<p>Jamie...
can't address all your questions...but regarding schools...have you looked at Webster in St Louis? It is supposed to be a fine program and we have a parent of two MT freshmen ithere n our midst! My D has a friend that's a freshman there and she seems very happy.</p>
<p>Like others, it took me a while to figure out what was going on, but I found this. Couple of questions to roger:
1. Is it possible to link the FAQS page that members so wonderfully created (Shauna et al)? This is a really useful page and it would be nice if it were linked, now that there is a sort of table of contents.</p>
<ol>
<li> Could you also link the old thread? That also has a lot of still useful information. and instead of asking posters such as DoctorJohn to answer questions that were answered 4 months ago, we could just refer people to the archive if it were easily accessible</li>
</ol>
<p>musicalthtrmom-thanks for the help. i'll investigate webster. i have seen several other posts that mention it. jamie</p>
<p>Being from Texas, I don't hear anything great about their MT program. I know one of our posters visited with her junior D recently (her other D is at OCU) and expressed disappointment in the program. If you really want to stay in this area, consider going to one of the more well-known colleges and crafting an MT degree through a theatre major and a voice/dance minor. SMU and TCU have been suggested. St. Edwards in Austin has a theatre program and just hired a new voice coordinator who has good MT experience. For my part, I am resigned that my D will be moving out of state. I may not be ready, but she really is.</p>
<p>mrsark87 - I'm going to post a reply to you on part 37, page 2. I am also very confused about the best way to use the new format, although I'm sure it will be fine once I get used to it! Ericsmom</p>
<p>First of all....Happy new year to everyone! I haven't posted in awhile...had to change my password to one that I could remember off the top of my head. Welcome new posters....love reding your posts!</p>
<p>If anyone would like to know anything about Webster University's Conservatory program please post or email me. I would be more than happy to correspond with you. Webster was listed by the NY Times as one of the most under-rated programs....it truly is a top knotch program. One of it's most famed alumni is Norbert Leo Butz....FYI, Webster has one of the highest percentages of working alumnis in the entertainment field.</p>
<p>Break a leg to those of you auditioning for your programs....keep your heads high....you are embarking on an incredible journey....many of your non-theatre classmates haven't a clue the hoops you have to try to jump through in order to get into the college you want. Whether you succeed or are declined...you did it, and you will be better because you tried!</p>
<p>Warmly,</p>
<p>SUE B</p>
<p>mrsark87, University of North Texas does offer a musical theatre major with a number of curriculum choices. There is quite a bit of info about that school on the old forum as Shauna, a most intrepid MTer goes there and shares her experiences with us. Arizona state schools seem to have some good programs, and I did wish we had checked them out earlier in this process as some of them let you know very early where you stand. College of Santa Fe has a program with great facilities and is an important part of the city's cultural events. Cincinatti has a top program and Ohio if you can stand going tht far north does have a mumber of MT schools.</p>
<p>jamimom, my name is jamie, too. thanks a bunch. all the responses i've gotten have been very enlightening and helpful. and hopefully, helpful to others, too. thanks</p>
<p>SMU - Hoofermom reply - Those of you in Dallas can easily visit SMU, but we are not visiting because a friend who visited there and said she wanted to do musical theatre was immediately told by the person representing the department at the beginning of her theatre meeting that if she wanted MT, SMU is not the place to go. It ruined her whole trip, and she had made a special trip from Arkansas. I do know that SMU has great reputations with each program of drama, dance, and music, but it seems they must not do a good job of combining them based on this friend (who is now attending Tulsa). See part 37, page 2 for my TCU thoughts when I wrote mrsark87. I'll try to remember to post our impression after our Feb. visit. Since I graduated from TCU in business, I'm very partial to it - loved my college years there.</p>
<p>Just found this site 2 days a go. Am overwhelmed at the moment with so much info. I have a S in grade 11 and a D in grade 9 who both want to pursue MT. In addition neither my husband nor I went to undergrad here so the whole college process is very scary. We did graduate work at UMich in music (but not MT!) and would very much appreciate ANY help/info. I'm not even sure where to start. I have read portions of the latest threads and I am getting nervous that we are alrready behind the eight ball in getting ready for next yer.</p>
<p>Mtaussie,</p>
<p>Welcome. You may want to re-post your question on the Colleges for Musical Theatre-Page 38 thread. The page you are on now is not generally read by anyone.</p>
<p>Look under the grey bar at the top of the Musical Theatre Forum page. There is a link to a frequently asked questions page that may be a big help to you. One important topic on that page is a big list of schools that offer MT programs.</p>
<p>What many people have done is to read all of the posts from page 1 through 38 and copy any information they find helpful into a word document. I know this will take a while. </p>
<p>Another important thing to do is to determine what type of program your S is looking for. Does he want a conservatory approach, a university approach, emphasis on acting, or emphasis on singing? If, for instance your S is looking for a university based program that offers a BM in MT (emphasis on singing), his list of schools will be different than someone who's looking for a conservatory style program that emphasizes acting. Your S needs to do some self-assessment. What are his strengths and what are his weaknesses? Does he want a programs that plays to his strengths or one that will address his weaknesses? Some students who consider themselves to be very strong actors purposely choose a school that emphasizes music over acting to improve their weak area. Geography is also a factor for many of us. What part of the country does your S want to be in? (By the way, are you currently living in Australia?) When you have some idea what you are looking for in a MT program, we'll be able to be of more assistance. Many people who post on this forum can tell you which schools are strong in a particular area. We'll be happy to help you with a few suggestions. </p>
<p>When you begin researching schools in earnest, be sure to look at the curriculum guides for each program you are considering. That will tell you exactly what your S will be studying. It's the best way, in my opinion, to tell how balanced the curriculum is. Reading a school's mission statement can also be very enlightening.</p>
<p>Be sure to take a look at U. Michigan. They have a fabulous program. I think it's one of the best in the country.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but I am having trouble finding a link to the "Big List" of colleges with MT majors. Could someone post one here, or show me where one is, please? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it is time we start a new thread of our ongoing discussions on colleges for musical theater. Each part of this thread has numerous pages and posts and viewings. Time has come to continue on a new thread which is sort of like a new chapter. I hope readers will go back to PART 39 for the most recent postings, as well as to go back to all the PARTS of this topic (filled with many varied topics) from the past few years. If you are new, WELCOME! If you are just embarking on this process, take a few hours and read every PART up until this fortieth one and you will have read and learned so much! </p>
<p>Here is a link back to where we left off on Part 39:</p>
<p>Wow, Part 40!!!</p>
<p>Theatermom and Shauna are right - I apologize for my misstatement. It is CONTRAST that singers must demonstrate for most programs - and it does not necessarily have to be a belt/legit contrast. Of course, as theatermom said, if a girl CAN belt, so much the better, especially since belting is so marketable right now. But of course a poorly-produced belt is not going to gain points in an audition. Most talented young sopranos can BECOME amazing belters because their overall technique is so solid, but many have not discovered that by the time they audition for schools - and the schools know this and listen with highly-experienced ears for overall vocal potential. I know of many FIERCE collegiate belters (who now GET HIRED as belters) who really didn't "know how" to belt when they auditioned; they have come into their belting excellence gradually and healthily, through good CLASSICAL vocal technique. So girls, do NOT rip your throats apart trying to belt higher than you should - but do show contrast, and show your chest register if you can - just don't push it higher than it wants to go! (As theatermom pointed out, you can of course sing "legit" in your low register by bringing your head register down - true "belt" is the opposite of that, pushing your chest register up. But many MT singers who we THINK are belting upon first listen are really "mixing" - it's pretty cool to listen carefully and pick out the difference - cause a good mixy belt is just as exciting and "pingy" as a healthy true belt.)</p>
<p>Here is what the CCM website says about song choice for THEIR auditions, nicely detailing what theatermom and Shauna mentioned about contrast:</p>
<p>"One selection should have a sustained legato line; the second should be "up-tempo" and provide a contrast in rhythm, mood, characterization, style and approach. It may show special skills such as comic timing, dramatic flair, ability with patter, or, for women, the "belt" voice. By selecting songs that are similar in every way, inexperienced auditionees often miss the opportunity to show a range of abilities."
<a href="http://staging.uc.edu/ccm/musical_theatre/audition.htm%5B/url%5D">http://staging.uc.edu/ccm/musical_theatre/audition.htm</a></p>
<p>And I was VERY intrigued by razorback's mention of OCU's aversion to belters, so I looked a their website, and here's what is says:</p>
<p>"Musical Theater Auditions - Requirements for vocal auditions are undergoing revision. Updated requirements will be announced by July 1. "
<a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music/audition_info.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.okcu.edu/music/audition_info.asp</a></p>
<p>Hmmm...wonder what the changes will be?</p>
<p>My question concerns academics...my sister has low test scores and a decent GPA with some honors classes, but is not amazing on paper. She does have a lot of leadership positions and is working three jobs this summer, so she handles responsibilty well and is clearly a leader.
With MT admission being as competitive as it is, I want her to do some SAT prep this summer (she took a prep class last spring at her high school, but I really don't think it helped her at all-- in fact, her SAT score went down 30 points). But as you all can understand, she has a busy summer--voice lessons, theater camp, and three jobs (babysitting & lifeguarding at two pools). How can I stress to her the importance of improving her "on paper" records for when she applies for admissions in the fall? (Also, I'm in Cleveland, taking summer classes at my college, so I can't even motivate her in person.)</p>
<p>Did anyone else have this problem? She's going to take one AP class as a senior (my high school offers 5 and she took another of them last year) and continue with her academic/honors courses.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for all your help so far--I REALLY appreciate it!! :-)</p>
<p>Hey Bigsis,</p>
<p>So nice of you to support your sister this way! I have a sister too and it really can be the best relationship in the world. Don't know what I'd do without mine.</p>
<p>I can understand if you (or your sister) don't want to share this info publicly, but it might help to know just how "really bad" her scores are. Because what might be shaky scores for the Ivy League may not be "really bad" at all and fine for an MT program, especially those conservatory programs whose acceptances are almost purely audition driven. Several high level MT programs do still have reasonably high hurdles for academic admission in addition to the audition assessment, but I also know of several kids who have been accepted with lower SAT's after demonstrating very high talent in auditions, so anything is possible. There are lots of folks on this forum who have had concerns about their children's scores and have still had lots of success. Sometimes thay had to adjust their college lists but were successful nonetheless. I'm sure they'll jump in and share their stories to encourage you and your sister. Panic not!! We'll try to help.</p>
<p>hehe...thanks :-)!!</p>
<p>Let's just say, close to the national average SAT score (about 1000 Math + Verbal combined). I don't care about the writing sub-score because from everything I've heard about 2005-06 college admissions, they are not considering the score at all or only using it for placement, and we have no concerns about her writing abilities)</p>
<p>I'm just getting nervous because her Math + Verbal + Writing scores combined were not as high as my score when I took the "old" SAT (just Math + Verbal) in 2002 :-/...</p>
<p>With my son I kept reminding myself that if it's like pulling teeth (my apologies to any cc dentists) to get him to study more now, he probably won't want to go to a school that requires a great deal of studying. That helped me keep his academic performance in perspective.
I have great sympathy for both of you. For her, it's such a busy, crazy time when it feels like you have to be great at everything. For you, you worry because you want her to succeed at her dream.</p>