Writing the Score

When the primary and secondary characters and the plot scenario have been worked out in detail, the spotting of the score can begin. Songwriters are often so eager to get started on the songs that they don’t wait until this stage has been reached. But if you start writing songs at random before you have a relatively firm scenario, there is a good possibility that some or all of those songs will end up having to be either rewritten or cut. Sometimes it’s useful to try a song at an early stage, just to get the “feel” of the characters and the show, but in that case you need to keep in mind that your song is an exercise and may not end up in the show.