10 Music Director Tips and Tricks for Musical Theatre Gigs - Part 2

[@gilliangilliangillian]

Oh my goodness, I get SO frustrated when people can't count off right... so many choreographers start dancers totally off tempo or even out of the meter! Great video, man. Keep it up!

[@parisgrassi8759]

One word.....legend

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

When I did Mary Poppins and I was one of the chimney sweeps, it was so frustrating when the choreographer counted off wrong and I couldn't say anything cause I was just an actor and I just wanted to be like "LISTEN, LADY, I HAVE YEARS WORTH OF MUSIC THEORY IN THIS NOGGIN DON'T THROW AWAY MY OPINION" but we still managed it. As an actor, I really don't want to step on the creative team's toes.

[@ebonyatfield5949]

It really depends on who you have as a creative team. I've done choreography for various shows and if i did anything wrong i would want to be told to not confuse anyone but as Kevin says, pick your battles❤

[@paiteniselin6062]

As a performer, I also found this video very informative and interesting. Please continue imparting your musical knowledge upon us, lol.

[@emma.8626]

The story that u didn’t change the key... i found it funny. Not sure why...

[@PetitChouPumpkin]

Yes to recordings for choreographers! I choreographed Guys and Dolls once and we had made so many changes there wasn’t any other way we could’ve done it.

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

Omg i never thought about the punctuation for phrasing. That was very helpful

[@Violisa520]

Love your videos! Can you make a video on your process for teaching harmonies? Especially for a cast who may not read music or have strong music backgrounds. I would also love tips on improving piano skills! :)

[@SkeledroMan]

7:28 I've been an LD on quite a few shows and learnt quite quickly how well this trick works with directors.

[@KevinLynchNJ]

Hahah it works sooo many ways!

[@SkeledroMan]

@@KevinLynchNJ Sometimes i wonder if directors even know what they want

[@calliemyersbuchanan6458]

It also works to change an actors notes instead of the entire fucking key. Our MD did that constantly for the ones having trouble. sometimes that would mean ending a song on an unresolved chord which can be odd but in many cases it added suspense and tension to the moment which actually worked.

[@aleksandrasteff8651]

Could you make a video about your opinions on other musical theatre you tubers? I feel like a lot of theatre youtubers are too “soft” and are scared to admit if they hate a show or not, I’m interested to see what you think of these people haha

[@sageemilianaalberto1611]

*thaT'S whAT he'S heRE fOR* gives me Chicago ptsd flashbacks

[@aliciaballesteros-mitchell1059]

Unrelated to this video (sorry), but you should react to The Guy Who Didnt Like Musicals! I think its really funny, and has really impressive music! The entire show is on youtube

[@joeydavies6294]

Honestly this is amazing

[@memej.9889]

Amazing and incredibly useful as always !!! Thanks so much!!

[@emmaknospe3839]

If every educational video was as entertaining and actually HELPFUL as these I might actually enjoy going to school

[@krystenindisguise]

I listened to Dead Mom from Beetlejuice which had such an interesting key change. The original DC version went from A, Bb, Ab, then down to G to finish which was too high for Sophia to sing so what they did was they cut the verse in Bb, so the keys went A, G, then down to Ab and I thought the downward modulation was genius cause it sounded so powerful and Sophia could sing it.

[@serenazhang4832]

I was a part of a garbage production of We Will Rock You the Musical, and me, (a five foot Asian soprano) was cast as Killer Queen. The Director got mad at me for needing a key change, (even thought we were only using backtracks.) We needed to raise the key 3 semitones, and everyone was complaining about how high the song was. The director was very hesitant on changing the key, yet she was the one who cast a Soprano as an Alto role

[@larianter1313]

As I'm going to be musically directing a show I wrote myself and also possibly another musical (don't know what yet, probably Rent, which I dislike immensely) starting soon, having never actually musically directed before, I've found both these videos very interesting. Thanks 😊

[@courcupine2501]

I love this so much. Even though I’m not a music director, but as a director and actor it gives me a good idea of what’s going on behind the piano during rehearsals. Also! I saw the Les Miz tour last night, and all I could think of during the end of Little Fall of Rain was your video, AND THERE WAS NO LONG PAUSE BEFORE THE NEXT SECTION. Which is fine! But dang when you explained it and how you’d like it to go, I was like “Ooooooooo I need that pause a little bit...”

[@livelearnlovable]

I greatly appreciate these music directing videos! I recently started music directing and I had NO clue how I should conduct rehearsals so I've been figuring it out on my own. I looked everywhere for guidance but these videos have been the most helpful. Thank you!

[@fangirlfortheages5940]

This was so helpful. For my senior year I’m going to try to direct a show, which I’ll be an insane task but I can totally use some of these tips!

[@kingkong2798]

Can we please have more MD stuff! Things such as rehearsing groups (group warmups), rehearsing pit bands and vocal leads (order of teaching: first notes, then add dynamics and phrasing or whatever)

[@dankhnw8]

That was so interesting thank you

[@arianatorboo7077]

Love this type of videos!!!❤️ Keep making them because they are very informative and entertaining!

[@hefinrosser8685]

Before u said teaching hardest to easiest I'd answered that .in my head. I do the same thing x

[@andrelousada]

*Great Advice!*

[@mjewan9920]

Happy holidays to all!

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

I think that director you mentioned at the end still felt it was too high but didnt feel the urge to nag anyone more than they already had. I do that😂

[@nina-qt6eq]

React to hamilton please!

[@Mossishere]

could you react to the guy who didn't like musicals

[@XoIoRouge]

I'd love to see a professional's take on Starkid's work. Maybe a review of their newest thing too.

[@mbernier59]

Hi Kevin - have you ever worked with actors who aren't necessarily strong singers vs singers who act - i realize my question is very broad, but what would expect from a broad like me?😉

[@Skydoll123]

Hi Kevin, when I grow older I want to be a woodwind doubler in a pit (for broadway). Then I want to move to being a musical director. How would I do that?

[@rachelcohen417]

So I actually first heard your name when I was MDing with a theater company and it wasn’t the best gig, I wasn’t enjoying it and one day I asked the performers about their previous music directors. They started naming them and mentioned your name and that you had a KZbin channel. The way you imitate the director at 7:20 reminds me of the director of that company so now I’m wondering if that’s who you’re talking about 😛

[@KevinLynchNJ]

Oo... tell me who you THINK I'm talking about !

[@rachelcohen417]

Kevin Lynch his initials are MB

[@KevinLynchNJ]

Indeed you are correct!!!!! HAHA!!!

[@rachelcohen417]

Kevin Lynch OMG, that is too funny. And also not surprising!!!

[@user-ke6xv5je7s]

I love you!!!

[@renstitulaer5348]

Hi kevin, love these videos. I had a question. How do you become a music diresctor? Should I study conducting? And is being able to play piano on a professional level a must? Thanks a lot!

[@KevinLynchNJ]

Playing piano isn’t a “must” per se, but it does help tremendously! Look on Playbill.com or look to volunteer at your local community theatre as an assistant or helper to get some behind the scenes experience.

[@renstitulaer5348]

@@KevinLynchNJ Thank you!

[@krisspiteri7531]

What type of cameras are used for the Md and how do you avoid visual latency?

[@emmaknospe3839]

As a performer who also dances outside of theater, having a choreographer that doesn’t know how to count with the pit or ensemble kind of makes me want to throw my tap shoe at their head

[@aubsings]

Can we get your reaction to Charice singing One Moment in Time on ASAP?

[@willgaines8575]

Hi Kevin, love the videos but I have a quick question on the dangers of cast recordings and what to rehearse to? Doing a production of How to Succeed at the moment (entirely AmDram, so doing it alongside a job) as one of 2 MD's. We are still in pre-audition phase, but the choreographer is obviously trying to work on songs. I am a decent pianist, but sight reading is not a strength, so it's taking me time to crack these songs. Do you have any tips in terms of good interim measures while I learn the songs? My strategy so far has basically been sending 'MD approved' recordings that have been checked off against our score

[@KevinLynchNJ]

That’s a good idea (sending MD approved versions) I would sit down with the score and a version of the show and try to match them up. I had to do that with “A Christmas Carol” because the choreographer wanted materials ahead of time to outline numbers.

[@willgaines8575]

@@KevinLynchNJ ok cool i will try and do that I think. On the same topic, do you have any tips for rehearsal piano? Like I say my sight reading isnt super strong so Im trying to break a whole score down to its key bits

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Don’t change the key..... blimey how did they get cast if they couldn’t sing the role ?? 🤔

[@erinlambertson3383]

Can you react to clueless the musical? Idk what is going on over there but it needs to be stopped😂

[@aaliyahbrito8714]

Can you react to Hamilton plz!!

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

I've never been in a musical. But does that mean I won't be in one? Probably, I dont have talent. But I can try

[@hefinrosser8685]

Never do the musical chess if u have only heard the cast recording! Oh u will regret it, if u don't have a company and leads who can't perform it x

[@DavidLopez-nr7wp]

Lol I have too much experience working with shit musical directors. Everything you say is on the money.

[@emmarubin9718]

you should react to mary poppins returns!:)

[@user-qc5ox2ow5f]

Could you please look at Pretty Women soundtrack. I personally don't think it's that good (no hate)

[@skrtskrt9666]

What if you're in a production and don't like the director? Current situation. 😖

[@KevinLynchNJ]

Every bad experience is there to teach you something. You’ll come across people you don’t like working with but are having to work with. Learn from this experience and try to see the good that it’s teaching you, there is ALWAYS something good.

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

Halfway through the rehearsal, "Karen that was _totallh flat!_ "

[@nickventer5379]

Hi Kevin, Im struggling to learn sheet music and I want to be a music director SO bad. Any advice on how to learn it? Is it someting I cam learn myself?

[@KevinLynchNJ]

I would start by studying the piano and finding a good beginner methods book to learn from!