Conservatory training

<p>How hardcore is NYU’s drama dep.? I’ve heard, and read, that it is pretty intense, but are there any current students willing to write about their experiences? Do you have time to do other things, like breathe?</p>

<p>i was sort of wondering the same thing. Are any of NYU's studios conservatory programs?</p>

<p>I think they all are. I think.</p>

<p>Mackie, if you'd like to PM me with your email address, I'll put you in touch with my daughter.</p>

<p>They are very intense, but you definatley have time to do other things. This past semester, I've been able to do all my school work, start auditioning for stuff in the city, do tech assignments, pledge (and get in) to a fraternity, have my friend come and stay with me for a week...so it really all comes down to how you manage your time. The work is intense, but it is always possible to do other things.</p>

<p>On the days when you have studio training how long are you in class on average?</p>

<p>9-6 is the typical studio day. It depends though on a few things, if you test out of Music Theory, then (at least for me) it starts at 10:30 on Tuesday instead of 9. Sometimes you will get out at 5:30, depending on what class you are in, and on Fridays, there is usually a 3 hour break or combination of breaks throughout the day. First years meet Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Second and Third Years meet Monday Wednesday Friday. I do not know the Fourth year schedule.</p>

<p>That is intense.</p>

<p>It depends what studio you're in. We meet 9-6 Tues, Thurs, Fri. Of that, 4 hours a day is acting class. We get an hour for lunch. And we are expected to rehearse daily, or as often as possible, outside of class.
It's not really studio that's exhausting, but studio + the academic and other demands, like any auditions/clubs/social activities you might want to do. Drama students have less time to bum around than other majors, but they tend to love what they're doing more, and want to be busy with it.</p>

<p>Don't most conservatory programs meet for studio every day? We spend more time in studio at the arts program I'm in at high school. Doesn't seem quite as involved as other BFAs.</p>

<p>you spend more than 27 hours a week doing theater in your high school?</p>

<p>well there's 3 studio days and 2 academic days in a week. that's the structure of the course and that's why academic stats are taken into consideration for admission, because it's given equal weighting in the degree. it's a thing that attracts many people to tisch, the whole package, an "educated artist". it's a great environment to be surrounded by those kinds of people. personally i think it's more demanding than just being in studio all day, because it requires me to use both sides of my brain almost simulataneously. and to fit 5 days work into 3, if i want to be at the same level of ability as my peers in other schools who i'll be auditioning against in the future. there is a lot of emphasis in our studio on rehearsals outside of class time - we are given the exercises in class and are expected to do daily voice & speech exercises, stretching, acting rehearsals in our own time on academic days and weekends.</p>

<p>For any CAP student, how does the separation of acting, dancing, and singing work? Does each student personally have a voice teacher? Is it a pretty strong balance between the three?</p>

<p>The basic CAP schedule break down is as follows:</p>

<p>8 Hours of Dance
6 Hours of Acting
3 hours of Voice and Speech
3 Hours of Vocal Technique</p>

<p>That is first semester, second semester it stays the same, but you are given an additional "class" of private voice, in which a student is assigned with a teacher that will fit the students needs. They matched me up wonderfully, and I haven't heard any real complaints from students. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that with the dance, it is divided up into Ballet, Tap and Jazz, so the breakdown of all disciplines is pretty equal, except for acting which is given an additional focus. </p>

<p>danimal, if you have more personal questions, PM me, and I would be happy to talk to you one on one. same goes for anyone else.</p>

<p>chris</p>

<p>"you spend more than 27 hours a week doing theater in your high school?"</p>

<p>Yes I do. I mean, I go to an arts high school, but still. If you compare NYU's studio time to, say, Carnegie-Mellon's or USC's BFA programs, NYU is actually substantially LESS in-studio time.</p>

<p>get out! I couldn't handle it. I am too much of a social creature. I love theater and NYU's studio time is pushing it for me. I could never do Carnegie-mellon.</p>

<p>Well, isn't NYU's program NOT BFA? Then it certainly wouldn't have as much studio time, since there's academics in there as well.</p>

<p>It's BFA + academics. We got it all baby.</p>

<p>lol. Ain't that the truth.</p>

<p>There is no doubt about it that the time committments are intense. The three studio days are 9-6 with an hour for lunch. The private voice lessons are on a different day than studio, but part of the BFA training. The two academic days are split between Theater Studies and liberal arts. (by the way, Chrisnoo gave the freshman studio classes but left off Music Theory) </p>

<p>Then add in rehearsals, which most people have. Today is a typical day for my kid....studio 9-6, call at 6:30, show at 7:30. If not performing, then it would be rehearsal 6:30- 10:30, with variations, every night. Freshmen have crew. My daughter is also rehearsing two nights per week (one of which is late at night AFTER her show rehearsals, for her a capella group. Add in various other performance projects in which she is involved, Tisch Scholars, a part time job, and a lot of homework for studio and liberal arts classes, rehearsing scenes and songs for classes, etc......she goes all day, night and weekend. It is not like being a regular college student.</p>