<p>Sometimes, if you are lucky and live near a place that has a major conservatory or good BFA school, you might find both "services" in one person. We were very lucky to be able to do just that, but we have a conservatory 15 minutes from our front door!</p>
<p>There are many qualified voice coaches right here on this board.</p>
<p>hey,
i wanted to thank everyone so much for all their helpful suggestions, i'm a lurker who hasn't posted much, but i do have a question. I know that "Little Women" is overdone for girls, but would you consider "take a chance on me" to be overdone as well?</p>
<p>is music by Cole Porter okay for audition? I really like "The Heaven Hop" from Anything Goes and it's up beat , but it really doesn't show off range. any thought?</p>
<p>"Heaven Hop" is actually a pretty high belt song (esp. the climbing "heaven, i'm gonna take you to heaven....), so it shows off a pretty good range. What it doesn't show is much of an acting range, especially as it's traditionally done - as a character production number. But Cole Porter songs in general are a great idea! :)</p>
<p>thank you so much!</p>
<p>also, are songs from Camelot on the "do not use" list? I know it's a pretty old show, but it's touring right now...</p>
<p>CoachC, I am glad to hear Cole Porter is a good choice since according to D's voice teacher she sings CP better than any young singer she has worked with.
D has also decided she want to work songs in a similar range/style as Audra McDonald (yes this is amibitious but why not work for the best). D says the range A. McDonald sings is in very comfortable for her (and since D is AA she can do similar parts). A. McDonald does not belt (that we have heard) but has a strong, low head voice. Would it be bad for a still fairly young singer to NOT develop a belt but to work her lower as well as upper range in head voice?
I have seen discussed, on hear, that girls without a belt are too limited.</p>
<p>I have heard that a "classic" style in Musical Theatre is coming back. Singers with beautiful voices (ie Audra) are gaining more favor than those with a more Pop sound (ie Idina), but it is always shifting. If your D loves the style of Audra and has a fit voice for more classical musical theatre composers, I'd stay stick with a more classical training. At least that's perhaps the best guarentee she won't damage her voice early or ever.</p>
<p>But, I'd love to hear what others say about this.</p>
<p>I agree with Alfieism that legit training is "safer" for young voices. It can be much easier to teach a legit singer to belt, than a belter to go legit. However, with the right teacher, belting should be safe enough. </p>
<p>That said, I think anyone having Audra as a vocal model would definitely be on a good path :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the response and just to be clear in case anyone thinks I making talent claims. I am not comparing my D's vocal ability, lovely as that might be, D's primary talent is not as a singer. But with her current voice teacher she has learned to find a new comfort level in her singing, so she can really find songs and singers that fit with that, rather than just the most popular thing going. D of course is still happy to "sing along" with Heather Headley in Aida, but is making different choices for lessons and auditions.</p>
<p>I have just a general question about a song. I know Sondheim is discouraged because of the maturity of the roles, but what about "Johanna?" Is it overdone?</p>
<p>This is another one of those songs that triggers fear in the hearts of many accompanists! If you are taking your own accompanist and can do a great job on the song, then go for it, if not, you might want to keep looking for another piece. That being said, I am not one of those who really believes in holding hard and fast to the "do not sing" lists, which are arbitrary, UNLESS it is stated otherwise on the college's site or printed information you have from them. I'd much rather hear someone doing a great job on ANY song, than hear them doing a piece badly. It is your time to shine and if you and your teacher are pleased with your rendition of "Johanna" then you are good to go (by the way, if you need to use the school's accompanist and have a question, call the school and ask- talk directly to someone in the Music/MT school though and not just in the general Admissions Dept. Many colleges are now asking that you submit your music a week in advance, so maybe they are really trying to find the best person to play each piece.
Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice. I wouldn't even ask if is wasn't such a great song for my son to sing. That was a good suggestion to call ahead. I wouldn't have thought of that.</p>
<p>i'm sorry if this has already been asked, but is anything from Sunset Blvd. a no no?</p>
<p>I don't recall Sunset Blvd. ever being an issue -- just make sure the song is for an age-appropriate character. If you're a young girl, you don't want to be attempting Norma Desmond!</p>
<p>Is "God Help the Outcasts" another NO song? I know it is from the movie, but it is a great song for my child.</p>
<p>I love that song -- however, I would check the specific schools where you are applying.. Some are very strict about the Broadway requirement, and some are more flexible. And, I've never heard that song mentioned as being overdone.</p>
<p>Is Beethoven Day from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown a no? I'm looking at doing that for my upbeat and How Glory Goes from Floyd Collins for my ballad</p>
<p>I'm not aware of any problems with either of those songs. Keep in mind, however, that some schools require a pre-1960's era song, and these are both modern era. You should also have several back-up songs in each category, in case you are requested for additional material, or in case other singers have chosen the same selections. It never hurts to be OVER-prepared!</p>