Changing my major and needing to transfer!

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>So I have recently decided (with the help of my voice teacher) to switch my major from Vocal Performance to Musical Theater. I am about to start my third year of community college and plan on finishing up Music Theory II, Keyboard harmony, and the other requirements to transfer as a junior in a music program (although I guess this is now unnecessary). However, I am also taking Jazz I, Modern Dance I, and Ballet I this fall term and am this upcoming years Prop Secretary in the Theater Arts Club and plan on auditioning for all the mainstage shows this year.</p>

<p>I have taken Fundamentals of Acting I and II last year, but am worried about my possibilities of transferring into a MT program because there aren't any other theater classes offered during fall term besides the two I have already taken and Impov, which falls at the same time as choir. A question I have is, should I take improv instead of choir? To transfer as a junior into a music program I need 6 terms of choir and 6 terms of small ensemble. I am switching my major so I wonder if I should even continue with choir classes? </p>

<p>I am primarily interested in schools that offer a BM in MT, but am very aware that most schools offer a BFA. I do not mind getting a BFA, but I am a little worried because by the time I transfer I will have spent 2.5 years with vocal performance as my focus and have acquired a good amount of knowledge in the music field. I do not want that to go to waste. =o/ </p>

<p>I know it may sound crazy to want to switch, but I really have to follow my passion. I am not too worried about dance, because I have been a dancer all my life (albeit Cambodian dancing and Hip Hop are a little different from Jazz and Ballet) and when I was in highschool I was the lead in the musicals my sophomore and junior years. I think that with the right training I will be able to follow my dreams, but first I need help deciding where to go and what I should be taking in community college to prepare myself. I have looked at schools and am interested in FSU, U of Miami, James Madison University, and Arizona State primarily because they offer a BM in MT. Do any of you think it is a bad idea to focus on schools which have a BM? I am worried about transferring because I don't think I have all the theater classes I need... =o/</p>

<p>Any input is appreciated! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I don't think that it's necessarily a mistake to focus on schools which offer a BM but it would probably be wise to have a range of schools at which you'll audition/apply. One thing you should investigate is at what 'level' you'll have to start, once you've transferred. Most will require you to begin in freshman MT classes, regardless of what you've taken elsewhere. If you will have already completed three years of CC, do you really want to pay for three or possibly even four more years of college? I don't know if BM programs are different than BFA programs in that regard but it is probably the first thing you should investigate.</p>

3

<p>FSU is one of the few schools that offers a BM/ MT degree. I am told the classes are the same as the BFA/MT but offered through their School of Music. Keep in mind it is a very selective school- I believe they accept around 12-15 from both programs, and fewer come in as a BM.</p>

4

<p>OCU also offers a BM/MT. I know they do leveling in piano and dance. I don't know if they accept transfer classes in theory and acting. But they do accept transfers.</p>

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<p>Baldwin Wallace is also a BM degree.</p>

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<p>James Madison University in VA offers a BM in Music Theatre and a BA in Musical Theatre. I Coordinate the BA in the School of Theatre and Dance, but work with all of the students and faculty in the BM in the School of Music. The support courses are different but the students are integrated in music, theatre, musical theater, and dance classes, and in productions. Please feel free to PM me if you would like more info.</p>

<p>In general you will find that it may take you 3 more years in your new school to complete the degree (this is particularly true in many BFA programs... sometime 4 years). I know that here at JMU in the BA program we would prefer a student to complete three years here, but depending on the students educational background and transfer credits it could be possible to transfer in as a junior to complete the program in 2 - 2.5 years. I am not sure about the BM program.</p>

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<p>Many of your music/theatre classes may not transfer into a BM program, so I recommend you take as many gen eds as you can at your community college so that those will be out of the way when you do transfer.</p>