STAGE SOUNDS

KEYBOARD & PERCUSSION PROGRAMMING FOR MUSICAL THEATER

At StageSounds, we offer keyboard AND percussion programming using Apple MainStage for a variety of musicals. For all of the show listed below, we have MainStage concert files for each keyboard and/or percussion part in the orchestration. Every instrument and sound effect that is called for in the score is included in one easy-to-use package, allowing you to just play the music and not have to worry about designing sounds. Please note the separate lists below for KEYBOARD and PERCUSSION titles!

Check out an example of a recent show (Shrek) at my “Media” page!

WHY STAGESOUNDS?

  • HIGH-QUALITY SOUNDS: Meticulously designed - and, in many cases, sampled from original sources!

  • EASY TO USE: Quickly make adjustments and edits to suit the needs of your production.

  • UNBUNDLING: Pay for only the parts you need.

  • UNLIMITED REHEARSAL TIME: Take as much time as you need to get it right.

  • 24/7/365 TECH SUPPORT: We are available by phone/text/email any time to assist you with any technical issues.

TESTIMONIALS:

“The keyboard programming is of outstanding quality and on par with any professional setup. I have received multiple comments from the audience and crew about how authentic and full the 5-piece band sounds, and this is in no small part due to your work.”
- Thomas M. (Sydney, Australia)

“These patches sound JUST like the recording. I'm obsessed (and so are the other keyboardists). Thank you so much!”
- Matt S. (Oakdale, New York)

“The band has been having a blast hearing these iconic patches and the audience loved how authentic the keyboards sounded (I got multiple comments on it all the way up through our closing performance).”
- Noah L. (Urbana, Illinois)

“John, your MainStage files were nothing short of a work of art!”
- Shawn H. (Lee’s Summit, Missouri)

“It is wonderfully easy to use - thank you. The level of detail you have put in, from the great sounds, to the excellently designed performance screen, makes my job so much easier and more enjoyable.”
- Michelle L. (Victoria, Australia)

RATES ($USD):

1 keyboard: $250
2 keyboards: $400
3 keyboards: $500
4 keyboards: $600

Percussion: $250

Standard rental period is 2 weeks of rehearsal plus 4 weeks of performance.

There is NO CHARGE for additional rehearsal time, but any performance runs longer than 4 weeks are an additional $25/week per book.

KEYBOARD
68 TITLES AVAILABLE NOW:

  • 9 TO 5

  • 13

  • THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

  • A CHORUS LINE

  • A CHRISTMAS STORY

  • THE ADDAMS FAMILY

  • ADVENTURES OF A COMIC BOOK ARTIST

  • ALICE @ WONDERLAND

  • ALTAR BOYZ

  • AMELIE

  • AMERICAN IDIOT

  • ANNIE

  • AVENUE Q

  • BARE

  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (11-PIECE)

  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (20-PIECE)

  • BIG

  • BILLY ELLIOT (9-PIECE) ` `

  • CABARET (1998 REVIVAL) **

  • CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

  • CHICAGO **

  • CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

  • CINDERELLA (BROADWAY VERSION)

  • COMPANY (9-PIECE) **

  • DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

  • DOGFIGHT

  • THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

  • ELF

  • EVITA (18-PIECE)

  • FALSETTOS

  • FAME

  • FLOYD COLLINS

  • FOOTLOOSE

  • THE FULL MONTY

  • FUN HOME

  • HAIRSPRAY

  • HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

  • HONK

  • IN THE HEIGHTS (TOUR, 9-PIECE)

  • IN THE HEIGHTS (BROADWAY, 13-PIECE)

  • INTO THE WOODS

  • JEKYLL & HYDE

  • KISS ME, KATE (1999 REVIVAL)

  • LEGALLY BLONDE

  • LES MISERABLES (SCHOOL EDITION)

  • THE LITTLE MERMAID

  • LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (ORIGINAL)

  • LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (2003 REVIVAL)

  • MAMMA MIA!

  • MARY POPPINS (TOUR, 11-PIECE)

  • MARY POPPINS (BROADWAY, 16-PIECE)

  • MATILDA

  • MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

  • NARNIA

  • NEWSIES

  • NINE

  • ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

  • PIPPIN (2013 REVIVAL)

  • RENT (FULL VERSION)

  • RENT (SCHOOL EDITION)

  • THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

  • THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL

  • SEUSSICAL! (FULL VERSION)

  • SEUSSICAL! (TYA VERSION)

  • SHREK ` `

  • SISTER ACT (11-PIECE)

  • SOMETHING’S AFOOT

  • SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

  • SWEENEY TODD (9-PIECE)

  • THE WEDDING SINGER

  • WEST SIDE STORY (17-PIECE)

  • THE WHO’S TOMMY

  • WICKED

  • YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN ^^


PERCUSSION
35 TITLES AVAILABLE NOW:

  • 9 TO 5

  • THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

  • THE ADDAMS FAMILY

  • ANNIE

  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (11-PIECE)

  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (20-PIECE)

  • BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

  • BRIGADOON

  • DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE

  • EVITA (18-PIECE)

  • FOOTLOOSE

  • FREAKY FRIDAY

  • HAIRSPRAY

  • THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

  • INTO THE WOODS

  • JEKYLL & HYDE

  • JOSEPH… DREAMCOAT (LICENSED)

  • LEGALLY BLONDE

  • THE LITTLE MERMAID

  • LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (2003 REVIVAL)

  • LITTLE WOMEN

  • MAMMA MIA

  • MATILDA

  • NARNIA

  • NEWSIES

  • OKLAHOMA

  • PIPPIN

  • SEUSSICAL

  • SHREK

  • SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

  • SPRING AWAKENING

  • SPAMALOT

  • URINETOWN

  • THE WIZARD OF OZ

  • YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

  • YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

COMING IN 2020:

  • AIDA (KBDS)

  • ALL SHOOK UP (KBDS, PERC) ‘ ‘

  • ASSASSINS (KBDS)

  • BRING IT ON (KBDS, PERC)

  • CATS (KBDS, PERC)

  • FREAKY FRIDAY (KBDS, PERC)

  • HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 (KBDS)

  • THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (KBDS)

  • LES MISERABLES (KBDS)

  • THE PRODUCERS (KBDS, PERC)

  • THE SECRET GARDEN (KBDS, PERC)

  • SOMETHING ROTTEN (KBDS)

  • SPAMALOT (KBDS)

  • TARZAN (KBDS, PERC)

  • WICKED (PERC)

  • XANADU (KBDS, PERC)

COMING IN 2021:

  • BAT BOY (KBDS)

  • CANDIDE (PERC)

  • CARRIE (KBDS, PERC)

  • CHESS (KBDS)

  • CHILDREN OF EDEN (KBDS, PERC)

  • GODSPELL (KBDS, PERC)

  • JOSEPH… DREAMCOAT (KBDS)

  • KINKY BOOTS (KBDS, PERC)

  • MISS SAIGON (KBDS, PERC)

  • NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM (KBDS) ‘ ‘

  • THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (KBDS)

  • PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (KBDS, PERC)

  • THE PRODUCERS (KBDS, PERC)

  • SOUTH PACIFIC (PERC)

  • SPRING AWAKENING (KBDS)

  • WAR PAINT (KBDS)

  • WEST SIDE STORY (PERC)

  • YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (KBDS)

  • ZOMBIE PROM (KBDS) **

** = Dual-Controller Layout (keyboards 1 / 2)
^^ = Dual-Controller Layout (keyboard / percussion)
` ` = CLICK / SWEETENER TRACKS AVAILABLE

Doing a show you don't see offered? I take commissions too!
Please contact me to find out more.

WHAT IS “KEYBOARD PROGRAMMING”?

For the contemporary musical, keyboard books often present the daunting task of translating dozens or hundreds of "patches" - different sounds to be played via synthesizer. Sometimes these are straightforward, but as the technology evolves they are becoming increasingly complex. I use Apple's MainStage (the same software used in pits on Broadway and in the West End) to pre-program all of the patches (including sound effects, harp glissandi and detailed splits / layers) into one simple file that you can run via any Apple computer. This enables you to hook up your keyboard and easily switch from one patch to the next throughout the entire show. You get all of the authentic sounds without having to wade through the complicated music.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

  • Apple computer (preferably with at least 8 GB of RAM) with MainStage 3 ($29)

  • 88-key weighted keyboard, with USB connectivity (or MIDI adaptor/interface)

OPTIONAL (AVAILABLE TO RENT):

Screenshot of the keyboard 2 programming for "Pippin" (2013 revival). See the score excerpt below.

PIPPIN SCREENSHOT.png

Excerpt of the 2013 revival of “Pippin” demonstrating the complexity of the programming (this is the patch from the screenshot above).