West Side Story – music directing the show

I’ve lost count of the number of times I take up a new project with the intention of setting up a dedicated blog to record my experiences — be it starting out freelance, designing an Intranet (still hoping to do this one actually!), running a marathon or music directing (MD-ing) a stage show – but never get round to it (the blog that is).

Why insist on blogging everything, Tim? Well, partly for my own posterity but more specifically in the hope of being a shining beacon to future versions of myself, in the same lost, bewildered situation I was, and who turn to Google as their first port of call.

Especially so with MD-ing West Side Story. Given the masses of online material about Bernstein and (superficially) about the show, there is a surprising paucity of recorded experiences from those who’ve been involved with directing, choreographing or music directing amateur (or professional for that matter) productions.

So I’ve somewhat failed to set up a dedicated blog, granted. And I’m 4 months into a 5-month project, but my own existing blog will do, and as for timing — well, these things happen when they happen; I actually feel best placed to start blogging now (ironically because I’m at my busiest with the real work for it), and hope my wisdom (such as it is!) will be of value to someone down the line.

Here’s some of the learning experiences I intend to share in the next four weeks of blogging:

  • Coping: how to cope with life, work, relationships as your life gets turned upside down by your involvement in the show (I’m really selling it aren’t I?)
  • Theatre singers: how to manage this peculiar breed of musician
  • Score preparation: understanding Bernstein’s masterpiece and interpreting it for others
  • Piano: rehearsal pianist or learn it yourself?
  • Recruiting the band: where to start and how to
  • Band placement: where do you fit this unconventionally large pit orchestra?
  • Programme notes: what can you say that hasn’t been said before?
  • Amateur operatic societies: what you can bring to them and how you can understand them

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