ABSTRACT
Your research for the sound and music of a new project can begin at the moment you’ve decided to do the show. One of the fi rst steps is thoroughly reading and understanding the script. After initial concept meetings with the director and possibly with the other designers to determine the slant being taken on a particular production,
you can start gathering your resources. If music is to be part of the show and you’re unfamiliar with the style or period of the script, collect and listen to as much music from that period as possible. Try to gather examples to offer in the fi rst few design meetings. If the production requires an exotic setting, playing a recording at a meeting and presenting authentic music and sounds will be more effective than trying to explain how an instrument sounds.
