<p>Another question about next summer: has anyone visited schools in the summer? How did that work out? We were thinking that if junior D isn't locked into a long summer program we might check out some schools this summer, esp. in the Michigan and Ohio area. She really doesn't have any other time since the schools are mostly closed at Christmas break and D's spring break is one week at the choir festival in Hawaii and one week with drama group in New York (yeah, what a horrible break . . . ). Thanksgiving break is going to be spent visiting U of Az and ASU.</p>
<p>mtmommy,
If at all possible I'd avoid visiting in the summer, unless campus "atmosphere" is not what you want to check out. Campuses in the summer are nothing like they are during the academic year, in my opinion. For campuses in the north, they can be beautiful and hot, but that holds for only 1.5 months of the year, and usually when the students are gone. When your student is there, it might be gray and cool to downright cold most of the time. </p>
<p>All the things that give the campus "flavor", such as local hangouts, traditional student areas, etc are deserted in the summer. The academic hum and buzz is pretty much gone in the summer, too, when the students depart.</p>
<p>Mtmommy...
I would second what chrism says about visiting in the summer. My D and I did a little of that before her junior year started, and it was difficult to get a "read" on the schools we visited. Few, if any, students were around. Even difficult to get the information you want from administration/faculty. During the year is WAY better. Of course, if you cannot do them all during the year, you either must choose to visit in the summer, or NOT visit until auditions. You may be better off waiting for auditions.</p>
<p>mtmommy- Thanks for the link to the UMich website. I had tried to find the program on the website and couldn't.<br>
chrism and musicalthtrmom- Thanks for the feedback about visiting during the summer. It's unfortunate, since that's the time when we have the most flexibility, but if it isn't going to give us a true picture of the school, we will need to find a different time, such as spring break.
Does anyone have experience with the summer program at Northwestern?</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I totally understand what you're saying about the campuses in the summer. I can't figure out how to schedule things around D's rehearsals, performances, etc. Right now, beginning of junior year, is horrible with lead in fall comedy, one musical theatre competition, and choir and dance concerts--all these between this week and 1st week of December, with one week out for Thanksgiving. Then add one two night per week college class this semester that was supposed to be last summer so this scheduling horror didn't happen. Schedule conflicts all over the place! I don't see anything better ahead of us for winter and spring except that by Christmas the college course will be done. It doesn't look like the new drama teacher is forgiving even for the college class, not to mention actually traveling to visit campuses. We're going to be in Michigan for family at one point in August, so I was hoping to combine things a bit. I guess not . . . . :(</p>
<p>Well, my D has just finished auditioning for her second community theater show--"42nd Street" which she loves as she feels very comfortable with her "tapping"--and we shall see if tomorrow's call from the director brings her good news. Today's question has to do with the timing of the first visits to schools--it appears from the threads that the second half of this school year (as she is a junior) is the time to start these visits. Any helpful hints would be appreciated.</p>
<p>scogor,
We only visited 2 nearby schools in the jr year. Figured we would conduct a visit during the audition at the rest, and had neither the money nor the time to do 2 (possibly 3, if accepted) visits (previsit, audition visit, accepted student visit). It's another way to do it, rather than do the more typical thing of visiting schools starting jr year (for kids who are not in programs that require auditions).</p>
<p>All,</p>
<p>The website listed above is NOT for the MT program run by Brent Wagner on the UM campus. That is the link to the Interlochen/All-State program website. The MT summer program used to be at Interlochen but no more. And I was mistaken - the program appears to be two weeks, not three. I don't think the website for this year's program is up yet but if you want to see the page for last summer's program, the first on the UM campus, the link is
<a href="http://www.music.umich.edu/resources/myo/allstate/summer/main.html#theatre%5B/url%5D">http://www.music.umich.edu/resources/myo/allstate/summer/main.html#theatre</a></p>
<p>I'd check with the UM MT dept for info about next year's program but my guess is that it probably will not be available until December.</p>
<p>Theatermom--Farther down on that link I put on (not sure at all, but I was questioning if that was it) it does have this listed:</p>
<p>July 17-30, 2005
Music Technology Camp
Musical Theatre Workshop
Summer Dance Institute
Available to high schoolers nationwide </p>
<p>Please check back after December 1 for Summer 2005 information. </p>
<p>Note that these dates are identical to the 2004, one day over, and it includes music technology, as does the 2004 link you included. And it's a section entitled Pulse Ann Arbor, rather than Interlochen. My guess is that that is all there is for now, until Dec. 1, but that it actually is the Ann Arbor program, but I could be wrong. Oh, why do these websites have to be so confusing. And it sure would be nice if these schools would give us all the summer info now, instead of all the schools giving out the summer info at radically different times (we already got a Tisch brochure and application, though aren't sure if she's going to apply).</p>
<p>With all the information being shared about Musical Theater summer programs, I wondered if those of you (or whose children) have attended pre-college summer programs could comment on whether you (or your children) attend (or attended) an arts high school? How about the other students who participated in the programs, what type of high schools did they attend? I ask because I am curious to find out who are the targets for these programs. Are they primarily geared for students who do not have the opportunity to train and perform as part of their regular school curriculum, or are they intended for students with strong formal theater training.</p>
<p>My daughter attends a performing arts school where she majors in theater. Although it is a public high school, admission is very selective, strictly based on an audition, and the theater department curriculum is rather rigorous. Most students travel long distances to attend, and all students are required to perform 50 hours of service to the department, after school, every semester. Each year the school has juried reviews in front of the entire theater faculty to ensure that the students are advancing. A student can be dismissed from the program if the theater faculty believes that he or she is not showing progress, continued commitment or aptitude. So as you can see, the program is very serious about preparing these kids for life in the theater.</p>
<p>The school offers musical theater classes as part of the curriculum and the department stages at least one musical every year with auditions open to all students at the school. In addition to performing in her classes and any school productions for which she may be chosen, my daughter takes dance and voice lessons and often performs in community theater. So I do not know if she would be better off spending the summer abroad or doing something a little different than what she does during the school year. </p>
<p>She has been at performing arts schools since sixth grade and intends to continue in theater, probably musical theater, in college. Her dream is to make it to Broadway. Sound familiar? </p>
<p>I would like to know if an intensive pre-college summer theater or musical theater program be considered tantamount to an overdose for someone like my daughter? Dr. John, if you are out there, as one who makes admission decisions, do you have any comments or suggestions? She is otherwise well rounded academically, taking all gifted and honors courses, and AP courses where available and always has maintained an A average.</p>
<p>I look forward to everyones comments.</p>
<p>Dramatica,</p>
<p>Dramatica...
My daughter does not attend a performing arts high school. She attends a private all-girl parochial school. They do one musical and one drama per year. She only does the musicals. She goes to another high school and does a musical there each year. And has worked with a third independent theater group to do a third musical each year. All of these are during the school year. For 8 solid months she is in a show (or shows...since they tend to overlap). She takes acting, voice, and dance lessons away from school. She has taken piano lessons as well until this year. She is way overscheduled but this is how she gets her performing arts training. (We do have a performing arts high school in our area, but academically D is getting way better schooling where she is.)</p>
<p>D attended OCU's summer program this last year...loved it. She learned a lot...got to know the faculty (for the university) with whom she will work if she is accepted there. There were students there who attend performing arts high schools and others who don't...a real mix.</p>
<p>Your daughter may be the only one to answer whether or not she wants a performing arts camp or a different experience altogether. Does she talk about being burned out? If so, I'd let her explore something new...it will give her another experience from which to draw in her performing.</p>
<p>Hope this answers your questions!</p>
<p>musicalthtrmom,</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. No my daughter is not burned out. She loves theater and particulaly performing. She never seems to get enough. I appreciate that she has to make her own decisions, and encourage her to do so. However, I also believe that as parents we have the responsibility to open doors that will make our children well rounded individuals. </p>
<p>Children passionate about a talent, such as our MT kids, can get so focused that they might miss everything else that is available to them. Having gone through the admission process with an older son, who is now a junior at Brown, I learned that admission to colleges has become tougher and that the kids, who are passionate about something while managing to be well rounded, seem to have an edge. So I was curious to find out if the pre-college programs are there to fill the gap for students who do net get training at school, or if they are designed to take students who are already trained even farther. I can gather from your experience that it is a mixed bag and I am very thankful that our performing arts school is academically outstanding so that we have one less hurdle in helping her prepare to do what she loves best. </p>
<p>Admisssion to musical theater is so selective, that I also was wondering if the "well-rounded" principle applies to the musical theater admission process or if the schools only care about the audition. If the audition is the only thing that counts, then a pre-college program may give an applicant the tools needed to help them "shine." However, I can't help but think that being well rounded can only help a performer. (I guess you can see my bias in this last comment and that I agree with your statement about being able to draw from other experiences.) </p>
<p>The whole college search is so overwhelming with respect to what is best, then add to that BA vs BFA vs Conservatory, that I am totally grateful to all of you who are so generous in sharing your experiences with those of us neophites who are coming right behind you. I don't know what possessed me to search for "musical theater programs" several months ago, but I am certainly glad that I did because that is how I stumbled upon this wonderful group of concerned parents and super kids. So musicalthtrmom, thanks for taking the time to share. Is your daughter a senior now?</p>
<p>Dramatica</p>
<p>dramatica, my D who is now a sophomore at Tisch attended a high school very much like your D's. She's been performing since she was a little girl, taking piano, dance, voice, etc. She auditioned for this high school, which was also very challenging academically and it was the perfect setting for her as she had come from a self-contained program for academically gifted students for grades 5-8. </p>
<p>Her h/s did 40 productions a year, of varied sizes. It also drew from a large area and some kids came from as far as 50 miles away, commuting on a daily basis. My D had a one and a quarter hour commute by train and bus until she could drive and then it was a 40-45 minute drive most days. The teachers there, both academic and artistic, were a wonderful group, who were so very generous with their time and talents. My D was involved in some type of production, festival, one acts, community theatre, etc. almost every day of her h/s 'career'. </p>
<p>In summers, she took time off. She, in addition to all of her arts 'stuff', loves sports. She played volleyball and soccer on the school varsity teams, and she has played club soccer since she was five years old, and still does. She enjoyed having the break during the short summer months to devote to soccer, friends, and occasionally earning some money. :) I should say that she did take time for the last couple of summers before college to spend a couple of weeks with friends who perform at Stratford. She returned this year and actually worked there with the repertory company for the end of summer. The only arts summer program she ever did when she was about 13 & 14 and she went to Centauri which is outside Toronto and has a wonderful reputation.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what experience the kids at these summer programs have, I'm sure it varies program to program. I do know that the kids my D has mentioned that she's met at Tisch have more likely (if they've attended something arts related in the summer) gone to a setting like SDM than an actual 'pre-college' program. The majority, of the kids she knows at least, have not attended one of these programs at all. One funny sidenote, when she auditioned at Tisch, one of the auditors discussed soccer with her, in addition to the usual drama/monologue/play/studio discussion. My D was impressed with that! I'm a big believer in the well-rounded aspect of kids, not just for college admissions but, in general. :)</p>
<p>Thanks Dancersmom, your post on preparing for the audition is a big help. My d will be having her first auditon on Nov. 5 and it pretty much snowballs after that so I am sure in the stress of it all we would have forgotten something. It is so encouraging to hear from all of you who have been through this process in the past and who have come through it successfully. Parents of seniors who are NOT in the performing arts have no idea what we go through...some of my best friends think we are making too big a deal about the whole college application prcess.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information. We are going to look into this program. Two weeks is something she can handle this summer. I am originally from Michigan and my husband graduated BS from U of Mich. Never realized what an MT program they have. This will be really good if she is accepted as this is one of her top 3 schools she is considering.</p>
<p>If anyone has attended this summer program, would appreciate hearing from you. What is the opinion of taped auditions (summer program only). She is going to France this Spring w/French class and I am concerned may conflict with audition time.</p>
<p>Thanks again
lexismom</p>
<p>Dramatica;</p>
<p>Hi, My D attends a Performing Arts School and has attended since 7th grade. She also takes p/mt voice and classical. She takes AP and maintains an A average, NHS,CSF, etc. She is in their "premier performing group" which keeps her very busy in addition to plays. It sounds like most of the kids on this thread are extremely high achievers. With all that said, that is why we
were trying to find a program that was around 2/3 weeks. I want her to relax and recup some of the time this summer as last summer she spent most of the time in SAT prep courses. WHEW. </p>
<p>I would suggest going to a summer program where your d is interested in attending for college. Perhaps one not so long.</p>
<p>lexismom</p>
<p>Thanks Moms for you audition info....especially the alternate outfit. I wouldn't have thought of that. That's the type of thing that if you are prepared for, it won't happen. BUT, if you aren't ready for something like that, I can pretty much guarantee it will happen!! Just one for thing to worry about :)</p>
<p>My D went to a small private Quaker high school noted for it's rigorous academics. The "arts" program, such as it was, was wonderful but disjointed - nothing like the intense HS performing arts programs I read about on this site. My D studied dance since the age of 5 but didn't really "discover" her voice until she was 15 and didn't start voice lessons until 16 and a half. Her only drama classes were in high school and were as much about "theater" as about acting. So for her, the CMU program was revelation and we believe critically important for her audition experiences. She also says the talent level varied at the CMU program but felt that it was valuable for all who attended, if only to discover that an intense conservatory training program was NOT what they wanted in college. Even the most experienced kids, and there are many of those as well, learned a lot. Whatever their training or performance experience at the age of 18, I think all these kids still have lots to learn.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I agree with those who understand the importance of the benefits of a broader education. I have repeatedly said that this is the reason that the program at UMich is so right for our D. And yet this past summer, when she was surprisingly cast in a lead role in an opera performance that would have had her working with professional singers as well as students and given her the opportunity to study and rehearse for half the summer and travel, learn and perform in Italy for the rest of the summer, she turned it down. She said that she had been engaged in intense arts programs every summer since she was 10 (mostly ballet intensives) and had been squeezing her dance and voice training around her school work forever. She knew she was headed to Michigan in the fall for four intense years of training (there's that word again - intense.....) and wanted to go there "hungry," not burnt out. While I was mildly disappointed at not having an excuse to go to Italy, I soooo respected her ability to stop the "madness" and take time to catch her breath. So I agree that if we can help our kids understand the value of taking the time to step back every now and again, there is much to be gained. In the end, however. I believe it has to be their choice. Making their own choices and dealing with the consequences, good or bad, is how they learn. Let's not take that opportunity away from them by making them feel like they have to do what we think is best. We can advise but the consent must be theirs.</p>
<p>If anyone has questions regarding quality of schools, feel free to ask. I have a friend in almost every major MT school so I know a lot about the programs. For all you seniors auditioning for schools, make sure you know your monlogues by now. You should be working on them and getting as much help as you can get. My mistake was I didn't learn my monlogues until the week before auditions, so I didn't get any help.</p>
<p>Not sure who asked about which summer programs might accept people who have graduated HS... just to let you know Interlochen does. </p>
<p>Interlochen's programs is being revamped upcoming year, so check out the website for info... <a href="http://www.interlochen.org%5B/url%5D">www.interlochen.org</a></p>