<p>I remember reading that there is an optional tap audition at Michigan. Last year auditioners did not have that option because the woman who teaches tap was on sabbatical. I observed her first year tap class in April 2003 and was amazed at how much she had taught her students in just one year. It was impressive. I hope your dancing D will have the opportunity to do the tap audition.</p>
<p>Re: monologues - U.M. asks students to prepare 2 monologues. The day that my D auditioned the auditor chose everyone's monologue. He did not ask the students which piece they preferred to perform. He made the choice.</p>
<p>Scogor,</p>
<p>I'll second checking out Penn State. They have a fine program. You also might want to reconsider CCM. Though they are a conservatory style program, 26% of the coursework is outside of the major. That's a bit more than U. Michigan (24%), Syracuse (23%), or Ithaca (15%). Carnegie-Mellon certainly is the most conservatory of conservatory-style programs - 95% of the coursework is in the major.</p>
<p>I know that you live in Florida. Is your D considering Florida State or Miami? If you have any questions about FSU, I'd be happy to help you out.</p>
<p>My D auditioned for UM in early Feb. last year and DID have a tap portion, although it was optional. She was able to sing both of her songs and delivered both of her monologues along with the piano audition. All the best to you and your D.</p>
<p>I will pass along your advice to my D. Your information on CCM is very interesting especially when it's compared to U of M (my alma mater and my daughter's first choice--unrealistic as it may be due to the expense). We (being my wife and I as opposed to my D) have a feeling that she will end up at U of Miami--we have heard great things about it and it is much more affordable than the out of state schools. As for FSU, my wife is a rabid Gator--spent 7 years there as a student (undergrad, law school and an LLM in tax)--need I say more??</p>
<p>scogor,
If you have any questions pertaining to the MT program at PSU, feel free to e mail me. The website is rather limited in giving detailed information about the BFA program.</p>
<p>I didn't know if anyone might be interested, but Western Carolina University in the mountains of NC has just added an MT program. It is an audition-based program, but you can get the BM or the BFA. It might make a good safety for someone who is still looking for one and is not yet listed on the FAQ site for MT. Interested applicants can apply until May. Their website is <a href="http://www.wcu.edu%5B/url%5D">www.wcu.edu</a>. I do know that they have a great reputation (at least in NC) for their music program.</p>
<p>My D isn't one of the 4'10" ones, but she is only 5', and she's Asian. We figure that sometimes those factors will work against her, but sometimes they'll work for her, and in any case we can't change either of them!</p>
<p>Lynn, how amazing that you were there yesterday! Today's story about it in the NY Times noted that Idina is "considered a hard worker in an industry known for its divas." Let's all look forward to our own kids being described that way someday!</p>
<p>FAFSA--One way of dealing with the additional schools: send it to your first six, wait a day or two, check with the schools to make sure that they have received it, then go back on line and change who you want it sent to. You just have to keep track though, so if you are updating info, you make sure it gets to all the schools</p>
<p>Thank you Dancersmom and GKoukla for sharing your UMich audition information. As I said, she knew what to prepare but it is always interesting to hear what really happens. I figured there had to be an optional tap audition or they would not have mentioned you could bring your tap shoes! She likes that this school has that as I don't think many do at auditions (there are a couple that do not even have you dance at all though Tisch makes dance optional but she is doing the dance audition there). Thanks for explaining that if you only do one monologue, they likely tell you which they want to hear. I know some kids who got to perform both monologues and now GKoukla, you are saying that also happened in your D's case. Good to hear accounts. My D is psyched that they have you play piano at auditions and that they offer or value piano playing in their curriculum. She has played for ten years and is very into piano and would love to continue in college. She is working toward what I think may be called her diploma in piano right now. She was told at UMich, that you can place out of piano requirement and she likely might with her background, but if you do, then you can still study piano lessons which she wants to continue with piano in college as she uses piano also in her musical theater endeavors (ie., accompanying self and others, just musical directed a show, etc.). She knows someone in UMich program who also had a piano background before going there and he still can study piano there, just does not take the same piano classes others are required to take. All of this is a moot point really because getting accepted is such long shot odds. But those things are appealing aspects of this program. I guess it will be the only audition where she can tap or play piano. The audition day sounds very organized with presentations to the students and also for the parents. Looking forward to returning. </p>
<p>I hope to see you, Newmtmom, or anyone else who is going this Friday. Save travels. </p>
<p>To parents of males who are auditioning this year (or have auditioned in the past) - Are any of you willing to share your son's monologue choices with a 2006 graduate who will be auditioning in another year? My son asked me to ask this. </p>
<p>If you are willing to share monologue ideas and want to keep it private, please feel free to e-mail me privately. We would really appreciate it. I can't tell you how much all of your information has helped us through this process so far. Thanks, Ericsmom</p>
<p>And the replacement for Idina is a girl from Portland Oregon, graduate of CCM - Shoshana Bean. What big shoes to fill- and an auspicious beginning to replacing Idina!! We live in Portland - and my MT D figures it bodes well for the Pacific NW!! Shoshana also came into the world with an exceptional voice....always helps for a role like that. </p>
<p>We were lucky enough to see the show last summer when D was at CAP 21 summer program (any questions - I'd be happy to help - oops -other thread..)</p>
<p>OK - back to lurk mode.
This whole forum is most helpful and supportive. Break a leg to all the auditioners (and helpful smiles to the parents...) I am so grateful my D is a junior this year!</p>
<p>First time poster! soozievt and Newmtmom, I too will be at the UMich audition friday. I am crazy nervous but also very excited!! This will be my 5th audition, so the routine is pretty familiar. Still, being one of "the big 3," it's hard not to be intimidated. However, I take comfort b/c I heard from/been accepted to 2 schools: Baldwin Wallace and Point Park (btw... any advice on which might be the better pick of the 2?). As for the other 7 that I am waiting to hear from/audition for, it is going to be a painfully slow next few months. Waiting is the worst!! (at least UM is rolling...)
Halle :)</p>
<p>Welcome Broadway32nd! and whoa, congrats in already having two fine acceptances in your pocket. It will be a long winter for my kid but that is what it's about. For her, this is only the second audition of eight. </p>
<p>I hope we meet up. I guess there will be tons of people but it is an all day event. We are from Vermont but know one other girl from VT also auditioning. My D will likely be "hanging out" with a very close male friend from FL who is auditioning so I don't know if that is enough to go on. Newmtmom and her daughter are from MA. Us moms have met at another audition but the daughters have not. </p>
<p>You must be doing something right if you are already admitted to two programs so do not be nervous and just keep on being yourself as it is working! </p>
<p>Sorry to not be able to advise you on which of the two is the so called "better pick" as those are two programs my daughter did not look into. However, the BEST program is the one that truly fits what you are looking for, so scrutinize the details of the program and really talk to those in it and visit, etc. You'll be able to figure out which is the best match for you. It is great that you have a choice and here's to more positive news down the line. </p>
<p>If I were you, I'd be thrilled with the 2 acceptances you have. You may have to visit again to decide which is right for your child. In our equity theatre's Christmas show, Children of Eden, we had 2 B-W grad's and one Point Park grad. My son (who did ensemble) became close friends with all of them, and we were so impressed with their abilities. My impression is that they were all good actors, singers, and dancers, but I'd lean toward saying B-W grad's have incredible singing voices and Point Park people are outstanding dancers. Maybe that will help in your decision. Also, my son has 2 friends currently students at Point Park who are very happy. We enjoyed Pittsburgh when we visited in the spring. Our visit to B-W is scheduled next month, so I have no on-campus experience yet.</p>
<p>I managed to reach my D last night and asked her the questions several of you have asked about the auditions at UMich.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>She says she has heard that they do offer an optional tap audition, but, strangely enough, she says that it was not offered in her section of the dance audition last January when she auditioned on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>She says that she remembers the auditor looking at the two monologues she had prepared and his choosing which one she should present. In her case he chose her contemporary dramatic monologue from Inherit the Wind as opposed to her classical comedic monologue from a somewhat obscure Moliere play. There were two rooms, each with a single faculty member observing acting auditions .</p></li>
<li><p>With regard to what to wear for the dance audition, I've been told that the instructions asked that the students wear "all black." My guess is that they want to be able to more easily observe the "line" of each dancer. But someone asked me if they couldn't wear SOME color (I'm reminded of the wonderful Nathan Lane in The Birdcage, when questioned about his pink socks saying "Well one does want a hint of color!...."). My D says she wore pink tights and a black leotard (she's been a ballet dancer since she was 5 - what can I tell you?) but said she remembers some others did wear colored leotards. My thought is that I would still go for the black leotard at least (boys usually wear a clean white t-shirt in ballet dance class along with black tights). The dance audition did consist of a full technique barre before the varied combinations, so they really do want to see your body. The one major no-no would be to hide it under a lot of extra clothes. Dance is really valued at UM.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Lastly, my own observations and after seeing UM performers this past year suggest that if you have a legit voice, show it. While many of the students have the ability or have been taught to belt well at UM (correctly, protecting the voice), they are most interested in those performers who can sing legit first.</p>
<p>SO - have a great time in Ann Arbor you all! They really do a great job on audition day. Take advantage of all the students who will be around as monitors - they are great souces of honest information about the program and terrific ambassadors for a terrific program. (Freshman are not asked to be monitors, so my D will only be around if she has a class in the Music Building in the afternoon.)</p>
<p>I'm rooting for all of you CC posters and your kids!! Can't wait to hear what you think and how it goes. Break a leg!</p>
<p>Be prepared for some typical Michigan weather this weekend. Today it is snowing and in the 30's...tomorrow it's expected to be in the 50's...and by Friday and the weekend they're talking about temperatures in the single digits. Welcome to Michigan :)</p>
<p>Broadway32nd - Welcome! I'm guessing you auditioned at Point Park? Could you fill us in on what the audition was like. My D is audition in NY on Sunday for Point Park. They are (I think) the only ones who only ask for 1 song, 1 monologue. Do they work with you on them? Any info would be helpful. Thanks!</p>
<p>Soozie--I won't be in Michigan :( but my husband and daughter will be there. So good luck to everyone. And thanks to everyone who has given info about Mich--especially the reminder about weather. FYI--I spoke with someone there today, and asked out of curiosity how many audition for MT, and she said about 300. They're expecting about 36 on Friday.</p>
<p>Theatermom, you mentioned your D remembering the auditor looking at her two monologues. I may be asking the obvious (though I hope there's no such thing as a stupid question here!), but are our kids supposed to supply copies of their monologues to the auditors? I haven't seen that specifically mentioned in the info from any of the schools where my D will be auditioning. If so, how many copies of each monologue should they have with them?</p>
<p>This year at the first Michigan audition, my son says there was no mention of an optional tap session. We were told that dance experience was NOT important, they were just looking for body movement, and my son did not feel that the audition was at all difficult, and though there was one standout there, he did not think that they asked enough of the kids so that you could really discern who was good other than the one young man who was truly stellar. One of the students in the program said that he had had no dance training at all prior to come to Michigan, and that it was not an issue. There was also a young man who was in advanced dance as he had had much dance experience. There also seemed to be great variance in the piano playing levels among the current students, and my son was far from proficient but placed one level up and his friend who really had no official piano but knows the scales and did not prepare a piece placed into the required level. Several of the girls in the program said they played only at the "Twinkle" level at the audition. It seems that the most weight is given to the drama and the voice. My son was deferred and they went over both of his monologues thoroughly with him. His friend was turned down, and he, too spent a lot of time with both monologues. </p>
<p>S got into two programs, and at one he said he was "off" with the monologues, and I know he was not in a good mood and was "off" on the other day at the other school. He was given perfunctionary treatment at both auditions. His friend who was waitlisted at Emerson thought he had a great audition there. The same friend is accepted to a program where they cut off one of his monologues and only wanted one of his songs. So, I don't think you can necessarily tell from your child's feelings as to how the audition had gone. And I agree with Susan about the callbacks. I know in a professional play where my son was already given the role, contract and schedule, they continued the auditions for his part. And he was not called back since they already told him he had the part. You really can't tell unless you know the people running the show and are privvy to what is going on behind the scenes. You can have a really great audition and be in heavy contention for a need in the program only to be followed by someone with a better auditon who fits the need better. I believe Emerson did 4 auditions that weekend we were there--two on Saturday, two on Sunday. Harrt had two that day as well. You could do very well at the auditon. but there are 50 other kids auditioning that day. The personalities of the people auditioning you are also a factor along with their moods. You could go nuts trying to figure out why your kid was not accepted, and there is probably not a concrete reason. Just that he was not the best choice for what they need. I know one parent who has called, understandably for feedback because sometimes there is a glaring problem in the audition. But then the kid was accepted to a top school with the same piece that another school deemed not a good fit for the kid! So even the specific advice, you have to take with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>My son seems to think that the emphasis is on the voice quality, if it has to come down to one thing. The kids he knows with opera possiblilites or right in that range are doing the best in this, according to him. The dance does not seem that important as long as you can follow direction and move gracefully, and he can't figure out what they want in an audition as he says he has seen hackneyed pieces, out of age range pieces, pieces that really don't have alot potential in showing ones' skills. On the one audition where he was distracted, the guy auditioning him even commented on the fact that he was not focused on the piece, which my son admitted. But he said that no one he knows who has been accepted is lacking in a beautiful top or near top level voice. That is just one take on the process, and is about as relevant as anything else you may hear which means not that relevant at all.</p>
<p>Of course there is no such thing as a stupid question...especially here on CC! :)</p>
<p>I don't know of any school that will ask to see the monologues in the printed sense. Most of these auditors are familiar with all the plays out there. Be prepared however, for your D to deliver her monologue in a whole different way per request of auditors. I am sure they are looking for how well he/she takes direction. Also, it is always a nice touch to have done some research on playwright and the play itself...sometimes there is opportunity to discuss material with auditors. One of my Ss performed a song from "The Great Gatsby"....he didn't know much about the operetta/musical so he researched it....the auditor at the time was a bit surprised (a good surprise) to hear such a selection. Once asked what made him select this song, S was able to share his findings.</p>