@toystorymom I don’t know if you have done this already, but you might want to print out some curricula for programs she’s interested in (or just programs in general) for comparison. I originally printed out a bunch with school names removed (I put a letter in the corner and had a key). I included a variety of curriculum types. My D was able to look without the bias of a big name or a school she was in love with. But this definitely helped her realize things that were very important to her including required core classes, flexibility. Even within BFAs or within BAs there can be varying numbers of required hours and different foci (something for everyone).
Also, my D’s schedule is crazy too (I think most MTers are that way) and we were able to find a ballet studio that has drop in “adult” classes. No commitment. She goes when she is free and pays at the door… They are even broadly levelled. You might see if there’s a studio that has a similar option. Just a thought for incorporating dance into a busy schedule.
It was suggested to try adult dance classes, my daughter does a drop in ballet and a drop in jazz class. When she can. It is not as good as a more structured year long class, but the lack of commitment and no recital works with her schedule.
Thanks to all for suggestions about adult dance classes–will definitely look into that! A drop-in option would be great.
MTSongbird–love the idea about printing out curricula without school names! Would be a great way to compare programs–even for me! When I look online, they all seem to blur together…
Did you hear back from @CoachC about “if my D is an alto, can she still sing “legit” style? I feel like I tend to hear about legit sopranos, but not altos?” If not, does anyone else know the answer to this question?
If you end up looking at BAs with musical theater opportunities in addition to BFA programs, you may want to look at Muhlenberg or Wagner.
I’m not CoachC, nor am I a voice teacher or singer. My D, when she went through the BFA in MT admissions process, was a mezzo and her forte was and still is the belt voice. She auditioned for college shortly after turning 16 and was working to develop her legit soprano, but didn’t feel confident enough with it to sing legit soprano in her college auditions. What happened at Penn State is that they vocalized her with scales to hear how high she could go, after she sang her songs. She got in. At CMU, they also vocalized her after hearing her songs, by asking her to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow in higher and then higher keys (she happened to play Dorothy the year before!). She got priority wait listed at CMU. When she didn’t get into the program at UMich, she was able to obtain feedback about her audition (this was just her second audition of the season) and the feedback was that they didn’t get to hear her legit soprano voice, and unlike some other schools, who seemed to care about that, they did not vocalize her. Overall, she had a successful college admissions outcome with very nice options. I think you should play to your strengths, but at the same time, try to show range. If legit soprano is not a strength, focus on what is a strength, but at the same time show range between the two songs.
I will add that once in college (in her case, NYU/Tisch), the first year they focused on the legit voice and by the end of freshman year, she could sing very high. That was what she needed to develop. The second year worked more on the belt voice and for kids who were weak at belting, this was a big growth for them.
Thanks, soozievt, for your insights and to Twelfthman for checking back in on this thread! I completely forgot to ask D’s voice teacher about this issue, so it’s a good reminder… Soozievt, really interesting to hear that your D was asked to do extra singing outside of her song selections. Range is something my D is working on with her voice teacher.
Twelfthman, I also appreciate the recommendations on Muhlenberg and Wagner for BA programs. Wagner is definitely on our radar, as D knows a student there who’s been very happy with the program. We’re less sure about Muhlenberg, as I’ve seen a lot of comments on this forum about the huge numbers of students in their theater program and how few performing opportunities there are. Not that we can’t take a look, but it’s lower down on our list at the moment…
Can anyone comment about U. of New Hampshire’s BA program? D and I had a great chat with the rep from UNH at a fall performing arts college fair but don’t see a lot about the program on CC. The program is close to home and relatively inexpensive, but we’re not sure of the quality of the musical theater program or difficulty of getting accepted. I’m hoping this might qualify as more of a “safety,” though we know that no auditioned program is really a true safety.
Thanks!
@toystorymom…one of my advisees chose to attend the BA in MT program at UNH this year and is a freshman there. She wanted a BA program and so it wasn’t a fall back. That said, she got into almost every school she applied to and had many options, but chose UNH. I would not consider it a safety these days since they have an audition, but I do think the odds are better than at many competitive BFA programs and so it would balance a list nicely for a student seeking BFA schools, but could not be considered a sure bet safety. My student loved everything about the program from her visits there. If you opt to visit, I likely could connect you with her. Muhenberg, by the way, was one of her many acceptances, as well as more selective colleges.
Thanks, soozievt–helpful to know! We’re planning to visit UNH at some point this spring, so I may get back in touch with you then to see if we can connect with your student.
