MT program with classical minor, vice versa?

[ruthieruthru]

<p>Hi everyone! I posted here a bit ago to get my foot in the door and then kind of stopped posting but kept lurking. I'm back for the most part, though!</p>

<p>A debrief: I'm a freshman in a state university BMus VP program (hopefully! I have to pass my juries first). I want to transfer into a program with an MT focus or even just an MT option, because I'm not satisfied here - it was the only place I applied after a tumultuous high school experience. Initially, I was looking at BFA MT programs, but now that I'm in a music program I think I'd be better suited to a BMus MT program with more theory/history/piano, etc. I love music theatre but I want to keep my options open for graduate school in Opera Performance, and most BMus VP programs do not have a dance or acting element. </p>

<p>So, I was wondering if there are any schools with BMus MT programs that have the option for a classical minor, or vice versa, or even a combined program. </p>

<p>I know that Rider University's Westminster Choir College has a VP program with the option for an MT minor, but due to the circumstances there (it's on both campuses) I don't know if it'd be the best fit for me. Also, since they are switching their BM to a BFA, I'm not sure if it'd be the best option for me to apply to the BFA. I'm keeping my options open, though!</p>

<p>Right now, my two schools that I am extremely interested in are Florida State University (they allow you to apply to more than one program, but you can only attend one, so if I understand correctly I could apply to both VP and MT) and Arizona State University, which has a combined MT/Lyric Opera undergrad program.</p>

<p>Does anyone know of any other schools that have what I'm looking for? My only criteria are that it is not a religious affiliated institution and is not rural, but urban and suburban are both fine. A senior showcase and student recitals in the MT/VP programs are a big plus!</p>

<p>Another note, I'll be applying next fall, and I've ruled out NYU Steinhardt because it's incredibly expensive and as a transfer student I probably won't get much aid.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for reading!</p>

[EmsDad]

<p>Here are some BM MT programs that you may want to look at:</p>

<p>Catholic University of America
James Madison
Baldwin-Wallace College
Oklahoma City University
University of Central Oklahoma
Belmont</p>

<p>These may not fit every criteria that you have specified.</p>

<p>Here are a couple of BFA programs at schools that might also be of interest due to some opportunities to cross-over between MT and classical VP training:</p>

<p>Shenandoah
Wichita State</p>

[ruthieruthru]

<p>Thank you, but all of those except Wichita State, JMU, and UCO are institutions affiliated with a religion. (I’ve already looked at a few of them, too.)</p>

[EmsDad]

<p>These schools offer minors in MT:</p>

<p>Northeastern
Miami (Ohio)
UNH
Hofstra
Montclair
UArts
Western Kentucky
USC</p>

<p>These schools also offer MT minors, but have religious affiliations:</p>

<p>SMU
Tulsa
Seton Hall</p>

<p>These schools may not meet all of your other criteria.</p>

[MomCares]

<p>This may not be a fit for you for a couple of reasons, but for others who have a similar balance of interests it might be worth looking into Northwestern University, where one can enter by audition (plus academic admission) as a VP major, then after acceptance also audition for the MT Certificate Program. Even those who are not in the MT Program are able to audition for any of the 60+ productions on campus each year.</p>

[Mezzo_sMama]

<p>Baldwin-Wallace may keep the “religious affiliation” on their website somewhere, but I can assure you that it never enters into student life in any way, unless you join a religious-based club or event. I would assume that it might be the same at several other schools.
The problem with what you’re seeking is that the vocal technique used for MT and VP are vastly different and students immersed in a classical VP program won’t be able to belt in the method required for today’s musical theatre. Back in the “Golden Age” of musical theatre, a legit voice was fine, but that’s no longer the case. Not to say that you can’t learn a “mixed belt” technique that would serve somewhat, but it’s not going to be enough to keep you competitive with the MT kids who are going to be giving it their all at showcase time.
Have you talked with your voice teacher and discussed your potential and your options?</p>

[entertainersmom]

<p>Check out University of Southern Maine. The degree is a BM, offered in collaboration with the Theatre dept. The campus is split between Gorham and Portland. The main campus is in Gorham, but there is free transportation between the two. Portland is Maine’s largest City, but may seem small with a population of 65,000+ if you are from an urban area. It is unclear to me if you may minor in classical voice, but check out the curriculum.</p>

<p>Edit: Just noticed you are in Boise which is urban compared to Portland :)</p>

[EmsDad]

<p>For a professional perspective on teaching singing for musical theatre, I like Mary Saunders-Barton’s webpage:</p>

<p><a href=“http://belcantocanbelto.com/[/url]”>http://belcantocanbelto.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Ms. Saunders-Barton is Professor of Music and Head of Voice for Musical Theatre at Penn State.</p>

<p>She has a great article summarizing a well-rounded perspective on vocal training:</p>

<p>[The</a> Well Spoken Singer | Mary Saunders-Barton](<a href=“http://belcantocanbelto.com/published-work/well-spoken-singer]The”>http://belcantocanbelto.com/published-work/well-spoken-singer)</p>

<p>that includes these quotes:</p>

<p>

…dramatic intention is the governing force in all that is said or sung on stage, the demand on the actor’s voice is no longer bound by any pre-designated aesthetic concept or sound idea.

</p>

<p>

There is a new ideal at work here as new musical scores are composed with new and surprising vocal challenges for the performer. It is important for classically trained teachers to view the incorporation of a “speaking quality” in the middle voice as an additional and critical technique performers must master in order to work professionally in musical theatre. The mixed voice is in no way a reduction or corruption of the bel canto traditions; musical theatre singing is a wide-spectrum style, where classical concepts like “fach” no longer apply.

</p>

<p>Another article by Ms. Saunders-Barton states:</p>

<p>

All of us who teach singing for musical theater know we are training vocal athletes in the same way we would train a runner or a football player. Endurance and healthy technique are paramount. The approach we have taken at Penn State is to train “both sides of the voice.” Over the years, I have come to recognize the value of balancing classical vocal technique with the techniques specific to musical theater singing and contemporary commercial music (CCM), an approach I affectionately refer to as “Bel Canto Can Belto.”

</p>

<p>This is a topic of many published articles by industry and academic professionals. I recommend doing your own research rather than listen to generalized statements here on CC about the efficacy of “belting” vs. traditional vocal training for musical theatre.</p>

<p>I also like this quote about the need for a balanced approach to vocal training for musical theatre:</p>

<p>

There needs to be some balance, and there needs to be room for quiet, soft singing as well as for intense and energetic singing that express the full spectrum of emotions behind the lyric and music. If the verses start out big, there is then no place for the singer to go, dynamically speaking, in the chorus (and later in the bridge) because the song can’t properly build. If a singer only ever belts throughout a song, those high ‘money notes’ become almost anticlimactic because they sound almost no different than the rest of the notes being sung in the song. If belting is the only way in which a person sings, then his or her song performances will be dynamically and artistically limited on many levels.</p>

<p>Many singers who belt can only belt, and have little control over their voices when singing softly, partly due to technical underdevelopment, and partly due to what belting as a regular practice can do to the vocal apparatus – the damage that it often inflicts over time can make the voice sound shaky, thin and weak whenever soft singing is attempted.

</p>

<p>The full article by Karyn O’Connor can be found here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.singwise.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?section=articles&doc=BeltingTechnique&page=4[/url]”>http://www.singwise.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?section=articles&doc=BeltingTechnique&page=4&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[vvnstar]

<p>I would not let religion be a deterrent. Many schools were founded by churches years ago, but today are like most any other university. For example, OCU was founded by Methodists. Our daughter goes there and loves it. We are not Methodist. There is a diverse group of students there. Similarly, she has several friends at Belmont who come from a wide range of backgrounds. So really talk to students and the schools to find out how much, if any, role religion plays in their program. I think you will find more often than not it is a non-factor.</p>

[Calliene]

<p>Check out Montclair. It’s suburban but very close to Manhattan. They have a wonderful music school that is affiliated with the department of theater and dance. The 3 disciplines work closely together. MT students can participate in operas if they are interested. My daughter is in the BFA MT program so I don’t know anything really about the music degrees or the MT minor, but it seems like there are a lot of options.</p>

[Gwen_Fairfax]

<p>Would Steinhardt be a possibility?</p>

[MTTwinsinCA]

<p>Don’t know if CA is an option for you, but California State University Northridge has a terrific School of Music with options to major in Classical Voice as well as a Musical Theatre Minor. I think BA though. Northridge is a Los Angeles suburb and there is a cool opera scene here. Well connected alumni in the entertainment and music industry. Great faculty.</p>

[ruthieruthru]

<p>Going to go through the replies backwards so I don’t forget anything…</p>

<p>@MTTwinsinCA, I’ve not looked at Northridge extensively, but it looks like they have a BMus Vocal Studies program in addition to a communications minor in MT. I will add the school to my ‘to research’ list! :)</p>

<p>@Gwen, I’ve looked at Steinhardt a lot and their program looks fantastic, but NYU is probably not an option for me. The application alone has a high fee, and there is no guarantee I will get financial aid. As I’m a transfer student, I want reach schools, but not financial impossibility schools. I will be applying for their summer programs in Classical Voice and MT for this upcoming summer, however.</p>

<p>@Calliene, Montclair is now on my list! I did a lot of research into their BFA program but not much with classical. I’m looking again and liking what I’m seeing.</p>

<p>@vvnstar, that’s very helpful. My reasons for not wanting a religious-affiliated school have a lot to do with extra required Gen courses and lifestyle on campus (the schools in particular that I have visited or are near me do not have an atmosphere I would feel comfortable in). I will definitely do more research, but it is easier for me to rule out certain schools - I do not want to apply to more than six schools and there are far more than six amazing programs!</p>

<p>@EmsDad, thanks for the links! That’s definitely something I’ll dive into further before making my ultimate decisions. The list you posted has been really helpful, also.</p>

<p>@entertainersmom, I will look into them! I’m not sure if I could handle a city much smaller than the one I’m in ( ) but I’ll look at the school first and then decide.</p>

<p>@Mezzo’sMama, I’ve looked at BW a bit, as well. I’m still looking, but I don’t think it’d be a fit for me for other reasons aside from their historical affiliation. Also, I have spoken with my voice teacher and other members of voice faculty at my school about my aspirations, and all of them said that classical training would be the backbone of any musical theatre style singing, and from my own research I agree.</p>

<p>@MomCares, I don’t really think I’m Northwestern material, but thanks for sharing because I’m sure there will be other folks who view this in a similar boat as me where they are, if that makes sense! I will look into it to see what everything is about, though.</p>

<p>Thank you all a ton for all your helpful comments! :)</p>

[Princesssjpmom]

<p>Ruthieruthru: My D is applying to MT programs with strong classical backgrounds due to her lyric soprano voice. She is applying to Montclair, NYU Steinhardt, CCM, and Florida State to name a few. Good luck and keep us posted.</p>