Todd Schroeder Audition Master Class

Todd Schroeder Thursday July 3rd 2008 @ the SCADA Centre Todd Schroeder has been a casting consultant and audition pianist for many Broadway shows in the last ten years including ‘Wicked’, ‘Rent’, ‘The Lion King’, ‘Aida’ and many more. He serves as the Musical Director for Universal Studios Japan as well as Disney’s ‘Aladdin’. In addition Todd coaches and arranges for Broadway stars such as Jason Alexander, Angela Landsbury, Liza Minelli, Sam Harris and many others. Todd Schroeder took his first piano lesson at age four. Schroeder has produced a wide-range of musical accomplishments as a composer, producer, arranger, musical director and performer. Recently he has co-written the music and lyrics for “Unbeatable, A Musical Journey”, a brand new musical staged Off-Broadway late last year http://unbeatablemusical.com Todd has also composed “Brave Heart, Das Musical” set to premiere in Duisberg, Germany in November this year. Currently, Todd is producing a new recording with his “musical soul mate,” Sam Harris. For over 15 years, Sam and Todd have performed all over the world including Carnegie Hall, the White House and the Oprah Winfrey Show. In addition to being involved in many charity events throughout the year, Todd is proud to be the founder and producer of the Todd Schroeder Young Artist Grant- an annual scholarship presented to students pursuing a career in the arts. Auditions · Selecting an appropriate Audition piece · Arranging your Best 16 bars in the Right Key · Building your repertoire of songs ·Audition Etiquette and Technique YOU are your business. Your primary goal at an audition is to get a call-back. You can control the first audition and get a call-back. You can’t make the decisions for the casting directors after that. You can’t do their job as well as your own. Your job is simply to get the call-back. They will decide whether or not you are right for the role. The casting directors know whether or not you can sing from the first 6 notes. Then they are looking for the story (in 16-20 measures/bars). Can you tell a story? Choose a song that is dynamic vocally and which tells a story. You are a storyteller. Acting, singing; it’s all about the words. Don’t make it about the melody. It will have no meaning. It will not be believable. If you know the story you can share it. If you can see it you can sell it. Do the work. Prepare. Understand the song. Be the storyteller who can sing. If you can see it you can sell it. Do the work. Learn your pieces. Don’t make it harder than it is. Learn a range of material to demonstrate your vocal ability and versatility. Your repertoire should include ballads and upbeat numbers from contemporary and more traditional music theatre. Learn a jazz standard. Include an aria. Prepare contrasting pieces. Prepare the most interesting and dynamic part of the song. Don’t repeat verses. Cut and paste as necessary, to create the best story. Make sure it makes sense, musically and lyrically. If you’re not sure, consult someone! Do the song as a monologue to rehearse it. Take it out of the context of whatever show and make it your monologue, your story. Then sing it. Own it. See it. Sell it.  What’s the song about?  Who are you singing it to? Present sheet music photocopied and pasted, the right key clearly marked. Know your tempo (sing a little). Casting directors want to see a star at an audition. They want to hire a star. Be their star. Make sure they will remember you. Draw attention to your best feature- your eyes, your hair, your legs... Perform first then be prepared to follow direction (like this, like that, with an accent, etc). You get nervous when you feel that you don’t have something to offer. Be nervous and don’t let it show. Throw up afterwards! Say to yourself, “This is the best that I have to offer today.” Pretend you are confident. Fake it. Act! Continue to build your business. Keep adding tools to the tool bag. Actors, take a dance class; dancers, take a singing class...... Let the casting directors fall in love with you. Let them adore you. Let them hire you. They want to hire you. Make their job easy. Don’t decide what they need. They will decide what they need. Simply offer. Smile... SMILE! Smiling lifts the palate. Use it. Focus. YOU HAVE THE NOTES! Confidence is the key. Do the gig and leave. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Don’t judge or critique your performance. That’s not your job. If you need to, tell yourself before you enter, “This is my second chance!” When you audition: ï‚· Be confident and polite to everybody ï‚· Greet the casting directors, greet the pianist ï‚· Present your sheet music to the pianist, copied and pasted, with the correct key clearly marked ï‚· Give the tempo by singing a little of the song ï‚· Move confidently to the mark (centre or DSC) and cue the pianist ï‚· Perform the song (tell the story. Tell them your story) ï‚· Be prepared to make eye contact with the casting directors...or not. Use your instincts. ï‚· Hold your confident stance at the conclusion of the song. No apologies (vocal or gestural or posture) ï‚· Be prepared to sing again...or not. Be prepared to answer questions...or not. ï‚· Thank the pianist, thank the casting directors and leave as confidently as you entered. ï‚· Expect a call-back! These notes compiled by Xanthe Coward Publicity Lind Lane Theatre 16 Mitchell St Nambour p. 5441 1814 (bookings) p. 5441 3189 (enquiries) m. 0411 015 918 (publicity) e. xanthechat@yahoo.com w. http://www.lindlanetheatre.com Todd Schroeder’s Master class brought to you by The Sunshine Coast Theatre Alliance Inc. in conjunction with SCADA Publicity Officer & Festival Coordinator SC Theatre Alliance Inc. Raising Standards! 07 5449 9972 0408 756 005 PO Box 1182, Tewantin 4565 synda@bigpond.net.au www.livetheatre.com.au