The Importance Of The Piano Player

Dear Ryan Murphy --

First let me say thank you. Thank you for rekindling my love affair with television with your hit show, Glee. Thank you for reminding me, in this modern age of pop music drivel, that good music does exist and can sound better in 6 part harmony. And lastly, thank you for reminding me of how much fun I did indeed have those years ago when I was a part of high school show choirs.

Of course, I wasn't in the show choir. I was the piano player.

The scruffy man being the piano in Glee, as we all know, is Brad Ellis, your brave music director. Probably not an actor (hence the non-speaking role), he just sits behind the piano rehearsal after rehearsal with not even a shred of acknowledgement from Mr. Schuester, the kids.....not even the band.

I need to tell you that the piano player is way more important than proven in Glee. In every show choir I have been in, the piano player isn't just a face behind the piano, but an integral part of the rehearsal process. The piano player gives direction, tells the kids when they need to start again from the beginning, basically setting the tone for the whole rehearsal. Usually, the person behind the piano is also the choir director, but not in all cases.

So, here are some thoughts I had about how to bring importance to Brad’s character:

1. Have Emma want to get closer to Will by taking singing lessons from Brad. Cue scene where they are sitting at the piano and Emma ever-so-tenderly places her head on Brad's shoulder. The piano player is always the shoulder to cry on.

2. Create a monologue for Sue in which she is both extolling the praises of the piano player while simultaneously ribbing on Will. Maybe have Sue either deny or admit knowledge of the manliness of one or both of them (Brad = Sue’s secret lover?)

3. At least acknowledge him by name once an episode. Create a mystery about his outside-Glee life.....maybe on the weekends he plays at the hotel bar at the Dayton Airport where Will goes to pick up April Rhodes on her way in from Branson. Newly-single Will and April grab a drink, while Brad and the Lima Beans (cute band name?) provide the campy lounge music. Maybe even another opportunity for Kristin Chenoweth karaoke?

4. Give him a line or two. Have him order the kids around. Have him make the cast sit in good singing posture, for Pete’s sake. Anything to get him involved and connected with the kids.


To summarize Ryan, I have forgiven you for keeping the high school cheerleaders in their uniforms 24/7 (any self-respecting high school teacher knows that cheerleaders are only allowed to wear their uniforms on Friday game days), and for so heavily-producing some of the songs that it sounds like there is an echo in the choir room, when all of us high school teachers know that singing in a high school choir room is like singing in a tin can.

But, I can’t forgive this. Give Brad Ellis a part and make the piano player important. Because the piano player is the most important one of all.

Love,
Sarah