Musical Director Career Guide and Counseling

Question: I want to become a Musical Director(Composer) Apprentice. Help? I just recently gave her a note explaining that I really admire her and everything she does. I really want to become her apprentice but I am not sure how to approach this. I understand that I may be too young, I am still considered a Adolescent. I hold the highest respect for her, I actually fear her, Maybe that explains how much respect I hold for her. If this makes any difference at all, This is a Christain Theater Company. Please tell me thet best thing I should do. I see that the first person to repsond just crushed my dreams. Oh adults the are so incompetent. I do have signififcant Musical Talent but I think I will just give up no use trying if your no good.

Answer: Does this person have a degree (or more?) in music? You'll eventually need one or more of them, also. Meanwhile, perhaps you can assist with small things, but unless you have a specific proven skill at a professional level that she can depend on, I doubt she would use you in any capacity that would reflect upon her work. You said Christian theater - so I am assuming this is church-based, non-professional. There is *sometimes* more latitude there - but if it were an important job, they would get and *adult professional*, then an *adult amateur*. So - just make yourself available - and you already gave her a note showing your interest. Couldn't hurt - unless you get creepy about it . . .

Question: What is a good idea for a musical director's gift after a production? we need a gift other then flowers and just regular money

Answer: In my experience...lots and lots of alcohol.

Question: How do I contact the Musical Director for the WWE? I'm doing a Assignment for Music at Whitereia Polytech and have to interview someone via email who works in the music industry and I want to interview someone from the Music Department at WWE Headquaters

Answer: www.wwe.com/inside/news/breakthrough Jim (Johnston, WWE’s Music Director) www.wwe.com/subscriptions/wwetunes/wrecklessintent/killswitchengage i hope this help

Question: what is a musical director? I'm referring to a musical director for a live band that plays at a concert. What is the director's responsibilities?

Answer: The title of music director is used by many symphony orchestras to designate the primary conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra. The title is principally used in North America and Asia, with titles such as "principal conductor" or "chief conductor" more common in Europe. In the 20th century, the title and position typically brought with it an almost unlimited influence over the particular orchestra's affairs. As implied by the name, the music director not only conducts concerts, but also controls what music the orchestra will perform or record, and has much authority regarding hiring, firing, and other personnel decisions over an orchestra's musicians. Such authoritarian rule, once expected and even thought necessary for a symphonic ensemble to function properly, has loosened somewhat in the closing decades of the 20th century with the advent and encouragement of more power sharing and cooperative management styles (with the orchestra musicians themselves, the administrative staff, and volunteer board of directors). The term music director became common in the United States in the middle of the 20th century, following an evolution of titles. Early leaders of orchestras were simply designated as the "conductor." In the 1930s, the term musical director began to be used, in order to delineate the fact that the person in this position was doing much more than just conducting, and to differentiate them from guest conductors who simply led one particular program or concert. George Szell, for instance, was appointed as "musical director" of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1946, and his position was so named until his death in 1970. His successor, Lorin Maazel, was given the title "music director." Other major American orchestras kept more current with the times and began using the simpler term in the 1950s and '60s. Alternatively, the term "music director" is sometimes the title listed in the film credits for a professional hired to supervise and direct the music selected for a film or music documentary, or for the conductor in charge of music for a theatrical production or Broadway musical. Hope this helps mate.

Question: I am student director of the school musical and I have to get teh Faculty director a gift from the cast-? We are doing Grease and I want to get her something "grease-ish" (ie. 2 years ago for Youre a Good Man Charlie Brown, we did a vintage record of the musical framed nicely) but the problem is it has to be quick. Any ideas?

Answer: What about buying her a chain and a charm that has something to do with Grease? Like a car or something. You can find a lot of charms most anywhere now. Then it can become a tradition and she can have tons of charms that each remind her of that specific play.

Question: Is it normal for the director of the musical to yell at the cast...like telling us we suck everyday? or screaming at us to shut up...or telling us we r ruining the tradition and that she will never forgive us if we mess this up for her and her seniors. it is a high school musical.

Answer: Unfortunately, there are too many amateur directors who think that the only way to achieve "perfection" is to yell and scream and manipulate. I'm sorry that you are stuck with a director who is so limited in her craft. I've directed high school students for ten years and I've always treated my casts with respect. I can think of loads of ways to get the best out of students--and none of it involves yelling, screaming, or blaming. I work in a professional theater company where the sort of thing you report would never, ever be tolerated. However, there are lots of high schools where getting screamed at and verbally abused by the director becomes part of the tradition. The excuse is always the same--"this will make us better/ this is the way the professionals do it." Believe it or not, there are top notch high school and professional theaters where the director supports and challenges the cast without doing any of the things you report. I believe the most exciting art springs from an environment where the artists are excited and positive and genuinely love what they do. Good luck to you, and again, I'm sorry you're stuck with an immature, egomaniacal tyrant.

Question: I have resigned as musical director, I didn't sign anything, can I be sued for breach of contract? We have been working with an illegal script (photocopied from the perusal copy). I have not even been given the full score just a photocopy of the vocal score. When I agreed to do the show in September, she promised me three payments of 500.00 one in September (which I received) one at the halfway-point which was February ( that I have not seen and it is now April) and then final payment after the show was complete.The director is threatening to sue me for breach of contract. Can she do that or can I ride this out?

Answer: Was there a written or verbal contract? Verbal would be valid in an employment at will state. If there was no contract, there is no breach. If there was a contract, did she breach it? Does the contract state what must be done to claim a breach? Did you or she do that? Finally, the pursuit of a strong public good (not violating the rights of the copyright holder), has been held to be a valid reason for breaching a contract. Bottom line-yes, she can sue, but it is unlikely she will win.

Question: How do I get rid of a bad musical director? I'm in a music group that is full of music idiots that cant tell the difference between an eighth note from an eighth rest. They have voted for a musical director that knows little about music performance and composition and is extremely unqualified for the position not knowing the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 until I explained it to him. how would I show a group of 18-22 year old singers that this person is a fraud and that they made a poor decision that they should regret? the drastic difference between him and myself is that I am trained to be a musician, I have taken numerous theory, composition and performance classes, while he has had unguided experience in theater. He has terrible pitch, resonance and vowel formation as a singer and will produce no advancement to the groups music ability. So how do i get through to this person that he is an idiot and should step down from his responsability?

Answer: Assassination! Just kidding, maybe you should just leave? If you really dislike him that much just go to another group if you can. No point in wasting your time. Everyone else seems to like him so suggesting a new director probably won't work..they all chose him so why would they want to get rid of him? Your best off going to a group of higher caliber that you like~ Good luck finding one

Question: How important is music-reading skill for musical theatre actors? I'm an actor who sings well but I'm honestly too shy to audition for musical theatre because I don't have solid sight-reading skills. I have had voice training and practice with choral singing, and have a very good ear, but I'm unsure if you need to be able to read music in the rehearsal process when learning the score. Does the musical director working on the show help you? P.S. I'm referring only to professional Equity theatre.

Answer: It sounds as if you can already read music. Lots of people get by without being able to sight-sing. However, it is a skill that can be developed. Here's a couple of good books to aid you: http://www.singers.com/instructional/sightsinging.html

Question: What's the difference between a Musical, an Operetta, and an Opera? I've heard Miss Saigon booked as a Musical, but there were VERY few spoken lines in it. Falsettos is described as a "sung-through musical". I know a Musical Director who, when he first saw Sweeney Todd, described it as a modern opera. I'm currently working on a 'Month in the Country' - which by all accounts is an opera... but how is it distinguished from "Falsettos"? If works from Gilbert and Sullivan are operettas, why/how are they classified that way? Wouldn't etymology suggest that operetta is just a smaller (shorter?) opera? Going back to classic definitions of comedy (the hero lives/succeedes) and tragedy (the hero fails/dies), are all operas tragedies and all musicals comedies? Are there guidelines? Rules of thumb? Is it subjective to some extent?

Answer: It is subjective, in that there are no hard and fast rules. There are also far more categories than just opera, operetta, and musical theater. But, we needn't go into them right now. Generally speaking, an opera, which means "work" in Italian, is something meant to be performed by classically trained vocalists. An operetta is not a shorter work, but a lesser work. The music is generally thought to be less profound, and the vocal work less taxing, though classically trained vocalists are usually still used. Musical theater can be thought of as a name used for operettas that originated in the 20th or 21st centuries. As operetta/musical theatre is a more popular medium than opera, the vocal styles employed have evolved to reflect popular music. Most operas are sung all the way through. However, many operas include spoken portions: La Traviata, Carmen, and La Boheme, to name a few. Carmen is a special case, in that there are two versions, one with recitive, and one with spoken text. Despite the speech between the musical numbers, nobody would fault you for calling Carmen an "opera." The same goes for Mozart's "Die Zauberfloete" and "Die Enfuerung aus dem Serail," both of which are technically singspielen or sung-plays. Only the most anal-retentive person would take you to task for calling either of those shows an opera. Whether is work is called an opera or not is also not dependent on where it is performed. While opera's a frequently performed in large, fancy venues. They may be performed in any size space, or even on television, as was the case with the premiere of "Amahl and the Night Visitors." Operas may also be comedies, tragedies, or "tragicomedies," just as musical theater pieces may. The best rule of thumb, is that if the writer/composer of a work calls it an opera, and the reviewers and audiences agree, then it's an opera. The definitions can be fluid as well. For instance, Sweeney Todd, when performed on Broadway with Angela Lansbury, is more of a musical. The same work performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago, with Bryn Terfel in the title role, would more likely fall into the opera category. By the way, the asterisks in this article are not mine. Apparently Yahoo! thinks that anything related to the exit of one's colon ought to be censored. I hate to think what might happen to a discussion on irritable bowel syndrome. But, I digress.

Question: I want to audition for High School Musical Three. Does anyone know who the casting director is? I would also like to know where they are having open auditions? If anyone knows please tell me. And please no negative or rude answers as i will report you.

Answer: They are revising the script at this point. But the casting director has not been determined. The information will be posted at the website below when it becomes available. Disney Channel Casting & Audition Information: http://actinginfo.blogspot.com ___________________

Question: What flowers should I get for the cast of girls in the musical production that I'm in? I am the lead in my community theater's production of "Oklahoma!" and I would like to get all of the girls in the cast a flower. I need flowers for 13 chorus girls and then I'd like to get something a little nicer like a small boquet for 4 of the girls with bigger parts. Single red roses are rather expensive..5 dollars from what I've found. I'm having trouble shopping for single flowers online and finding out my options and the pricing. I'd like to get them something special and unique, but I am on a bit of a budget and there are a lot of girls. Also ideas for the boquets that wouldn't be too pricey. Should I get something for the director, costume ladies, and musical director as well? I was thinking maybe just cards for them, and we do give a group gift. Any ideas are appreciated.

Answer: From what I've heard the tradition is to give red roses after the first performance. A single rose is sufficient for the chorus girls, a nicer bouquet for the other cast members consisting of a rose and another less expensive flower. You can buy fresh flowers in grocery stores and design your own bouquets, for the single roses, I'd suggest you get a dozen roses and separate them. The only place I've ever heard of anyone charging $5.00 is in restaurants when there is a flower girl/seller walking around and that is highway robbery. Please just go to Albertson's and talk to the clerk at the flower section, they also sell balloon bouquets.

Question: Where can i find free piano chords for Bye Bye Birdie the Musical? Im in the play as Doris MacAfee and our musical director quit. So I want to ba able to play for now. I cant read music, so is there a place that its already translated?

Answer: heres the score! http://broadwayscoresandsheetmusic.blogspot.com/search?q=bye+bye+birdie

Question: How can I contact musical director of Rhos male voice choir?

Answer: contact Kevin.whitley@gmail.com For the Cor Meibion Rhosllanerchrugog

Question: Was the musical director for lord of the ring musical ar.rahman from south india? kalakkerie gollaliath....

Answer: Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: �.ஆர�.ரஹ�மான�), born on January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Question: How involved is the director of a B'way play or musical after the show has opened? Are they at every perf?

Answer: i'm not sure how involved they are after the opening, but i do know that they do not attend every preformance after that.... go to the link fo mo info.