<p>mom2gals – You might also consider just singing acapella. At some schools, I do wonder whether they do have a serious interest on the quality of the singing as opposed to quality of voice, acting the song, etc. NCSA for example does a musical production every year. Unless something changed since we visited last year, Purchase does no musical productions. Since my daughter has to sing acapella at some schools and wanted to be ready in case any school asked her to sing (CMU did), she just has her 16 bars ready to go without worrying about bringing a CD player.</p>
<p>My daughter doesn’t always start in the same key for her song (or at least it sounds that way to me) but she can stay in the key she started with. There is so much to worry about that she decided this was one thing she was not going to stress about.</p>
<p>Acting dad – interesting about the singing at cmu. My son was also asked to sing when he auditioned in November. He was surprised but (luckily) prepared. Does she know if others at the audition sunday were asked to sing? I wonder if others who auditioned could comment on the singing. I guess I’ll ask it on this forum since there are not separate school forms under theatre here on cc like there are for musical theater.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone who is in the middle of audition season! It brings back vivid memories, for sure.</p>
<p>I also recommend singing a capella if you are auditioning for Acting. One more item and stress you don’t have to deal with. My D has been asked numerous times in college to sing when auditioning for plays, and it is almost always impromptu. Might as well get used to that. ALWAYS have a song ready - one you like and know, not something that will make you more nervous.</p>
<p>There are no “movement” auditions at SUNY-Purchase. And all 20 or so kids at an a.m. early Dec. Audition sang a capella. In fact I think it may say a capella on Purchase’s website. Safe driving to all.</p>
<p>Yes, the paperwork on Purchase says preferably a capella but allows a cd. Thank you for the insight that there is a basis for the a capella preference. I will encourage my D to do that. AdaQuince thanks so much, that is very helpful. Can you tell us what the process is in the Purchase audition, what comes first etc and if there is a tour or mater classes included? I’m trying to understand why the 5 hour time span.</p>
<p>The Purchase audition window included check in and a 20 or so minute info meeting to talk about the audition process and a bit about the program. There were approx. 20 students (a small group) auditioning. They broke that group into 2 random groups. These groups were auditioned by 2 separate panels. Each person was asked to perform the exact rqmts. that are posted on their site (I forget exactly). This took about an hour and a half for all 20 students (even broken into 2 groups). They asked that everyone stick around until all of the initial auditions were complete. About 20 minutes after everyone was done they posted a callback list. If you were not on this list you were finished and could leave. If you were called back you went into the “combined” panel to redo your material (except I cant remember for sure but I don’t think they had to sing again). I also think they recorded the call back monologue(s). As each person finished they were allowed to leave. I want to say it took a total of 3 hours. But I think with a larger crowd it will take longer. They did not have tours. But you can walk around campus and see just about everything. I think their official tours are on certain Weds. which is hard to accomplish with these kids’ schedules. There were many friendly department students helping with auditions. They helped ease nerves and answer any questions. If you have an a.m. slot bring your own coffee because if I remember correctly the campus Starbucks didn’t open until 10:00!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info AdaQuince. At U of Arts, they were explicit that not being called back meant you were not being considered further. Is that true at Purchase as well?</p>
<p>AD, I read on older threads that some accepted kids were not from the callback pool, some who were not called back were waitlisted and in each class, a percentage were not called back and were from the waitlist. Then again, you never know what a different set of adjudicators will do. This was encouraging. Search on cc forum Purchase Audition, probably can search Purchase callback. BAL to all auditioining this weekend!</p>
<p>AQ: thanks for the review of the process of the previous audition, this helps reduce the jitters just knowing a little bit about the process <3</p>
<p>My son’s on-campus audition in 2009 was essentially identical to what AdaQuince described. His group was larger, more like 30 or so, and it was broken up into smaller groups of about six who waited together, with helpful freshmen to attend them.</p>
<p>Out of the initial 30+ my son was with that day, there were only about 5, total, called back. The Purchase people running the auditions try to make you believe that the non-called-back students still have a chance at acceptance, but from everything I’ve heard, I seriously doubt it.</p>
<p>I think the auditions during Unifieds go a little faster. At those, they reportedly choose some of the auditioners to redo their auditions and have them filmed (presumably so that they can be evaluated by a larger panel of auditors back at the school), and that is what constitutes the callback.</p>
<p>NJTheatreMOM – it is that list bit of information about the fact that the Unifieds call back consists of a video that leads me to believe that no callback almost has to mean a rejection. It is hard to imagine a theory in which the Panel reviewing the initial applicants would prefer to film a weaker candidate over a stronger candidate. </p>
<p>I went back to the old threads as well and theory about how no callback means you can actually still get in appears to be driven by one poster reporting that all 7 of the students at the audition had gotten in and did not have a call back. I’m wondering if that person just misunderstood what was said. What I can’t find and would love to see, if someone could point me to it, is one College Confidential parent or student that reported receiving an acceptance at Purchase without having received a call back.</p>
<p>Times3-- D won’t be at the auditions this weekend but a couple of her friends will be and they are lovely. (PM if any questions though, of course!) The snow’s looking less menacing so I hope driving will be okay, and that legs will break!!</p>
<p>Thanks, Gwen Fairfax–I’m watching the weather obsessively and am feeling optimistic. Sorry we won’t see your daughter, but I might just PM you with last-minute questions. Now that I’ve figured out exactly where the Performing Arts Center is, I’m a bit less worried! :D</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my son auditioned at Purchase some years back and it’s pretty identical to the process above. Of the 30-50 students who auditioned, only five or so were called back. My son was one of them. He then did some additional monologues as well as a more extensive interview. He ended up being accepted. Definitely for Purchase have four ready just in case. When he did the audition, they actually said point blank - as Juilliard says - that no callback means no acceptance. I don’t know why they’ve officially changed, perhaps to cover themselves just in case there’s a 1/1000 person who wasn’t called back whom they decide they do want? Who knows, but if you’re not called back that day I’d say to move on. Good luck to everyone.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the Purchase situation, but it sounds like if you are not called back that day, you are no longer being considered, but that this is not made as an “official” statement of process. I say this because it reminds me a bit of CMU. It is fairly common knowledge that at CMU, those they are considering are then passed onto additional faculty members to do their material, and not being passed on like that usually means you are out of contention. My kid didn’t audition at Purchase but she did at CMU (several years ago) and was passed around to various faculty members to do her material again and also even did four monologues and was Priority Waitlisted for Acting. But this is not an official thing but more like what has been observed over the years at CMU and so it is likely the case at Purchase too.</p>