<p>Ive mentioned on CC before that my son was being encouraged by his voice teacher to study voice instead of acting. Hes been conflicted about which path to take. I heard him tell his aunt last night that singing was fun but acting was a spiritual experience. So I guess hes chosen his path! I envy these kids who have such a passion for something. I doubt they realize how lucky they are. It may or may not lead to a career, but it's something fulfilling they can pursue for the rest of their lives.</p>
<p>That’s a terrific moment, dcs. I am right there with you. My D has always been involved in music, and considered becoming an operatic singer - in fact during our first college visits, that’s what she was looking at. Yet deep in her heart it was theatre that moved her, and she only applied to Acting programs. She has continued to sing, and to use her musical abilities in many ways, but she shares your son’s feelings quite closely.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you and your S. I am sure he will find a rewarding place to feed his spirit.</p>
<p>It sounds as if your son is, like mine, “an actor who sings.” (Apparently it’s a very different type from the MT kids.) We both have to make sure they get plenty of opportunity to continue with voice lessons at their acting schools!</p>
<p>He’s definitely “an actor who sings.” He dislocated his knee in November while dancing in a musical. That has scared him off dancing–but I hope that’s not forever.</p>
<p>No question that an “actor that sings” is a state of being. It does not matter how well she sings. She could never go an mt program as the kids are not be her people</p>
<p>I think many students in MT programs are actors who sing or singing actors. The same with students in Theatre programs. This was the case in my undergrad, grad school, and in the two programs where I have taught… as well as the case with actors I have cast professionally. Yes, some actors do specialize more in one area or the other, but others do not. This is the case educationally and professionally. </p>
<p>I was a MT student undergrad and my first jobs out of college were Shakespeare… many of my peers worked in multiple areas and genres as well.</p>
<p>For a more recent example, where I now teach often 1/4 - 1/2 of the students cast in plays are MT students. There are also generally at least a few Theatre students cast in each musical (this is a smaller number since fewer of the Theatre students sing… although all are at different levels, and many are quite accomplished. All of the MT students need to act… although all are at different levels). For example, in the upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet 8 out of the 19 in the cast are MT students, including Romeo, Juliet, Benvolio, Nurse, Montague, Paris, Prince, and an ensemble member. In the upcoming student directed plays, Gruesome Playground Injuries and Sylvia 3 out of the 6 cast are MT students. </p>
<p>There are Theatre students in the upcoming musical production of Spring Awakening, and it is likely that there will be Theatre students in the upcoming student directed musicals, They’re Playing Our Song and Spelling Bee, which will audition in the spring semester. </p>
<p>Ultimately, no one really cares what your major concentration is socially or in casting. People who click hang out socially regardless of major concentration. The best for the roles in the eyes of a particular director are cast. From personal experience this will stay the same post graduation.</p>
<p>Where I teach theatre students can take specific voice classes, dance, music, and MT classes as electives. MT students can take advanced acting classes, other specialized non-MT acting classes (ie. voice and speech, movement for the actor, Meisner intensive, etc…), and technical, design, and management, etc… as electives. Of course this is also visa versa where applicable. This is similar to my experience as an undergrad. </p>
<p>I think all programs are aiming to develop well-rounded, working artists. The more skills an artist possesses, the more work they are able to pursue.</p>
<p>Each program has a different vibe, and in many programs MT and Theatre students are very integrated… in others not so much. Some programs only offer one or the other. Look for the schools and programs that offer the opportunities you are looking for. Don’t worry as much about the degree program or title. </p>
<p>Sorry if this is “ranty” I just hate the idea of judging a book by its cover, and assuming that a Theatre student is one way and an MT student is another. There may be some who meet the respective stereotypes, but others who will not. The more open an actor is to experiences and training, the more opportunities they will ultimately have.</p>
<p>I love reading these threads and seeing how passionate and supportive you all are of your kids and their dreams!! This time is sooooo stressful and exciting! Hang in!</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>KatMT – Fair points, I am probably over generalizing. My daugther spent the summer at CMU and she felt the 90 kids there in the MT program were (on the whole) a different breed than the 30 or so kids there in Acting program. That may not be a very accurate way to evaluate how that works out for other programs. I think the other thing at play – at least for her – is how she thinks of herself. If she had an MT degree rather than Acting degree, her feeling is that people would just think of her in a different way than she sees herself if that makes any sense.</p>
<p>That does make sense. What is important is that students attend the program they feel is best for them.</p>
<p>Just would not write off MT programs out of hand… many actors have degrees in MT, just like MT performers have degrees in Acting. The most successful performers cross over as much as is possible, since that opens up the greatest amount of work.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>Agreed on the cross-over point. My daughter plans to continue with her voice lessons and one of the criteria in her college decision making will be the opportunity to develop MT skills. When jobs are so hard to come by, having skills that enable you to be employed in more areas seems hugely important.</p>
<p>My son’s drama teacher made the same point as ActingDad. When S said he was not interested in doing MT for college, altho he finds it fun, the teacher said that he should still keep up with his singing since jobs in theatre are hard to come by, so why dismiss a whole area (MT)? Made sense! S still only wants straight acting - also feels that is a different crowd than MT kids - but sees the importance of continuing with his voice lessons.</p>
<p>For S, musicals are a blast, but he also has the “spiritual experience” when he is acting!</p>
<p>certainly students should choose the school and training environment they feel is right for them… I guess I just think it is slightly dismissive to say that all MT students are one way and all Theatre students are another. I think it implies that one group of students is more or less serious than the other, or more or less obnoxious than the other. Maybe they are to the other. ;-)</p>
<p>But groups are made up of individuals with distinct personalities, energies, hopes, and dreams… And there will be many who break the perceived mold.</p>
<p>Back in the dark ages I was a student who applied to both MT and Acting programs because I did not want to stop developing as a singer/dancer, but wanted to further develop my acting skills and other theatre related skills. I looked for programs, regardless of major, that would allow me to do this, and took schools off of my list that I felt (or knew) would not allow this. I ended up in a MT program that I felt would push me in all areas, and allowed MT students to take all levels of acting. </p>
<p>Where I teach now there are some students in MT or Theatre who stay more focused in their particular area of study and others who audition for everything, work in the scene, lighting, or costume shop, design, stage manage, direct, develop skills in arts management, playwriting, etc… there are also students who specialize in all of these areas, but students have the opportunity to explore and grow in multiple areas if they so choose.</p>
<p>Everyone needs to pursue the training and educational path that is right for them. I guess it just strikes a nerve with me, because as an educator I try to look at each of my students as individuals, and I believe that it is my job to do my best to encourage all them to develop and explore as many areas of their craft and themselves as possible regardless of their major concentration. </p>
<p>I think ED and EA decisions are being released for many of you right now. All the best to all of you in waiting mode!</p>
<p>I just dropped in on this thread and have to agree with KatMT. My son is completing his 5th semester in MT at NYU New Studio on Broadway. He auditioned for MT specifically because he could sing as well as act. He was not a trained dancer going into the program. After five semesters of various dance and movement classes he is much improved; still, he would never refer to himself as a dancer. (There are some in his program who are excellent dancers and he knows the difference!) He just sees the dance component as another aspect of his studio training. If asked three years ago, he would tell you he was an actor who sings. Today he would tell you he is training to be a professional actor, period. </p>
<p>At NYU Tisch you graduate with a BFA in Drama, regardless of whether you are in the MT program or one of the straight acting studios. It’s all good!</p>