What It Means To Be A Friend (from 13: The Musical): Piano Vocal
What It Means To Be A Friend (from 13: The Musical) Sheet Music Preview

What It Means To Be A Friend (from 13: The Musical): Piano Vocal

As performed by Jason Robert Brown / As performed by 13: The Musical

Item: 35-DS00129949
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$5.99
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00129949

More about this title

About the Artist: Jason Robert Brown

Jason Robert Brown has shaped contemporary musical theater through his distinctive compositional voice, which blends intricate harmonies with emotionally direct lyrics. His work consistently prioritizes character development and theatrical storytelling, making his scores valuable teaching tools for young musicians learning how contemporary music functions on stage.

Why we love this

This song captures the vulnerability and specificity that makes 13 such a remarkable teaching score. Brown writes for young voices with genuine respect for their range and emotional capacity, and this piece demonstrates how contemporary musical theater can explore friendship and belonging without resorting to sentimentality.

What to expect

A moment of genuine connection and quiet recognition between friends. The music moves with conversational ease, allowing the lyrical content about friendship and loyalty to land with quiet impact rather than grand gestures.

Who it's for

This works beautifully for developing singers who are ready for contemporary material with harmonic sophistication. It suits solo recitals, musical theater classes, and audition preparation for students exploring modern Broadway repertoire.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the vocal line against the piano part by thinking of them as equal partners rather than accompaniment and melody. Brown's harmonic language matters as much as what the singer is delivering.
  • Attend to the lyrical shape. This song lives in conversational phrasing, so resist the urge to oversing. The power comes from authenticity and emotional clarity.
  • Explore the relationship between the piano's rhythmic figures and the vocal line's freedom. Some measures will feel locked together; others will feel intentionally spacious.

How to use it

Slot this into a concert exploring contemporary musical theater writing or a program examining how modern composers approach character songs. It pairs naturally with other introspective moments from 13 or serves as a standalone piece for singers building contemporary audition books.

Skills your students will build

  • Interpreting contemporary harmonic language in a theatrical context
  • Balancing vocal legibility with sophisticated piano accompaniment
  • Performing conversational phrasing in musical theater style
  • Understanding character motivation in solo song writing

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