Let's start about 2/3 of the way through. No, not there. Let's start at the very beginning! A very good place to start. Host writer/composer David Rackoff looks at this very impressive song from Rodgers & Hammerstein. These would be some tough lyrics to write. And what is "do re mi" anyway? And what is a non-rhotic accent, and why does it make the lyrics even better? We look at all that, and more on this episode.

Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.

Pardon me, is everybody here, because if everybody's here I'd like to thank you all for clicking on this podcast. Today, host writer/composer David Rackoff looks at how "Getting Married Today" by Stephen Sondheim works. And boy, does it work (and "werk")! How do you go about writing a great patter song? We even get "David's tips for performing a patter song". And how does Jonathan Bailey fit into all of this? Listen to find out!

Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.

Actors and singers, today you will learn to read music in five minutes! (Okay, not five minutes, and not totally learn to read music). But this will give you a foothold in connecting the song you're going to sing to the sheet music with all the dots and lines that you're holding in your hands. It's a place to start. If you are already an ace sight-singer, this episode is not for you! But for everyone else, whether you have a high school audition coming up, or you're a professional actor who's already been cast in a musical, I think this will help you get a little more confident and little more musical.

Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.