Elon?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I’d never heard about Elon, until today.
Anyone want to tell me the specifics?
-Where, Location
-Size, how much, student population
-Pros and cons of MT program
-What they application is like
-What the audition is like/needed
-The first year curriculum
-When can students start preforming
-Do they have belt courses, do they let you belt
-Private voice lessons, does everyone have them
-What is the dance progam like
-What do the auditioners need to bring/do/ect</p>

<p>Thank you:)</p>

2

<p>Welcome to the forum, where you will find a wealth of information. I'll try to answer a few of your basic questions, but you should also read on the web site elon.edu, the performing arts page. Also, please read the thread that I started in my son's junior year in HS called "Elon University" which has a good discussion about the MT program and goes for many pages. It's funny for me to read the beginning of that thread now, because at the time I didn't want to admit publicly that it was my very favorite of all the schools I visited with my son (but it was!). We wanted to be cautious about having favorites until after auditions and acceptances came in.</p>

<p>Elon is about in the upper middle section of NC on I-40, next to Burlington, 20 miles east of Greensboro, 45 miles west of the Raleigh Durham airport.</p>

<p>Student population is either 4600 or 4800, something like that. The MT program seems to accept between 16 and 20 a year. </p>

<p>Read the threads - many pros, and I can't think of any cons.</p>

<p>Read Elon's web site for application and audition information. The audition has changed this year and a dance portion has been added.</p>

<p>First year is what you would expect - a mix of classes in all MT areas plus some required liberal arts courses. One can get out of the gen ed course requirements with AP credits. </p>

<p>My son is in the musical that is running the next 2 weeks, and he is a freshman. All students audition for all plays and all musicals.</p>

<p>Everyone has private voice, and I think the voice lessons are a mixture of classical and MT type of songs, so I assume that people learn to belt correctly. I have a son, and I've heard that this term is more applicable to girls.</p>

<p>Dance - can't say enough good things about all their dance teachers and the choreography that I've seen them create.</p>

<p>Audition info is very clear on the web site. Kimberly Rippy is also very helpful in the performing arts office.</p>

<p>If you have specific questions, feel free to send me an e-mail (from the drop down menu on my screen name).</p>

3

<p>I thought of a few more things to share with you.</p>

<p>As much as we liked Elon from visits, meeting faculty, and seeing shows, more importantly it has exceeded our expectations in the less than 2 months that my son has been there. The performing arts faculty is just amazing in every area. I'm so impressed with the faculty they have attracted to that school. I do not think there is a weak link - acting is exceptional, dance is impressive, voice teachers and Cathy McNeela - all are wonderful. The academic classes are also great.</p>

<p>The MT students are a close group and all of them are very friendly. The most impressive thing is that all students seem to be happy about everything. I've not heard any complaints from anyone we've been in contact with. They are also a talented bunch! They have parties together on many weekends. It reminds me of a co-ed Greek organization.</p>

<p>You asked about belting. I'm not a singer, but I think the girls were definitely belting in songs they sang at Collage recently. They have so many good singers, it would just blow you away. (please understand that this belting term is something I don't know much about)</p>

<p>The acting classes are mixed among the acting BFA and MT BFA students, so there are several sections of Acting I. This allows the MT students to get to know and work with the acting students as well. </p>

<p>Dance is offered and required in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. The MT students seem to be able to take as many classes as will fit in their schedules. All the freshmen also take a Dance for the Musical Stage class. You can read about all the dance and other faculty members on the web site, and you will be impressed!</p>

<p>Elon is becoming much harder to get into because more students are auditioning each year. They added the dance audition this year. I don't know how that will affect admission, but I assume all areas are counted toward acceptance. I believe that students in the past have entered with varying degrees of dance training. They have great dance classes, though, and they seem to teach all students what they need to know in dance before graduation.</p>

<p>There are many performance opportunities. They have main stage productions, as listed on the web site, and they have Collage and Grand Night, musical reviews in which all MT students participate (fall and spring). The seniors have projects and produce plays and musicals, so younger students often have the opportunity to be in these shows, as well.</p>

<p>Their large musical productions that we got to see the past two falls have just been great. They go all out with sets, costumes, music, choreography, lighting, and of course great acting and singing. I hope those of you considering Elon will get to see a show.</p>

<p>Read threads on Elon and on all the schools. It will help you get a good overview of the way people feel.</p>