<p>I've looked at the Baldwin Wallace posts, and I'm confused! If this is a BM in MT, how strong is the acting and dance components? My D's vocal instructor is pushing this school (she knows a successful alum), but I'm having a hard time understanding the program from this site and the B-W site. If anyone has any experience there, I'd love to hear it!</p>
<p>I do not know the specifics of the dance and acting training.... but I have hired, and auditioned students from B-W who were strong dancers. They are also good actors. I do not know, however, if these were strengths that they had before entering B-W or if these strengths have to do with the B-W training.</p>
<p>Hi sarahlsmom--My D is also looking into Baldwin Wallace. We did a visit there last spring and was quite impressed. Initially, D only wanted to look at BFA programs but afterwards is considering a couple of BM programs. B-W is somewhat of a small school and does have a heavy music (vocal) influence. You need to participate in choral work, take music theory courses, piano study,etc.; students so take four years of dance (ballet, tap,Jazz) and acting and theatre classes. They also do a showcase at the end. If you check this part of their web site (<a href="http://www.bw.edu/coursecatalog/degreerequire/mus%5B/url%5D">www.bw.edu/coursecatalog/degreerequire/mus</a>) you can see their curriculum. Hope this helps a little.</p>
<p>We are most impressed with the talent we've seen from BW in alumni we know and current students we've seen perform. All of them seem to be very good actors and musicians. The ones we know are also good dancers, but we know at least a couple of these who supplemented the dance training at BW with advanced training other places.</p>
<p>My D worked summer stock this year with a boy from BW. He was very strong both as a dancer and singer -- just worked in the chorus though, so she had no opportunity to check out his acting ability.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. If there are any BW kids or parents around, please jump in!
And, a question for KATMT....Your info is invaluable. can I ask what you do to audition these kids?</p>
<p>Hi Sarahlsmom -- I don;t know that understand the question... do you mean where I audition the kids that I have seen from B-W? The answer to that one is I saw current B-W students audition at the StrawHat audition in NYC this year. These are combined auditions for current college students and professional non-union performers... much like the New England Theatre Conference Auditions or the SouthEaster Theatre Conference Auditions.</p>
<p>If you are asking what job I have that makes it so I am auditioning kids... I am the Artistic Director of a summer stock theatre in New England. During the academic year I teach in a BA Musical Theatre program.</p>
<p>If neither of those answered the question you were asking, please either post again or PM me... :)</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Kat, this is a small world after all. I knew that you taught in a BA Musical Theater program and which one. I didn't know you are an artistic director at a summer stock theater in New England. However, I have discovered that you were the director of the musical last summer (at summer stock where you are now) that my daughter's best college friend and roomie from the past two years at NYU/Tisch/CAP21, with whom she has been doing theater here in Vermont since my D was 10 and also studied voice together here in Vermont was the lead in! She is a very talented girl and we are real proud of her. My D has been in many shows with her including creating a cabaret with her right before she left to do summer stock at your theater last summer. My D was just in a musical with her earlier this month in NYC. OK, back to our regularly scheduled program. :D</p>
<p>Back on topic... I'm a current Junior Music Theatre Major at BW and if you have any specific questions that haven't already been answered here I'd love to help</p>
<p>KATMT....Thanks...you did answer my question. I tend to get curious about people here behind my keyboard....
and, BWMT09....How do you like the program? What is the make up of your class like? Other classes (or, do they look for a type when admitting?) Please share any info you have! And, how's the weather there?</p>
<p>Soozie -- small world :) She was terrific last summer.</p>
<p>sarahlsmom, I really really like the program. There are a few things that could probably be better, but thats the same with every program. You really get a solid music background here which is what is lacking in most MT performers nowadays. the reputation of the program is exploding in NY. We were specificly chosen to put on Phantom of the Opera and Brooklyn this year because of the talent coming out of here. For example in Sept Telsey is coming out for a master class in order to see all of the BW students because many of us were being called in for generals and auditions all summer. I was called 3 times to come in but unfortunatly couldnt make it due to scheduling and flight costs. So now they're coming in to see everyone. The make up of the program is very diverse. When putting together a class Vicky doesnt necessarily look specificly for the tall blonde, character actor. She loves different types. Therefore, no one in your class would be the same as you, and maybe 1 other person in the program would be similar, if that. The weather actually isn't too bad. we normally miss the brunt of the snow considering we're close to the lake. It does have a tendency to be overcast though. Anything else</p>
<p>BWMT09, thanks so much for the feedback! The program looks awesome on the web....looks like you have many opportunities! My D is working on her app....maybe we'll see you at auditions!</p>
<p>The BW student in summerstock with my son this summer was a great actor.</p>