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A podcast for musical theatre actors who want to take their vocal artistry to the next level by going deep into the music of musical theatre. We’ll be dissecting the songs, character and vocal archetypes, musical genres, and vocals styles of Broadway so that you can: 1) create a powerful audition book that showcases your artistry and actually gets you work 2) feel totally at home reading the musical score of a show 3) define your unique artistic voice 4) and craft a performing career you love! Each week, you’ll hear educational content, live coachings, and interviews with theatre professionals – all focused on storytelling through song, developing your vocal artistry, and helping you discover the unique greatness you have to offer the world. Consider me your own personal vocal coach in your ear buds, cheering you on and bringing you the reality checks you need along the way. If you’ve been dying to discover the songs that connect with your soul, refine your vocal performance, and actually book the gig, then this is the place for you. I’m Korrie Yamaoka, musical theatre vocal coach and music director for 15+ years, and I’m so excited to be walking this journey with you. Let’s dive in.
Episodes
Monday May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
Friends, are you constantly worried you’re singing a song that’s overdone for auditions? Do you worry you won’t stand out from the crowd and that maybe, GASP, someone else will sing the same songs as you?!
OR, do you have this undiscovered gem of a song and you’re not sure if it’s a good choice for your audition?
Well, first let me way: There’s a time and place for every song - both the well worn classic tune and the undiscovered gem.
In today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through the pros and cons of each type of song - the Familiar song and the Lesser Known song - so that you can make your decision with confidence and go into your audition without any apprehension.
Press play and let’s get into it!
Xo,
Korrie
Check out www.korrieyamaoka.com to find info about FREE RESOURCES and AUDITION COACHING, and to sign up for my email list.
Korrie’s Email List - Sign up for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news from Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Contact me at hello@korrieyamaoka.com.
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Hey friend, have you ever wondered “why does my version of this musical theatre song sound so plain in comparison to the cast recording?” Or maybe you wondered, “how can I differentiate my performance from so-and-so’s famous Broadway version?”
Well, I’ve got you covered, boo!
In this episode I walk you through a process I call “shaping a melody,” a skill that all singers MUST have.
Shaping a melody is about making choices about how to interpret your song beyond the instructions given on the page. All those little black notes are just the beginning! Shaping a melody is also the key to creating your own unique version of a song while staying aligned with the appropriate style and genre of the song.
Friend, press play now to learn the 3 specific ways you can shape your melody and transform your song from ho-hum to heavenly.
Xo,
Korrie
Check out www.korrieyamaoka.com to find info about FREE RESOURCES and AUDITION COACHING, and to sign up for my email list.
Korrie’s Email List - Sign up for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news from Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Contact me at hello@studyingthesong.com.
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Hey Friend!
In today’s episode I’m laying out the 3 tier system I use with clients to help them create a diverse and powerful audition book that also showcases their strengths and personality.
I’m talking all about how you can show the creative team who you are both as an artist and as a PERSON, as well as making sure you cover your bases with a variety of music styles.
If you’ve been needing to revamp your audition book and find songs that better reflect who you are right now and will actually help you book the shows you love, then you’re going to want to listen to this episode.
Grab a cup of tea and a notebook and let’s go!
Xo,
Korrie
Check out www.korrieyamaoka.com to find info about FREE RESOURCES and AUDITION COACHING, and to sign up for my email list.
Download the Uplevel Your Audition Book Workbook on the resources page!
Korrie’s Email List - Sign up for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news from Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Contact me at hello@studyingthesong.com.
Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
Hey friends, it’s been a minute since I posted a new episode! In today’s episode I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing why I had to put down my podcast for 5 months, why I’m back, and how I’ll be moving forward with the show.
If you’re feeling burned out, overcommitted, or feel like time is slipping through your fingers, then this episode is for you. You’re not alone. I was feeling all those things, and I didn’t know how I was ever going to get on top of it all.
The answer? Taking a FULL STOP on my podcast. It was super scary and I thought I would lose everything, BUT what actually happened over the next 5 months was truly transformational.
Tune in today to hear my story! I hope it’s an encouragement for you wherever you’re at!
Xo,
Korrie
Check out www.korrieyamaoka.com to find info about FREE RESOURCES and AUDITION COACHING, and to sign up for my email list.
Korrie’s Email List - Sign up for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news from Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Contact me at hello@studyingthesong.com.
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Whether you’re a young actor or a Broadway veteran, chances are you’ve had a horrifying audition experience. Ever had the accompanist stop playing in the middle of your audition? Or did you show up late and nearly miss your audition appointment?
In this special episode, my fellow music director Kathryn Lounsbery and I share our own horror stories from behind the piano as well as submissions from listeners, including Broadway’s Beth Malone (Fun Home, Angels in America).
You’ll hear us talk about Sondheim mishaps, terrible dance calls, callback partners that botched the scene, and directors cutting you off multiple times on a song. The stories are truly terrifyingly brutal and yet somehow also make us feel like we’re not alone in this crazy theatre experience.
If you’re looking for a good laugh or you just want to know you’re not the only one with a horrific audition experience, then take a listen to this episode!
Listen to the whole episode now or use the time stamps below to navigate to specific stories.
1:00 Welcome/Kathryn’s Russian Grad Schoo Horror Story
6:54 Korrie’s Page-Turning Nightmare
9:29 Jessica’s Mortifying New York Audition
15:44 Tyler’s Improv Fail
19:05 Bryan’s Frightening Callback Email
22:35 Mitzi’s Sondheim Fiasco
24:25 Robert’s Brutal Sondheim Audition
29:04 Melissa’s “In the Heights” Disaster
35:04 Korrie’s Dreadful Hemiola from “The Great Comet”
36:37 Tim’s Ghastly “Annie” Audition with Martin Charnin!
44:44 Lauren’s Grad School Professor from Hell
49:44 Kathryn’s Kia Commercial Audition Humiliation
56:00 Beth Malone’s Hellacious Lincoln Center Callback for South Pacifi
Xo,
Korrie
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news form Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Charles Gilbert is an educator and author who has been training young performers and creating provocative original work for the musical stage for forty years. He started the Musical Theater Program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and headed it for nearly 20 years.
He's the author of the book, The SAVI Singing Actor, and the creator of SAVI Cards, a unique training tool for singing actors and teachers. He's a founding member and Past President of the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance, and has taught workshops and master classes in America, the UK, Europe and Australia.
Charles is a professional director and music director whose original works for the musical stage include Assassins, source of the idea for the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name.
In this episode, I talk to Charles about his method for teaching how to be a singing actor. He calls it being a SAVI singer – S-A-V-I, and he’ll tell us what each of those letters stands for.
What’s so neat about his approach is that he has taken this overwhelming idea of storytelling through song and created very specific, bite-sized exercises that help you work on individual elements of technique.
Press play, and let’s dive in!
Xo,
Korrie
Find Charles Gilbert’s book, The Savi Singing Actor at www.savisingingactor.com!
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news form Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Learn seven different ways to create an introduction for your audition cut that will communicate the mood, tempo, and key of your song.
Singers, this oft overlooked part of preparing your audition can actually be the key to your success!
When your introduction is well crafted, you’ll be able to launch into your performance with confidence knowing that all the elements of your song – key, tempo, and mood – are exactly as you intended them to be.
How good does that feel?! So good.
In this episode, I offer you 7 different methods of creating an introduction for your song, using segments of the accompaniment that’s right on the page.
If you want the tools to be able to communicate exactly the style and feel that you want to your coach or audition pianist, then press play and listen to this episode today!
Xo,
Korrie
ps - Make sure you download the FREE PDF that goes with this episode: 7 Ways to Create an Intro for Your Audition Cut PDF.
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditions and artist branding.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
How do we perform folk music in the world of musical theatre? That’s the question I’m covering today with special guest, Madison Mae Williams.
With folk musicals like Hadestown, Come from Away, and Bright Star being so popular right now, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from singers on where to find a folk song and how to perform it for their audition.
This category of musical can seem difficult to audition for because the music doesn’t center on vocal virtuosity. How do we show the auditors our vocal skill when the songs aren’t especially range-y?
Well, my guest today, Madison Mae Williams, is here to speak on exactly that.
Madison Mae Williams is a multidisciplinary artist and scholar based in San Diego. She’s a PhD candidate at UC San Diego and her dissertation project focuses on alienation in countercultural performances of the Long Sixties. She received her BA concentrating in musical theatre, poetry, and Africana studies from Hampshire College.
Her other research areas include American musical theatre, the Black Power/Arts movements, horror and the uncanny, performance for children, and the films of Stanley Kubrick and John Cassavetes.
Maddie is passionate about theatre work that is accessible, radical, and increases visibility and representation for people of marginalized identities. She is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the Black Theatre Network.
In this episode, we’ll be diving into the following questions:
- What is folk music?
- Where does it come from?
- What kind of stories do folk songs tell?
- And how do we perform it as authentically as possible in the world of musical theatre?
If you’re looking to deepen your interpretation of folk songs and step into the audition room with more confidence in this area, then this episode is for you!
Xo,
Korrie
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditioning, information on new offerings, and the latest news form Studying the Song.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Monday Sep 27, 2021
Monday Sep 27, 2021
A breakdown of the creative team, production history, character arcs, and music styles of my favorite show, Little Shop of Horrors!
This dark comedy sci-fi horror spoof by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken is a gem of show full of quirky characters and an effervescent score that perfectly intones the pop music styles of doo wop and rock ‘n roll in 1950’s and 1960’s.
But just why does this show “work?” What makes it tick?
In this episode, I discuss
- how each character’s “want” drives the action of the show
- which plot points are musicalized
- the popular music artists each character is similar to
- SPECIFIC AUDITION SONG IDEAS for each character
- In depth score analysis of “Skid Row” and “Grow For Me”
If you want to get a deeper understanding of how this ingenious show is put together, then press play now!
Xo,
Korrie
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Episode 27: Spotlight on Lyricist Howard Ashman & Bringing “I Want” Songs to Disney
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditions and music preparation for musical theatre.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Learn the hallmarks of Ashman’s lyric style and how he brought the dramatic conventions of musical theatre songs to Disney.
Howard Ashman was playwright, lyricist, and director who wrote lyrics for some of my favorite shows: Smile, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. His song lyrics feature delightful rhymes and incredibly specific imagery that enrich the world of the musical.
In this episode, I analyze lyrics from his hit shows and put a spotlight on how he uses songs to
- create more three-dimensional characters
- paint the specific world of the show
- and communicate a character’s “want” through the “I want” song
Songs we’ll discuss include “Under the Sea,” “Be Our Guest,” “Part of Your World,” and “Somewhere that’s Green,” and “Until Tomorrow Night.”
If you’re ready to get a deeper understanding of Ashman’s lyrics that will, in turn, deepen your enjoyment of performing his songs, then press play now!
Xo,
Korrie
Mentioned in this episode: Howard, a documentary about Howard Ashman available on Disney+.
Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditions and artist branding.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!