<p>My inquiry is two-fold. Though it is my junior year, I have made decisions to apply to colleges, including Boston Conservatory, Ithaca, and Carnegie Mellon Univerisity, with a major in musical theatre. My mother, however, wants me to have another major or at least a minor. I want my other focus of study, therefore, to be in journalism. But considering how intense a MT program is, especially at top colleges such as these, is it possible? I would also like to know if these colleges look for certain strengths in applicants, such as between dance, acting, and music, and how important tap dance and music theory is to auditions to the colleges above and others in the Northeast region, since my experience in these two fields are the least. Thank you!!</p>
<p>Just speaking from experience, being a musical theatre major requires a LOT of time, aside from class time. Especially at schools like the ones you listed, you'll need to spend hours a day practicing dance, memorizing a monologue or lines, and practicing for lessons and choir in a practice room. Also, if you're in a show, that can rehearse 5 or more days a week from around dinner time until maybe 11:00pm.</p>
<p>My days go from 9 or 10am and don't end until 10 or 11pm, with maybe 1 or 2 hour breaks and I'm at a pretty small 2 year college as a musical theatre major. I couldn't imagine how much more time you have to devote at BOCO for example. It is a conservatory after all.</p>
<p>Being a musical theatre major really does mean devoting yourself completely. You could do a minor, but you'd be sacrificing necessary time for MT and could indirectly be destroying your chances of reaching your potential as an actor/vocalist/dancer. It's tough, but I'd step back and ask yourself how much you need to study MT. If you truly have to, then you really need to devote yourself solely to it. Otherwise, perhaps a journalism major would be more appropriate.</p>
<p>In studying MT don't rule out schools which will give you a core of general education classes though, perhaps that would be a better compromise. BOCO is a great school, but a conservatory setting won't allow you for time to study another major or minor even. I believe CMU and Ithaca have more liberal arts in their curriculums, but you could certainly find other schools which have even more.</p>
<p>There are a lot of knowledgable people on this forum, I'm sure they could give you great examples of schools which will give you a well-rounded education so that perhaps you don't have to have an academic minor or double major.</p>
<p>Are there any colleges out there with a strong musical theatre program that will allow for at least a minor without cutting into valuable training time? Of course this isn't necessary for me, because I know that MT is what I want for myself, but my mother just really wants me to have what she calls a "backup plan."</p>
<p>nyu does...thats one of the reasons im looking there...northwestern (vocal performance to start, mt after freshman year by audition) probably does...considering how good northwestern is as a school...also michigan lets you minor im pretty sure</p>
<p>I was reading (for acting class) Mamet's "True and False" and saw an excerpt that made me think of the question you had asked. I think it hits home, but maybe it's something you and your mother could read together to spark a discussion:</p>
<p>"The best advice one can give an aspiring artist is "Have something to fall back on." The merit of the instruction is this: those who adopt it spare themselves the rigor of the artistic life.
I was once at a marriage ceremony where the parties swore "to try to be faithful, to try to be considerate..." That marriage was, of course, doomed. To say of it "I'll try" is to excuse oneself in advance. Those who respond to our requests with "I'll try" intend to deny us, and call on us to join in the hypocrisy- as if there were some merit in intending anything other than accomplishment.
Those with "something to fall back on" invariably fall back on it. They intended to all along. That is why they provided themselves with it. But those who no alternative see the world differently. The old story has the mother say to the sea captain, "Take special care of my son, he cannot swim," to which the captain responds, "Well, then, he'd better stay in the boat."
The most charming of theories holds that someone other than Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare's plays- that he was of too low a state, and of insufficient education. But where in the wide history of the world do we find art created by the excessively wealthy, powerful, or educated?
It is not folly to ascribe the oeuvre to the unlettered, but it certainly is so to ascribe it to the nobility, whose entire lives were, to torture the conceit, "something to fall back on." It is both comfortable and prudent to have a fall-back position; and those possessing the happy same cannot help but have their work considered, and possessed of the communitarian virtues than that of an outsider. Such prudent work would tend to shun conflict... well, you get my drift.
The other side of the coin is pride. One could say, "I am a fool, for I have not provided myself with an alternative"; one could also say, "I see nothing else worth my time," which is, I think, a rather strengthening attitude.
The cops say, "I'm on the corner." Young folks in the theatre might have it, "Molly can go home and John can go home, I am never going home." Bravo. And good luck.
Those of you with nothing to fall back on, you will find, ARE home."</p>
<p>I know that was long, but I thought you might find it interesting. Perhaps not. Regardless, food for thought though!</p>
<p>Honestly, I think what you want to do is a wonderful idea and infact, its my plan as well. I am planning on majoring in musical theatre in college and also minoring in journalism or marketing. Yes, some musical theatre conservatories make this very difficult but alot of them don't. I believe that not having a backup plan when pursuing such a competitive field as theatre is absolutely nuts. Nor do I feel that wanting to have a backup plan says anything about your desire or hunger to be a broadway star...it just says that you are smart. Intense musical theatre training is extremely important but to be able to learn another art forms such as writing, teaching or managing is a great idea on top of training to be a top notch performer. Not everyone will be a star. Those who dont make it will need to earn a living for themselves in another career. Its a fact. Please look heavily at schools such as NYU, Emerson, Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana and the University of Tulsa for the option to minor/double major...they all offer different options.</p>
<p>Instead of calling it a "backup" plan, you might call that second skill "what I'll do in between acting jobs"? I think it's only realistic to have a second skill area in your toolbox -</p>
<p>You've all given me things to think about as far as the double major is concerned. I also was curious about auditions...how important is every aspect of the audition (especially tap for me, since I've had very little of it)...e.g., is dance more important than acting, vice versa, or does it vary from school to school?</p>
<p>NOOCA Junior--I can tell by your question about the importance of the different aspects of the audition that you have not taken advantage of a huge resource available to you--reading the old threads on this forum. This question is answered over and over again on these threads. Start reading some of these threads and you'll be surprised at all the information you can gain. In fact, your question about double majoring and backup plans has all been addressed before. I'm sorry I can't point you to the specific threads. Happy reading!</p>
<p>If I may add, no matter how important it is at an audition at any specific school, the fact that you are a junior makes it possible to strengthen yourself in the deficent areas now before senior year. Try adding some tap classes this year, and then you will have one less thing to worry about next year. And ask for some help in music theory too. You can get some basics down that will help you feel more confident as you enter the auditions by putting in some work now. I wish my D had started that a year ago. She is weak in theory, and has no time now to work on it. If we are lucky we can get a few basics down between now and when she starts her auditions.</p>
<p>NOCCA Junior,
Where are you now?
Still in Louisianna?
Do you know Scarlett?
See posting pictures thread</p>
<p>NOCCA - I would not worry too much about tap. It is very rarely used in auditions. I don't know about your dance training but as you will read in this thread, ballet is the core of all dance movement. </p>
<p>As far as double majors, in my research that hasn't appeared to be possible with a BFA. If you're looking at a BA - it is. At several schools, including Otterbein it is possible to have an Arts Administration minor. It is difficult, but possible at Illinois Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Yes I do know Scarlett! OMG how is she, do you know? I'm currently at the Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland, FL along with four other MT majors and one dance major from NOCCA.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your wonderful insights...I've definitely something to think about for the courses I have to take over the last semesters I have in high school. And, I will consult other threads in this forum as well.</p>
<p>A few additional thoughts - Somewhere ages ago on the CC MT forum, someone gave the % of courses taken in the major. I believe if you found it, the conservatories and CMU and Ithaca would show a very high % required for MT and very few extra courses taken. I believe a minor at these schools would be difficult.</p>
<p>We have visited many schools. As I was reading, I thought of some ideas, then I found that many of them were listed by others. Here are my thoughts - </p>
<p>Michigan and NYU - possible but probably hard to do.</p>
<p>Texas Christian University - non-audition BFA with emphasis in MT and also a great school of communications - I think this is your best bet.</p>
<p>Northwestern - could go the theatre route and also try for the MT certificate audition after a year (same as with VP beginning). They have a great reputation in journalism, I believe. This one is BA and probably more flexible, but you must have outstanding academic qualifications to be accepted.</p>
<p>Indiana - currently only theatre BA, but next year adding BFA in MT. They were very willing to work with people and almost encourage a minor or double major.</p>
<p>Tulsa - the MT major is very small, but they also seem to encourage people to have a minor.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm really going to try hard to find that post...it could give me huge insight on the MT demands of each program...thanks!!</p>
<p>It was Dancersmom - her D is a sophomore in MT at Florida State. </p>
<p>Carnegie-Mellon - 95%
Webster - 90%
Boston Conservatory - 87%
Ithaca - 85%
Roosevelt - 81%
U. Hartford (the Hartt School) - 74 - 78%
Syracuse - 70 - 78%
U. Michigan - 76%
Point Park - 75%
CCM - 74%
U. Arts - 73%
Florida State - 71 - 73%
Otterbein - 71%
Wright State - 70%
Kent State - 69%
U. Akron - 68%
Penn State - 65%</p>
<p>It's too bad that Baldwin Wallace, OCU, OU, Arizona, Emerson, NYU, Fullerton, Elon, etc. are not on the list. Did these statistics ever come up for these schools, does anyone remember?</p>
<p>mtmommy, here's a link to NYU's minimum requirements in each area:</p>
<p>Keep in mind that these are minimums and that many kids at Tisch double major in the College of Arts and Science.</p>
<p>I think BW would have a high percentage since they are a conservatory. </p>
<p>Two more mentioned above that I know allow minors and I didn't mention before - Point Park and Elon.</p>