<p>Well I guess someone had to do it and I feel like CC has helped me so much already that I might as well be the one!</p>
<p>So, about us. We live in the Pacific Northwest and my D has been involved in MT for about 5-6 years. She has taken voice lessons for 5 years and has had a variety of acting classes and intensives including one summer at BAA. She is a 5'9" belter with a strong lyric soprano and a somewhat quirky, comedic personality. She started very late with dance but she is a decent tapper and can learn combos quickly. Her grades are good but her test scores are meh so she will not be applying to any of the "top" schools. She has a variety of regional and professional credits including a recent production of "Carrie the Musical" starring the incomparable Alice Ripley. We are working with MTCA and can't say enough good things about them.</p>
<p>Incredibly grateful that we will have all of you and look forward to supporting each other as we go through the process.</p>
<p>GO CLASS OF 2019!!</p>
<p>Thanks for kicking this off, EvilQueen. My D started doing musical theatre when she was 9 and that was it. She has been consistently in a show or rehearsing a show or at a summer program since then. She is 4"10", mixed race (white/Japanese American) with a strong mezzo belt voice. She has been dancing since she was 3 and dances well, but because of her size, doesn’t look like a typical dancer. So, excited, well excited and scared, to start this journey. CC is great – discovered it my D’s freshman year and have been a stalker and now a participant since then. Here we go!!!</p>
<p>Would love to jump in also. My D is a blond 5’7" dancer, starting at age 3 and was a competition dancer for several years. She started doing improv acting classes at her studio when she was about 6, did a few very small local MT shows, and surprised several people when she decided to audition for MT at our PA high school and actually got accepted. Stared working on singing quite late, has a good head voice and mix, and is working on developing her belt with the wonderful people at MTCA. Grades are good, trying to get the test scores up.</p>
<p>In the last year she has gone from wanting a BA with the ability to double major, to feeling quite definitely that she wants a BFA and to really focus on her art. I feel like this journey has already started with all the research and note taking I’ve done. And I’m also excited but scared of what’s to come in the next year. </p>
<p>Will echo: go class of 2019!!! And so glad we have this group for advice and support.</p>
<p>It’s hard to believe it’s our turn. My son is a 6’4 bass-baritone. He started doing community theater when he was 9 and has never stopped since then. He took one year of dance in high school, but I haven’t found him a class that would suit him. He’s taken voice for three years. He’s not much of a student and never enjoyed high school. So this year he started at an alternative school (which makes him sound like a truant, though he’s not). It’s actually an early college program that is allowing him to graduate a year early. He’s taking a gap year during which he will (I hope) prepare for his auditions and get a job. I, too, have learned so much about musical theater since joining CC. Because of what I learned here, I steered a friend’s daughter toward Coastal Carolina, and she got in. I hope my son has similar luck.</p>
<p>Oh my goodness… I guess it is our turn to start our engines. 
</p>
<p>My S is a 5’4" (hoping for a growth spurt) tenor. He has been singing in choir since age 6 and is currently in his 3rd year with our HS swing/vocal jazz choir. He LOVES this group. He plays piano, ukelele, penny whistle, and just about everything he lays his hands on. He also writes/arranges music. He has taken private voice for 2 1/2 years. He started doing community theatre at the age of 10 and, because he has an older sister, was also able to participate in a few HS productions beginning at age 12. We are in MI, and for a brief time, we had a tax structure that was very attractive to film and TV. So, he also got to audition for and work on a couple of movies and a TV show that were being filmed here. We do not yet have an acting coach, but will be engaging someone locally very soon. After prom. As for dance, he has taken Scottish Highland Dancing since age 3 and was, competitively, very good. He stopped competing when he got to HS due to theatre and music committments. Only so many hours in the day, right? However, this foundation of a highly technical, athletic and difficult dance form has been a real asset. He picks up MT and swing choir choreography fairly easily and held his own in a rigorous TPAP audition. A local ballet teacher has agreed to private lessons starting in May to work on basic ballet/jazz technique and termonology. He has also attended some good summer programs (Take it from the Top 2x, Stratford Shakespeare Intensive) and will attend TPAP this summer. Now, if we could only do something about the grades!!! He’s at a 3.2 UW, so I shudder to think what that is when you pull out the arts grades. Bleh. He will re-take the ACT in June. His first time was in the middle of show week for the spring musical. </p>
<p>Here’s to an easy-breezy application & audition year!</p>
<p>My D and I have been busy researching this site and conservatories and asking people questions since last summer. She’s known she’s wanted to go into theatre “forever,” as she can’t picture herself doing anything else and isn’t quite herself when she’s not in a show. She’s an excellent student, but she wants to focus pretty much solely on MT, so she’s only looking at BFAs and a 2 1/2 year program. When she was 5, she was in her first show, and she hasn’t stopped since except for a few weeks here and there. (Oh, those sad times, lol!) Since she’s alternatively educated, she’s appeared strictly in regional/professional and community shows. Plus, she has been a co-director and co-choreographer a few times. She’s been taking vocal lessons for 5 years total from excellent teachers connected to conservatories talked about here, has attended a strong performance art camp 3 times, has taken dance when her schedule permits since she was 8 or 9 (including participating in dance companies and taking pointe, which she adores but can’t take anymore because of scheduling), and is beginning monologue coaching from a well regarded local professional who has college audition prep experience.</p>
<p>This is going to be a fun, nerve-wracking, exciting time! I’m glad I’ve been able to watch people’s journeys here on CC and that we’ll have each other as we walk (I should say dance) alongside our children on their journeys.</p>
<p>I am going to put our current list out here to see how it develops over the course of the year. So far we have only visited campuses in Chicago because that is where I am from. In October we will see some of the NYC schools. We are planning to do Unifieds in Chicago and only audition on campus at CCPA for financial reasons. I know that is risky but I would yank out the credit card and book campus trips if something crazy happens and we have to do that.
Pace, Monclair, CCPA, Boston Conservatory, UArts, Rider are her tops so far, she will also apply to Ithaca, Marymount Manhattan, LIU-Post, Central Washington University and maybe Wagner. For non-audition schools she will apply to Columbia College Chicago (audition for BFA-MT middle of sophmpre year) and Pacific Lutheran University (non-audition BFA Theater, not MT or Acting but lots of great actors we know have been trained there) What she wants is a conservatory style school in a major metropolitian area so she is open to being redirected to BFA Acting at schools like CCPA where there is a lot of crossover and you can audition for any show. She would take voice and extra dance on her own and she knows that acting (storytelling) is the basis of all theater, MT included. Trying to keep the options as wide as possible.</p>
<p>I started lurking on this site when S was in 8th grade, when it started to become clear that MT is what he wanted to pursue, and I am in shocked disbelief (and incredibly nervous) that it is finally his turn! He is 5’8", slim build and a lyric baritone. He loves dance and takes a lot of it (jazz, tap, ballet, modern, and lyrical, plus some rather comical efforts at hip hop - not his strong suit.) His main drawback in dance is a general lack of flexibility, but he is working on it. Vocally, he has been taking voice lessons for 6 years. His voice kind of fell apart when it changed a few years ago, and basically it has been a long slog back to being able to sing decently again. His vocal range is still a work in progress!</p>
<p>S has done all kinds of shows - terrible, community, high school, and regional professional, and for the most part has loved it all. He has done BAA every winter and some summers for the last 6 years (he loves it!) and just started working with MTCA (we second evilqueen’s endorsement!).</p>
<p>As we look ahead to next year I am both excited and terrified. I am thrilled beyond belief that this forum exists, because I know we could never get through this process alone. It’s going to be quite a ride! Great to “meet” all of you!</p>
<p>We’ve taken my son to visit four schools, three of which he has rejected already. I decided we’re making no more college visits! </p>
<p>@dcsparent - that made me laugh out loud! At least you are getting a clear picture of what your S DOESN’T want! He’s just waiting for that perfect fit…</p>
<p>I’ll add in too! Hi! So I’m 5’9" brunette soprano with a strong belt. I am more classically trained, but I’ve done lots of other things too. I’ve been in so many theater productions and just love it to no end. I’ve taken voice lessons for 6 years now, I think… And I did more dance when I was younger but took a few years break. I’m getting back into it now, but it is not my strong suit. I’ve visited one school so far and liked it, I’m going on a road trip type thing this summer with my mom to see more schools before I go to OCU’s musical theater summer program. I plan to audition at unifieds with 1 or 2 auditions in campus in the fall. Then I’m also going to apply to several vocal performance programs, so I’ll have those auditions too. I’m so excited and nervous for next year! I hope it goes well for all of us :-h </p>
<p>@dcparent, we’ve only visited 2 schools so far, 1 very selective which D loved, 1potential safety which she hated immediately. It’s finding that non audition school that has me worried. We’re planning more visits this summer.
Has anyone had any success yet interesting a kid focused on conservatory type training in considering a non audition school?</p>
<p>@mtflmomof1 we have had success in that with Columbia College of Chicago, although it is an audtition in during the middle of sophmore year. It is not quite conservatory training in that there are more than 30% general education but the location in the heart of Chicago with well-connected faculty and 200 local theaters makes it a more than acceptable option for our D. She is not academically inclined however, and for those that are this would not be good fit because it is truly an “Arts College.”</p>
<p>And for the more “academically inclined”, Muhlenberg is a good school to look at. It is audition for scholarship only.</p>
<p>Yes,thank you. We’re actually visiting Muhlenberg this summer and have tix to To Chorus Line and meeting with a theatre student(Charles Richter has to be one of the worlds nicest people). Crossing fingers that D will find a fit there. We’re also touring Hofstra that same trip. Finding a non audition school that will be a fit right now is more stressful for me than the rest of this process, but of course, I know I’m focusing on this detail so I don’t have to think of all the daunting tasks ahead of us.</p>
<p>My daughter’s non-audition schools were Columbia College Chicago, University of Rhode Island, Muhlenberg and Clarion College. Keep in mind that Ball State lets you start in their BA if you don’t make it into the BFA the first year (though I think you may have to start as a freshman, you can check this because I forget). </p>
<p>Had my daughter not made it into a BFA that she wanted to go to, she would have gone to Columbia College Chicago, Ball State, or she also would have considered Coastal Carolina’s non-BFA program; probably would have chosen Columbia. </p>
<p>Mtflmomof1, I totally understand! My D has not found a safety yet; she wants conservatory training and doesn’t want one in which she’d audition for a BFA later. We’ve been researching Muhlenberg; I may be interpreting the information wrong, but it seems like it has some flexibility in the gen eds. If not, she won’t apply there. She may end up going for only BFAs with no safeties, which is a bit concerning to me, but there’s no reason to apply to a place which doesn’t fulfill her desires and requirements.</p>
<p>AHHH wow finally!
I almost don’t want to say anything about myself for the sake of anonymity but basically everyone I know could easily figure out who I am based on past comments. Ha. It’s a small state.
I’m a 5’6’’ brunette character actor with a moderately high voice…I am always in the middle of a vocal identity crisis but I think I’m a mezzoish. My high range (especially belt-mix) has gotten a lot stronger but I am still working on the middle. I’m still working on everything, actually! Even though I’m a girl, it was tough when my voice changed. I feel like that set me back a lot.
I was sort of always on the MT train but didn’t really get down to business until middle school. I’ve been in local shows/camps/workshops since first grade and everything. I’ve taken voice for 5+ yeas but no formal dance (other than pre-K ballet classes!) until 8th grade, and then it was just jazz and hip-hop. I’ve since gotten in ballet and tap classes, but I am by no means a dancer-dancer and I definitely don’t look like one. I can hold my own as far as picking up choreography. I am lucky that my rural public high school has a great acting teacher (though she is not affiliated with the school musicals) and have learned a lot from her classes and others outside of school. My voice teacher also regularly holds workshops with an acting focus and I have learned SO much from those. I started with him freshman year and he has been a godsend! There are a surprising amount of good resources in my area. There are also a surprising amount of cows (read: A LOT). Because of that (the resources, not the cows) I will not be getting national coaching. At least, not this time around! I am also going to Circle in the Square’s summer program for 7 weeks. I’m so excited!!!
I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to be in a BFA (or really intense BA) program, so I’m also having trouble with the whole safety thing. I’ll probably apply to DePaul’s theatre management program as well, because that’s a route I could see myself taking if MT performance isn’t in the cards. I have a little experience there. It’s interview-based though, so not really a safety. I took the SAT in December and was satisfied but still might retake it this June. My grades are good, although I have a love-hate relationship with academics.
I absolutely think there is more to this process than “getting in” so I’m approaching it with the main goals of meeting new people and getting better at auditioning. If getting into a school is a side effect, YAY. I am very lucky to have my parents (well, half my parents) on board with this! My mom and I started the prescreen spreadsheet today There are 9 schools on my list that require them…welcome to the future!</p>
<p>Wow that was huge…sorry! As you can see, I adore parentheses.</p>
<p>@myloves‌ my D did not have a safety on hers either. She did have varying levels of competitiveness with the programs she applied too. I have to say there were times I was very nervous about that. She was lucky that she only received one of her rejections before an acceptance. Once you get that first acceptance you do breathe a little easier. It’s a bumpy ride good luck to you and your D in the coming year</p>