Magic to Do (from Pippin): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This official vocal score captures Schwartz's wit and heart across 13 songs, with the added authority of his own revisions for the celebrated 2013 Broadway revival. The newly-engraved text and updated arrangements make the music cleaner to read and perform, while the inclusion of 'On the Right Track' gives you access to contemporary staging choices that students recognize. You get a complete, composer-approved resource that stands up to classroom and recital use alike.

Pippin balances theatrical flair with genuine emotional warmth. The songs swing between playful numbers filled with wit and charm (think the infectious energy of 'Magic to Do') and quieter, more introspective moments where vulnerability surfaces ('With You,' 'Love Song'). This score captures the magic of discovery and the bittersweet knowledge that growing up means change.

Solo singers preparing audition material or recital repertoire, pianists accompanying vocalists, and anyone teaching or performing Pippin scenes and musical numbers. This works equally well for a single student working through character songs or a drama program building a full theatrical production.

• Anchor the accompaniment patterns to the lyrical phrasing rather than strict metric counting; Schwartz's songs often breathe across the barline, especially in 'Corner of the Sky' and 'Simple Joys.'
• Balance singers' dynamics against the keyboard to ensure lyrics stay clear; this songbook sits somewhere between pop-influenced writing and theater orchestration, so vocal clarity takes priority.
• Explore the relationship between melody and chord changes in songs like 'Magic to Do' and 'Extraordinary,' where harmonic movement often mirrors emotional shifts in the text.
• Check the lyric edits Schwartz made for the 2013 revival; some may differ from recorded versions students know, so clarify which version you're performing.

Include selections in a musical theater showcase or recital to reach audiences who love contemporary Broadway. Alternatively, use individual songs to teach character voice and storytelling through music; each number works as a standalone acting and singing exercise. The full score supports anyone mounting a production or workshop of Pippin itself.

• Singing legit theater songs with strong melodic lines and character intention
• Navigating song forms and key changes that reflect emotional arc
• Coordinating vocal phrasing with piano accompaniment across varying time signatures
• Interpreting Schwartz's harmonic language and its relationship to lyrical meaning
• Sight-reading contemporary vocal scores with updated engraving and notation