Parent here if you have questions

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>I would suggest messaging @OakMT15 for a first-hand description of the culture of CCM.</p>

<p>There are positive and negative people on every college campus in the world. When I was in college 100 years ago I had awesome professors and sucky professors. I had awesome people in my major and jerks in my major. An issue with all small (and I mean tiny) programs like CCM is that instead of 1000 people in your major there are less than 80 (Freshman-Seniors.) CCM expects their graduates to be able to walk onto a Broadway or National Tour stage the moment they graduate. And that’s not just performance ability, that’s managing their money, their health, their personal life, their schedule, how to have an agent, what work to take, what work to turn down, what work to pursue, how to take rejection, and hear some pretty heartless comments from casting directors. This is a program meant to produce a highly skilled professional in 4-years. I’m not sure where all the “cut-throat” talk comes from, but that has not been my son’s experience. Yes, there are people he doesn’t enjoy, and yes, when you don’t enjoy 2 out of 20 people you spend so many hours with a week is can seem like a lot.</p>

<p>My wife and I come from performing-arts backgrounds and we are highly involved in theatre to this day, Guess what? Artists can difficult to deal with, and self-absorbed, and moody, and impulsive, and dramatic, and flakey, and irresponsible, and downright weird. But we all know that they are awesome, and a joy, and inspiring, and move our hearts, and do amazing things. You kind-of can’t have one without the other. That’s why they need managers. Frankly, being a 18-year-old college student is hard enough. But trying to lead 20 uber-talented and therefore uber-whacky 18-year-olds who are 1st time college students must be like the proverbial “cat-herding.” (More-like “squirrel-herding”.)</p>

<p>I have 4 performers for children. I know that they do not always catch “subtleties.” Sometimes they need good strong doses of reality to jolt them from whatever kingdom their minds happen to be wandering. I think the urgency at CCM can seem like a lack of heart. For what it is worth, that has not been our experience. Our son has thrived there. </p>

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<p>@myloves The Musical Theatre department got rid of their cut system about 6 years ago, however the drama department still has one. Please message me if you have more specific questions/would like to hear about the program from a current student, or have your daughter contact me on Facebook. I would love to talk to her about my experience at CCM, as it has been a positive one, and clear up any misconceptions that she has about the program! </p>

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<p>OakMT15, and anyone else who can offer insight, I can’t figure out how to message from my phone (sorry), but maybe you could answer our questions here or in a message to me. D would like to know:</p>

<p>How would you describe the overall environment there?</p>

<p>What is the prevailing attitude towards each other among the students?</p>

<p>What are most of the relationships like between professors and students?</p>

<p>How do professors handle corrections and guidance? We realize this will vary depending on the professor, so could you give descriptions of how some of the profs who stand out and/or are around most handle students?</p>

<p>The cut system ended. Are there attitudes that remain? To your knowkedge, has a student been asked to leave since then (for reasons other than behavioral)?</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>I would simply echo what ManVan wrote. It is an unbelievable program. I know 2 young men in the program. They definitely “hit the ground running.” And its hard hard work. And they love it. And they are exhausted and they feel extremely blessed to be there because they are learning, growing and doing what they love. My daughter and I visited another program where a junior girl told us that she thought she was now perhaps ready to take on a mainstage role. Two very opposite ends the spectrum. And there are many programs that fall in between. Get to know the schools. Your kid will let you know where they feel most comfortable. As far as safe and secure? Same deal. I preach the same guidelines for a small rural school as a big urban university. Be smart, don’t go out at night alone, be aware and stick together. My daughter and I are going to CCM for our third trip to check out dorms and take in a jam packed weekend. We have never felt unsafe, we love the neighborhoods and the city. OakMT15…Siddall or Statford Heights? Congratulations on the 5 star rating of Les Mis. May I assume that you were involved in that production? Kudos. PM me if you would like to give out your Facebook address or name. If not, I am perfectly fine with that. </p>

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<p>@myloves I generally find that the environment is positive. Sure, one may say it is ‘high pressure’ or ‘intense’, but in my opinion, any good Musical Theatre program should be as this is a very high pressure and intense business we are trying to get into. CCM does an excellent job of preparing you for the real world. I think that the people here are hilarious, creative and mind-blowingly talented and I love being a part of the program and environment. I had wanted to study at CCM since I was 7 years old, so it is truly a dream come true. It can be stressful due to long hours, assignments and sometimes feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get some things done (especially if you are in a show), but most of the time, I think it’s such a fun place. Sometimes I still catch myself thinking ‘Wow! I can’t believe I go to school here’ and thats a great feeling. </p>

<p>I wake up looking forward to the exciting and hilarious things that are no doubt going to happen in class. I look forward to see what my amazingly talented and creative classmates are going to come up with. It is inspiring to go to school with such a tight-knit clan of MT students who genuinely love and support one another. As theatre people, we are innately competitive and innately a little bit ‘Type A’. But we have learned how different we all are as people and performers, so we try not to compare ourselves to each other. Besides, how can you ever move forward when you are too busy looking sideways? We are a family through and through and I am grateful for that. Sure there are people here who get on my nerves, especially if I am having a bad day where I’m not quite satisfied with my work or I’m simply just tired. But I’m sure you all have people that you work with that you don’t like. You learn how to deal with that and learn to respect them for their work even though you may not be ‘best friends’ with them.</p>

<p>Personally, I have a good relationship with the faculty and I find that most of us do. They are an incredibly knowledgeable and hilarious group of teachers. Yes, they are tough on us and yes they expect us to do our best, but they will pick you up when you fall down. I trust them enough to go to them not only with school/performing related questions, but I also know they would do their best to help if I had a personal issue I needed advice on. They will go to bat for ‘their babies’, BUT they are tough on us. As far as corrections, they say what works and what doesn’t. It’s pretty to the point and they don’t waste their time sugar coating, which I happen to appreciate. This isn’t a school where they hold your hand and guide you through, complimenting you all along the way. When praise is given, it means something and it makes you feel better than if you are being falsely told that every little thing you do is wonderful. And I hope people don’t interpret that statement as ‘CCM never compliments their students. They are heartless’ because it’s not that AT ALL. They give great feedback, both positive and critical. They celebrate their students’ work, encourage us to celebrate our own achievements and laugh at our failures, however major or minor they may be. But they aren’t afraid to tell you that something sucked, nor are the students afraid of hearing it. My mother always taught me that if I couldn’t take criticism, I should probably consider a different career choice. </p>

<p>I’m not entirely certain as to what you mean by ‘are there attitudes that remain’ about the cut system. From what I have heard of the cut system (and this is according to the faculty), they never HAD to cut someone. There was no quota to fill. People were cut if they were not pleasant to work with or were not working hard and applying themselves in class. Since the cut program was, for lack of a better word, cut, I have not known of any students being asked to leave, because they technically can’t do that. Students have chosen to leave on their on accord upon realizing that CCM was not the school for them (and people DO decide that) or because of familial issues, etc. and there have been suggestions made by the faculty (in cases of behavioral issues) that perhaps CCM was not the school for them, but ultimately, it is the student’s choice to stay or not. </p>

<p>Hope this helps! I realize I just posted a novel, but I think it’s important that people really know what it’s like to go to school here instead of basing perceptions on things that people (who may actually have no knowledge of this program at all) post on this website. That’s why I created an account…to try and clear some things up. </p>

<p>@puma69 Stratford may be nicer (I’ve never seen it…I just assume it’s nicer), but its a hike from CCM. Siddall is typically where all the MTs live freshman year as it is literally 20 steps from CCM. And yes! I am in Les Mis! It has been a wonderful experience and I don’t want to brag, but the production is actually stunning. I wish I could see it. If you are coming sometime this week, do try to get yourself on the ticket wait list and see the show. </p>

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<p>We’ll be in Cincy this weekend to see Les Mis 2x. Can’t wait.</p>

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<p>OakMT15! Excellent post. Quotable line for sure, “How can you ever look forward when you are too busy looking sideways.” Nice. Thank you for confirming everything I have heard about CCM and your “novel” was well done. And it exemplifies, really, what a great conservatory program is and should be, CCM being one of them. Criticism in this business is what a student yearns for in order to grow. Sometimes its to the point, and sometimes its just “ouch,” and a lot of times you expect it and want it because you’re just “stuck.” It’s all good. Sir Lawrence Olivier, “Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism.” Exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. Yes! </p>

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<p>And Thank You, thank you, for taking your time to answer our questions!!! ^:)^ </p>

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<p>Of course! I remember how harrowing this college audition process can be! I’m always happy to help</p>

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<p>OakMT15, your “novel” is exactly the detailed, first-hand information we are looking for! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it.</p>

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<p>I’m here to corroborate what ManVan and OakMT15 have said. I’ve heard and read those statements as well over the past few years and can’t imagine where they come from unless it’s sour grapes. My daughter is in the same class as Oak and ManVan’s son and it has been all that we could have hoped for. She has had incredible growth as a performer as well as a person and the faculty and her fellow MT students (not just her class) have been and are supportive, and that support and connection continues on into their post-college/professional years. I hear it from her and see it almost everyday on FB and Instagram. I’ll be in Cincy to see Les Mis this weekend as well. </p>

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<p>MattockDad - I haven’t been monitoring this site regularly and hope I’m not too late to help you! My D and I had heard all the same things about the environment at CCM and almost didn’t even apply - what a mistake that would have been! I can tell you with total confidence a few things - 1. Anywhere that accepts highly talented kids is going to be a competitive environment 2. My D’s experience with CCM faculty has been extremely positive - they are encouraging, nurturing even, and appreciate hard work 3. They really want to graduate artists that they can be proud of - it’s my impression that any “tough love” that happens revolves more around professionalism, attitude, and work ethic. Please please feel free to PM me!</p>