<p>I second and third that one Eva!</p>
<p>forevaeva - We've seen many boys who have had difficulty getting into MT programs, so I'm not sure if being male is necessarily going to get someone into a program. Perhaps there is a little bit less competition.</p>
<p>I've posted before, but there is no such thing as an acting coach around here. My son participated in quite a bit of local theatre, including a very good summer theatre academy at our local children's theatre for several summers. He separately sang in choirs for many years and started voice lessons once his voice had changed (when his piano teacher assessed that he was ready). Once he started getting seriously into MT in HS, he started taking dance classes. He was later than many in dance training, but he also did some local summer intensive dance training to try to catch up. He was fortunate enough to go to one summer camp, OCU's, the summer before senior year.</p>
<p>I think it is possible to have successful auditions without an acting coach. On the other hand, I think private voice lessons are a MUST to be competitive for MT.</p>
<p>It's great to see so much input on this question! I find the subject fascinating, probably because my daughter was NOT auditioning this year (and is busily completing freshman year in her BFA MT program, ha ha). THIS year I've had the luxury of sitting back, reading all the stories of the travels and travails of auditioning with interest, and occasionally giving some advice if someone without more knowledge and experience hadn't already answered the particular question!
Is there anyone out there who had a child auditioning this year and has also gone through the process a few years ago with an older sibling? Curious as to how the process (and even preparation for the process) has changed/not changed in the last 2 or 3 years.
I must have too much time on my hands! :)</p>
<p>Hi Prismacolor,
Yes, my son and I wrote those articles in the newspaper. My editor thought it would make an interesting story after I kept asking him for time off to go to auditions, especially since there are plenty of kids around here who love theater but have little idea how crazy this process is.
Where do you live?
I guess what I'm getting from this threat is that you need some kind of combination of training and experience to get into a BFA program, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Look at the successful actors and actresses - they don't all come from wealthy families. Each family has to come up with their own method to make it work.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I didn't mean my post to sound that way. I wasn't really commenting on the audition process for males. I was moreso trying to point out that it's a different situation for girls because there is MUCH more competition. So I think that the issue of expensive coaching can't be viewed as a one size fits all kind of deal.</p>
<p>This is absolutely true -- my daughter is in the BFA MT program at Syracuse. She has been told that to be accepted into the program, a girl must have a strong dance background and ability. Boys -- not so much. It's not fair, but unfortunately a fact of life.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about standards, but at every audition we went to there were three times as many girls and boys.</p>
<p>Different standards for girls vs. boys? </p>
<p>Unfortunately it is also a fact of the business... I don't think that anyone has doen a scientific study... but there are probably 4 women for every man trying to make it MT professionally, and many musicals have more roles for men than women. This does not mean that it is not highly competitive for men... there are more people who want to do this for a living that can support themselves full-time at it, regardless of gender. :(</p>
<p>Undoubtedly there are a lot more girls than guys, but there are still limited numbers of slots for guys and more guys than slots. Even if it there were twice as many girls as guys wouldn't you still be talking 1 in 5 acceptance for guys vs 1 in 10 for girls, for example?</p>
<p>As to the boys and dance. I wonder if that is not so much a function of the need for boys as it is that often they just haven't had as much dance training in the first place? Dance is often a routine extracurricular for girls just like sports for guys. Piano and voice might crossover more. Therefore guys might not start dance UNTIL they decide they want MT, whereas girls may have already been dancing for years. I know that was the case with my S. Maybe others could chime in on that.</p>
<p>WMonMTDad - I think you're absolutely correct -- fewer guys auditioning, with fewer of them having as extensive a dance background means that the bar may be lowered a bit for acceptance in that one area. That just means that they push them harder once they're in :)</p>
<p>Whether or not an audition coach is necessary depends so much on what the student's training has been -- but, a short term audition coach isn't going to make up for lack of basic vocal, dance, or acting technique. For students who decide they want to try to pursue this, if they are not already in training, they should start now! Better that they have a couple less shows on their resume, and get some solid lessons.</p>
<p>Hi again Pennmom,</p>
<p>We live in a PA county that is full of and famous for smokehouse delicacies. We are probably about 5 miles apart by way the crow flies, as is said in the heart of Dutch country. </p>
<p>I have lots of thoughts about things mentioned on this thread and another regarding making college decisions. I will post soon. We have been getting quite an education in the last few years with my daughter's aspiration.</p>
<p>Maybe the controversial tone of this thread has diminished somewhat and I can redirect it a little. Where should we look for a seasoned musical theater audition coach? On the advice of another poster I did email Coach C but have yet to get a reply. Living in California, I am sure there are options in LA or SF but if anyone has specific recommendations that would simplify the search process.</p>