New to MT...how to prepare for MT future?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>I have a 12 year old who just discovered her love for musical theater, singing, acting, etc. So far she has done a few plays/musicals at our local junior community theater. </p>

<p>What can I do to help her become more experienced, involved, and prepare her for a possible future in MT? Is there anything that we MUST or SHOULD do now or soon if she decides this is her dream after high school? </p>

<p>and are there any GREAT MT programs in California...</p>

<p>Thanks so much, any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>Let her guide how much she wants to do. Many kids discover a love in their pre-teen years that they may grow out of… or may not. If it gets more intense than they would like at a young age they may be turned off by what could become a life long passion… maybe professionally… or not.</p>

<p>If she is interested, I would suggest getting her into dance classes if she is not already in them. Ballet, Jazz, Tap. </p>

<p>Continue involvement with the junior community theatre if she indicates she is interested in doing so. </p>

<p>Perhaps look into a pereforming arts summer camp like Stagedoor Manor ([Stagedoor</a> Manor - Performing Arts Camp - Acting Camp - Musical Theater Camp - Drama Camp - Theatre Camp - Theater Camp - Summer Camp - Musical Theatre Camp - Broadway Camp](<a href=“http://www.stagedoormanor.com/]Stagedoor”>http://www.stagedoormanor.com/)) or Idyllwild ([Idyllwild</a> Arts Academy High School and Summer Program, IdyArts: Summer](<a href=“http://www.idyllwildarts.org/page.cfm?p=498]Idyllwild”>http://www.idyllwildarts.org/page.cfm?p=498)) for next summer.</p>

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<p>My D was the same age when she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in MT. H and I decided that we would support that choice by helping her to get the best training we could find locally and by getting her to auditions and rehearsals for local community, semi-professional, and professional theatre gigs. </p>

<p>If your D is not already dancing, I’d suggest getting her into a good ballet class ASAP. If you have the time and money, add jazz and tap dance classes. </p>

<p>A good children’s choir can be a good stepping stone into learning proper vocal technique. Private voice lessons can be added later. </p>

<p>I actually think it’s more important to get your D fluent in reading music right now than to have her working with a private voice teacher. Private piano lessons (disclaimer: I’m a piano and violin teacher :)) or joining band or orchestra class will do the trick. All aspiring MT performers need to be musically literate. It’s virtually impossible to learn to read music fluently without playing an instrument!</p>

<p>Group acting classes, if they are available in your area, can be a fun way of getting some training. There are summer programs in many areas that have kids put on plays or musicals. I would get my D involved if she’s interested. If you have the means, there are MT camps, such as Stagedoor Manor, that draw students from all over the country. (Another disclaimer: my own D never did any summer programs and turned out just fine.)</p>

<p>Helping your D get comfortable with the auditioning process will also help prepare her for a possible future in MT. The more she auditions for your local junior community theatre and maybe the adult community and semi-professional theatres when they have parts for young people available, the better.</p>

<p>Your D is lucky to have a mom who supports her interests!</p>

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<p>I see that KatMT and I are on the same wavelength. I was busy typing when she posted, LOL!</p>

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<p>^ :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Ditto on music reading. Yes, there are successful performers in MT who do not read music particularly well, but it certainly is a wonderfullly useful skill to have! I played piano, string bass, and flute… unfortunately none of them well… played piano since I was 6 and still a terrible sight reader, but… I can sight sing pretty well, play some basic block chords, and read basic chord symbols… makes learning music a bit easier!</p>

<p>At this age the dance and musicianship skills are the ones that can foster discipline, focus, and offer skills that will be very useful if she decides to </p>

<p>When I was growing up I took dance classes, piano (and some other instrument lessons), choirs, children’s and semi-professional performance opportunities, acting classes at a local professional theatre (once I was around 12+). I was also fortunate that my mom is a singer, voice teacher, actress… better tap dancer than I have ever been (or will be!), so I was able to tag along to a lot of rehearsals as a kid, helped make props, hang lights, was a production assistant, etc… I never wanted to go away to camp… good thing, since I am pretty sure it was out of our family budget :wink: … I loved hanging out with the older kids and adults learning as an “apprentice” of sorts. </p>

<p>I was pretty sure at a very young age that I wanted to make my life in theatre… yes, I could have changed my mind, but I never did. However, I did decide in my mid-20s that (even with professional successes) I did not want to continue to pursue a career as a professional performer. I am much happier behind the scenes. </p>

<p>My mom says she always knew it was destined… I may or may not have directed playground productions of Hansel and Gretel (the opera) in 2nd grade and Diary of Anne Frank in 4th grade :o … I now am a director, artistic director, and the program coordinator of a musical theatre program, so it all makes sense. ;)</p>

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<p>I can only relate my D’s experience. When she was 12 she was split between volleyball and performing arts, and she stopped taking dance around age 10 because there wasn’t time to do both. At the end of 6th grade the music director and volleyball coach made her choose and she chose performing. And to this day she regrets stopping dance, especially ballet. She picked it back up quickly but will have to get more classical ballet in college. As for voice she did choir in middle school, and did a few voice lessons. She got more serious for voice lessons in high school.</p>

<p>So get your D going in dance, especially ballet, choir, and make sure she balances that with all the normal things a middle school kid should do.</p>

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<p>I agree with everything that everyone has said so far. I also just think researching heavily the best Youth Theater programs in your area and getting her involved in that-- even if it means a little bit further of a drive. Auditions for professional productions are great experience-- even if she isn’t cast, she’ll be learning.</p>

<p>Voice lessons will be great to start at about 13. They’ll help a lot!</p>

<p>I want to reiterate the DANCE training-- especially ballet. It’s going to be imperative.</p>

<p>Idyllwild is an excellent West Coast summer program. One of my students left NJ to attend the boarding HS and LOVED it! </p>

<p>Basically, researching and researching and seeking out the BEST possible training in your area AND finding the people who really love working with your daughter will help so much!</p>

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<p>Also, check out the thread titled “Summer Program - Big List” at the top of the forum. You can glean a lot of info from that thread. My D got serious about MT at age 11 (she is 18 now, and just got into her top choice MT college program), and she started at Stagedoor Manor at age 11, has been going every year since, and will be attending for the last time this summer. It was a fabulous experience for her. There are many, many other great summer programs out there…I’m confident you can find a good one for your daughter. But many of these summer programs really give the kids a flavor of what “the life” will be like. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>It’s also good to make sure that all her theatre experiences aren’t with the same group or the same director.</p>

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<p>Just to reiterate… start dance classes today!!! Or at least this summer!!!
Ballet is most important as provides the technique for all other styles of dance. If you can afford more, next would be jazz, and then tap. I know others have said the same thing, but it bears repeating…</p>