<p>Does anyone know more about The American Music and Dramatic Acadamy? Is this a competitive program? What type of program is does it have?</p>
<p>There is lots of information about AMDA on this board - including a recent thread. Look down the list of threads on the main MT Major page and you will see it. You can also do a search on that same page under “Search this Forum”</p>
<p>As MTmama says, there has been much discussion here about AMDA. Here is a search of threads which contain those discussions for the past several years.</p>
<p>[College</a> Confidential - Search Results](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=21872451&pp=15]College”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=21872451&pp=15)</p>
<p>Please take your time and read them, particularly the older ones, before making a decision to attend AMDA.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t rely on the older posts too much. There is a new four year BFA program which is totally different. It started this past fall, so if you are interested in the four year program, I would look at threads, past 10/2010. We went to auditions this past March and meet with a few people and really discussed the program. We have also talked with a few attending the academy. If you do not need a “college” atmosphere but want to be immersed in the musical theatre world in NY and LA, then this is the place to be. You can attend school year round, finish early, and enter the acting world knowing a lot people! If you are looking for a college atmosphere then this may not be the place.</p>
<p>Acting Daughter, I think it’s important for prospective students to be in a position to make informed decisions. Garnering as much information as possible is always a good idea. AMDA has offered a BFA for quite some time, in an arrangement with The New School in NYC. The ‘newer’ BFA program may be different in some aspects but as long as part of the program is run by AMDA’s NYC operation, it is not truly “totally different”. There are aspects of AMDA that people should investigate. Its reputation, rightly or wrongly, is not particularly positive in the theatre world in NYC. It’s a difficult thing to change peoples’ opinions. This isn’t to say that there are not talented individuals who have attended AMDA. I know a few very well but that doesn’t change my cautious attitude about recommending this school.</p>
<p>I’m sorry but the newer “BFA” program is all done by AMDA now! The program is revised.</p>
<p>so tired of the bashing…</p>
<p>so tired of the bashing… Excuse the little rant</p>
<p>being cautious is a good recommendation about ANY of the schools’ programs. My D was in a program that didn’t live up to its hype no matter what we knew ahead of time. Plenty of people on CC have left their dream schools ( and big name schools) for variious reasons… Any place should be looked at carefully, otherwise you are basically saying that the "name’ schools are only good because they are name schools. Everything is a personal fit and sometimes the fit for one is a disaster for another.</p>
<p>There has been a lot of talk about how kids who have a lot of trainiing deserve to get into ‘top’ programs (or any program at all). It is an elitest attitude… The fact that I couldn’t afford to have camps, counselors and private drama coaches for my D is painful enough without people telling me that kids who don’t have the training don’t deserve to get into good BFA schools. Kids who don’t make it into BFA programs because their parents didn’t have the wherewithall to prepare them still deserve training. If they have to get it at community colleges or 2 year certificate programs, so be it. </p>
<p>Obviously, my kid goes to AMDA. She loves it and it has really provided her growth opportunities. So many people have such negative entries when asked about AMDA. Have they gone there? Did there kid go there? Last Rising Stars on Broadway, AMDA had more representation than any other place. Something must be ok, even if it just attracting talented kids. Perhaps it doesn’t have the best rep with the NYC theater world… everyone always says it doesn’t matter where you got your training when your working. Is that true or is it not? If you know some deep dark secrets about AMDA, tell us, don’t just ‘warn’ us…</p>
<p>Sorry… long day at work.</p>
<p>I just want to comment on one thing you mentioned about Broadway Rising Stars last summer in NYC. I was there. I have the program. My daughter was selected for it and performed in it. Indeed, out of the 22 recent graduates from several different MT programs, seven were from AMDA. While they did audition soon to be graduates from a variety of programs (I know for CAP21, my D’s school, the program was allowed to nominate 10 graduates just to audition for it, and then 4 of them were selected after auditioning for the producers), I have to say that the MUSICAL DIRECTOR of Broadway Rising Stars was on the faculty of AMDA. It is only natural that the MD would want to showcase his outstanding students whom he has worked with over time, not just seen at the audition, as was the case for the others in the show. So, there is some reason there that one third of the performers came out of AMDA. </p>
<p>Let me say too that most of the AMDA performers were very talented. Also, this fall, my D was on a national tour, and one of the leads went to AMDA (most others went to BFA programs) and he was very good (though I think he went to college in Canada prior to AMDA). I don’t think anyone here is negating that there are some talented people who come out of AMDA. </p>
<p>On another point (which really isn’t the topic in other posts but just responding to a point in the post above)…I have not seen people say that those who don’t have training don’t deserve to get into good BFA schools. I think people have said that it is highly competitive and so those who more preparation often fare better in the admissions/audition process, which makes sense. I think people have said that programs cannot simply take someone with potential if they already have plenty of applicants who have the requisite skills to enter along with potential. It is not that those with only potential don’t deserve it but it only makes sense that in a competitive process, that those who meet the qualifications are admitted over those who are not yet at that level. I don’t see anything unfair about that. Of course everyone deserves training! And there are many ways and places to get that training both before college AND after high school. </p>
<p>There is a place for everyone. AMDA may be what some are looking for and may not be what others are looking for. And so it is.</p>
<p>Soozievt</p>
<p>Some of my frustration is about the fact that 2 girls in our region did the camp/tutor/coach routine that we couldn’t afford (and wouldn’t have done any earlier than 8th grade anyway because she was interested in instrumental performance as well). They were well prepped for college auditions and got into BFA programs at schools with threads here. Though they audition repeatedly, Neither girl has been cast in summer regional theater any of the summers between grades and I know for a fact that one has not been cast in anything at school. In both college and regional theater, My D has been cast in ensemble and major roles, as well as asked to do a few things due to their appreciation of her past work with them. But she never was TRAINED for college auditions. Actually, she was never trained for any auditions. It was just going out and doing it and having one really good evening with the daughter of a friend who performs and teaches opera. Someone spoke of passion, talent and skill. Sometimes (and I certainly don’t mean always or maybe even often) the major skill is how to audition and the talent is moderate. And please don’t say that all auditors can tell. I have been in too many situations where I have seen smart people be mistaken about people who know to talk the talk! (0r sing the sing!)</p>
<p>Of course folk on CC don’t deny there are talented people from AMDA, they just make it sound like it is a fluke when they do mention them. You yourself sort of gave them a backhanded compliment… referring to that fact that so many performers were in Rising Stars because the MD was on faculty at AMDA. It is often portrayed as a money grubbing place with poor training that will take anyone willing to pay … as I said before, if anyone has any experiencial criticism about what they know, I would really like to hear it.</p>
<p>snoggie…I rightfully complimented the performers from AMDA that I saw in last summer’s Broadway Rising Stars at Town Hall Theater in NYC. They were good and my D thought so too. I also complimented another lead in her national tour, a graduate of AMDA. It wasn’t a backhanded compliment. </p>
<p>But I do believe that AMDA had more representation in the chosen cast of “rising stars” because the MD was on their faculty. I would have said the SAME thing had the MD been from CCM (there were some CCM graduates in it too) and if the show had more CCM graduates than any other school. I even recall the producer (who MC’ed the show) making off hand comments about the MD showcasing some of his students and how proud he was of them. I brought this up because it seemed like you were making a point that of all the recent grads in this “showcase”, more came from AMDA than any other school and I believe there is some context to the reasons why that was so. That has nothing to do with their talent (which I have already said was good). But it has all to do with why that school had more students selected than the other schools. The AMDA kids were not better than the others in the show, in my opinion. Several were talented.</p>
<p>All that aside, even though your D did not have the training as you explained, she did just fine for herself as she originally got into a BFA in MT program (though I realize she left that program). So, actually, things worked out when it came to admissions after all.</p>
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<p>ActingDaughter, I’m not quite sure how that responds to the issues I expressed. It wasn’t The New School affiliation that was the problem.</p>
<p>Snoggie, I’m sorry that you have taken my comments as bashing. That has never been my intent in these discussions about AMDA. There is no deep dark secret but there is a reputation that the school has that may be a concern. I know several kids personally who have attended AMDA, a few of whom have booked work with national tour and Broadway shows. Most of the information I know about AMDA has come directly from them and from a couple of theatre friends who have taught there, the rest from people in the business in the city and also comments which have been posted here on CC by professionals whose opinions I respect. </p>
<p>I agree with you that prospective students and their families should inform themselves about any school to which they’re applying, and I would hope that they would do that. I’ve been around CC for several years and had ties to the theatre community for much longer than that. I don’t think that it is a fluke that there are talented kids at AMDA. My concerns are with the school itself, the cost, their heavyhanded marketing, their admissions policies, their accomodations, the transience of their faculty, not with the students. I hope that with the introduction of their own BFA that this is a step in the right direction to addressing some of these concerns.</p>
<p>I think the issues about AMDA that alwaysamom mentioned above in the final paragraph are not her personal opinion (it is not as if she went to AMDA) but those issues have come up time and again on message boards on the internet, and by those in the industry. So, a prospective student should look into these things closely and see for themselves by talking to current students, faculty and people in the theater industry in NYC. It isn’t about the talent or success of those who choose to attend or graduate. (actually, I would also examine the graduation rate) One has to examine the school, not just its graduates.</p>
<p>The OP asked about the program and she/he should read as many past threads (there are many on this forum) on this program as possible as well. I would not take any single post as “it” but if there are patterns in posts that raise questions, go to the direct source and seek more information. The OP also asked if it is competitive to be admitted, and my response is that it is not, and definitely not as much as the BFA in MT programs discussed on this forum. While it is not too selective to be admitted, there are some very talented people who want this option for training and who opt to attend. I imagine the talent there varies.</p>
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<p>snoggie, I just want to say that I could not agree with you more on this statement. It is about the fit. As you know, your own daughter first went to a BFA in MT program, then transferred to a well regarded BA school for theater/MT, and then transferred to AMDA. I am delighted for your D that she has found her place, her “fit.” That is indeed what it is about. </p>
<p>I also agree that auditioning is a skill and some who have training and talent do not audition well and some others with less training, may have a natural talent with auditioning.</p>
<p>Thank you both and I appreciate your responses. I did say it had been a hard day! I am actually home sick today. 
Alwaysamom, it wasn’t that I thought you specifically were bashing AMDA, it was just the post that broke the camel’s proverbial back! Soozievt, my D was in 2 BA programs, not a BFA and BA, but no biggie! I really think I do understand what you both are saying, and I am sure you are right, based on your know knowledge of the industry, etc. And Soozie, I can’t tell you how much I appreciated reading that you thought any MD would have supported his/her school more heavily. That helped me to fell less… defensive?</p>
<p>I just want to offer another take on the whole picture from my understanding. Again, I don’t have the experience you do so I may not have it exactly right. Until recently, 40 year old plus AMDA was always a business, albeit a performance business. The private performance schools around ME advertise and do mailings. AMDA had no recruiters in the same sense that colleges do although I understand they would show up at college open houses, etc. But most non New Yorkers would probably have never heard of it in other ways. They had to advertise and do it heavily to exist, particularly as the popularity of college performance programs took off. College programs have subsidies other than the students (the colleges, endowments, state funding in some instances, etc.) It may be annoying to some, but advertisement for a business is just different than for a college program. I found the cost comparable to college with a good financial aid package as well.</p>
<p>Yes, a lot of kids are admitted to AMDA. But the kids are put in groups of 16-20 that travel together through the year. The staff is probably larger than most. So the kids receive as much attention as I imagine many other small yield schools give. I am sure the quality of a staff so large is an issue that is debatable. We could talk about the small schools (and staff) my D attended. One had a terrific staff that imparted great VARIETY, knowledge and technique, and one school had a decent staff with one really bad person that was the ONLY one teaching acting. There was no one else to transfer to for acting. In other words, you can’t always know school to school.</p>
<p>The transience of the staff was a concern to me. One of the problems we heard about was that teachers often left mid semester for shows and there was not continuity in lessons. Well, my D did have one teacher miss a class to fly somewhere to consult on a production and that class was covered by a very talented teacher of another section who my D said was fantastic. Another teacher of dance left for 3 weeks to choreograph a show and was replaced temporarily by a working dancer who continued the first teachers course without missing a beat, and my D felt just as challenged by both. On his return, the first teacher slid right in as if he had never been gone. I am sure that not all transitions are as smooth, but hers were. We think it is exciting that her teachers are working performers/directors/choreographers. She feels she has a stronger sense of the life of a working performer than she has ever had before. And as these are working performers, she feels that she has some connections that she might have not made at some other schools.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, I am unsure of the problem of accommodations for which you speak. Do you mean classroom/training rooms or do you mean housing? </p>
<p>So I hope if I have spoken out of ignorance, someone can help correct me if I was mistaken! In the end, my child is in a program. I want to be of assistance to those who have not yet finished the process. (for the time being, at least… this entire process is never fully over for our kids… every show is like getting into college all over again!!!) :P</p>
<p>snoggie, I’m sorry it’s taken me til today to get back to this thread and reply to your question. I had a houseful of company all weekend for a couple of family celebrations and am just now getting back to my normal routine. :)</p>
<p>The accomodations I mentioned were the housing accomodations. I have to admit that I haven’t seen them for a few years so perhaps they are no longer using the buildings I have personally seen. The ones I saw were pretty bad.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear that your D is happy there and that she’s doing well. As I mentioned, I do know some very talented actors who are grads and the few I know who have booked jobs are very talented indeed, including one on the current In The Heights tour. I really hope that this transition to offering their own BFA will have very positive effects on the school, in all aspects.</p>
<p>My D recently did a show in which the music director lists among his credits, “Teacher: Music Theatre Performance for the NYC branch of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.” She thought he was an amazing music director, and she really knows her music! Reportedly, the leads in the show were some of his former students from AMDA, although they did not list it in their bios, and they were also very talented.</p>
<p>I know nothing more about the school, but if I were spending thousands of dollars (I just did!), I would want to be sure there was a diploma at the end of it. A college degree in any subject opens many doors.</p>
<p>alwaysamom- The dorms are old. Probably older than God! But there is a doorman and that is what I cared about! 
D has a tiny room with a sink and a fridge. the shower and john are in the halls. Every time I go there I think of the bording houses in all the old black and white movies about theater girls!</p>
<p>musicmom 1215- I totally know what you mean about a degree, but my D, who is a great student but has to work at it, was wiping herself out. It was hard for us to let go of our dreams for her, but she needed to go for hers now. We talked about it for a long time. She will go back to school someday to finish her degree at her expense, and for now she will finish this (initial) training, because she knows she will take lessons all the time.</p>
<p>I know this is an old thread but if snoogie is still out there, I would love to personally connect with you. My daughter has been accepted to AMDA and we are in the process of trying to decide to commit or not. I would love to hear how things ended up for your daughter now that it is two years later. Thanks!</p>
<p>ANyone with newer info on AMDA, it would be great to hear from you. I have been searching for updated info as all the old posts are pretty negative. ANy graduates out there who can give info on the value of AMDA’s BFA in NY?</p>