The music is mostly upbeat and fun, but can be a little challenging. Some of the ensemble vocals are tricky, and I tried to write and arrange the music so the band can really dig in and play. The band could be on stage, in appropriate clothing of the period - or in a pit. There is also a lot of opportunity for dance, as in GREASE or HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Mostly it’s dancing while singing, as opposed to singing and then a dance section. There were so many dances from the 70s, and the show ends with a big line dance of The Hustle, hopefully involving the audience too!
The music is slightly ahead of it’s time. Disco didn’t really start showing up until the mid to late 70s, but Generic High School is ahead of it’s time in many ways! Aside from the Bee Gees, I listened to a lot of Tower Of Power, Steely Dan, as well as Elton, Carol King, and yes, Barry Manilow.
It is scored for:
- Keys 1
- Keys 2
- Drums
- Percussion
- Bass
- Guitar
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tenor Sax
It could be done without the horns - but the more sound the better!! Because the music is rock and roll-ish, mics for the actors are almost a necessity. We’re used to hearing these kind of tunes on the radio, or our 8 Track Players. Rehearsal tracks can be made available if needed.