Auditioning for musical theater is one of the most envigorating experiences I’ve ever encountered. There is something unique about performing a monologue and then suddenly bursting out into song. The union between acting and singing is a beautiful thing – if it’s done correctly. During musical theater auditions there are many things that can go wrong. While some of these things are out of your control, your sheet music is one thing that you have complete control over.
As a musical theater actor, you must learn how to mark up your sheet music according to how you will perform the song. This will assist the pianist who is reading the sheet music to follow you during the song.
Why Mark Up the Sheet Music?
Many new musical theater actors aren’t aware of the importance of marking up the sheet music. The primary reason you will want to do this is to ensure the pianist who will be providing the actual music for your audition knows what key, tempo and phrasing you will use during the song. Because you rarely have an opportunity to rehearse with the musician before performing your audition, your sheet music markups are the only directions he will receive.
How to Mark Up Your Sheet Music?
Marking up your sheet music is a very basic skill to understand. While you may make personal notes within the sheet music, you should follow a traditional formula to ensure the pianist understands what you wish him to do. The following are common terms used in sheet music markups:
Ad-Lib – written at the top left hand side of the first page, this term literally translates to play with liberty. Basically, this informs the pianist that you are not going to follow the pre-written tempo of the song. You are informing the pianist to follow your lead with regards to the tempo of the song. However, do not become too eccentric with your performance.
/ or a Slash – A slash within the sheet music means you will be making a dramatic pause within the song. You should make this marking directly on the musical portion of the sheet.
