Beneath Broadway’s glamorous image is a quiet upheaval. DEIA initiatives, once intended to promote fairness, are now eroding the very core of what made Broadway pit orchestras world-class: skill, discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence. In this piece, I challenge the assumption that every demographic disparity is proof of discrimination—and expose how identity-based hiring is replacing merit with ideology. When dissent is met with censorship and experience is dismissed in favor of optics, we’re not building a better Broadway—we’re dismantling the one that worked.

Arranging music is all about shaping a composition into something unique and stylistically solid. In this post, we’re diving into what makes a great arrangement—how genre, structure, harmony, and accompaniment all come together to define a piece. Using Jazz as an example, we’ll break down key techniques that can help you refine your own arrangements. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, this is all about learning how to take a piece of music and make it your own.

Here are practical tips for band directors, music directors, vocal teachers, and high school music programs to enhance their pit orchestra performances during the fall and spring musical seasons. These tips apply to educational institutions at all levels, from middle school and high school to collegiate and higher education.

Ah, yes—the age-old debate: should you use a pre-recorded backing track or hire live musicians for your musical theatre production? I've often been asked which I prefer and what works best in different situations. My answer remains the same: it depends!

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of backing tracks and live musicians and explore how each option might fit your production.

As a composer, protecting your music and getting paid for it should be a top priority. Registering with organizations like PROs (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC), the Harry Fox Agency, and SoundExchange is essential to making sure your rights are covered and your royalties are collected. PROs handle public performance royalties (think radio, TV, or live gigs), HFA deals with royalties from sales and streams, and SoundExchange collects for digital plays like internet radio. Plus, having an ISWC for each piece helps track your music globally. Start early, keep all your identifiers organized in a simple spreadsheet, and make sure your catalog is covered—it’s a straightforward way to protect your work and make sure you’re paid for it.

We struggle to maintain a balance, our phones never leave our hands, and no place is off-limits—not even the restroom. Everywhere you look, people are glued to screens. But is this constant connection the right path for creativity? It’s no wonder that we seem to be in a creative drought. Where are the Picassos, the Mozarts, the Bernsteins of our time? Why does it feel like true, deep, and authentic art has stalled? I have a theory: it’s social media and technology.

As a music professional, your workflow is your lifeblood and a huge time saver when you’re in the middle of large projects. The right productivity tools can make all the difference by streamlining your processes, improving the quality of your work, and freeing up time for your creative flow. Here are six essential apps that should be on your radar in 2024 to help you stay organized, efficient, and focused on what matters most: the music.

Join us for a night celebrating Halloween, witches, and a musical concert of The Wise Women – the TRUE story of the author’s 11th great-grandmother, Winifred Holman and her daughter, who were accused, jailed, tried, and acquitted of witchcraft in 1600 Salem, MA… and then went on to successfully sue their accusers for defamation.

It can be tempting, exciting, and thrilling at the thought of jumping into the recording studio to record a concept album. After all, there’s something incredibly exciting about hearing your score come to life and sharing it with the world. But is it the right move for every project? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of recording a concept album before your musical hits the stage.

In my work with new musicals in development and theatre composers, I often am asked if the musical should have a cast album first, or work towards a staged production. Certainly if you're writing a musical, the staged production is the end-goal, no? A cast album is a tempting idea, especially if you’ve poured your heart into creating a new musical and want to share your songs with the world as soon as possible. Let's explore reasons for and against recording a cast album before you receive a staged production.

A music director does so much more than just teach the cast their songs. They’re the backbone of the entire musical experience, making sure everything—from the vocal arrangements to the orchestra—works in harmony with the story being told on stage. Whether they’re working closely with the director to match the mood of the music to the show’s tone, or fine-tuning a singer’s phrasing during rehearsal, the MD’s job is all about making the music come alive. And even after opening night, they’re still involved, keeping an ear on performances to ensure the music stays fresh and true to the original vision. It’s a demanding role, but seeing everything click on stage makes it all worth it.

With the news of MakeMusic™ discontinuing Finale, the flagship notation software of most of the Broadway and commercial music industry, users of the 35-year-old software are quickly scrambling to find an alternative to the juggernaut program. The good news is that there are many options available to start fresh. These are in no particular order, and as we've experienced, this list could change at a moment's notice! Here are the pro’s and con’s of each notation software.

After 35 years, an era in the world of music notation software has come to a close. MakeMusic™, the creators of Finale, have officially announced the discontinuation of their flagship product, a program that has shaped the way musicians, composers, and arrangers worked for decades. This decision has stirred a mix of emotions across the music community: nostalgia, sadness, and, for some, excitement about what lies ahead.

Ever wondered what makes a musical sound like a musical? In my latest blog post, I break down some of the key musical techniques that are commonly used in theater, such as the minor iv chord and shifts into double time. Whether you're a composer, a theater fan, or just curious about what sets this genre apart, this post takes a straightforward look at the elements that give Broadway its distinctive sound. It’s about understanding how these techniques come together to create the music we instantly recognize as musical theater, without all the extra flair.

Enhance your skills as a music director in musical theatre with these 10 essential tips! From mastering vamps and managing mixed meters to perfecting dramatic timing and pit arrangement, this guide provides practical insights to help you lead your ensemble with precision and confidence. Learn how to teach your ensemble cut-offs, handle tempo changes, and optimize your keyboard programming for a seamless and compelling performance. Dive in to discover how to elevate your next production and ensure every note resonates with your audience.

If you are a musical director, recording artist, or performer who regularly uses click tracks, then knowing how to create one is an important skill to have. Today I will teach you how to do just that in Logic Pro X. There are multiple ways to create a click track in Logic Pro X, so I'll walk you through one method.

Do you have a script, score, and some recordings but aren't sure where to turn next with your musical or play? Then keep reading! Over the past several years, a community of producers, theatre enthusiasts, investors, and dedicated thespians has been working together to assist emerging writers in refining, sharing, and staging their shows. I've put together a list of 5 exceptional organizations in 2024 that are truly making a difference for theatre creators.

Here are my top audition songs for altos, whether it’s for a community theatre or a professional musical audition gig. I have broken them down into two categories: Classical (pre-1960) and Contemporary (post-1960); and within those categories, I have separated them into ballads and uptempo selections.

Mixing music is an art form that requires a delicate balance of technical skill, creative intuition, and musicality. For those interested in producing or musicians wanting to improve their mixing skills, these five tips will guide you in creating a standout, professional sound.

If you're a Bass or a Baritone looking to stand out in musical theatre auditions, I have the perfect songs for you. It's actually quite difficult to find the perfect audition song for a lower range, especially given the higher vocal requirements in contemporary musical theatre for men and the limited availability of scores for bass-baritone voices.