5 Steps to Help You Communicate Your Audition Cut to an Accompanist
Musical theater auditions can be stressful. We’re here to offer 5 steps that can help you communicate your audition cut to an accompanist, courtesy of Julie Galorenzo!
If you’re in musical theater, you know how stressful an audition can be! We’re bringing you five steps to help make one part of your audition process a little easier; specifically, how to communicate your audition cut to an accompanist.
Musical theater actor and coach Julie Galorenzo has two videos on this topic. While different ways work for everyone, these five basic steps are a great place to start if you need tips or haven’t auditioned before!
In her original video, she walks you through the important concepts:
She also created a second video, where she dives into more details and even provides a demonstration of how the process should go:
Now that you’ve heard Julie’s advice, let’s review!
1. Introduce yourself and the piece to the accompanist
When you walk up to your accompanist, make sure the music is all ready to go, with your fingers ready to open to the correct page of the book.
You can make a simple introduction, such as “Hi, I’m [NAME], and this is [SONG TITLE] from [MUSICAL].”
2. Indicate your start/stop of the cut by pointing and flipping the pages on your own
Make sure you show them the cut by physically pointing to the start/stop points in the music. You should also have brackets or other indicators as well.
Even if the cut is clearly written, you should physically show them, just to make sure.
3. Set the tempo
Remember, no touching the accompanist or their piano! “No slapping. No clapping. No snapping. No tapping.”
Sing a little bit (quietly) directly to the accompanist to help set the tempo. Make sure the portion you’re singing has a pulse and isn’t just whole notes.
Let them know if you take it at a different tempo or maybe sing it a little brighter, for example.
4. Indicate anything not written in the music
Let them know about anything special you have added that isn’t written out.
Skip this step if they should perform it as it’s written.
5. Tell them “thank you” and go wait for the next steps!
You’re all set! Make sure you thank the accompanist, then head to the center of the stage and await your next instructions.
Best of luck with your next audition!