<p>I have over eight years of dance training (jazz, ballroom, flamenco, tap, ballet) and just as many in theater. I've been in very few musicals. My theater training (Shakespeare, commedia dell' arte, etc.) was eccentric and all encompassing. (apologize in advance for the bragging) My acting has gotten me awards and meaty parts and my dancing gets me noticed (the attention may also be from the fact that I'm a relatively curvy African american female).
My singing...? Sorely neglected. I'm a 2nd Alto with almost no belt unless its in the more tenor 1 part of my range.</p>
<p>I took a year off from school to save up for the expense of living on campus and now I need to start picking and choosing schools to audition for and pieces to audition with. I can't really afford to take private lessons.</p>
<p>I was going to apply to straight theater schools, but majoring in MT would give me more options in the long run.
When I apply to my reaches (Julliard, CMU, Rutgers) I will be applying straight theater. Anywhere else I will be applying as either or (hopefully) both.</p>
<p>So, my questions (finally) are:
1) Does my lack of intense vocal training severely disadvantage me for MT programs? </p>
<p>2) Are there any programs that are heavier towards dancing/acting?</p>
<p>3) What are some good (not over done) alto pieces that are age appropriate (18-mid
twenties)?</p>
<p>4)Would it just be in my best interest to apply straight theater?</p>
<p>Any answers, stories & somewhat relevant tangents will be greatly appreciated.
Please and thank yous!</p>
<p>@emma18: Here is some great info from doctorjohn (head of MT at Otterbein) regarding some of the things he is looking for in vocals at audtions. This may help you decide where you stand in the process. I think he sums it up well when he says, “musical values are essential…the range, quality, and size of your voice, your sense of style and command of technique, as well as your ability to act the song” and “the ability of the voice to “ring” throughout the vocal registers used by the singer.”</p>
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<p>CC Caveat: there is a lot of debate going on about the migration in MT musical style from a legit sound to a belt/pop sound and the quote from doctorjohn could be taken as implying an undue emphasis on a legit technique. I think the important take-away is that you do need to be able to demonstrate effective range, quality, and size of voice in whatever style or styles are part of your repertoire, whether legit, belt, and/or mix.</p>
<p>You may want to consider researching schools that do not have an audition MT program, but do musicals regularly. Maybe a school with a strong BFA Acting and a MT minor, or one that at least offers private voice lessons. I put together an alternate list to the Big List of MT Schools which sorts those schools by audition and non-audition BAs and BFAs. (See Big List of MT Programs by Type).</p>
<p>Emma, many programs look for students who are advanced in two of the three “areas.” When you audition, just listen to John’s advice posted above. Do what you do well. Shine in the other areas. I don’t imagine you’ll have any issues. You sound like you are together, have a goal and a plan. Those things will be great assets as you move forward. </p>
<p>Many schools allow you to audition for both MT and Acting at the same time. In fact, for many you simply need to check a box to show interest in both. Not always the case, and I know that isn’t the case in at least one of the programs you listed. But it is true as often as not. I think you would be hard pressed to find a MT program that doesn’t suggest the entire base of the program is acting. Anytime you are on stage you are acting, the same isn’t true of the other areas. I wish you nothing but good luck.</p>