Desperately in need of Advice (long post)

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I'm in desperate need of advice.</p>

<p>Musical Theater has always been my first love. However, at a young age I got coerced into pursuing classical music and I'm currently a lyric coloratura soprano who does some work as a professional oratorio soloist. I had originally planned on going to school for opera, and it is a known fact that I would have a very good chance at acceptance to any music conservatory I wanted to go to.</p>

<p>However, about a year and a half ago I realized that, despite having a real talent for it, opera/oratorio and classical music isn't that enjoyable for me. Feeling trapped, I decided I wanted to do music on the side and pursue psychology as a major in college instead, and luckily I'm blessed with academic talents to be able to do that. This has been my plan until a couple days ago.</p>

<p>I went to see a friend of mine in a Broadway show, and I can't remember a time when I felt happier. I've been an absolute basket case the last couple of days because I've finally realized that musical theater is what I've loved to do all along, and I've just kinda been supressing it to do what everyone else thought I should. I'm now a senior in high school, and I feel as if it's almost to late to change.</p>

<p>My main dilemma is my voice. I can act and dance (although I'm better at the latter) as well as sing, but I'm a lyric coloratura soprano. I'm currently rehearsing to perform as the soprano soloist in Webber's Requiem in two months. I realize that to have any success in the musical theater business that you have to have a stellar belt voice to supplement all these things. I haven't ever developed a belt voice, and I'm not a natural belter. My voice teacher is willing to help me begin to work on it, but there isn't much we can do until December after the concert, which doesn't give us much time.</p>

<p>Part of me just wants to continue with my plans to major in psychology and repress my urge to perform in shows. However, I'm not sure if that is the best plan. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about alternate routes to a musical theater career besides getting a B.F.A. in musical theater. I was thinking about maybe going the vocal performance route (ehh...) or trying to double major or something. Maybe I should try to get into a musical theater program anyway. Heck, maybe I shouldn't be doing this at all.</p>

<p>Thank you for reading such a long post, and I'd truly appreciate any suggestions (even if you think I should just stick with psychology!).</p>

<p>PS
I was browsing around this site after posting this on another forum, and I thought maybe NYU's BM vocal performance with concentration in musical theater option might be promising?</p>

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<p>You could double major in VP and MT at OCU, and your classical voice would be very much appreciated, I'm sure. I don't exactly know all the musical terms, but my D does not have a big, belty voice, either. I say go for MT, if that's what you want to do. My opinion is that you are only 17 or 18. You have the rest of your life to study psychology if you change your mind on down the road. I think everyone should pursue his/her dreams!</p>

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<p>I checked out OCU, and although I can't find anything about double majoring, it seems to me that there musical theater program might not care if I can belt considering one of their audition requirements is a classical arts song. Thanks for the tip.</p>

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<p>Kaitrin: As far as having a big belty voice, yes the majority of Broadway female roles require that, but what about Sarah Brightman and Rebecca Luker? They do not belt and have become beloved in the Broadway community. Rebecca Luker is one of those rare talents who can sing like an angel and has the acting ability as well. If you truly want this, I am sure there are great roles waiting for your beautiful voice.</p>

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<p>Kaitrin - I'm not sure I believe this, but my d's voice teacher at CAP21 says that many coloratura sopranos (which my daughter is) end up being fantastic belters. I'm still waiting, however, for her to belt to a high F, lol! My daughter said she has helped her immensely, but I don't think she'll ever have that "Eden Espinosa" belt, or anything like that. But I know what you mean; it seems that MOSTLY all parts require some belting nowadays!</p>

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<p>Definatly look into the program at Baldwin Wallace. We are a BM program and your classical training will really help you out here. Many girls come in here without ever having belt training and leave just as strong at belting as they are at legit. Please PM me with more questions.</p>

<p>~Tim</p>

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<p>Kaitrin - I know you said you weren't sure about a BFA in MT, but The Boston Conservatory certainly appreciates beautiful sopranos. They also have a Vocal program. I know that there are many who have gotten scholarships there, too. Just another thing to look into...</p>

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<p>Thank you guys for all these great suggestions. I've literally been hysterical over this for two days and it makes me feel so much better that I'm finding schools that I can get into on my legit voice. :)</p>

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<p>Hi Kaitrin,
My understanding (No expert, here, just a parent) is that belting at auditions is not a requirement, and that they expect young sopranos to use a head voice, not to be able to belt without further training.</p>

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<p>Hi Kaitrin!</p>

<p>Poke around here long enough and you'll find general agreement and also examples of folks who did not get an MT degree and "made" it. </p>

<p>My D has been told she is a dramatic coloratura and has been told for years to pursue opera. Like you, she considers MT her first love. Her voice teacher here has tried for years to persuade her. Funny thing is now her college voice teacher has told her to consider a double major in VP (which she is now considering) and is very possible at Oklahoma City. </p>

<p>Her teacher here used to say that good MT voices(and a lot of roles) work in their 20's. Great opera voices dont really come into play until the 30's, so why not do both? Makes sense to me.</p>

<p>Dont worry about belting for auditions - most dont expect it. Have a good money note and you'll do fine.</p>

<p>Good luck! And look at OCU!</p>

<p>MikksMom</p>

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<p>Don't be concerned that your existing training and experience will serve as an impediment to getting into a musical theater program. Most auditions require a lyrical ballad type of song and an upbeat contrasting song. There are loads of lyrical ballads from musicals that will fit your voice and style well. And you don't have to be a great belter to do a respectable job on an upbeat song. The trick is to find the right songs for you and remember that in performing the songs at an audition the auditors are not only listening to how you sing them but also are watching to see how you act them. On the more belty song, good acting is more important than whether you have a fully developed belt. It's a bit different from a vocal performance audition in this respect.</p>

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<p>I don't think you have a thing to worry about. Just think of all those belters who don't have as much classical training.</p>

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<p>Whatever you do, don't try to force your voice to do something that you're not yet comfortable with. At an audition, you need to be at your most comfortable and secure -- don't try to stretch your abilities beyond what you're capable of at this time. Faculty at MT programs are very good at seeing your potential.</p>

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<p>I want to echo what was posted here - MT programs love trained voices and would much rather hear a healthy legit voice than a belter who can't sing legit well, as that raises all kinds of red flags about vocal health. </p>

<p>My big advice to you would be:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>pick 2 songs that show vocal CONTRAST - so if you don't belt, what other styles of more "legit" singing do you do? Maybe something jazzier, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>make SURE SURE SURE (did I say sure? :) ) you are truly ACTING your songs - b/c schools WILL be turned off by a highly-trained voice delivered through a stiff performance. The acting style of opera is quite different from that of MT - so make sure you work with a coach who can work the acting of your songs appropriately for MT. You mention that you can act, so learning to apply solid acting ideas quite specifically to you audition cuts should be fairly easy for you - and fun! :)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>P.S. It's very true that many of the best belters started out as "only" legit singers - b/c they know their way around their voices well, can produce a completely open, not pushed or forced, tone, etc. But one correction - Sarah Brightman can DEFINITELY belt. She recorded a version of Meadowlark many years ago that shows this off wonderfully. I'm pretty sure Rebecca Luker belts, too, in her solo concerts - it's just not what's she's best-known for.</p>

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<p>Everyone is offering you great advice and encouragement above! The underlying message seems to be... YOU ARE NOT TRAPPED at age 17 into a life path that you are not happy about.</p>

<p>Everyone come to college with different strengths and weaknesses. Being a strong legit singer is not going to keep you out of a MT program. Many schools offer a BM degree as people have mentioned above... many schools that do not appreciate strong classical technique. The right program will appreciate what you already do well, and train you to expand your technique to handle the musical theatre singing style.</p>

<p>I teach at James Madison University in VA. We offer both a BA in Musical Theatre through the School of Theatre and Dance and a BM in Music Theatre through the School of Music. There is much crossover between the two programs of study, and the students take many classes together. Contact me if you would like additional info.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys so much again! I'm currently planning on applying to four schools for MT:</p>

<p>Oklahoma City
Baldwin-Wallace
Florida State
NYU-Steinhardt</p>

<p>Right now I'm waiting for responses on if NYU and OCU would allow me to audition and apply to both the Vocal Performance and Music Theater majors separately. I think this might increase my chances since I'm a really strong VP applicant, and those two schools allow for plenty of MT opportunities for the VP majors and vice versa. However, I still hope to get into the B.M. Music Theater programs because they all have (or are trying to establish) senior showcases.</p>

<p>Thanks again! I'm really hoping this all works out, and you guys have made me feel so much better!</p>

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<p>Those schools all look good, but from the experience of many on this board it may be wise to apply to more programs than that. Many applicants in MT apply to 7 or more schools to ensure acceptance to a BFA program. Every year there are many more qualified applicants than spots.</p>

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<p>I strongly agree -- you don't have any safety schools on that list.</p>

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<p>Kaitrin,</p>

<p>You will have no trouble doing a double major at OCU (VP and MT). My D is considering that option now although she is (as of now) only an MT major. It is done there for sure. Not sure about NYU as you may only apply to one school (MT is CAP21 and not Steinhart).</p>

<p>Anyway, I agree wth amwq above(at least in my limited expereince in this) and suggest that you broaden your list just a bit - unless you have other schools that you chose not to share. You should have at least one non audition backup. </p>

<p>With your strength in voice, I might suggest looking at Westminster Choir college as well. Lots of great voices there and a budding MT program. A few CC'ers are there now and have posted as well. </p>

<p>Good luck!
MikksMom</p>

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<p>Agree with needing more schools. Agree with needing BA back ups. Agree with looking at Westminster Choir College. </p>

<p>To clarify, you cannot apply to both Steinhardt School (BM) and to Tisch (where the BFA in MT program resides in the CAP21 studio) as you are only allowed to apply to one school within all of NYU.</p>