When finding an audition song, you want to highlight your vocal strengths at the moment. If a song needs you to mix an E but you’re not there yet in your vocal ability, it might not be the best choice. Aside from showing your vocal strengths, you also don’t want to blow your voice out by singing a song out of range.
Something you can connect to - Although this sounds contradictory to some of the points I made earlier, it’s still an important factor when finding rep. We spend a lot of time polishing our audition pieces to make sure they’re audition ready. If you can’t find any connection to the piece you’ve chosen, it’s going to make the work grueling. Remember that one of the most important parts of an audition is being able to tell a story to those you’re auditioning in front of.
This is the most general I could keep the list without getting really specific! Now, I’ve heard a lot of different opinions when it comes to choosing audition songs, especially in terms of age. Everyone is on a different path when it comes to developing our voices and audition books which is why we tend to shy away from song recommendations and “10 audition songs for college” lists. When I was compiling this list I realized the audition pieces I had the easiest time working on had the factors listed above. I hope that this is helpful for you in terms of beginning to find your own rep that will fit you best!
