SINGING ACTOR STUDIO GUIDELINES

IS THIS YOUR FIRST CLASS? WHAT TO KNOW...

1. Studio Policies

2. What to bring

3. What to prepare

4. Sheet Music Guidelines

5. A Note on Memorization

STUDIO POLICIES

Privacy & Phone Policy

Respect and support are core values of the studio.

We adhere to "Vegas Rules" so what happens in class, stays in class. That means that anything that is is said or done in class should not be shared with anyone outside the group participating in the class.  Please give each of your fellow classmates your full attention and do not take your phone out except for bathroom breaks, or if you plan on recording your own session. Recordings are for your personal use only and are not to be shared outside the studio.

Lateness

Please make every effort to be on time to studio (on time meaning a few minutes before class so we can start promptly) but if you are running late please make sure to text me as soon as you know that you are running late at (415) 846-8571. Depending on the venue you may have to wait outside the venue or the door until someone is available to come out and get you.

Class Payment & Absence Policy

All payments are due before the start of class, and class payments are non-refundable. If you know that you will have to miss a class, you can let me know (up to 24 hours in advance) and we can move your slot to the following month. If you need to miss a class for any reason after that deadline you may absolutely find your own sub for the class, (pending my approval, if the student has never been to the studio before.)

WHAT TO BRING

1. At least 3 memorized pieces of music, although the more the better. 

2. Pen and paper (notebook, etc.) to take notes.

3. Comfortable clothing you can move in.

WHAT TO PREPARE

Each student will have an individual work session each class to work on whatever piece they would like--this could be one piece for all three classes, although traditionally people work on three different pieces throughout the course. In addition, you will sing a song once through with different acting exercises at the top of each class as a warm-up, so if you've other memorized pieces it's fun to bring them all in a three-ring binder and chose a different one each time.

Although we are concentrating on Musical Theater repertoire, if you would like to work on a rock, pop, folk, classical, etc. piece, you are welcome to. However, all songs sung in class need sheet music. Here are some important guidelines to help prepare your music for class!

SHEET MUSIC GUIDELINES

1. All sheet music needs to be photocopied - NO IPADS - 3-hole punched, and put in a 3-ring binder. Please see photos below on how this should be prepared.

• Our preference is that you copy the music single-sided and tape the appropriate pages together to make them double-sided - otherwise the music can from the other side can bleed through and it is hard for the accompanist to sight-read the music.

• Even if your sheet music is in a book (as in a Vocal Selections book from a musical,)  it still needs to be photocopied and put in a separate binder. 

2.  If you do not have the sheet music for a particular song you can do the following:

• You may be able to buy the sheet music online -  musicnotes.com orsheetmusicplus.com has sheet music online

• Search the Public libraries for the score, and photocopy the appropriate pages.

• You can also visit Sunset Music Co, a local SF sheet music store that's been around for ages and is a great resource. 

• If neither of these searches prove fruitful, please email me to see if I may have a lead on finding this music for you.

3. Please make sure your song is in the right key for your voice! Are you able to hit the high notes? Low notes? Consider looking online (resources above) and seeing if your piece exists online. Many songs can have their key raised or lowered with just a click - magic!

4.  If you've a particularly long song with many verses and repeats, (this happens a lot with pop/rock music) please cut the song down to a more manageable and less repetitive form and clearly mark this in your sheet music. 

A NOTE ON MEMORIZATION

Because we are working on acting choices and not on vocal technique, you should try your best to have your song fully memorized (meaning the words come effortlessly to you and need little thinking before singing them!) 

If you are still working on memorizing your piece please consider cutting the piece down--it's much better to work on the first page or two of a song (or one verse and chorus, etc.) that you know well and can have fun with, as opposed to the longer piece that is still shaky. Believe me - there's a LOT to explore in the first minute of the song! 

If you've a particularly wordy song that you're off-book for, but are still searching for the next verse, etc. when you practice, please bring an easy-to-read one-page cheat sheet of just the lyrics that you can use if we deem it helpful in the work session. Better than shifting through many pages of sheet music in the moment.