Life in the Pit

Life in the Pit

47 episodes

This podcast is devoted to the lives and experiences of instrumental musicians who play for musical theatre. Listeners can hear the stories of what goes on in "the pit" and aspiring musicians can learn what it takes to become a pit musician.

Podcasts

78. Arranging Pop Songs for & Juliet - Dominic Fallacaro

Published: June 23, 2023, 10 a.m.
Duration: 51 minutes 35 seconds

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77a. Resolution? Local 802 AFM and Here Lies Love

Published: June 10, 2023, 1:52 a.m.
Duration: 7 minutes 43 seconds

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77. Local 802 AFM and Here Lies Love -Jason Loffredo

Published: June 2, 2023, 10 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 45 seconds

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TRAILER for The Musician Toolkit with David Lane

Published: Dec. 27, 2022, 8:17 p.m.
Duration: 3 minutes 33 seconds

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76. End of Year Update

Published: Dec. 16, 2022, 4:59 p.m.
Duration: 32 minutes 51 seconds

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75. Dare to Be Seen: Taming Performance Anxiety - Elisa Di Napoli

Published: Oct. 7, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 59 minutes 56 seconds

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74. Managing a Theatre Company - Marci Shegogue

Published: Sept. 23, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes 30 seconds

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73. End of an Act and the 3 Keys to Success

Published: July 8, 2022, 9:21 p.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 49 seconds

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72. Subbing on Percussion for Broadway - Dennis J. Arcano

Published: July 1, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 52 minutes 49 seconds

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71. NAMM experience and Community Theatre Musician Compensation

Published: June 17, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 49 minutes 45 seconds

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70a. BONUS: Story of a Big Break - Angela McCuiston

Published: May 31, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 11 minutes 31 seconds

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70. Strength Training and Injury Prevention for Musicians - Angela McCuiston

Published: May 27, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 17 seconds

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Bonus: Nurturing Your Network or How to Book Your Pit (and not)

Published: May 20, 2022, 4:46 p.m.
Duration: 11 minutes 42 seconds

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69. Into the Woods - Jeff Saver, music director

Published: May 13, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 59 minutes 25 seconds

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68. 14 Habits to Improve your Music Career

Published: April 29, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 47 minutes 16 seconds

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67. Annie and All That Jazz - Arnold Gross, music director and pianist

Published: April 15, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes 39 seconds

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66a Listener Questions - To Accept the Gig or Not, Time Management

Published: April 1, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 25 minutes 17 seconds

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66. The Lightning Thief Musical - Rob Rokicki

Published: March 22, 2022, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 59 seconds

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65. Financial Basics for Freelance Musicians - Samantha Absher

Published: March 11, 2022, 10 a.m.
Duration: 34 minutes 59 seconds

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Bonus Episode 64a: Recent Audition Accompanist Stories

Published: March 8, 2022, 4:04 p.m.
Duration: 11 minutes 52 seconds

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64. Being an Accompanist for Auditions - Jose Simbulan

Published: Feb. 25, 2022, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes 55 seconds

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63. The Business of Private Teaching - Eric Branner

Published: Feb. 11, 2022, 10 a.m.
Duration: 56 minutes 7 seconds

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62. Grad School in a Pandemic - Tanner Harrod: composer, guitarist, hornist

Published: Jan. 21, 2022, 10 a.m.
Duration: 50 minutes 25 seconds

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Whats New in 2022 for LIFE IN THE PIT

Published: Dec. 31, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 15 minutes 12 seconds

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61. Touring with the JCS 50 - Joe LaRocca, reeds

Published: Nov. 19, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 3 minutes 3 seconds

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A Story of Failure and the Lessons Learned

Published: Oct. 15, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 33 minutes 8 seconds

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60. The Broadway Trumpeter - Paul Baron, Trumpet

Published: Oct. 1, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 41 seconds

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Interlude: 9/11, Pandemic, and Thoughts on Practice

Published: Sept. 10, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 27 minutes 24 seconds

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59. Community Theatre Musicians - Jeff Ingle, percussionist, contractor

Published: Aug. 27, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes 49 seconds

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Preview of "Something Rotten" for Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance

Published: Aug. 18, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 14 minutes 11 seconds

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58. From Branson to Vegas - Tish Diaz, keyboardist

Published: Aug. 13, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 34 minutes 41 seconds

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57. Reducing Orchestration - Alex Tirrell, music director

Published: July 23, 2021, 2:54 p.m.
Duration: 49 minutes 19 seconds

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56. The Wicked Harp - Laura Sherman, harpist

Published: July 9, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 57 minutes 51 seconds

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55. Entr'acte: Celebrating 1 year of Life in the Pit

Published: June 25, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 40 minutes 4 seconds

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54. Principles for Professional Pit Musicians: Paul Perfetti, trumpet

Published: June 18, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes 29 seconds

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53. Low Notes - Jennifer Wharton: trombone, bass trombone, tuba

Published: June 11, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 58 minutes 47 seconds

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52. Tours and Reels - Matthew Croft, keyboardist and music director

Published: June 4, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 57 minutes 44 seconds

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51. Theatre in Ireland - Andrew Clayton, guitarist

Published: May 28, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 44 minutes 46 seconds

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50. The Collins Boy: A New Musical - Brad Bass and Cari Joy, writers

Published: May 21, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes 7 seconds

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49. "Strategies for Success in Musical Theatre" - Herbert D. Marshall, music director

Published: May 14, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 14 minutes 19 seconds

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48. Singing for Cirque Du Soleil - Rochelle Collins, vocalist

Published: May 7, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 42 minutes 39 seconds

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47. The Itinerant Music Director: Steven Zumbrun, music director, keyboards

Published: April 30, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 42 seconds

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46. "The Best They Can" - Trevor Landreth, percussionist

Published: April 23, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 48 minutes 52 seconds

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45. "I just love playing!" - Mary Ann McSweeney, bassist

Published: April 16, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes 57 seconds

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44. The Gear You Need to Get Started - Brady Aldrich, multi-instrumentalist

Published: April 9, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 56 minutes 31 seconds

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43. Music Directing as a High School Student - Sachio Nang, music student

Published: April 2, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 35 minutes 45 seconds

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42. "A Well-Stocked Tool Kit" - Shelagh Abate: French Horn

Published: March 26, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 59 minutes 15 seconds

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41. "Drama Has Always Been Part of My Life" - Andy Mock, pianist

Published: March 19, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes 42 seconds

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40. "In New York...you say yes!" - Andrea Neumann, trombone

Published: March 12, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 36 seconds

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39. Programming Keyboards for Theatre Part 2 - John Eldridge: keyboardist, music director

Published: March 5, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 38 minutes 35 seconds

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38. Programming Keyboards for Theatre Part 1 - John Eldridge: keyboardist, music director

Published: Feb. 26, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 57 minutes 53 seconds

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37. Symphony Orchestra with Theatrical Touches - Ingrid Keller, executive director

Published: Feb. 19, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 47 minutes 49 seconds

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36. "Just Keep Working" - Louis B. Crocco, percussionist

Published: Feb. 12, 2021, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 1 minute 11 seconds

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35. "Learning on the Job" - Mike Lasley: music director, keyboardist, percussionist

Published: Feb. 5, 2021, 10:06 a.m.
Duration: 56 minutes

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34. Pregnancy Brain and Percussion - Christina Lowder: percussionist, drummer

Published: Jan. 29, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 52 minutes 59 seconds

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33. "Catastrophe Mitigation" - Eric Eakes: violist, personnel manager

Published: Jan. 22, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 46 minutes 25 seconds

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Ask the Music Director part 4

Published: Jan. 19, 2021, 10:01 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 38 seconds

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32. Disney, Mamma Mia, and Summer Stock - John de Haas: keyboardist, music director, composer

Published: Jan. 15, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 12 minutes 11 seconds

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31. "Anytime is a Good Time" - Kini Slaughter, Flutist, Event Coordinator

Published: Jan. 8, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes 41 seconds

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Ask the Music Director part 3

Published: Jan. 5, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 19 seconds

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Ask the Music Director part 2

Published: Dec. 29, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 12 seconds

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Ask the Music Director part 1

Published: Dec. 23, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 31 minutes 4 seconds

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30. "Performer and Spectator" - Taiki Azuma: Saxophone, Reeds

Published: Dec. 11, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes 2 seconds

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29. The Brass Section in Theatre - Harlan Feinstein: trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba

Published: Dec. 4, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes 29 seconds

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28. Theatre in Chicago - Valerie Maze: music director, keyboardist

Published: Nov. 27, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 51 minutes 18 seconds

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27. "There's always more you can do." - Doug Rowe: percussion, drums

Published: Nov. 20, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes 17 seconds

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Reflections on CTG's Wizard of Oz

Published: Nov. 16, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 25 minutes 49 seconds

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26. "Organized Chaos" - Al Stephens: conductor, music director

Published: Nov. 13, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes 47 seconds

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25. "The Pit is my happy place!" - Virginia Masius, bassist

Published: Nov. 6, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 37 minutes 41 seconds

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24. "Keep Pressing Forward" - Aaron Gandy: composer, music director, keyboardist

Published: Oct. 30, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes 29 seconds

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23. "A Bunch of Everything Combined" - Tommy Jackson, house band leader

Published: Oct. 23, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes 9 seconds

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22. "I was terrified...and it was incredible!" - Haidee Dollak - piano accompanist

Published: Oct. 16, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes 7 seconds

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21. Getting on National Tours Locally - Wayne Leechford, contractor, reeds

Published: Oct. 9, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 46 minutes 43 seconds

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20. "So I snuck out of the school with her oboe..." - Matthew Covington, oboes

Published: Oct. 2, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 32 minutes 39 seconds

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19. "It kinda puts you in a weird moment." - Kania Mills, clarinets/saxophones

Published: Sept. 25, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 4 minutes 1 second

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18. "Our Limitations Are a Gift to Ourselves" - Tika Douthit, flute

Published: Sept. 18, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 46 minutes 23 seconds

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17. Growth Cycle: "Carp, Possum, Raccoon" - Guy Kelpin, trombone & bass

Published: Sept. 11, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes 41 seconds

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16. Magic and Death:The Harp in Theatre - Grace Ludtke, Harp

Published: Sept. 4, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 58 minutes 16 seconds

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15. Craving a Challenge - Ronnal Ford, woodwinds and strings

Published: Aug. 28, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 3 minutes 21 seconds

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14. "Not Afraid of Feedback" - Staging new musicals - Laura Watkins, composer/keyboards

Published: Aug. 21, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 34 minutes 22 seconds

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13. Cruise Ship Bands "The Wild West of Music" - James Hodson, guitars

Published: Aug. 14, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 1 hour 1 minute 9 seconds

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12. The Pit vs the Spotlight - Deena Rizkalla, violinist

Published: Aug. 11, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 45 minutes 30 seconds

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11. "Listen, Learn, Love" - Maggie Gallagher, music director, voice teacher

Published: Aug. 7, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 42 minutes 37 seconds

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10. "You can't stop once it starts" - Tony Steve, percussionist/composer

Published: Aug. 4, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 45 minutes 37 seconds

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9. "Do Your Homework" - Randy Mintz, bass

Published: July 31, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 56 minutes 51 seconds

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8. "Exciting but Terrifying" - Kate Hopper, French horn

Published: July 28, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 45 minutes 52 seconds

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7. "My Book Had Been Left in Texas" - Brian Blauch, reeds player

Published: July 24, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 40 minutes 43 seconds

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6. Collaboration and Happy Dances - Jennifer Alexandra Johnston: cellist

Published: July 21, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 39 minutes 58 seconds

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5. "I Put the Quality of the Music First" - Daniel Bukin - conductor, composer, keyboardist

Published: July 17, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 57 minutes 19 seconds

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Terms for Theatre Musicians 101

Published: July 14, 2020, 10 a.m.
Duration: 12 minutes 50 seconds

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4. Theatre from Many Perspectives - Beth Cox, clarinet-sax-flute

Published: July 10, 2020, 9 a.m.
Duration: 53 minutes 23 seconds

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3. The Ultimate Generalist - James Brandt, percussionist and drummer

Published: June 27, 2020, 7:45 p.m.
Duration: 49 minutes 20 seconds

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2. "You Can't Have Too Many Guitars" - Allan Beck, guitarist

Published: June 27, 2020, 7:45 p.m.
Duration: 42 minutes 12 seconds

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1. Welcome to the Pit - David Lane

Published: June 27, 2020, 7:45 p.m.
Duration: 29 minutes 25 seconds

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