<p>My son is a high school junior who very much wants to audition for MT programs next year, but his voice is very deep. The highest note he can hit comfortably is an E. He can hit but not sustain an F. We are hearing that even if he could get accepted somewhere, he would not be cast-able when he graduated. Is this true? If so, can anyone recommend another college path for him? He has a 4.0 GPA and good SATs. Even if it turns out that MT is not a realistic path, he wants to be able to spend as much time as possible on voice, dance, and acting training during his college years because these are the things he loves doing. He does have a very beautiful voice, and some are suggesting a more classical direction, but that doesn't interest him as much. Advice?</p>
<p>There will always be classics and as long as there are classics the world will need beautiful baritone voices!<br>
So I don’t think that’s true at all. In fact I’ve heard bass baritones are sought after by colleges. They flooded themselves with tenors due to the latest trends and now they are short on guys to fill the roles in classic musicals. This is of corse all hearsay. My S is a baritone, passed every prescreen and was accepted to every school he auditioned at (other than Baldwin Wallace, I’m not mad anymore LOL!) He was wait listed at CCM but removed himself and chose Otterbein. IMO if its your S’s dream and he can see no other life for himself he should go for it. </p>
<p>I’m also amazed at what my S and his college vocal coach have accomplished in one semester. He is able to hit and sustain higher notes than he ever dreamed he could! He used to say “I have the range of a 40 year old” but not anymore. </p>
<p>It’s not true that a bass-baritone is not cast-able after college. His voice type alone is definitely not enough to stop his plans. There are many shows that need bass-baritones. Many.</p>
<p>He will, however, have to know his type. In college, he’ll get cast, but I hear you that the worry is after college. A son of a friend has a very lovely bass-baritone and is 6’4" or so; he was in a top BFA program and was cast a lot in college, but upon graduation, moved to NYC and I think imagined he would continue to get MT leads (which is not a practical goal really for any new grad). The additional problem was his size, so he couldn’t do most ensemble, plus he couldn’t dance. He didn’t audition for straight theatre either. He didn’t diversify, in other words.</p>
<p>I say all this to say that your son can certainly go for a BFA in MT. He just has to know his type, which is really the same for anyone. In college, he should diversify his skills–dance, acting, voiceover, improv, dance, instrument playing (does he play?). His goal is definitely do-able. </p>
<p>Ditto what MTMajorCook and connections say. Diversifying is key. My S is also a baritone and currently an MT freshman. His voice is still developing both higher and lower range (as men’s voices do well into their 30s) and voice teachers think he can be trained to be a bari-tenor. Tenors have been all the rage for a while now, but it really takes the deeper voices to flesh out and give depth to the ensemble. If you listen to musicals with leading men like Norm Lewis, Mandy Patinkin (yes, he can sing high, too), etc., it is often those deeper notes that “grab” your heart. Let those “squeaky” tenors have their day in the sun. Bass/baritones will reign. LOL</p>
<p>Connections makes a very good point about diversifying!</p>
<p>I agree with MTMajorCook - if your S has a good sounding voice and really wants to pursue MT, don’t be discouraged by his current vocal range. There is a misconception that the male voice in high school is what his voice will be like at 25, and that simply isn’t true. My S’s voice dropped like a rock when his voice changed, and like your S he could only hit an E. He is now a senior in high school and has been working with a vocal coach, and now he can usually hit a reasonable A. Plus his falsetto, which was completely AWOL for about 2 years, is getting stronger by the day. So while your S may not play Frankie Valle in Jersey Boys (though who knows - never say never!), you can be pretty sure that he will make great strides with good vocal coaching.</p>
<p>If he does decide to audition for MT colleges, make sure when he is picking his music to pick songs that are well within his vocal range - don’t make the mistake of trying to sing something that is too high. He should sing songs that he can really nail, and not be all worried about cracking. It’s a bit tricky, because you want songs that are roles he can play right now, but often the bass/baritone songs are older characters. So he’ll have to do some research. Songs from shows like You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and She Loves Me might be good places to start.</p>
<p>The good news is that with his GPA and scores, he will likely get a lot of merit money scholarships from a lot of these schools. So he hopefully won’t have to incur debt in pursuing an MT degree, which means he will have more flexibility after college.</p>
<p>Is your S currently taking dance? If not, I would suggest he start. Guys who can dance reasonably well are always in demand, and even a little dance will make him stand out from many of the other guys at the college auditions.</p>
<p>Good luck - let us know how his journey goes!</p>
<p>Ditto what zibrarunner says about choosing songs in comfortable vocal range. And also knowing your “type”. Song choice should show off the best “you”. My S also had a limited vocal range when he auditioned last year, and was lower than many of his peers. His high school voice teacher said he probably would not reach his “true” range until he was in his mid-twenties, and that it would probably end up being impressive - even if at 18 he felt like a rumbling Johnny One-Note. The faculty at the MT programs are all over this and are looking for potential, not a finished product. S sometimes still feels a little wistful about that sweet upper range he may never have, but he is truly coming to appreciate that his deeper voice has a depth and “presence” those tenors will never achieve. If all performers sang high, what a “skimpy” sound would fill our theaters and concert halls. Check out the Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel who sang Sweeney Todd at the Lincoln Center. Magnificent!</p>
<p>My son is a true baritone-bass and is a sophomore at Texas State. He has had great opportunities just being the deep voice in the ensemble when he thought he would never get cast in some shows. There is room for every voice type if you can act. Can he act?</p>
<p>Actually, when I was at an audition this weekend, it appeared that a bass/baritone was VERY sought after - I was told they are very rare. As others recommend, make sure he can act and get him some dance training…especially the dance training!</p>
<p>Ditto on dance. I’d consider my S a dancer first and I believe its likely the main reason he had such success during auditions.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your words of encouragement! My son is feeling much better after reading your responses. Yes, he’s a good actor. He likes to dance, but hasn’t had as much training as he wishes, and plans to make that a priority in the coming year. Yes, he plays instruments – piano, violin, and fiddle. But I wasn’t aware that MT programs would care about that?</p>
<p>It depends on the program- but being able to play an instrument can be a valuable skill- esp for programs where the degree is a BM rather than BFA</p>
<p>I think more and more MT programs are interested in actors who are also instrumentalists. </p>
<p>I know we are at James Madison, and those students who play well often have the opportunity to be actor/ instrumentalists in our fall musical/ musical revue, where we look for pieces that are good for actor/ instrumentalists. Many also have had the opportunity to be actor/ instrumentalists in plays that call for it. </p>
<p>Most of the bass/ baritones that we accept as freshman have a much expanded range upon grduation… they not tenors, but can comfortably and consistently sing in their upper register. They are working post graduation. I am sure it is much the same with other programs.</p>
<p>I think most students (as long as they are getting solid training, and working) will see their range grow over the course of college, particularly the young men… but, the women as well.</p>
<p>I would not let his voice type be a discouraging factor in deciding whether or not to audition for programs. :)</p>
<p>Also, whether or not colleges care about whether he can play an instrument, after he graduates, the fact that he can play an instrument will definitely help him get cast. For some reason, it’s currently very trendy to cast actors who can play an instrument, even in straight plays. Many directors have this vision. I don’t know if this started with John Doyle and Sondheim - I don’t know the history enough - but it will definitely give you an edge in casting. </p>
<p>Definitely agree his voice may well change as he matures. It’s too early. But even if it remains on the bass end, that isn’t enough to stop his plans. :-). </p>
<p>I too was concerned for my son, who is considered a “Bass-Baritone”, last year when he was auditioning… but he was accepted into 13 Musical Theater programs, and is currently a Freshmen at Carnegie Mellon University (which he LOVES). I have to agree with one of the other posts, that perhaps the Universities are flooded with Tenors and need a few more Baritones… I do know that they are working with my son and his vocal range to increase the higher notes, so he will be more employable in the future… So yes, have him audition, there is plenty of opportunity out there for all vocal types and ranges :)</p>
<p>Boatmom and Inspired59, I saw this today and immediately thought of you! <a href=“http://playbill.com/news/article/make-them-hear-you-broadways-best-bass-baritones-336749”>http://playbill.com/news/article/make-them-hear-you-broadways-best-bass-baritones-336749</a></p>
<p>This isn’t about MT, but if you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing the a cappella group, Pentatonix in concert (I did this fall), everyone is amazing. But the one person the crowd REALLY goes nuts for more than anyone else is bass Avi Kaplan. Try to imagine that group achieving the sound they pump out with out his bass. No way. </p>
<p>I had seen that Playbill article this week and immediately thought of the OP of this thread too! </p>
<p>On the topic of being able to play an instrument as a MT actor…I think it can be beneficial as a skill in one’s pocket. The past four shows my D has been cast in (including a current one), she has had to play one or more instruments, as well as sing, act, dance. </p>
<p>In any case, “it’s all about that bass…” :)) </p>
<p>^^^Resisted the urge to use that last line in my post but I was singing it in my head as wrote it. :-)</p>
<p>@soozievt , I feel the same way. My D plays two instruments and is a gymnast. I often remember an interview with Jamie Foxx where he mentions his various “tools” that he has (pianist, football player), that were factors in being cast in several roles. </p>
<p>Someone is bound to make a show that can benefit from a short, black, flippin’, singin’, actin’ tenor sax player!</p>