<p>I have a daughter who is currently a junior in high school - hoping to audition for music theatre programs in the fall. She has spent extensive time over the years training and preparing. During the year she dances 6 days a week, takes 2 voice lessons a week and works with an acting coach once a week. She's attended summer programs at Interlochen, MPulse, OCU, Take it From the Top, Artsbridge and professional ballet intensives - all exceptional training. We are trying to make final decisions for this summer. She has a few shows she's working on. I'm not sure - should she attend another workshop this summer (strictly audition prep based, not working on a performance) or would the money be better spent working with a coach? If a coach - how much do coaching services run? Who would you recommend?? So many decisions, and it feels like so much is riding on it!!</p>
<p>If you decide on using a coach, try out Dave Clemmons… love him!!! I could give you his info if you would like. At our studio, we usually leave the summer between the Jr & Sr year for completely focusing on the package especially if a student has been focused on summer programs in the past (and you seem to have that area covered!) </p>
<p>From experience, I am glad that we took the summer (or most of it) to get her package ready as the pre-screens are due early (and you want them in as early as you can get them) and it is wonderful if you can get them done by September. I would also say from a money perspective, be prepared to spend a TON on applications (budget $50-$100 per school for both the academic application and the audition application). We didn’t think about that cost and it was a HUGE cost by the end of the process. </p>
<p>So excited for you and your daughter!!! I am glad we are almost at the end of ours!</p>
<p>I would love to know more about Dave…could you send me his info please??</p>
<p>I think all those camps are great. Sounds like she has had wonderful opportunities and great training.<br>
Our D went to OCU after freshman year in HS and mPulse after sophomore year. In the Spring of her junior hear we started working with a coach. Then the summer before her senior year she spent working on college applications and really preparing her audition material with her coach, Mary Anna Dennard. I think it helped our D fel very prepared and confident for audition season amd was the beat way to utilize har time. Her coach had lots of master class opportunities during that time, although we were only able to participate in one due to where we live. If you choose to work with a coach they may provide opportunities for mock auditions and master classes which are great opportunities to try out your audition material. I do think because your D has already had such great training, your time and money will be best spent preparing specifically for college auditions.</p>
<p>I’d be remiss if I didn’t chime in and tell you to also check out Ellen Lettrich and MTCA. We have been so pleased with the whole team at MTCA - and we like the fact that it’s a team, and not just one person. Obviously everyone has to select a coach based upon their own needs - but I unquestionably recommend MTCA to anyone seeking solid college audition coaching. We started coaching with MTCA in January of D’s junior year. It does sound as if your daughter has the summer program thing covered. The more you can get done this summer in terms of prescreens/headshots/essays/drafting the resume - the better - the earlier you apply and submit prescreens - the easier it is to create your audition schedule, because your first choice dates aren’t taken! The Common App Essay prompts come out near the beginning of the summer - so it’s good to start deciding which prompt and drafting the essay early. Stay in touch with your D’s English teacher over the summer for essay editing help. </p>
<p>Since she already has the summer program experience, I would spend the summer working with a coach and getting ready to apply. Once August hits you can get a lot of the paperwork done and even start on your pre-screens. As kategrizz says, if your apps are in as early as possible you do have more choices for audition times and it is easier to plan your auditions. My D spent the summer preparing and working with her acting teacher. Our apps were finished by Sept 15, and I had my pick of times. I didn’t know it until we got there for the audition, but my D was actually the first student registered for an audition time slot at Boston University! They remembered her name and mentioned it when we were there. It may seem like everyone here on CC has their act together and is getting things done quickly, but there are a lot of other people who aren’t on here and they are not nearly as organized as we are! 
Spending your summer preparing also allows for a smoother senior year and smoother audition travel season too. It’s really, really helpful. </p>
<p>Use a coach, make a spreadsheet & keep it updated. It kept me sane (or as sane as I could be during the insanity of audition year!). Research schools early, be sure you have a safety that your child would actually be happy attending. A coach will help you get everything organized and ready. Use summer to prepare essays & ask for recs early from academic teachers. We were very surprised that the majority of schools wanted academic teacher recs, not performing (there is another thread where this is discussed, but I don’t remember which one). </p>
<p>Amen to all of the above. You covered the summer prep things, now get a coach. We are Supremely please with Mary Anna Dennard. My D is also a junior and has been working with Moo (her nickname) since early this Spring. She has been a lifesaver! Check out her website <a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■”>www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■</a> Use summer to create prescreens, draft essays, etc… Many Anna has her own Moonifieds in November so you can get a jump on audition season and not have to see some many schools at Unifieds in Jan-Feb. Maybe even get some early acceptances?!?</p>
<p>And, my daughter and I second the support for MTCA at website mtcollegeauditions.com We used them 3 years ago and still see her coaches annually, and they have continued to provide support for her while she’s at school in NYC. We live on the west coast and successfully skyped for all coaching, material picking and voice lessons at extremely reasonable cost. They also provided prescreen and musical accompaniment assistance. Well worth the big scholarship she got at NYU!</p>
<p>Can you work with MTCA long distance? We are in Seattle!</p>
<p>DUH!! You just said that!! Sorry, its early here.</p>
<p>Many coaches can work long distance now via Skype at fees similar to what we would have paid a local instructor. There are a number of great coaches out there. the most popular on CC are Mary Anna Dennard (Moo), MTCA and Dave Clemmons. check them all out. Mary Anna Dennard lives thousands of miles from us but was able to coach D on monologues and all things to do with auditions via Skype . She also connected us to a voice coach in NYC who our D worked with also via Skype. He was amazing and fabulous at picking out great audition material. Our D still is in contact with both and they continue to help her pursue her dream. Moo also goes to Unifieds. It was nice she was there on-site to explain the process, show where things would take place, be there to discuss how things went after the auditions, etc. one other thing that was great was Moo Crew has their own private message board where the kids could talk to each other. It seemed our D knew someone just about everywhere she auditioned. They became a close group and would share the good, bad and ugly about their audition experiences with one another. Very nice if you are from somewhere that nobody understands the process and stress of applying to MT programs. Our D met life-long friends through Moo Crew. And even though they’re now at many different schools, they still stay in touch. Great networking. Hopefully they’ll all work together some day! All this to say great training is available no matter where you live. Be sure to investigate all your options!</p>
<p>Thanks for all this information. My D has an amazing vocal coach so we are really looking for help with the college process, picking material and monologues!! Moo crew sounds very tempting and we contacted MTCA as well. </p>
<p>@evilqueen - that’s EXACTLY the position we were in when we got on board with MTCA - and they were great about customizing the coaching to just what we needed! She continued with her fabulous vocal coach, but got the support she needed picking material and coaching monologues! (Oh - and MTCA comes to Chicago Unifieds as well, and has a private FB board for kids, and one just for parents!) Sorry - can’t help it - I’m a big fan. I didn’t feel that it was overly expensive, and I feel like it was worth every dime I spent with them! Check them all out and - just like college - figure out which one “fits” you the best - and best of luck to you in your journey!</p>
<p>@kategrizz- MTCA already responded to our informational request and their prices seems totally reasonable. We are doing the initial consultation for sure and I already have a great feeling about them. YAH!!!</p>
<p>Just FYI, our D had a wonderful voice teacher at home also. The vocal coach Moo suggeste, we consulted with only a few times while preparing for auditions, but he has been worth his weight in gold. he is incredible with song selection, audition cuts, etc… It is a totally different beast from teaching vocal technique. My daughter continues to consult with him if she has a need. Make sure whoever helps with preparing your vocal auditions truly understands college auditions and what music is appropriate for auditions and for your particular student.</p>
<p>I agree with vvnstar. My daughter also continued with her voice teacher for technique, but she also used a song coach and monologue coach specializing in college auditions. We used MTCA and are very happy with our choice.</p>
<p>What you are all saying about staying with current coach for technique and working with MTCA for everything else makes complete sense and I expect we will do the same. My D is apprehensive about the Skype coaching as we have never done that before. Did anyone find that to be an issue in any way?</p>
<p>@evilqueen - we did all coaching via Skype - and it worked out wonderfully. D did have a chance at Chicago Unifieds for one in-person coaching - which was great - but she felt great about the skype sessions as well. (We do not live close to NYC at all - so Skype was our only option). It also made it easier to fit coaching into her crazy/busy schedule - because we never had to plan for “travel time”.</p>
<p>My daughter did the Skype coaching for both monologues and songs and had no problems with it. I think the screen froze a few times, but other than that, there were no issues. If you do your initial consultation via Skype, you can see if it will work for you.</p>