Music in readthroughs?

[wildeabandon]

As a more general bit of readthrough admin, regular participants will have noticed that from time to time there are songs in the plays we do. When I've noticed them in advance I've tried to cast people who I think are comfortable singing, but it might be better if I were going off more data than "my best guess", so if you're someone who might participate in future readthroughs, it'd be great if you could fill in the poll below, and let me know anything else relevant that I've missed out in the comments.

Poll #24178

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 18

View Respondents

How do you feel about singing as part of a readthrough?

View Answers

I'm positively enthusiastic! Give me all the songs!
5 (27.8%)

I'm perfectly willing to sing.
6 (33.3%)

I'm not keen on singing, but would do so if it were a part of a role that I was otherwise keen on
1 (5.6%)

I don't want to sing
6 (33.3%)

Addenda

View Answers

If I know what the lyrics are I'm happy to find a version to learn
8 (66.7%)

If I'm singing I would like to be given dots
7 (58.3%)

If I'm singing I would like to be given a recording
3 (25.0%)

I'm happy to look for interesting recordings of songs that we can use in lieu of singing them ourselves
4 (33.3%)

I live with another readthrougher who is willing to sing, and can provide instrumental accompaniment
1 (8.3%)

Comments

[juliet]

I don't mind singing but only if I know in advance :)

(When I'm reading L his bedtime story occasionally we encounter a surprise!song and I endeavour to make up a tune on the spot; this entertains me and L but he is quite a forgiving audience of the somewhat erratic results...)

[bunnypip]

Thank you for the opportunity to specify this. I can't articulate why I dread having to sing in readthroughs when I am fine with singthroughs, choir etc but I would spend the whole readthrough fretting so it's best not - sorry to be counter-intuitive :(

[highlyeccentric]

I did kind of want to sing the one I was assigned, but without another alto around I can't hold a tune. Happy to source pre-made music though!

[minihedgehog]

If singing I want to know ahead and have dots to learn from. I didn't really know what I wanted to specify after that... I probably need to listen to music from somewhere as well, but it doesn't especially matter if its my part or accompaniment or a recording. Or live accompaniment but I don't think zoom would appreciate me trying that 😅

I suppose also I only really want to sing soprano because I'm not as big of a fan of my chest voice but would do it for a sufficiently interesting part anyway

I find transposing really hard so I probably just can't in the sort of time allowed.

And unlike some of us I don't have a good soloist voice so I am happy for that to be considered as part of the casting

[robert_jones]

I'm happy to just make up a tune, but if you want me to sing a particular tune, I would need dots.

[the_alchemist]

I am sometimes enthusiastic about singing particular songs in particular readthroughs, and will let you know when that's the case.

[tenebrousphantom]

I'm definitely happy to sing if it's something I know already, or I'm given the 'right' version to learn in advance (as dots or a recording if there's lots of notice or as a recording if less because I don't read music well).

I would much rather not have to find a version because I'd be super nervous that it was the 'wrong' one, however irrational that might be.

I'm also perfectly happy for people who are actually good at it to sing instead of me.

I think I'm not confident enough to offer to accompany myself on the harp without more notice than is plausible for a readthrough!