As my daughter is getting ready to leave for her first year of undergraduate in vocal performance (classical), I am wondering what her summers will look like. Do college vocalists attend summer programs? Do they rest their voice? Or work with their past private voice teacher? While I do not intend to direct her decisions (I will leave that to her and her voice professor), I do want to know what others have done over the summer especially so I can budget and plan.
Hoping your daughter’s school provides funding if she does indeed do summer programs
Hi @BearHouse ! My D is just finishing up her Freshman year in VP (as you probably know, lol), but here is what I have gleaned… Often, singers take the summer before and/or after the first college year to stay home and study with an old teacher (assuming Home is far from college), work and regroup. The first year of college is full of changes, and is a financial jolt, as well, and many vocalists are solidifying new techniques introduced to them by their new teachers. After that, many undergrads do one or more shorter (or one long) summer festivals; often first a pay-to-sing as an emerging artist (think scenes work, and not a full role, for perhaps several summers), and then later, hopefully, they are cast in a role at a festival. When this might happen (role) depends a lot upon personal development, voice type, connections, etc… men are almost always offered roles sooner and more often than women, from what I have seen. Of course, if money is not an issue, students can do festivals or programs every summer! My D went to Italy as an Emerging Artist with the Oberlin in Italy festival last summer (before beginning her freshman year of college), and her teacher, knowing our financial constraints, suggested staying home this summer; the sense I got was that she should wait until her voice and technique are better developed and she can get a small role, perhaps, or better scholarship money in future summers. I hope this helps somewhat! Hopefully, @Scubachick @coloraturadad @bridgenail and other experienced parents will share their thoughts!
S18’s voice professor to be did not offer any specific advice for this upcoming summer, though we’ve not asked as yet either. However, S18 plans a relaxing summer. He will continue voice lessons with his current teacher. He has a role in a community theatre musical. He also is going to direct one and perhaps two charity musicals, like he did last summer. Between that and family vacation, his summer will fly by.
@vistajay Love the new profile pic! @dramasopranomom I was thinking first summer might be a stay at home summer just for emotional/physical rest. We have also talked about a summer abroad program for foreign language study.
My D did a MT program at home the summer before college; and sang with her teacher…working on her German (her weak spot prior to college). She also worked a lot to make some of her spending money.
And a few other comments based on responses above:
@dramasopranomom is correct about summer programs during college. The good thing is the teacher takes a central role in making these determinations so it takes some of the pressure off parents in knowing what to do. VP is a long haul and young singers may be better off working at home on technique than singing in a chorus (that costs a lot and doesn’t really help them as a singer).
I have not heard of universities typically funding summer festivals for UG vocalists. There are always some exceptions of course but I would not be surprised if there was no assistance (or limited to special cases) at a particular school. HOWEVER the programs will offer their own scholarships (often for principal roles). My D was able to take advantage of scholarships…and that seemed typical for her friends as well, In grad school, I have heard (and my D experienced) more funding opportunities for overseas opportunities.
@vistajay - I didn’t recognize you … all dressed up! A big congrats! Your S’s summer sounds great.
My D’s vocal teacher SOP for her students is no summer program for all her students finishing freshman year. She will not send students to summer programs until after their sophomore year. She is very strict with this, I assume, for the reasons mentioned by @dramasopranomom which make sense. Most of these kids are going through a lot of changes and new technique which I guess the teacher will not want anyone to mess with it (understandable).
It looks like the general consensus is to limit vocal training/activities over the first summer off. Since classical voice is a long haul, I think that makes a lot of sense. My daughter also has strong interest in makeup artistry. She is already asked by friends to do their prom/formal makeup. Perhaps a summer program in that will help her develop some marketable skills and give her voice time to rest/develop.
Another option could be a summer language program, as foreign language chops are important in VP.
@NYCMusicDad I noticed that Middlebury has a 7 week German intensive for singers. Something like that would be great. Although I suspect we will want her coming home her first summer!
My daughter was advised not to do a vocal program after her freshman year in college, lining up with many of the comments upthread. Instead she applied for and won a job as the music program director for a local Gr 1-6 arts day camp. There was a different theme each of the 10 weeks and she had to develop and deliver curriculum. She loved it!
It wasn’t a lot of singing, but by the end of week 8 she developed slightly swollen vocal chords from instructing and sometimes “talking over” the excited kids and she had to quit immediately (per her voice teacher) and go on vocal rest and into therapy, as it was really close to the start of school.
Things can go downhill very quickly with a young voice and students need to be really careful. It’s a huge shift (for kids and parents, too) from what’s typically happening in the life of a second semester high school senior, which is non-stop singing. My daughter happily takes the Soprano II part in all required ensembles and is the alto section leader for her choral scholar gig, both of which “save” her voice for her studio work.
She now works as a lifeguard. Flexible shifts, very little talking, mandated breaks where she can fit a bit of homework in, decent pay and a free membership to the Y.
This summer she’ll be home, preparing for a 2-week program In August. Her studio teacher weighed in very specifically on the roles that she could audition for based on where she thought her voice would be. I’ll provide an update on that experience in the fall.
@BearHouse- MIddlebury’s language intensives are wonderful for voice students! I wish more kids would take advantage of those.
@buoyant , I see your lifeguarding D takes after you!
Ha ha @vistajay - it’s actually another daughter’s CC “handle” that I use - I always thought it referred to her exuberant personality!