An introduction with a couple questions..

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hi! My name is Chelsea, and I've been an avid reader(stalker) of this board for roughly a year now, and I wanted to first of all say thanks for the information given so far on various threads. I have a couple questions that involve a bit of history behind them before I ask, though, and would really appreciate some advice!
I'm going to be a junior in high school next fall, and so far I haven't taken any drama or participated in any productions at my high school, despite my aspirations of pursuing theater.<br>
I've auditioned for my school's plays, and while it's not officially stated, it's shown in the director's cast lists time and again that he, well, carries preference to students who are already taking drama. Understandable.
It also didn't help that I was co-founder and vice president of our school's drama club, since the drama teacher is not the advisor, which he's rather displeased about.
I was convinced that marching/symphonic band would be a good use of my free elective when I made drumline (which seemed so glamorous at the time), and while I didn't enjoy it I became pit captain for this past season, and figured that it would be more enjoyable and that everyone would be right when they said that the passion I had for musical theater was 'just a phase'.
I did learn my lesson however, and I won't be taking band anymore. I just auditioned and got into the show choir and chamber singers of my school, reclaiming my two free electives. So no drama next year either.
I thought this would be alright, since I've been taking dance and theatre and voice lessons, and participating in productions through the local community college and city programs over the past year-ish.
My worry, however, is about whether colleges will be less pleased that I didn't take drama in high school, or more pleased that I became involved outside of school, come senior year auditions.
Should I take something off my schedule for drama? Do the college credits really compensate for it? How much emphasis is put on high school drama?<br>
I've also been considering taking other acting workshops or finding a coach as a means of both compenation as well as advanced training, and have been wondering whether this would be a good idea or not too. Basically, should I or shouldn't I? Should I exert time and money into either?</p>

<p>I apologize for writing such a long post, but any advice or suggestions on these things would be very very awesome.
Thanks again!</p>

2

<p>In my opinion, taking drama classes at all can theoretically have no influence on a college acceptance. The thing you have to remember is that you are auditioning for a school. It's the school's job to refine your natural talent. Therefore, many schools are looking for raw ability. On the other hand, when two equally talented students are vying for one spot, professional experience and training can be the tie-breaker. Personally, acting classes are a huge help. And it's not so much that I'm receiving bit by bit technique in any class I've taken. I actually believe that acting methods merely provide formulaic hints at how to achieve something on stage that can easily be achieved through a performer's own natural instincts. Again, that's not to say that training is completely futile. I've taken away some very valuable techniques from several methods that I've studied and come up with a very personal and unique acting style that I'm comfortable with. And still, I plan to go to college and get even more tools to mix into the melting pot. Now....back to why I think acting classes are very beneficial. Experience is the best way of learning. No matter how much natural talent Meryl Streep had when she was younger, it didn't blossom all at once with a single scene. She discovered various facets of her talent over multiple sessions. Therefore, I think you should invest the time [and money] into acting classes. If nothing else, then to refine your natural talent a bit and make it look like you have that professional edge over the last girl. I know this was a very roundabout way of reaching a conclusion but that's what this artform is. Some things work for some and not for others. While I don't think any schools will frown upon lack of training if the students is clearly talented, I do think a little training can benefit everybody to some degree. Again, sorry to be so contradictory, but it's just the name of the game.</p>

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<p>Hi and welcome...hope to see you participating on here in the future. </p>

<p>While Brendan is pointing out the importance of training, which I agree, I don't think that is the issue you are presenting. </p>

<p>You are just talking about whether to take drama classes at your school and if those are necessary for admissions. First of all, our school doesn't even HAVE drama classes. For dance, they only have beginner level for those with no dance experience. I don't think it matters WHERE you train, as long as you are pursuing training and also are engaged in theater productions. If you can take classes/lessons outside of school like MANY students do, then you are getting the training. Your school day schedule only allows so much. You were wondering what a college may say if they saw you didn't elect to take drama, but yet it is offered....BUT if you took drama, then they could say you were not in music or things like show choir. I think it is good that you switched to choir rather than band (though band is great but not as much related to going for MT). So, now you have some music training and musical related performance opportunities at school. Supplement with private voice outside of school if you can (I think you already are doing that). You wrote that you are in theater productions in your city and at a local college. BFA programs are not going to care that your production credits were not at your high school. Having training and some production experiences give you the background. I know some kids who never did their HS productions but just did ones outside of school and then went on to BFA programs. My D did both but we didn't have the "need to be in drama class to be cast" issue as we have no drama classes or clubs. I think if the productions at your HS were the ONLY ones available to you, then it might have made sense to take drama AT school. But if you take lessons/classes, plus do some shows outside of school, it doesn't matter. WHERE you do these things is not as important than getting the training (as Brendan said) and that you have had stage experiences.</p>

<p>I think you are doing just fine because you are getting outside training and doing shows. Colleges will not care if you got that at your school or extracurricularly. My D's dance classes, voice lessons, piano lessons,and some productions were outside of school. At school she was in choir, select choir, jazz band, and was in the school musicals, and at one time was in the school plays (after school). She took no drama classes as we don't have them here. The only acting training she had was in acting classes she took at the summer program she went to every summer and then in her final year of HS, she had private acting coaching to prepare monologues for college auditions. So, don't worry about where you are training or doing shows. Getting a lot of this outside of school is common and necessary for many kids. If you have these available in your area (sounds as if you do), then that's all that matters. Also, summer programs are another way to get training and/or do productions. </p>

<p>I think you should keep up your academic course load and if there is room for electives and you chose music ones, then that is related to MT. If you had chosen drama, then you wouldn't have music coursework at school. The only difference I can see is that the drama ones have the added bonus of possible entrance into the productions. I think that whichever elective you take at school, try to take something like the one you can't fit in, outside of school. In many ways, it is easier to have the choral or show choir experience at school and to take acting classes or lessons outside of school. It basically boils down to if drama or choir are gonna be your electives. Both are important. Doing one in school and one outside of school makes sense. Another option is to take one each year. Pick drama if you care about doing the school shows since it seems connected at your school. (find out if anyone gets cast who doesn't take drama just to be sure) Then you just have to decide if you care more about doing school shows or are just as happy doing ones in your community and at local colleges. Frankly, doing adult productions has some real pros as the level can often be higher. Youth productions like school ones, sometimes allow a young person to play a more significant role than they'd get in an adult prodcution. Both experiences have value.</p>

<p>The bottom line is that it sounds like you are building up training in voice, dance, and acting, and are participating in theater productions. It all sounds good to me. It is hard to fit all this into a school day at a regular public high school. Most would have to supplement outside of school. We SURELY did. All the lessons/classes/shows were after school, evenings and weekends! So, don't worry what is on the transcript (as far as MT related areas) but what is on the theater resume needs to reveal training and experience. Where you get it is not of issue. In the end, the audition is what will count. Clearly with training and experience in your background, you'll be better prepared and skilled to audition well. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>My D participated in one play in High School. She was in the auditioned-based choirs. OTherwise all of her voice, dance and theatre was outside of the school. Only one school of the nine she auditioned for even asked about this (USC). She was accepted at several good schools and waitlisted at several others. Just continue to study somewhere, anywhere. That's my two cents worth. Good-luck.</p>

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<p>I had no acceptance issues with high school shows and such. The choir teacher and I had issues and she never cast me in anything. So I went and did professional and community shows. So, honestly, I don't think it holds that much weight as I know some MT majors who had only done 1 or 2 shows before coming to college.</p>

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<p>I did just fine. No drama, going to top choice school. From what I've seen as well, its not so much about your drama classes as your audition/training (if you have any) outside. I think the audition is key at most of these places. </p>

<p>Chris</p>

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<p>Chelsea, my D only took a couple of semesters of drama in high school. She, too, concentrated on band the first three years and choir the last 1 1/2. She did the musicals and has done many dramas and musicals with the local community theatre, which is excellent in our town. We are fortunate to have such a terrific outlet for performing, and she has learned a lot. She has taken private voice and some limited dance outside of school in addition to color guard. The color guard instructor had a degree in dance/choreography and she learned more there than in some of her 'commercial' dance classes. Also, her experience in band was a great help in that she learned to read music, rhythm and theory. She just finished her freshman year as MT major at OCU. I agree with the other posters in that you should get as much formal training as you can, but do not worry about not taking drama in HS. I definitely understand about the politics involved. It is your talent that will get you into a college program. You are smart to start the college search early. My advice would be to attend one of the summer programs offered by a college that you are interested in. It can be expensive, but you could start saving early to attend the summer between your junior and senior year. Attending the camp can have an advantage in that you learn a tremendous amount about the school and its program, and they learn a lot about you. (Attitude is extremely important--you should be a happy camper!) Then when you audition there the next year, you already know your way around, and they have been able to see more of your talent and potential than a five-minute audition can sometimes show. Good luck.</p>

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<p>I want to pick up on one thing musicmom mentioned...and that has to do with instrumental music and band. My kids have been involved with music since they were quite young. Each studied two instruments (my younger one has studied three, but only two at a time). Each was in band and also jazz band. For my child who went into MT for college, I can see the significant benefit that her music training has had. That was never why she was involved in instrumental music but I now see that after the fact. Through instrumental music, she has simply learned a ton of music theory and also to sight read. This has come in handy in numerous ways both before college and now in college, let alone in auditions. For instance, she was placed out of the Music Theory requirement at her BFA program (which had to be due to her instrumental music studies.) Also, her piano playing has been a huge influence and now is a skill she uses in college and in her work in theatrical endeavors. She has even been paid to play piano this year. Piano is also an instrument that one can use to accompany oneself as a singer. Same with guitar (her other instrument). I can think of some musical theater auditions where her piano playing has come up as something they were interested in. I know of another audition she has this week where they have even asked her to bring her guitar (in addition to singing and the regular aspects of a MT audition). While she was originally the pianist in jazz band, she also ended up being the jazz vocalist. Also by being skilled at music theory, it comes in handy if you want to do musical direction which she has done with musical productions and also is one for her college a capella singing group.</p>

<p>So, my point is.....I see instrumental music lessons, band, orchestra, and jazz band as activities that relate to musical theater and so if you enjoy these, don't give them up. The music background and the ability to play instruments very much comes in handy for someone in musical theater. Just sight reading music alone is a good skill to have. Those who play instruments have a lot of skills that come in handy in musical theater and in the study of voice. I'm not necessarily suggesting that everyone go out and take up an instrument or be in the school band but if you are engaged in those endeavors, try not to give them up....they really relate to and can benefit your musical theater skills and pursuits.</p>

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<p>My son had very nice MT audition success and did not do drama in high school at school. He took drama in junior high and participated in a few school plays, with the last one being at Christmas 9th grade year. In school, he has done choir and art. He dances at a dance studio, sings and takes voice lessons at church, and basically has all his theatre / acting training from local summer intensives at 2 different theatre programs, plus has been in many professional and community theatre shows over the last 8 years. He simply has not had time for taking drama at school or being in high school shows. The colleges didn't seem to hold that against him.</p>

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<p>My d goes to a very small public school with a very small drama club. So she did shows in school, but most of her experience came from community theatre, summer stock shows, and summer training programs like Interlochen, BTP, and NYSSSA (New York State choral program) - plus private acting coaching, vocal training, and group dance classes. She got accepted and waitlisted at several good bfa programs and I had worried that being from a small public school with a very minor drama club would hurt her. I also agree that instrumental music and piano is helpful. My d played in band, jazz band and took music theory at the high school and took piano privately and these really helped with her musicality and sight singing etc that are more applicable to MT. So my recommendation would be to go get training wherever it works for you in your area or outside your area if you can whether it be school or otherwise.</p>