<p>Princess mom: My D just suggested I pass this on. She is also a mix, and there were at least two schools she auditioned for that specifically asked her if she could belt. And she wasn’t accepted at either. But was at three other programs. Might help to find out which programs like what types.</p>
<p>jeffandann, how do you find out which programs like what types?</p>
<p>My D found out at auditions. Not sure you can find out before - it could be one year they need more belters and not the next. Over all that Wisconsin Stevens Point and Baldwin Wallace were two that were looking for that skill.</p>
<p>@princesssjpmom. I have no opinions to offer but I would like to clear one thing up for you that sounded incorrect to me and I didn’t think it should linger as fact on this thread. I just double checked with my daughter who is a MT in Tisch and at this exact moment on a Skype session with another MT in Tisch. I asked them if a legit should only consider Steinhardt and they both agreed that is simply not the case. Your daughter should pursue the program she prefers. If you come into Tisch as a legit soprano with no belt you will be welcome and they will work on developing your belt just as if you come in with belt but no legit you will also be welcome and they will work developing your legit voice. No doubt the same would happen in Steinhardt but I’m less familiar with that program. Audition for the program she prefers. Both are excellent.</p>
<p>@princesssjpmom I noticed the question of applying to steinhardt and tisch is addressed over in those forums. Soozievt had a daughter who attended tisch and said you cannot apply to both. I believe this is because they are different schools at NYU. Hope this was helpful!</p>
<p>I believe that you can only apply to EITHER Tisch or Steinhart at NYU, not both. This used to be the policy. I have not heard that it has changed.</p>
<p>In addition to schools already suggested, look at Rider, Plymouth State (may seem a bit far from Mississippi), James Madison (both the BA and BM programs… and students can audition for both programs), University of Miami, Penn State.</p>
<p>Look for schools that are focused on graduating well rounded performers who are able to sing both more “legit” MT as well as contemporary. Then ask about philosophy for vocal training. Your daughter will find schools that appeal to her and where she could be a good fit.</p>
<p>You can apply to either Tisch or Steinhardt but not both, right. </p>
<p>I agree with halflokum that those who are legit sopranos are accepted to Tisch. When my D attended Tisch for MT, there were plenty of sopranos and plenty of belters. Those who were sopranos learned to develop their belt during the course of the program and those who were strong belters (my D was in this latter group), learned to develop their legit soprano. They want you to eventually be able to sing both. Students coming into the program typically are stronger in one or the other. So, I agree that Tisch or Steinhardt may be viable options for your daughter. There are differences in the programs for sure, but simply saying that sopranos could apply to either. In fact, a strong dancer, like your daughter, may like Tisch more than Steinhardt which is not as strong in dance and is a BM degree (though might have more opportunities to focus on classical voice).</p>
<p>THank you for your replies. D has a classical voice but loves loves loves musical theatre. Looking forward to more discussions. I did find the thread legit vs. belters which was helpful as well.</p>
<p>princessjpmom - sounds like my D and your D have quite a bit in common. Mine also classically trained, very high soprano. Can mix no belt. Prefers MT but will probably audition VP as well (at least at some schools.) From what I can tell, we are both in for quite a ride this year! Here’s wishing the best to everyone auditioning!</p>
<p>Princessjpmom - Just because your D didn’t receive a callback at ITF from OU, CCM or Webster doesn’t mean she can’t audition for these schools at Unifieds or a regional location (North Texas for example). If she has her heart set on one of these, I would encourage her to try again! For OU you need to be offered an on-campus audition at some point, but this can happen at any of the regional auditions. What schools called her back?</p>
<p>Let me clarify. I was responding to the poster who asked which programs appreciated a legit soprano with no belt who wants to do MT. I stand by my answer…you will have better luck at Steinhardt than Tisch. You can only apply to one. If she applies to Tish she may end up in NSB, but she could just as easily end up in one of the other studios, perhaps even a studio that is heavy on the acting and light on the voice, or Playright’s Horizon. She will have no control over which studio she will end up in. I never said Tisch won’t take legit sopranos. But Steinhardt is actively looking for that classically trained voice, for MT. I believe that Steinhardt appreciates that strong legit soprano more than Tisch.</p>
<p>Monkey13, I would propose that it is possible for you to know that a legit soprano is valued at Steinhardt both because of your daughter’s successful admission and also because it seems just plain logical given the nature of the program. Solid advice to say that a legit soprano would be valued at Steinhardt. </p>
<p>What you can’t know is whether or not the legit soprano would be MORE valued at Steinhardt then they would be in Tisch because you do not have any experience with Tisch. I felt it important to point out that Tisch looks for candidates who sing well - period, along with layering in their acting and movement ability. Tisch is pretty confident in its training if the raw material is there. I can and did speak from experience with Tisch (which I verified with two current MT students before posting) and with that in hand I wanted to say that it could be wrong to conclude that a legit soprano would be less valued at Tisch. You can’t know that is true anymore than I can know that it isn’t true. Same could be said of having better luck at one program’s auditions vs. the other. It depends. A candidate that sings incredibly well but is also a strong actor and dancer could have better odds at Tisch. </p>
<p>So as I suggested before if you are considering Steinhardt or Tisch (and you can only pick one), pick the program you want. They are different. One is more music heavy and the other more acting heavy. That is what should determine the path - not prejudging admission odds which simply cannot be known. If you don’t get in, that is why you should have other wonderful schools that also value the legit soprano on the list some of which you might ultimately decide you like even better than either of NYU’s programs. It’s a journey. </p>
<p>One more correction: You can control whether or not you end up in the MT studio at Tisch simply by saying you would only consider placement in the MT studio. I’d encourage anyone that is only interested in studying MT in their primary training studio to do that. Making that decision would mean you would be competing for one of the 60 spots in the MT class instead of one of those 60 spots plus all of the other spots in the various acting studios which is what monkey13 is describing above. Being open to studio placement gives you better odds of getting into Tisch but it doesn’t in any way impact your odds of getting into the MT studio. Limiting your options to the MT studio just means that if you don’t get into MT, you’re out. Nothing wrong with that if you are of the mind that it is MT or bust. As I said there are many other wonderful programs at other schools too.</p>
<p>The initial question though was which MT programs are known for really appreciating that classically trained legit soprano. Steinhardt would be the first to come to my mind. OCU would be second. Of course all MT programs have the potential to take/have a need for legit sopranos, but some schools are just “known” to have particularly strong training programs for that voice type. I agree that it is a good investment to have someone like Ellen at MTCA evaluate your voice and tell you which schools are most likely to love you. Ellen’s head is a gold mine of exactly this kind of information.
And it really is too bad that you can’t apply to both Steinhardt and Tisch. Must choose.</p>
<p>“I said hello, halflokum,…well, hello, halflokum
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong!!!”</p>
<p>D graduated from NYU Steinhardt last year. So I can answer any questions regarding the program. Just to clarify: Monkey 13 stated that her D did not apply to Vocal Performance programs, but NYU Steinhardt IS a Vocal Performance program.</p>
<p>The program is part of Steinhardt’s Music Department and the degree awarded is a BM in Vocal performance. What makes it unique is that students can specialize in either Musical Theatre or Classical Voice and there are some different requirements for each specialty. Voice instructors teach both the Classical and Musical Theatre students, and there is a strong emphasis on traditional musical theatre songs. Belting is not encouraged and is not included in a student’s repertoire. Students do not perform true belty songs during their senior recital and showcase. Mixing is encouraged. More modern songs (post-Rent, less legit) are generally only performed in class during senior year as a necessity based on the realities of the musical theatre world.</p>
<p>Students do have dance requirements, but most acting instruction is done in the context of singing.</p>
<p>So yes, a well-trained legit singer does “fit” with the training NYU Steinhardt provides. But the program is looking for students with talent and potential, too, which I’m sure is the same at Tisch. Kids arrive with different levels of training, both good and bad. Sometimes the first task of voice instructors is to re-train singers to overcome unhealthy habits.</p>
<p>I agree with the posters who say to pick the program that is most aligned to the classes/ approach that a student wants. Good singers can certainly be accepted by both Tisch and Steinhardt. Many students come to Steinhardt who can belt even though that is not the focus of the songs they will sing. They may want a music degree rather than a theatre degree. Some choose to pursue Music Education in the future or enroll in the 5 year BM (Vocal Performance)/MA (Music Ed) option that the program now offers.</p>
<p>My son is 6’1", blonde, and a genuine triple threat.</p>
<p>He applied for AMDA as a junior and has secured a place for Fall 2014 - which means he has a nice fallback plan under his belt going in.</p>
<p>Unlike many of you here, I am much more apprehensive about the paperwork section of the applications, rather than the audition. My son is “all over” performance, and I can safely leave the songs and monologues in his hands and the hands of his coaches. Application essays, however, are going to be an endless source of friction.</p>
<p>Would love to join in the conversation! I’m a boy, 5’8", with brown hair and I have Asian ancestry. I’ve been performing since fourth grade. I’m an actor first then a singer (bass-tenor II) for a close second. Unfortunately I have no formal training for dance but I’ve been dancing and moving in shows for several years now. Very excited but very scared for the audition process. Especially for dance!</p>
<p>If there is any International students applying for college in The States…want to talk? I’m from Ireland and applying for some MT programs. It’s my way of staying calm knowing I’m not the only owl trying to swim in the sea. .</p>
<p>Irishdude, feel free to send me a PM. I’ll be an international transfer applicant this year, and I was an international freshman applicant last year.</p>
<p>Hi! Yay for the Class of 2018! I’m a quirky, sweet petite (5’1 and a half to be exact) girl. I look very young for my age. Think Olive in Spelling Bee or Little Sally in Urinetown. I’ve been singing for a very long, very strong soprano, my belt isn’t great. I’m been taking Ballet for 6 years and Jazz for 5 years and Tap for 2. I’m an ok dancer, I can pick up combinations but flexiblity is hard for me so I work on it everyday. I consider myself as actress who can sing and dance because I believe acting is the basis for everything no matter what you do!</p>
<p>Schools I’ve visited:
Carnegie Mellon University
University of The Arts
Point Park University
Muhlenberg College
Emerson College
Boston Conservatory</p>
<p>Nice to meet you all!</p>