Working with a Musical Director

Has this ever happened to you? You’re flicking through the script for that new show you’re in. It’s something classical, say, Shakespeare, so you’re familiar with the text and what’s going on. But then, you spot it. Maybe it was always there, maybe the director added it? For some reason, in between all the harks and  thines and exeunts … your character sings. Which means you are singing. On stage. In front of people. Familiar? Let’s talk about working with a musical director.

Working with a musical director ensures that you are confident in any musical aspects you might be called upon to perform in a production. For trained musicians or musical theatre performers, this is standard practice. For straight theatre actors, this process can be a little more daunting. However, musical directors will ensure that you are taught any relevant music, adequately rehearsed, and perform to the best of your ability.

We tend not to talk too much about musical theatre on StageMilk. Despite a few of us possessing musical training (including the person writing this article), it’s a slightly different focus than our work with actors on stage and screen. However, more projects than ever are calling for actors to bring some musical know-how to a role—stage shows in particular. So we’re here to keep you informed, confident and (most importantly) calm.

What is a Musical Director?

A musical director is a person on a production team in charge of the musical aspects of a production. They teach, coach and rehearse the cast, along with any musicians that might be performing in the production, and ensure that the music is in line with the director’s vision for the show.

Musical directors aren’t the only personnel concerned with music on a production. Composers, for example, may provide an original score, as might sound designers—who also create sound effects and atmospheric elements to aid in storytelling. And a musical director may fulfil any or all of these additional roles, not to mention playing in or leading a live band.

What distinguishes a musical director is their work with the cast. Their primary job is to ensure that performers feel confident in what is required of them, throughout rehearsal and into production.

“But I’m not in a musical…”

And you thought that would keep you safe?? Live music is having a real moment in theatre these days: it often adds some excitement and spectacle to proceedings, and audiences eat it up. Directors will routinely add songs to shows, perhaps a moment where a character sings either as part or the story world or a commentary on themes or plot.

Certain plays (again, here’s looking at you, Shakespeare) contain songs that exist within the story world. When audiences experience the same music as the characters they’re watching, it’s a wonderful way of creating a sense of immersion and inviting a viewer into the world of the play.

It’s highly unlikely a director will cast you in something that is secretly a musical. If so, you’d hope they’d at least get you to hum a few bars of something in the audition. But gone are the days when the addition of songs or live musical elements are a surprise, or even unexpected. It’s best to be prepared.

Working with a Musical Director

The first thing to do is not to panic. Just like the director, a musical director is there to help and support you. Their presence and guidance does not mean that you’re lacking in any shape or form.

Next, you’ll want to have a frank discussion with them as to your own musical abilities. Again: there’s no judgement here, just a determiner of how best to utilise your abilities. When I work on a production as an MD, I like to do a friendly survey as to what people’s level of musical proficiency is. Are they trained? Confident? Learned as a child? Completely tone-deaf?

Depending on your level of ability, they’ll provide you with materials to help you learn what’s required of your role. You may receive guide tracks that sing or play your part, chord charts or even sheet music if that’s your thing. Jump into these early, as they’ll help you feel confident in music rehearsals.

When it comes time to rehearse with your fellow cast mates, don’t feel the need to be perfect and perform. Instead, engage in frank conversation when working with a musical director so they know how best to help and support you.

Some Helpful Tips

You may have noticed at this point that a musical director is like any other creative on a team: they will work methodically to cater to your needs as you develop your craft. That said, we want to throw you a few additional points worth consideration when working with a musical director.

• Keep communicating. Keep checking in with your director and musical director as to music in a show. Often, dedicated music rehearsals are far and few between: viewed as an extravagance or time-drain when compared to ‘legitimate’ rehearsal of scenes and blocking. Check in and ensure that proper time is being paid to music, especially if you’re lacking in some confidence.
• Rehearse with your peers. If rehearsal time is tight, try organising some sessions directly with your cast mates. Meet before a rehearsal session and have a singalong. You’ll strengthen your understanding and boost your confidence.
• Listen to your guide tracks. As soon as you have access to recordings of the songs you’re singing or playing, listen to them constantly. Put them on at the gym, when you head to work, do chores around your house. Make them feel natural, get comfy with them in the same way you do when you learn lines.
• Request additional help. There’s no shame in struggling with the music in a production. If you find a particular song, even a particular moment in a song daunting, tell your musical director. They should be able to help you work through it with a tailor-fitted technique.
• Ask for music-related notes. When receiving notes after rehearsals or runs, request notes on music/songs from the director, or musical director if they’re present. The trick behind this is not thinking of the music as separate from the rest of your work on stage as an actor, but an extension of your existing duties.
• Apply your acting skills! You know what really sells a song? It’s not a pretty voice, or the ability to yodel. It’s playing the song like any other material written for you as an actor. Find the character’s objective, their want that drives them, and plot actions against your lines so that not a word or phrase is wasted.

When You Have No Musical Ability

Be up front. Don’t feel the need to people-please, or hide the awful truth in order to be a team player. If you honestly have no talent or ability, working with a musical director will do nothing. So take the pressure off yourself to do something quite literally impossible.

Tell your director and they’ll work something else out. Seriously: music isn’t for everyone, and the worst place to discover that is after you force an actor to sing a song that ends up ruining an otherwise tender scene.

On the flip-side of that: when you do have musical ability, tell the director if you think it’ll help the show! There’s nothing quite like discovering somebody in the cast can sing opera, or play the trumpet, or bash out some chords on a piano.  But only if you’re comfortable, and even so feel free to set boundaries so you’re not being overburdened. After all, you’re already acting in the show…

Conclusion: A Musical Director’s Perspective

Hello! Alexander, here: I thought I’d take a second to write to you directly, rather than in the royal “we” of the StageMilk article.

Honestly, there isn’t much I’d tell you that I haven’t already said above in first person plural. So I’ll jump straight to this: music is a joyous, exciting thing to share with people. And I mean that in regards to actors as much as audience members. Bring your excitement and capacity for joy into a music rehearsal, and we’ll be well on our way to making the music in our show sound excellent.

It’s fun. It should be fun. When music is fun, it sounds its best. As your musical director, your enjoyment and confidence is as much my responsibility as you knowing which bar to come in on. So keep communicating, let me know how you’re doing and I’ll do everything I can to make you feel safe and supported. 

Good luck!

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