Is your child ready to audition for a school musical? Many schools have some form of musical presentation. Some do a full stage musical, while others may do an abbreviated selection of songs from a show. Either way, if your child has been taking private voice lessons, they may be ready to audition. But what song should they sing? Let’s take a look at some tips for selecting the right song and a few of the best songs for school musical auditions.
Know What Songs Show Off Your Voice
Before your child selects a song, they first need to know their range. A song that shows off how amazing an alto is likely isn’t the best choice for a soprano. Your child’s voice teacher will determine their range and help them find a song that shows off their range and their abilities. This song needs to be a song your child is comfortable with and can reliably perform well, but it also needs to have a bit of a challenge to it. Picking an easy song that’s a safe bet may not impress the director and others who are involved with casting the musical. However, picking a song that’s too difficult runs the risk of your child making mistakes, which could lose them the part. On this, you can learn a lot by taking music lessons in Atlanta.
Note that unless it’s specified in the audition call, your child isn’t required to sing a song from the musical they’re auditioning for. They are typically free to sing whatever they want. Once they have the right song, they can work on it to nail their singing audition.
#1 – “Think of Me” for sopranos
If your child is a soprano, they can select a song that lets them show off some high notes. “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera is a great option here. It’s a classic for a reason.
“I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady is another good option for sopranos. For something a little more recent, “Home” from Beauty and the Beast or “Better” from the Legally Blonde musical are good options. Fiddler on the Roof’s “Matchmaker” and West Side Story’s “Somewhere” are also options.
#2 – “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” for Altos
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do” from Grease lets your child show their emotional range. It’s not the only great song for altos, though. There are a number of great classic musical theater songs to choose from. “Welcome to the 60s” from Hairspray and “All for You” from Seussical the Musical are fun options. “Astonishing” from Little Women is a good song that’s not as well-known as some of the other options. If your child isn’t a fan of some of these older musicals, they could go with “Pulled” from The Addams Family and really surprise the director.
#3 – “Maria” for Tenors
The tenor range is the highest for most male singers. There are some good options here, including “Maria” from West Side Story.
There are also some really good modern songs that have become very popular. “Dancing Through Life” from Wicked, “Santa Fe” from Newsies, and “I Believe” from the Book of Mormon are two newer songs that tenors may want to use for auditions.
#4 – “Edelweiss” for Bass
At the low end of singing voices are the bass singers. “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music is a great classic that many children know from the movie.
“The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera is another good classic song for auditions. If your little bass wants to sing something a little more modern, they might enjoy “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago or “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Spamalot.
Consult with Your Child’s Teacher
Of course, there are many other songs your child might enjoy singing at an audition. Our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we virtual music lessons, too. However, our online music lessons are being taught by local music teachers with live lessons tailored to your child! If your child is ready to start singing in musicals, contact us today to discuss private lessons.
