CHICAGO - Keyboard/Conductor Pit Cam FULL SHOW

[@Carly-v1o]

What a magnificent show!

[@JonathanMitra]

It’s certainly a lot of fun!

[@paulstewart74]

First of all, excellent job! I’m playing for a production of this show next week and this has been very helpful to play along to. Many thanks and, again, very well played/conducted. 😁

[@JonathanMitra]

I hope the show went well for you? It’s a great play and glad this helped you out!

[@joshuanesbit]

LOVE the jacket!

[@JonathanMitra]

Highlight of the show really

[@roybrewer7865]

Man, I played the violin part for 2 different productions at the Orpheum in Memphis. . .fun show.

[@JonathanMitra]

Great stuff - it’s an amazing show and great fun to play on all the parts in the pit

[@Aerospace_Education]

Just curious. For keyboard. I'm at an RCM 4 level. What level would you recommend before starting to help play keyboard in amature productions? Thanks for the video. Love living vicariously through you all!

[@JonathanMitra]

Hi, glad you enjoyed the video. It can drastically change from show to show. For Chicago it isn’t normally a piano conduct show but the parts require a lot of stride bass action which can be tricky. The first show I ever played was Bugsy Malone which, in comparison, was a lot easier and I didn’t struggle with it when I was back as an ABRSM grade 4 ish level. As I’ve moved into MDing, it is useful being as proficient as possible just because the less you can focus on playing piano and more on helping on improvements and directing the singers then that’s the best. The way I got into it was by being a rehearsal pianist first so I could just focus on playing a piano part. Then as I progressed to an MD, I was more confident in playing whilst also MDing as I was never really offered an option of a rehearsal pianist once people knew that you can play yourself

[@webby5730]

Cooool omg

[@JonathanMitra]

It was one of my favourite shows to put on to date!

[@stevenponte6655]

this is awesome. About how long does it take you to learn a show like Chicago, especially with all that stride piano.

[@JonathanMitra]

I think this was one of the shows I ended up practising most as I really wasn’t comfortable with stride bass. As I was having to conduct as well, there were places I enlisted the keyboard 2 to help cover some trickier areas. Since I have sat down and tried to properly learn some of the trickier sections as I have been asked to dep on other productions. I think I spent about a month on and off looking at the score more intensively alongside my studies

[@nealfiggy]

@32:18... same lol