While many people experience the thrill of Broadway every year, what these audiences might not realize is just how much work goes into each performance. While there are many aspects to Broadway-the acting, costumes, and set-one of the most important factors is the music that makes musical theatre what it is. Many actors and actresses spend years perfecting their voices, training for the nerve-wracking audition, and acquiring the strength that is required of performances that span over at least an hour. With all this in mind, we decided to uncover exactly what is put into training for a Broadway performance, or any musical theatre performance for that matter.
This week, we turned to Mr. Keith Walker, a native of south Georgia, who teaches music at Darton College and offers private voice lessons for students and aspiring actors. Walker always knew he wanted to be involved in the arts; however, his parents discouraged him from choosing such an unpredictable career and instead encouraged him to major in chemistry. While Walker gave the medical field a try, he always felt as though music was calling, or rather, singing, his name, "I didn't start with music right out, so following it often gives me a better appreciation for what I do. And I get paid for it!" Walker felt his calling was to share his love for music with others and inspire in them the same passion he feels for musical theatre. Walker says "Seeing a student 'get it' or having a break through where things fall into place and working is very exciting." So Walker began his own business, teaching everyone from young passionate students to aspirant Broadway hopefuls the art that is music.
Walker teaches his students the basics every singer should know, but also makes sure to incorporate fun and helpful techniques that will give them a leg up in auditions and performances. For instance, Walker begins each lesson with "breath support and vowel placement practice" and encourages his students to keep practicing and working hard. Walker believes there are some essentials to warming up and preparing an actor’s voice, which he instills in his students.
While Walker’s passion for teaching does stem from his own passion for music, he also attributes this passion to his own Broadway aspirations. He reflects "Going to New York for auditions gave me different perspectives of the business. Also, it helped me to understand more clearly the work and dedication it takes to make it on Broadway." Using his own experiences, Walker prepares each student for every experience they might face-from the panic of stage fright every actor faces upon approaching the stage to avoiding the songs that every casting agent has already heard.
Walker believes "talent will only get you so far", a sentiment most actors and actresses would agree with. While getting a lead on Broadway may seem a daunting task, its one that can be better achieved with the help of voice lessons and practice. Walker is a firm believer in "following dreams but not inflating expectations" for success on the stage.
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