Hi. I’m a senior in high school, male; I am a dedicated guitarist and have been playing in bands since I was 8. I also am very into music songwriting and composition. Additionally, I am very into musical theater and acting and have been doing it for such a long time, and recently gained quite the interest in filmmaking. I love doing all of these. So much. If I had to prioritize them, I wouldn’t be able to do without guitar, songwriting and musical theater. I had a bad experience at a boarding school for theater in which I was tied down to just theater and it was then that I realized I needed a balance. I have yet to find a school in which I can take classes in rock guitar and songwriting and then audition and perform in musicals. Is there a place for me? Are there schools in which I am able to do this?
Playing guitar is a huge asset in MT now. A LOT of shows are looking for people who can play and sing. It cuts down on production costs. That said, I don’t know which schools are best at integrating instrumental and mt training. I know Columbia College Chicago offers both. I believe some of the British schools require you to play an instrument.
What are your stats (w/uw GPA, test scores)?
What’s your parents’ budget and EFC?
Where do you live?
Hi there. Have you read the Double Degree Dilemma essay that is posted near the top of the music forum? I think it would benefit you.
I would say, based on your experience at the theater boarding school, that you should avoid a conservatory/school of music/school of drama or musical theater and a specialized degree like a BM in general. this includes programs that are freestanding conservatories as well as those that are located on college or university campuses.
One exception might be the Boston Conservatory/Berklee combination. They merged recently and between the two schools, all of your interests would be served. BOCO has musical theater and music, Berklee has songwriting and guitar, but filmmaking would be harder to access.
You might also like a liberal arts environment where you can pursue several things at once, though not in the intense way that you would in a BM of MFA type program. Some universities might fit the bill as well.
Think about how you are pursuing your interests now. Can you continue in that way, and still grow? You also have the option of majoring in anything you like, including one of the things you mentioned, and still take lessons, perform in extracurriculars or in gigs outside of school, and develop. And work on your own.
Or do a double major, major/minor or double degree.
Think about your goals. Think about what you love. Think about how to support what you love, either by doing it or by doing something else for work to support it. At the undergrad level you really can still do what you love Just make sure to look at environments that value interdisciplinary and/or independent work and don’t require you to specialize.
We can probably suggest specific schools if you give more information.
You might want to check out the Royal Conservatorie of Scotland. They are known for producing quadruple threats: singing, acting, dancing, and instrumentalists. I believe ALL of their students must play (or will quickly learn to play) an instrument and it’s integrated into their curriculum. They also have filmmaking there. Just a thought if you are willing to look outside the U.S.
The suggestion of Boston Conservatory / Berklee is a good one. I also believe that Emerson students can take classes at Berklee and Emerson has a BFA in MT.
You also could go to a BA school that has strong theater and strong music and pursue all of your interests,.
I’ll just add that you can be in a musical theater program and still go on to be a songwriter. My D got a BFA at NYU/Tisch. She does have a career in MT, but she also has a career as a singer/songwriter (and is a musician) and honestly, several of her Tisch Drama/MT peers are also professional singer/songwriters.