College Audition Coaches

<p>I started a very long post last night, but then lost it when I tried to send it . . . I have a moment here to say that getting great coaching was the best thing we could have possibly done for my daughter . . . it has made ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Everyone starts in a different place and has their own needs, for sure, but I can’t imagine (at all) that my daughter would be having the positive experiences she is having now without them. They have been wonderful FOR and TO my daughter and myself and she has grown tremendously in her craft and confidence and I will always be grateful to them regardless of the outcome.</p>

<p>Read her book!! </p>

<p>I got in! By mary anna dennard</p>

<p>I agree completely with what many of you are saying about getting as many assessments of your child’s abilities, and to establish a support group. But talent is not the only criteria. We do have progress reports from dance, voice and acting instructors as well as counselors and directors and coaches. It has been an interesting collection of very different opinions. Kind of feels like the prequel to the variety of subjective opinions we are expecting to get from the college auditors. (so far 3 acceptances, one hold, and one rejection from U Michigan). Would it be easier if talent was the only criteria? At some point, following the passion and trusting is our best guide.</p>

<p>Would it be too much to ask which coach you might have used or some that successful auditioners recommend?</p>

<p>elphabac - Here’s a recent thread that discusses coaching options that may be of interest to you.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1348886-coaching-services.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1348886-coaching-services.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you check the above link, you will find some coaching services discussed. I am a very satisfied MTCA parent whose daughter just finished her freshman year at NYU Steinhardt in MT. If you would like details or contact info for MTCA, please send me an email or personal mesage. They work over Skype very successfully anywhere in the world. They are working with 1 student right now in Japan! Best of luck!</p>

<p>The best one in LA is Robert W Schneider. Great guy and really smart. His kids end up in Michigan, CCM, etc. He now teaches at Penn State but is always shuttling back and forth. I think he is starting online coaching too.</p>

<p>I am another satisfied MTCA parent! We were fortunate to live pretty close to NYC to get coaching in person but my D also skyped plenty of times the closer we got to her auditions. D would never have had the college offers without their support!!</p>

<p>We live in Hawaii and my daughter did all of her coaching on Skype (MTCA) and then had a few live sessions in Chicago at the Unifieds. It was a great experience for my daughter and she learned a lot. This was 2 years ago - yesterday she met up with one of her coaches (and one of our favorite people…) and at this moment she is watching a Broadway show that her vocal coach is in (who went out of her way to help) - today is the first time they have met each other in person! These are lifelong friendships, connections and all around wonderful people.</p>

<p>^^ “like” ^^</p>

<p>My D just started with MTCA and so far we’ve been very impressed with the professionalism, and knowledge. It’s good to hear that Ali and Lulu and Christie had good results with their help. The task of choosing Colleges and programs can be so daunting. It’s good to have the perspective of professionals who know many people who have recently gone through the process and who have auditioned themselves for years.</p>

<p>just posted this in another thread, but it fits here too - look at new audition planner available via the online prep from Mary Anna Dennard,the coach who wrote “I got in”. you can also find a video tour about the audition tracker and organizing tools on youtube by searching for college audition coach online prep. I think this audition planner is a great idea that is a long time coming.</p>

<p>*links aren’t allowed here, so i’ve omitted the correct format</p>

<p>TOTALLY agree Bendigo – the audition master planner tools on that site would have been a lifesaver for my S1 & S2 last year. I had three or four spreadsheets going, plus a paper calendar. I still cannot bear to throw them away because they are so sentimental! Good luck to the OP.</p>

<p>I’m curious about online coaching. Is this one on one or just the kind of general information that is available for free all over the internet? Has anyone done this? What could possibly be worth 500 dollars?</p>

<p>Actor12 I’ve found the one on one coaching with MTCA very helpful for my daughter so far. While you can get a lot of good information from the internet, it’s difficult to apply that information effectively without an objective coach. My daughter’s coach lives close to us, so they meet in person. The coach shares plays, acting feedback, vocal coaching, knows what’s overdone, what to avoid, etc. It’s just so much information in addition to support to build confidence and poise for the audition process. When you think about the investment of money for college, a few hundred dollars of coaching can really help, and might possibly pay off in scholarship money for talent, if they help you showcase your talent effectively.</p>

<p>Oh, I completely agree that one-on-one coaching is worth it and I know people who spend thousands of dollars happily. I was asking about the new on-line service that is being offered and if anyone knows what it includes. The website does not make it clear (at least not to me) and it’s awfully expensive so what do you get? It sounds like an intro to eventual in person coaching but for that price maybe I’m missing something.</p>

<p>Actor 12 we had our first coaching session by skype and it was very informative and helpful. He asked specific questions, we asked questions, he helped us select programs appropriate for my daughters interests. MTCA happened to have a coach in our city so our subsequent sessions have been live. Many of the parents on CC have reported lots of help with Skype coaching with MTCA. You develop a relationship with a professional actor who encourages, critiques, points you to good material for your audition and works with you on developing a polished performance. It all depends on your comfort level with that kind of relationship, and also Skype can be frustrating if it cuts out and you have to call each other back. That happened on our first session. Our coach made up any time lost due to technology, and then after coaching us he went to work, in a Broadway show. Good coaching can reassure you that your preparation is solid, and that can give you extra confidence going into the audition room.</p>

<p>Heartsongmom, I think Actor12 is asking about on-line lectures, not personal skype sessions/coaching. Actor12, I sent you a PM.</p>

<p>Got it. Thanks so much!</p>

<p>Thanks Monkey for picking that up. Hopefully you answered Actor’s question. I think most of the course materials one can get from other reading for free on the internet, or from books at a much lower price.</p>