<p>Okay I came back from SDM with a new passion for the performing arts. I've heard of schools like Walnut Hill and Professional Childrens School and Interlochen but can anyone provide opinions?</p>
<p>People have the misimpression that the Professional Childrens School is a performing arts high school, but it actually isn't. It is a school for children who are professionally pursuing <em>something</em>be it theater, sports, etc.....Apparently it's a flexible school so if you're going on tons of auditions, you won't get totally behind with your schoolwork even though you're missing a lot of school. Being that I lived in New York and was frustrated with my private school's lack of acceptable performing arts, I looked into it, but then found out that they don't provide music and theater training. The other performing arts high schools in NYC (Professional Performing Arts and LaGuardia) require that you be a NYC resident. I see above that you are. I live in Westchester and couldn't qualify for either of those schools.</p>
<p>In terms of Interlochen, I have some knowledge as I was a camper there for two summers. I have a friend who is going to be a senior there as a voice major, but this is her first time going. It's supposed to be a terrific school! Keep in mind, there is no musical theater major. It's a theater major (although they do musicals and I believe they take dance and singing classes--but don't quote me on that). Beware of the weather! Interlochen's VERY north!!</p>
<p>I'd be happy to tell you more details about Interlochen's academy ( I do have more!!).....and I'll be hearing more and more from my friend as she starts in a couple of weeks (even though she's a voice major).</p>
<p>interlochen is amazing!!!</p>
<p>i was a camper at interlochen for 4 summers and am strongly considering attending there for high school next year. it is true that iaa is more of a theatre arts major (very broad based theatre curriculum that includes tech theatre, directing etc)...it also has some great opportunities in musical theatre. they put on a full scale musical at the end of the year that is done in a small 200 seat theatre (very intimate) and they also do an mt showcase at the end of the year. this year they are doing the musical Chicago. they offer several classes in singing and dancing...but again, the focus is on acting (as i feel it should be). they have students every year who go on to study musical theatre...but even more who go on to study straight theatre (julliard and cmu for acting are popular choices for iaa grads). just make sure that you are ok with the courses you would be taking there and that they will help you further your theatre career...its a school that isnt for everyone. you should have a passion for all aspects of theatre, not just musical.</p>
<p>I live in NYC so PPAS would be most convienent. Does anyone know anything about it? I can't seem to find an offical website.</p>
<p>I think you can find some info through the NYC Brd of Ed, as it is a public magnet school.</p>
<p>My S is going into his junior year at Walnut Hill as a theater major. He couldn't be happier with his program, which is structured so that academics and arts classes are as reasonably scheduled as possible, given the intensity. Academics are taught in one-semester blocks (full-year course material compressed into one semester with longer course meetings each week, but half the "normal" course load each semester). Arts classes are in the afternoons and auditions place students into movement, acting, and musical theater classes. Design and production classes are pretty much tracked by grade level. College counseling is individualized and students feel very good about their preparation for college auditions throughout the first half of senior year. There are seven performance opportunities a year; three are musicals. One is student-directed. Make sure to prepare well for the entrance audition. Mike Bucco is a great admissions counselor for the program (and also works on college counseling). <a href="http://www.walnuthillarts.org/program/theater.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.walnuthillarts.org/program/theater.html</a></p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is excellent, has a national profile and located here in Dallas. I served on the advisory board for 6 years.</p>
<p>Well known alums include: Erica Badu, Branford MArsalis, Edie Brickell and Nora Jones.</p>
<p>Many of their dance graduates have gone on to join Geoffery, ABT and NYC Ballet and other graduates go on to Julliard and the like.</p>
<p>THe school is an arts magnet high school that was started after the Federal Court ruling in the early 1970s. Admission is by audition and is very competitive. If enrolment is not filled from within the school district, students are admitted from out of district.</p>
<p>NCSA has high school component, free for NC hs students if accepted, out of state college tuition rates for non-NC residents. It accepts dancers from 8th grade & up; drama 12th grade only; musicians 9th grade & up. There are also college and masters students there, but hs students housed in own building with curfews, rules, etc. Be sure to check about rules for getting away for college auditions. There has been some stress about this, and they may be tightening up options. Music students are competing with college students for slots in their instrument, some tougher admits that others. Good luck.</p>
<p>I'm going to be a junior at Interlochen this year...it's going to be my first year, but I can tell you that while there is no musical theatre major...there are musical theatre classes and you can take private voice lessons...so you can go and focus on Musical Theatre...but it's going to be really acting heavy.</p>
<p>you might take a peek at this school...Great environment and reputation. A number of grads have gone on to Mich, CCM, NYU, BOCO and other top tier programs...</p>
<p>Any thoughts on Professional Childrens school, as alot of people at SDM attend and say they like it or PPAS? One is public and one is private and cost 24,000 a year so big diffrence there. A girl at SDM had an awful time at Walnut Hill said they kids were elitist and snobby and she will be transferring out but another girl is moving from San Fransico to go there so,</p>
<p>Defying Gravity....it depends what you want in a school. Walnut Hill is a boarding school (at least for you it is). That is a big difference from talking of a day school. Secondly, PPAS is a public school, as is LaGuardia. No cost, but have to audition. Professional Children's School is an entirely different thing than any of the above. It is NOT a performing arts high school. In other words, you do not study performing arts there. It is a school meant for kids who have commitments to something else that is intensive....might be a Broadway show, a concert pianist, a ballet student at ABS, a high level athlete. This private school allows for flexible scheduling and some independent work so that these kids can go to a school while doing these other demanding things, sometimes at a professional level. </p>
<p>When picking a school, you have to figure out what you want and need. </p>
<p>Also, when picking a high school or a college, while it is very important to get first hand feedback from those in the programs, you should not put too much stock in what any ONE person's experience is because everyone is coming from a different perspective and your experience might differ greatly. If you had talked to six different Walnut Hill kids and heard that they were all unhappy, that is a different story which might give you reason to pause. For example, my D knows three kids from VT at Walnut Hill right now who all like it. One actually just graduated and performed a duet with her in a voice recital a few nights ago and he is heading to the BFA program in MT at Ithaca. He is far from elitist or snobby, that I can tell you. REALLY nice kid. LOVES theater. You have to talk to many people to get a better sense of the place. My D is going to CAP21 and if she only listened to one kid's experience, she might be swayed differently. She knows many who go there. MOST love it but she knows two kids who did not like it that much. She talked to enough kids to get a handle on it to not weigh any one particular person's feedback too heavily. She looked at where each person was coming from and the type of person they are and considered that too. </p>
<p>So, IF you are looking into performing arts boarding schools, then there are ones in that category such as Interlochen, Idyllwild, Walnut Hill and many others. If you want a day program there is La Guardia and PPAS, plus they do not cost money. If you need a flexible private school in NYC that will allow you to work professionally or pursue outside stuff in the arts, then Professional Children's School is worth looking into. I know kids who go or have gone there too but it was for reasons like I mentioned. For example, a friend from SDM is going there because she is on Broadway right now. That is kinda the type of person whose needs are met at that school. </p>
<p>What grade are you entering, tenth? I presume you are talking for 11th/12th grade? What have your parents said with regard to this....boarding? day school? private? public? Are they willing to pay for private or boarding school AND let you go back for two sessions to SDM (which also costs a bunch)? Research the schools online and talk to them before you go too much further. If you narrow which of these types you want, then it might be easier to help. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Im going into 11th, but its kinda in the planning stages , they um kinda dont know this idea yet. I will tell them soon though Im jsut scared what they would say as they have switched me 7 times :( We are not rich by any means so private school unless I got a schlorship would be out fo the question. Laguardia , Im not interested in becuase of its size and becuase I know to many people from my past that go there and dont want to run into them. Boarding school I think would also be out of the question though I think would be a nice idea.</p>
<p>Susan...if you don't mind my being nosey...who does she know that's on Broadway right now? What show?</p>
<p>Prolly the girl in Fiddler. DOnt want to give her name thoguh out fo respect for her</p>
<p>Defying Gravity....if you are entering 11th, then I presume you are talking about NEXT year or 12th grade, right? That would be a difficult year to switch schools, particularly to one you must apply for (as opposed to moving to a new district though that is hard for other reasons). I can't imagine that many private performing arts schools wanting to take a transfer into 12th grade. They would want you to go through some sort of sequence in their curriculum. Some kids I know who have entered prep boarding schools after ninth grade here, even had to start at ninth grade at the boarding school. The boy I mentioned at Walnut Hill, entered after 11th grade at a parochial school in Vermont but he went to Walnut Hill for two years so as to get a firm background in the training there, so he graduated at age nineteen. He is the one who is a good friend of my D's and both are going off to start BFA's now even though they are practically three years apart ironically. Anyway, I'm not sure which of the schools you mentioned would take someone entering 12th grade. Professional Children's School likely does (can't say with any certainty) because of the kind of population they serve (ie., kid could have just come to NYC for a Broadway gig and happens to be in 12th grade). </p>
<p>John, yeah, I hesitate to mention other kids' names on here, but the one particular friend I was referring to at PSC, with whom my D has done shows at SDM, and is the same age, is currently in Fiddler. Another girl who used to go to camp with her had been in Fiddler earlier but is now entering CAP, along with my D but is a few years older than her. My daughter has other friends who have gone to PCS school, however. One of them, also from her theater camp, is entering NYU with her this fall but not in Tisch.</p>
<p>Well I think they have auditions in November so mabye after Xmas break if I got in. Also I wrote up my summery of SDM in the therad.</p>
<p>Well I think they have auditions in November so mabye after Xmas break if I got in. Also I wrote up my summery of SDM in the thread</p>
<p>I'm in a search for a performing Arts High school for my D who is a Ballet student. I've noticed SDM in your discussion - what the devil is SDM?
Thanks!</p>
<p>However, consider applying to Walnut Hill in Massachusetts for ballet. The program is exceptional.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>