More about Andrew here - www.AndrewMByrne.comFind new material with his awesome Rep Lists - http://www.andrewmbyrne.com/repertoire-lists/Learn from THE BEST in his masterclass in SoCal on October 24th - www.ThePreparedPerformer.com/masterclass
Here's his top tips for the Perfect Audition Song.
P. is for Playable:
Is this song too musically hard for a pianist who has never seen it before?Are there excessive tempo/meter/key changes?Is the copy I’m using legible?Are the chords or the bottom piano staffs cut off/not visible on the copy I’m using? Is the musical information crystal-clear on the page (i.e. are my cuts marked correctly)?
E. is for Effective:
Does this song have musical impact? (btw, musical impact doesn’t necessarily mean loud)Is there a clear storytelling arc?Is the musical climax well-defined and does it occur at the right point in my cut?Am I showing vocal range (pitch, dynamics, texture)?Am I showing range as an actor (physicality, intention, communication)?
R. is for Relatable:
Does the text of this song make sense out of context?Is there a universal theme being explored?Does this song correlate with the kinds of characters I want to play?Is this song too sad/angry/depressed to allow those in the room to connect with me?Is there a tangible action that the character who sings this song is taking?
F. is for Flexible:
Can I imagine playing the lyric of this song from many perspectives?Is this song’s story too specific to be spun a different way?If a director asked me to play this song in different circumstances, would that be doable?Could I start at different points in the song with it still making sense?Can I think of more than one role for which this song would be a good audition choice?
E. is for Easy (for you:)
Does this song show off something I do well?Do I feel like I could roll out of bed at 6AM and sing this song?Does this song feel like it “fits” me?Does my face feel relaxed when I sing this song?When I take a video of myself singing this piece, do I make it look easy?
C. is for Connected:
Is this song a story that I look forward to telling?Do I feel an emotional pull toward this lyric?When I listen to the music of this song without the text, do I still feel an emotional connection?Do I understand the character who is singing this song?Do I love this song?
T. is for Tailored:
Do I know this entire piece, so I can make informed decisions about edits?Is my audition version the right length?Is it in the right key?Have I made the cuts that allow me to tell the story in the best way for me?Do I need to make any slight lyric or music changes to feel more comfortable?