.jpg)
Pop songs by their nature are about establishing a mood, sustaining it, and finishing with it. Theatre songs are about the opposite; good theatre songs go from one end of an idea to a different place. So what is the best training for a musical theatre songwriter?
Know musicals. Know as many as you can. Not just the songs, but the scenes too. And concentrate on the classics. Get Cabaret, Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Sunday in the Park With George and Sweeney Todd. Those shows work for very good reasons. Figure out why.
Once you've got your research down, the next step is to start writing. My advice is to focus academically - don't keep cycling I, IV & V. Try to push the boundaries; both harmonically, structurally and rhythmically. Above all - don't suck. Most musicals suck. Yours should be special, and personal, and magical, and transformative, and most of all, it should be good. If you don’t think it’s good, it’s not. Throw it away and do something else. Respect the power that this form has, and don’t abuse it. The world is still anxiously awaiting the sound of something heartfelt and new.
