<p>Why would CMU ask an acting candidate to sing?</p>
<p>Not sure if they routinely ask acting candidates to sing at CMU, but they sure do at other BFA in acting programs. My D, who auditioned mostly for MT programs but also did a few straight acting programs, was asked to sing at Minnesota/Guthrie and at Purchase. I have heard kids auditioning at NCSA (for straight acting) also are asked to sing. </p>
<p>Why? Because hearing a person's singing voice gives auditors clues about the actor's voice, in general. Plus, even straight acting programs sometimes stage musicals, so they want to have some people who can sing.</p>
<p>I auditioned at CMU for MT. From what I understood, they consider MTs for ACTING but NOT ACTING for MT? Is that right?</p>
<p>Hey all,</p>
<pre><code> I'm a sophomore acting major at CMU, here's a bit of insight, nothing tremendous but I remember how much any bit of information helped when I was going through the audition process.
First, it should just be said that many of the ACTING majors in my class can sing pretty well, while others can't (myself included). Some of them auditioned MT and some didn't, but it's definitely not rare to come across an actor at CMU with a great singing voice (granted, the MT's are simply amazing). Second, while the trumpet player from earlier sounds like he has a great thing going for him, CMU never accepts people at the audition. And even afterwards, they try to not cast the class until after all the auditions are over. Third, at my audition I was asked to do a third piece but didn't have one really prepared so we went back and tried things with the first two... It's really about them trying to discover your range, flexibility, and ability to take direction. Good luck guys!
</code></pre>
<p>Hope this helps,
-Arya</p>
<p>TTXMom, I think he highlighted the end of 32 measures. Best of Luck in Atlanta!</p>
<p>Thanks so much!!</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for sharing their audition experiences! I thought the faculty at CMU was extremely nice, and they are definitely the top school for musical theater along with CCM, but I had quite a different experience auditioning for them.. </p>
<p>My singing and my dance audition went as everyone else stated, but when I walked into my acting audition, I immediately felt ignored. She told me to begin whenever, and before I even started she began flipping through OTHER people's headshots and making notes on them. This continued throughout both of my monologues and she was so busy doing this, she didn't even realize when I was finished. She hardly looked at me throughout both of my pieces. I have never felt so completely disregarded in an audition, and personally was a little offended since acting is my biggest strength as a performer. I talked to two of my friends who auditioned the same day as me (at the Chicago Unifieds) and they said the same thing happened to them. We are all three blonde and caucasian so maybe just seeing us they decided they didn't have room for our type at their school? Sure she were pleasant, and when I was finished she told me good job, and was nice to me, but I felt rejected right there on the spot. </p>
<p>I know CMU is a fabulous school, and this post is nothing against them, I just thought I would share my audition experience is well.</p>
<p>i'm sorry for your experience at the CMU audition. My son had a similar experience at the CMU acting audition in L.A. The auditor rustled through papers and kept moving around while he did his monologues. During the "interview" part, she (is it the same person, I wonder?) asked if he had any questions. So, he asked her a question. Her response was to ask him if he had any questions!!!! My son auditioned for several programs at the L.A. Unifieds and he felt acknowledged and respected at the other auditions. So, not a positive experience but definitely another learning experience.</p>
<p>NCSA requires the singing. That's one of the things you have to do. But CMU was a surprise, and then my D was asked why she didn't do MT.</p>
<p>to clear things up about this trumpet player, he's my brother so i know the story. He was not accepted to Eastmen for trumpet. He was accepted to Elon early action for chemistry. Also he was not told he was accepted on the spot, however he was told long before he got his letter. He had been emailing Gary Kline pushing for his decision because he needed to give Elon a response and Gary told him he was accepted. He's currently a junior there.</p>
<p>As for my MT audition experience this year, i felt it went quite well. I started off seeing Claudia for voice and she gave me positive feedback and sent me onto Gary. When i finished my songs he said "all im gonna say is good luck on your acting audition". I then went and performed 3 monologues for Kaf and received positive feedback from her. she also said she didn't want to play with my monologues cuz she was sending me onto Barbara. I then went in and ended up performing and working on 4 monologues with her. I had a little interview with her and then she asked me to sing one of my songs for her.</p>
<p>Do they tell people to sing at all these auditons even if it's just acting? I am a terrible singer, so does that effect it a lot? I don't know if I would ever audition for CMU, but I'm just intrested to know. I'm more of a film actor anyways.</p>
<p>Those auditioning for acting do not sing at the CMU auditions. But if you are auditioning for MT, you are also considered for Acting. There are many who are in the acting program who are also singers and cast in the musicals.</p>
<p>I just asked that, because someone said they were asked to sing at their CMU audition.</p>
<p>Actually, and I don't mean to confuse the issue, but rather clarify some of what has been discussed, a friend of my D, who auditioned for Acting last year, was indeed asked to sing. Although she later received an acceptance from CMU (for Acting) I don't think that her singing (she is not really singer) had much bearing on anything, but she is a very talented actress. We also know of other people, who auditioned for Acting, and were not asked to sing. In other words, be prepared, but don't read into things one way or the other.</p>
<p>Sorry if I was misleading. I meant that singing is not part of the audition requirements you prepare in advance for the Acting program. But as you say, an acting applicant may be asked to sing, and a few acting programs do that such as Purchase. I think the singing in those situations is a cappella.</p>
<p>My D's friend thought he had a great audition this year but he was only seen by Kaf and not "passed along" to Barbara...do you think that means it's the end of the road for him? (Just wondering aloud as obviously he will know the answer in a few weeks along with everyone else.)</p>
<p>I really don't know Mama Bear. It can mean they already made their decision, good or or bad. Does the singing have any effect in those programs which it's required. Do they just want to hear if you can sing good?</p>
<p>MamaBear, I talked to a few of my friends that go there as well as one of the past students running the auditions. They both told me that sometimes it is a good thing to get passed along and something it is not (meaning the one auditor didn't see much so wants to see if the other does). According to my friends that attend and the past student I talked to, there are kids accepted each year that did not get passed on to see more than one judge for each area. Sometimes they just saw what they needed to see and you have to stay positive in your feelings. If you think/know the audition went well then ride those good feelings until you find out. It's hard to not try to dig in the what was said to you by the auditor or what your vibe was from them. But honestly, we have no idea, we just have to stay positive! Best of luck to your D's friend.</p>
<p>early_college, singing does have an effect in this program if it is for MT. It does not mean you are in or out for acting and not everyone in acting gets asked to sing, I'm not going to in to the reasons why they do or don't because a few people have already answered this question on this post and on others. If you are auditioning for ACTING then prepare and be ready for your acting audition and don't worry about having to sing, if they ask you just sing a song you know to the best of your ability. You do not want to go into these auditions worrying about something that probably won't even happen.</p>
<p>early-college - for MT you most definitely should be able to sing. In fact, highly competitive and smaller sized programs such as CMU can afford to be quite "picky" and are looking to chose boys and girls that are strong actors, singers and dancers for their MT programs. Other programs will likely look for potential, but a pre-requisite is that you are still strong in 2 out of the 3 components that make up MT (acting/singing/dancing).</p>
<p>MamaBear - my advise would be to not read into anything until the "verdict is out". Over the past few years there have also been plenty of people 'passed around', who did not get in etc.</p>
<p>Thanks Bird. I was talking about the acting programs which require singing. I guess it doesn't have a huge effect on it.</p>