Let’s start at the very beginning… I’m so happy you’re here! My name is Jake. I am so excited to create this hub of useful information for a community of new and experienced music directors. Before I introduce myself more clearly, I want to tell you what you’ve stumbled upon:

Welcome to Music Directing 101! If you’re here, it’s likely that you have either:
1) Been tasked with preparing other musicians to sing/play/perform a piece of musical theatre, or
2) Wondered what it would be like to do so.

As a music director, we’ve often got to wear many hats: vocal coach, choir conductor, orchestra conductor, instructor, accompanist, music technologist, uncredited arranger, group therapist, and so on. It’s a giant task!

At the same time, there is nothing quite like the feeling of shaping an ensemble’s sound until it soars. There’s nothing like helping a high schooler find her most confident, gorgeous solo voice in her first-ever principal role. There’s nothing like watching a cast tell a moving story on opening night after weeks of dedicated rehearsal.

I have been wanting to create an online resource for a long time. A hub where I can share what I’ve learned (and will continue to learn) from music directing. A space where other music directors can comment and contribute what they have found to be helpful as well, where questions can be asked and answers can be shared. While music directing is the most exciting, fulfilling job I’ve ever had, it is incredibly demanding. Having a resource like this or a community of music directors to learn from when I first began would have saved me a lot of blood, sweat, and very real tears.

Because we are all continuously honing our craft, the resources, tips, and unapologetic opinions we share on here may prove to be useful for the seasoned music directors as well as the excited newcomer to our profession. I hope to create a community where we can all learn from each other; where comments are more than allowed, they’re actively sought-after.

Now let me fully introduce myself so you know who is running this website. Hi, I’m Jake! I’m from Northern Utah, where I have been music directing for Musical Theatre my entire adulthood. Most of the work I’ve done as a music director has been with teens and adults, but I love working with kids too. This semester I will (finally!) receive my Bachelor’s Degree in Music.

I run a private voice studio called Amplify Voice Studios. I’m an Evidence-Based Voice Teacher, certified through Maddie Tarbox Vocal Studio’s teacher training programs: Voice Function 101 and Mechanics of Mix & Belt.

I love watching movies, cooking, songwriting, and spending time with my boyfriend Tyler.

Now for the good stuff: what exactly do I intend to post on this page? I have quite a few exciting ideas for what this resource might turn into. Among other ideas that I’m sure will strike us as we move forward, here are some of the topics I hope to discuss:

• Show-By-Show Guides to Music Directing
• 10 of the Most Important Shows to Study as a Music Director
• Musicianship and Storytelling in Musical Theatre
• Vocal Health and Sustainability in Musical Theatre
• Techniques for Music Directing Teenagers
• Techniques for Music Directing Children
• Canned vs. Live Music

Creating this blog/resource is my senior project, but running it will be something I hope to continue doing as long as there are new topics to discuss. (I have a feeling we won’t run out.) I intend for this to be a living, breathing resource for myself and whomever may come across it.

I encourage you all to provide feedback, insights, and critiques of anything I might say. I only have one perspective, and there are (hopefully) lots more of you than there are of me! Your expertise is so valued. If you’re reading this far, whether you are an active music director or not, would you leave me a comment and let me know what topics you would be most excited about discussing on here?

There’s so much to learn, so let’s get started!

When we sing, we begin with Do-Re-Mi.

The Sound of Music