Choosing the right song for your Musical Theatre exam
By Emer McParland, BA (Hons), LTCL (Piano), LTCL (Singing) LCME Senior Examiner
As a Senior Examiner at LCME, one of the most common questions I encounter is, "Is this song suitable for an own choice piece at Grade X?" Let me share some insights to help you make informed choices for your musical theatre exam.
Start with the right syllabus
The first crucial step is understanding that Musical Theatre for Actors and Musical Theatre for Singers are distinct syllabuses with different requirements. While both focus on musical theatre performance, their assessment criteria differ significantly. Begin by consulting the Grade descriptions and Assessment/Attainment descriptions in your specific syllabus.
Understanding grade requirements
Let's look at some specific examples:
Musical Theatre for Singers
At Grades 1 to 3, achieving a Distinction requires a 'fluent performance'. This means that regardless of the song choice, including any own choice pieces, if a student performs hesitantly or makes mistakes, they're unlikely to achieve top marks.
As you progress to Grades 6 and 7, the requirements become more sophisticated. At these levels, examiners are looking for a 'good range of vocal technique'. A song with basic vocal requirements, no matter how well performed, may not provide sufficient opportunity to demonstrate the required skills.
Musical Theatre for Actors
This syllabus places greater emphasis on characterisation. For example, at Grades 4 and 5, the difference between Merit and Distinction can lie in the use of performance space. Let me illustrate with an example:
If a candidate performs "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King with a static delivery, they might achieve a Merit. However, if they make full use of the performance space, deeply engage with the character, and tell the story through both vocal and visual performance, they're more likely to achieve a Distinction.
Making your selection
When choosing repertoire, particularly own choice pieces, ask yourself:
- What can my student do with this song?
- Is it enough to fulfil the grade requirements?
- Does it allow demonstration of all necessary skills?
While performance criteria must be met, remember that musical theatre isn't purely a technical exercise. Flair, imagination, creativity, and expression are all vital components of a successful performance. The key is finding repertoire that allows candidates to demonstrate both technical proficiency and artistic interpretation at their grade level.
Final thoughts
The most suitable song isn't necessarily the most complex or impressive - it's the one that allows your student to meet all the criteria for their grade and syllabus while performing confidently and expressively. Take time to review the assessment criteria thoroughly, and choose repertoire that provides appropriate opportunities to demonstrate the required skills.
For detailed guidance specific to your exam, please consult your syllabus documentation. If you have any questions about repertoire selection, don't hesitate to contact LCME for clarification.