Casting Directors Wants from Musical Theater Performers
Casting Directors I have interviewed and those I’ve been privileged to hear at conferences like this past weekend at the Music Theater Educators Alliance, have one piece of advice for performers that stands out from the rest as their strongest requirement. They want performers who are actively continuing to study their craft.
As a voice teacher I was thrilled to hear this comment over and over again. And as someone who loves talent and am passionate about helping others nurture and strengthen their talent, I am doubly pleased to pass on to you some options for continued voice study - no matter how much money you have or where you live.
What I hear from casting directors and music producers across the board is this: the people they hire consistently are performers who continue to study their craft – when they are working and when they are in between jobs. The people who will hire you want to see that you are actively working on your craft – all the time.
They also realize how difficult and expensive that can be. This is the catch 22 for you as a performer. Dance classes are pretty easy to find and fairly cheap. Acting classes in general are a bit more, but also fairly accessible. Voice lessons not so much.
Private voice lessons. The most productive and quickest route to vocal expertise. They are also the most expensive. The instantaneous feedback from a skilled voice teacher however, is priceless. Private lessons are the best way to stay competitive if you can find a great teacher.
Yes, private voice lessons are expensive – and you don’t always get what you pay for. Be careful! Anyone can hang out a sign as a voice teacher. You need to find someone who is a pro and who teaches to the style of music you perform.
Used to be the only voice teachers we trusted to give us the ‘proper’ technique was Opera singers. The trouble with that is that if you are not an opera singer yourself, then why are you training with someone who is? My new method for contemporary singers, Morganix Method™ has broken the mold by training strictly for contemporary singing.
There are classically trained teachers who will tell you that they use speaking on pitch as a principle of their technique. These teachers in general teach Bel Canto method and then want you to speak the lyrics of your songs – without really training you to do so. The Morganix Method™ trains you to speak on pitch as the basic technique, then adds the roundness of tone and quality of Bel Canto, to speaking on pitch – if your music requires. Look for my other articles for more in-depth looks at vocal technique.
Back to vocal training options. There are other alternatives to private lessons.
Voice classes. I teach several voice classes in the course of a year and they are wonderful. There is a unique support you get from a group. Many different perspectives on feedback. Also as you watch the teacher helping other singers, you learn to equate that with your own singing process. I love teaching classes and love watching the bond that forms between students. Some of my students are now writing music together and have gone to songwriting seminars together.
Video voice lessons. On my website you will find desktop video lessons. They follow the step-by-step process of my method with me demonstrating and also clips of me working with my students, so you get a bit of a group lesson experience also. The video lessons are a mere fraction of the cost of private lessons and can be used over and over and over again, each time with a new understanding as you learn more about your voice.
Best of luck in all your performance pursuits. Let me know how I can be of help. Info@VocalPowerTools.com
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January 27th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Hi
Just encountered your web page and articles. Sounds very interesting, I am also interested in learning new things about voice. I am a singer, writer, poet, interested in developing musicals.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Wow! Thank you!
I always wanted to write in my blog something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
Of course, I will add backlink?
Sincerely, Your Reader
February 10th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Dear Reader,
I’d be glad to have you use my blog! Best to share all the knowledge.
Thank you,
Sally
March 12th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I’m not big on commenting, but nice post.
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 am
Thanks so much for creating and sharing these videos, they