<p>I was looking at the Uarts website and it said that you can sing either 2 MT songs or 1 MT and 1 aria/art songs/oratorio.</p>
<p>I go to a vocal magnet in Maryland and we focus on choral music and classical voice technique mostly so I would be fine with a classical selection...</p>
<p>But it is a musical theatre program... which would be more appropriate? And why do they have the classical song there? Why not just 2 MT songs like the other schools?</p>
<p>Many MT vocal programs focus on classical technique, so that might be why they are requiring a classical audition piece. Some programs do require them for auditioning. My S auditioned for the BM in MT at FSU last year, and he had to prepare 2 classical selections in addition to his MT selections, and they did ask him to perform one of them.</p>
<p>Georgia, usually the programs that ask for a classical audition song are BMs and not BFAs. Most BFAs ask for songs from the MT repertoire. This is generally speaking.</p>
<p>True. At FSU you have a choice whether to audition as a BFA or BM major for MT, and we did note that the audition requirements for each were different. There were also definite differences in their respective curriculum, with the BM requiring a lot more classes in theory, piano, etc.</p>
<p>yeah. a few other schools on my list give you the choice to sing an aria or operetta, along with an MT song. I come from a classical opera backround, so would it be a good thing to show my classical technique?</p>
<p>I see classical voice training like ballet and Shakespeare!</p>
<p>If you can do the classical techniques of anything, you can usually learn to do the more modern versions. i.e. If you can do Shakespeare you'll be able to Sarah Ruhl, Kane, Rapp, Martin,etc., If you come from a ballet background you'll be better able to do jazz, musical theatre dance, modern, lyrical, etc.,</p>
<p>So this would also prove true in singing! Sing classically and you can learn how to "belt" and "mix" and "jazz" later. If they hear that you have a foundation in classical voice, they'll assume that they can teach you "musical theatre" style healthily and quickly.</p>
<p>OCU also wanted to hear a classical piece, which is a BM degree, I believe.</p>
<p>I agree with BRbway - a classical foundation would definitely be more healthy in the world of singing. If you can sing opera/operetta well and are given the opportunity, I would personally say why not - it shows them your versatility as an actor and if you pair it with a very different selection (particularly a belt song) I would think it would "market" you very well. Bring your audition book with a half dozen or more extra songs that you can pull out of your pocket on a moment's notice and if they need to see more from the musical theater style they'll ask. Strong classical training is not common in this day and age and so going in and blowing them away with a tough opera/operetta song could make you really stand out.</p>
<p>Some of the above posters, I think, have hit the nail on the head with the comments that showing a classically trained voice or singing a more classical piece can make you stand out and demonstrate versatility. Also, demonstrating good technique can provide some assurance that you have a healthy voice, not just one that sounds good. Since the OP's question arose from UArts specifically, let me also offer some thoughts limited to UArts.</p>
<p>The vocal component of the UArts MT program is very diverse. The vocal instructors as a group have a broad range of training and performing experience from opera, MT, jazz, caberet and even rock. The voice classes offered to students, while concentrating on MT repertoire, offer similar diversity to students and students can change voice teachers to find a teacher whose styles and teaching techniques feel more compatible to the student's needs and desires. For example, my daughter walked in with significantly greater classically styled high soprano strengths than MT belting and was well matched with a voice teacher whose teaching approach is continuing to grow my daughter's classical style while also developing her MT belting voice to the same level of proficiency. Other students have changed voice teachers to get what they felt was a better match for them. In her senior year, my daughter will have a class specifically in caberet vocal performance. This coming year, a class is being offered in rock style performing.</p>
<p>In the audition process, UArts puts great weight on strong vocal performance and seeks diversity in vocal styles. If you think about it, when asked to do 2 contrasting songs, one upbeat and perhaps belty and one a more legit ballad, what could be more contrasting than a belty upbeat song from MT repertoire and a classical piece. Simply put, UArts values a classically trained voice and views it as a great foundation for the vocal work a student will do in its MT program.</p>
<p>All of the above comments notwithstanding, however, stick to the guidelines posted by the particular schools where you are auditioning. If you have a question about whether to perform a more classical piece or not, if the website leaves the question unanswered, call the department and ask.</p>
<p>MNK is right -- if you choose the right contrasting songs, the classical training should be obvious. If your school requests MT rather than arias, you can still pick a song that reflects your background -- believe me, the audition panel will take notice.</p>