Skip to main content

How to Become a Musical Theater Performer

A musical theater performer requires training and experience to develop singing, dancing and acting skills. Aspiring professionals can obtain needed skills through performing arts high schools, drama schools, colleges such as the AMDA College and Conservatory of Fine Arts, music colleges and conservatories. Amateurs who wish to get into musical theater as a hobby can join a community theater group. To improve their skills, aspiring performers should consider private acting, voice and dance instruction. Venturing into the world of musical theater is both challenging and rewarding.

Step 1

Enroll in a university or college program that offers degrees in musical theater. Audition for choir groups, operas and musical theater productions offered by your educational institution or home town. Contact local performers or university theater arts departments and ask for recommendations for singing, dancing and acting coaches. You can also contact and join organizations like the National Association of Teachers of Singing for musical theater auditions and opportunities.

Step 2

Take courses in music theater, dance, singing, acting and stage production at a college or through programs offered by your local community center. Hobbyists can consult with local performing arts institutions or performers for suggestions on instruction/performing opportunities and resources.


Step 3

Prepare a portfolio of songs to sing for your auditions. These songs should showcase your diversity and highlight your singing strengths. Be prepared to act and dance in the style required by any parts you will be auditioning for.

Step 4

Make friends with colleagues in your music theater program or from shows you do. These connections can help you later in life when these friends become professional musicians, producers, directors and actors.

Step 5

Perform as often as possible to gain exposure and experience. Take as many acting, singing and dance lessons as you can afford.

Step 6

Aspiring professionals should go to one of the main centers for musical theater. New York is a great place to gain exposure once you have developed a resume and have performance experience. California, especially Los Angeles, also provides opportunities for musical performers. If you don't want to make a move to the big city, try to get established in a smaller city that provides musical theater opportunities.

A college or conservatory degree increases your chances of a successful professional career. Producers and directors are always looking for new talent and a degree in musical theater lets them know you have a solid foundation and reasonable experience.

Musical theater is an extremely competitive profession. Without extensive training and single-minded dedication, you will have difficulty competing. Unless you are willing to commit to training and practice for several hours per day, every day, and refuse to be discouraged, you should probably look for another career.

Performing in unpaid productions in the city will hone your skills and increase your chances of being seen by an agent. Send your head shot and resume to talent agencies and invite agents to see your work. Persistence is essential.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia
Post a Comment
Read more

Musical Instruments That Make Animal Sounds

Common orchestra instruments are capable of animal sounds. Instruments throughout history have replicated and imitated animals. From Beethoven to Bernstein, composers have sought new and interesting uses for traditional orchestra instruments. The temptation to recreate nature through musical sounds comes in both literal and abstract ways. Learn about instruments and animal sounds they make so that next time you hear one, you will be able to identify what instrument is making the sound. Lion's Roar As its name suggests the lion's roar makes a sound very similar to a lion roaring. Taking a bass drum and puncturing a hole in the head of the drum accomplishes this. A rope extends and pulls through the drum creating a sound that is very similar to a lion roaring. This instrument is so accurate it is often used in film scores and to indicate the roar of a lion in orchestral scores. Trombone The trombone is capable of imitating the sound of many animals. The glissando technique involv
Post a Comment
Read more