To be a great theatre pianist, you will need to possess the following qualities and skills. For those aspiring to play theatre piano, it is recommended that you work to attain the following.
Sight Reading
To play theatre piano, it is recommended that you learn how to play from sight. Learning sight reading skills usually requires years of practice. When practicing this skill, make sure that you do not stop to repeat parts you think you dropped a beat or made a mistake. Remember that you will not have such an opportunity when playing theatre piano during a performance. During your practice sessions, it is also recommended that you stay attentive and make sure that you identify any beats, which are vital to the performance, always play these first.
A Jack of all Trades but a Master of none
Theatre pianists are usually called upon to play a variety of tones and melodies. It is important for them to ensure that the audience gets to listen to what they know as opposed to everything in the material provided. This means that, for you to play theatre piano you should know what the audience is looking to hear and drop the parts that they do not know to make your work easier. They will also need a style that can suit any genre of music including classical, rock, jazz, gospel, country, etc.
Pay Attention
A good theatre pianist needs to be attentive during rehearsals and make sure that they know their part. The choreographer will in most cases point out when the pianist needs to come into the performance; pay attention to the other performers in the group so as to know when it’s time. When playing theatre piano, perhaps the most important thing you need to do as a pianist is to listen to the other performers, you will be able to get a sense of what the performance needs.
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