Taking Flight: Piano Vocal

Taking Flight captures that moment when ambition meets possibility, and the vocal writing sits in a singable range while demanding genuine musicality. The eight pages give you enough substance for recitals or student showcases without requiring elaborate staging or instrumental forces beyond piano.

The piece evokes possibility and determination, with the kind of emotional honesty that contemporary musical theater does best. There's an undercurrent of aspiration throughout, and the piano part likely mirrors and supports that journey.

Singers preparing audition material, recital repertoire, or student showcase performances will find a piece that's both artistically satisfying and practical to rehearse. This song works equally well for intermediate to advanced vocalists looking for contemporary Broadway material with substance.

• Establish the tempo and character early in rehearsal; the piano part sets a clear harmonic foundation that helps the vocalist find their melodic line.
• Pay attention to the text setting: Goldrich and Heisler rarely waste a syllable, so letting the words breathe naturally will reveal the song's emotional architecture.
• Use the full range of your voice comfortably; this piece rewards singers who understand their passaggio and negotiate any register shifts smoothly.
• Balance introspection with forward momentum; Taking Flight needs intimacy, but it also needs propulsive energy to match its title.

Pair this with art songs or other contemporary musical theater selections to create a recital that showcases modern vocal writing. It also makes a strong solo feature in a varied student concert, offering listeners something current and relatable between classical or traditional selections.

• Contemporary Broadway phrasing and legit vocal technique
• Text interpretation and emotional storytelling in song
• Coordination between vocal line and piano accompaniment
• Sustaining focus and character across an eight-page form