<p>Basically, a lot of things were going on in my life and I was not really able to focus all of my attention into college searches, applying to colleges, etc. I was very overwhelmed. So I have missed the actual deadlines to apply to virtually any school with a voice program lol. Do you think it would hurt my chances that I am (I have no other option) taking a gap year instead of going straight off to college? On my time off Ill be doing things like getting my license, getting a job, hiring a vocal coach to prepare for auditions and such. So I mean its not like I would be doing absolutely nothing. I think getting a vocal coach during my gap year would be really beneficial. Another thing, me and my family dont really have the finances to do traveling which I notice a lot of people do if their taking a gap year. Do you think that my plan of action is a good one? What could I do differently? Also, does the fact that I am a bass baritone singer (from my understanding its not an extremely common vocal type) help my chances of getting into a good school with a voice program? I am open to all advice.</p>
<p>A gap year should not hurt your chances, especially with voice, and more especially with a male voice, since voices take so long to mature (and male voice even longer). If anything, it should enhance your chances at music schools.</p>
<p>I am a bit concerned: it sounds like you have not yet hired a vocal coach. Your applications for better schools are due in about 2.5 months and many people in your position have already finished (or are in the midst of ) their recordings for prescreening. </p>
<p>If you do not already have an excellent vocal instructor, you need to get on the phone today to start making arrangements. Ideally you would have gotten a good instructor back in January when you realized you had missed the application deadlines and have worked with them for several months so that they could see where your voice was going and help you choose appropriate repertoire for prescreens and auditions. </p>
<p>Even if you aren’t planning on applying to the sorts of schools that require prescreens, you should already be in regular lessons–it takes time to get audition repertoire into top shape and vocal technique/production can’t be reworked in a few months.</p>
<p>Admission to music schools for male vocalists is usually somewhat less competitive than for sopranos, so yes, being a bass-baritone is a good thing. </p>
<p>Also, don’t be concerned about the lack of travelling in your gap year–music schools will not care at all about that. At most music schools, the calibre of your audition is the main determinant of admission.</p>
<p>What deadlines have you missed? Prescreens are due October 1, November 1, and/or December 1. Lots of schools do not require prescreen. Where do you live and what kind of school do you aspire to attend?</p>
<p>Assuming that the OP meant that the deadlines missed were last fall, and they are now on a gap year…</p>
<p>We know a number of students who took a stay-at-home gap year. They usually focused on their music at a level not possible during high school, sometimes took a class or two at a local college (be careful about this because too many credits can end up backfiring and making you be considered as a transfer rather than a first time student), worked, volunteered in the community etc. Only know one person, not a musician, who did the whole international travel thing.</p>
<p>I don’t think it took anyone from only being competitive for Podunk Community College to being courted by Curtis or Juilliard, but in all cases, it seemed to help. And this time around, you [should] know when the deadlines are coming up, so you have plenty of time to prepare your applications/auditions.</p>
<p>Gap years are not uncommon in music, I have known a number of kids who have done it to tighten up their playing to bring their audition rep up to snuff for top level schools. I don’t think it works against students, any more then kids taking a gap year with academics aren’t generally hurt (and may be helped, if they spend the year doing interesting things).</p>
<p>What you (the OP) are not clear about is where you are with music. Have you been studying with a private teacher all along, or decided when high school was ending that you wanted to try music? Unless voice is different then instrumental music getting into an auditioned music program is not generally based on someone who is a diamond in the rough showing potential, the kids auditioning and getting in have probably been studying with a teacher for a number of years privately, and have already worked to a certain level (voice is different then instrumental music in that the level may be different, because voice has limitations due to maturation of the student physically, plus you can’t practice voice as much as with an instrument…). What kind of teaching have you had? How long have you been doing it? And what did your teacher think about your potential and so forth…</p>
<p>These are real questions, another posted alluded to the fact that you won’t be able, given the short time until pre screens are needed, to take your level from okay to where it will meet auditioned music programs of a moderate level, let alone a top one. The real answer to a question about what to do depends on where you are in terms of level; maybe (and I say maybe) you are already up there, have had a great teacher. etc, and just need some pointers to be able to nail the audition (though even that might be a big thing given the time we are talking about). If by hiring a vocal coach you mean starting working with a teacher for the first time then a gap year is not going to do much (especially if you are talking applying for next year!). It could be you are already at a good level and just need some polishing, which might work (again, not that familiar with voice).</p>
<p>The reason I ask these things is that from time to time there are posts on this board from someone who has grown fascinated with music, suddenly discovers they want to try getting into a music school and so forth, and don’t really understand that with music (I am talking performance here) you don’t just try it, like you can do with academic majors, music instruction at the college level in performance assumes the person already has studied and worked to a certain level and achieved a certain level of proficiency. I have heard stories of ‘diamonds in the rough’ and so forth but quite honestly that cannot be counted on in admissions, even ‘moderately well known programs’ are tough admits, not to mention the top schools…I know it sounds harsh and I would be the last person to stomp on someone’s dreams, but reality is a factor, too…</p>
<p>There are a number of other questions, too. What type of music are you pursuing? When you state a good school with a voice program, are you looking for a good state school or LAC with a music program or are you looking for a place with a good performance major or conservatory? Sounds like nitpicking, but but the second is most likely to require the pre-screening DVD that is due this fall. The first is more likely to be no-audition based or at least no pre-screen required. Your other stats are more important in the first case, too. Also by coach, do you mean someone to take your audition and fine tune it which is different from your voice teacher? </p>
<p>As to the gap year, agree with the above posters, if you are not already almost there it does no good to start a coach now unless it is just to fine tune. Even though voice does accept those with less polish and more promise than instrumentalists, a few years of training are still needed.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice and suggestions everyone. I am actually planning on going to a school that will teach contemporary voice. I was also wondering, The voice teacher that I contacted teaches speech level singing (I found her on the certified list from the website) do you think that speech level singing is a good foundation for contemporary singing? Also, I believe that I already sound pretty decent as a singer but its just that I’ve never had professional and/or private vocal instruction in my years of singing when I was younger. Lets say an audition for one of my chosen schools is in around 6 months or so, would the speech level singing have enough time to work out a significant difference in my voice? Thank you for all of the help in advance.</p>
<p>What semester are you trying to start? If you plan to start next fall, then you should be applying now for fall/winter auditions. If you plan to start in January, 2012, then applications for some schools may be closed (Berklee) but open for other schools (Loyola, UArts, New School). Whatever private instructor you chose, make sure it’s someone that has experience in placing students like you into schools that are within your capability. Good luck!</p>