<p>For current MT students, it seems like a lot of the threads out there are about auditions.
So I just wanted to put my questions out there about your college’s BFA MT program. Please give me as full of an answer
as you can, the more detailed, the better…</p>
<p>-What is the relationship between the theatre students like?
-What is the relationship between the theatre students and faculty like?
-How much of the required currculum is Theatre/Music/Dance related? How much of other academics?
-Please discuss your favorite professor in the theatre program and how he or she teaches, what you like and don’t like about him or her, and what makes him or her unique?
-What is the average format of the courses in the program?(class size, one-on-one student attention, performance, written work, home work, etc.)
-What is the most important thing you learned about Acting in your time here?
-What is the most important thing you learned about SInging in your time here?
-What is the most important thing you learned about Dancing in your time here?
-What are your school’s theatre productions like?
-What are the three most encouraged characteristics of a Musical Theatre Actor in your school?
-What are the three most encouraged characteristics of a Human Being in your school?
-What is the one thing about your school’s MT program that makes it unique from any other?
-How many and what performing oppurtunities do you have at your school?
-Are there oppurtunities for studying abroad? If so, please give a recent example.
-Talk about your most recent Master class
-Any things you wish your program had?
-Any things you wish it didn’t have?
-Are you having fun?
-And lastly, describe how your time at your University affected yourself.</p>
<p>You can answer one or all of the questions if you’d like, I’m really just looking for answers in general.
I must thank you all in advance for all of your help and time taken to answer these questions, it really means a lot
to me.</p>
<p>Can any current students answer these questions? Ithaca is one of my top school and i really want to hear about the students opinion on the program.</p>
<p>Hey guys! I’m a current BFA MT major at IC and I will answer your questions! I’m glad you are considering Ithaca as one of your schools. It’s a really great place be and I love it here!!</p>
<p>-What is the relationship between the theatre students like? The relationship between students is beyond incredible. One thing that I think everyone in the department would agree on is how welcoming everyone is when you come here as a freshman. All the upperclassman are so wonderful and welcoming that its almost hard to believe. You become so much like a family so quickly its mind-blowing.
-What is the relationship between the theatre students and faculty like? Each professor here really cares about the individual performer and recognizes each students’ strengths and weaknesses. Since the classes are small they get to know you very quickly and really care about your growth and learning.
-How much of the required currculum is Theatre/Music/Dance related? How much of other academics? Your freshman year, the majority of the classes are theatre/music/dance based. You take acting based classes like scene study and voice and movement for the full year, a ballet and jazz class for the full year, keyboarding and a class called musical styles through the music school as well as a performance rep class and private voice lessons once a week. You also take an academic writing class which is your academic based class.
-Please discuss your favorite professor in the theatre program and how he or she teaches, what you like and don’t like about him or her, and what makes him or her unique? I couldn’t possibly choose. They are all so supportive and caring, but at the same time very serious about their craft and teaching us how to use our instruments properly.
-What is the average format of the courses in the program?(class size, one-on-one student attention, performance, written work, home work, etc.) Class sizes here are small since Ithaca takes a small number of students. Even though the freshman class is the largest in the school’s history, the classes are still small and everyone is on a name by name basis. One on one attention is something the professors here strive for and it is very very helpful as you can imagine. You perform here every day in one way or another and there are always opportunities for performance every where on campus, from student films at the Park School to Underground shows. You do a lot of written work in your academic writing class and you do get a lot of work but it is a good kind of work =) such as working on scenes with partners, etc.
-What is the most important thing you learned about Acting in your time here?
-What is the most important thing you learned about SInging in your time here?
-What is the most important thing you learned about Dancing in your time here?
These three questions I can’t possibly choose the answers for. I have learned so much here and everything has been so incredibly important. The department really stresses the individual, and while you are learning here, they remind you to keep your own creativity while instilling the teachings of your professors and directors.
-What are your school’s theatre productions like? Flawless. Hahaha, they really are amazing and the amount of work that goes into them is astounding. Ithaca puts on top notch shows with incredibly talented students that work so diligently to put on the best show they can.
-What are the three most encouraged characteristics of a Musical Theatre Actor in your school? In my opinion, creativity, determination, and discipline.
-What are the three most encouraged characteristics of a Human Being in your school? Once again in my opinion, honesty, individuality, and humility.
-What is the one thing about your school’s MT program that makes it unique from any other? You are able to get onstage your freshman year. A lot of programs make you wait until you are an upperclassman but here freshman get cast frequently. This semester, freshman were cast in roles in “Top Girls” and “Children of Eden” and “Eurydice” as well as a workshop directed by Playwrite Horizon’s Bob Moss called “Cashel Byron’s Profession”. I also think the relationships between students is very special. Everyone is friendly with everyone. Freshman with Seniors, Sophomore with Seniors, etc. Everyone is so kind and unique and friendly. There is a great vibe.
-How many and what performing oppurtunities do you have at your school? Many. Besides being cast in mainstage shows, you are able to audition for student films at the Park School, and shows put on by groups like IC Players and IC Triple Threat which aren’t in relation to the department. However, it is still highly encouraged to be a part of these shows because the more performances you do the more you grow and learn as a performer.
-Are there oppurtunities for studying abroad? If so, please give a recent example. Students can travel to England or Russia to study during the fall or spring semester of their junior year depending on whether you are acting or musical theatre.
-Talk about your most recent Master class.- Casting director Dave Clemmons recently came and talked to all theatre students who wished to attend. He talked about the point of view of a casting director: what they look for, what they don’t like to see from people, and how he decided to go from broadway actor to casting director. He was great and it was a very informative session.
-Any things you wish your program had? I think Ithaca is wonderful just as it is.
-Any things you wish it didn’t have? Nope!
-Are you having fun? ABSOLUTELY!
-And lastly, describe how your time at your University affected yourself. I have felt such a change in who I am as a performer and as a person. Something new happens everyday and when that something happens you learn so much no matter what it may be. I have made lifelong friendships no doubt and am having the time of my life. </p>
<p>I hope this helped and break legs with your future auditions!! They are all learning experiences so try to have as much fun as you can!</p>
<p>What a beautiful, generous testimonial, IthacagUrl. I have a question about the Acting BFA program as opposed to the MT program.</p>
<p>Can students in the Acting program get onstage their freshman year as well?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for responding. It was really nice to hear from somebody about the program. As an MT major, do you feel like you are getting enough acting training? I have heard in some programs that the voice teachers try to make your voice something its not, do you feel that way with Ithaca teachers?</p>
<p>hey guys! </p>
<p>NJTheatreMOM, acting majors can definitely be cast their freshman year, and just as MT majors can be cast in plays, acting BFAs can be cast in musicals. It all depends on what the directors are looking for. Freshman are also often cast as understudies in shows. For example, there is a freshman acting major understudying the role of Orpheus in “Eurydice” which goes up the first weekend in December. While we are on the subject I will mention a few things about auditions. Auditions for fall semester mainstage shows take place the day after you move in in the fall and you audition for all shows at once. You prepare the necessary materials they ask for and perform them in one audition. Callbacks are posted the next day.</p>
<p>wishadream, you totally get the same amount of acting training. Your freshman year you take the same classes with acting majors so everyone is getting the same training. Ithaca has a very acting based program which is really, really important. As far as the voice teacher question goes, I really don’t feel like my voice teacher is trying to change my voice. They try to help you learn how to sing the appropriate way and be more aware of how your body feels while you sing so you know when something is right and when something isn’t. Based on your audition and if they accept you, the theatre department makes the decision on what voice teacher you have. They are all such amazing teachers and so talented at what they do. </p>
<p>hope this helped!</p>
<p>That’s really interesting about the auditions for all the fall semester mainstage shows occurring the day after the students move in.</p>
<p>So at some time after you are accepted as a freshman BFA student, they send you info about what shows will be done, so you can prepare over the summer??</p>
<p>Once a student gets accepted, depending on when their letter comes, the shows will already be known. Over the summer the student will get a letter telling them what to prepare for auditions</p>
<p>Does Ithica’s MT program allow sophomore transfer students, or would they have to begin again as a freshman?</p>
<p>thanks IthacagUrL, and by the way, I’m SOLD, I wasthinking abou applying to Ithaca and now those feelings are just ten times stronger, thanks so much!</p>
<p>yanyuan, I’m not completely sure, but I think that you need to start with the freshman class if you are a sophomore MT transfer. I know someone who transfered into the BFA acting program who was a freshman at Ithaca last year and now she takes all of the freshman classes. The exact details of that I’m not too sure about though. </p>
<p>You’re welcome musictheatre00! I’m happy to help =)</p>