Strike up the Band! (From "Strike up the Band"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gives singers authentic, performance-ready arrangements of "Strike Up the Band!" and dozens of other essential theatre songs, all transcribed directly from original vocal scores. The inclusion of audition tips and 16-bar cut suggestions transforms what could be a simple songbook into a practical resource that singers actually use in real audition rooms and rehearsal studios.

Gershwin's songs radiate confidence and sophistication. There's a buoyancy to the melodies and a jazz-inflected elegance to the harmonies that makes every phrase feel both singable and substantial. Performing these songs connects you to the golden age of American musical theatre while sounding completely contemporary.

This book serves singers preparing for musical theatre auditions, callbacks, and performances across professional and educational contexts. It works equally well for voice students building their repertoire, community theatre performers, and singers developing their knowledge of authentic Broadway material across multiple vocal ranges.

• Center your tone in the middle voice to handle Gershwin's characteristic harmonic movement without tension or strain in either direction.
• Pay attention to the piano voicings and inner voice movement; they often suggest exactly where your phrase should sit and breathe.
• Treat the syncopated rhythms as natural speech patterns rather than calculated precision; Gershwin's songs swing when you let them breathe.
• Use the provided 16-bar cuts strategically in auditions, but also work with the full song to build endurance and understand the arc of each character.

Program "Strike Up the Band!" alongside other Gershwin works in a revue celebrating 1930s Broadway, or use individual songs from this collection as audition material throughout the year. The variety of shows represented makes it useful for voice teachers designing repertoire sequences that introduce students to different theatrical styles and vocal demands in a single, cohesive resource.

• Reading piano-vocal scores and working independently with printed accompaniment
• Interpreting Gershwin's harmonic language and jazz-influenced rhythmic patterns
• Making effective audition choices using provided cut suggestions and historical context
• Building cross-show awareness and understanding how different eras of musical theatre approach similar character types
• Developing phrasing and breath management across varied song lengths and styles