Hi I’m a female high school junior this year and have 100% decided that I want to pursue performing arts in college. Do any high-school seniors/college freshman have any advice on the pre-screening process specifically? For example: which songs/monologues to do / are so over-done? How to chose a song that best suits me (I’m a mezzo-soprano)? Any advice or experiences would be so appreciated ! Thanks! I have a list of colleges that interest me, a few being CMU (top !!!), Boston University, Ithica, NYU, Pace, etc…
My S is a senior and going through this process himself. As for Pre-screens, talk with your drama teacher, local community directors, or hire a coach. A coach is invaluable(but not always necessary) as they can get to know you and provide you with the pieces that best reflect your personal strengths and style. Also, for vocals talk with your school department as they have probably observed you in performance and will give you honest direction(if a vocal coach is not an option). Some music teachers will be willing to work with students outside of class or offer private sessions. Make sure your list of schools is realistic. Have a variety of reach and attainable programs as this process is pretty tough. Tougher than my son and I ever thought! Take plenty of time to look at the advantages of some of the lesser known programs, locations, and financial aid/scholarships. And, this summer lay out a spread sheet with all of the schools and the application, supplemental, audition requirements etc. It gets really hectic because all of the schools seem to need different things. Most schools have digital submitted pre-screens, so you will need a parent, friend, or someone to film your pieces. Do this early because many schools will also want separate intros and whatnot. And, clear your calendar! This is all very time consuming!! Being apart of your fall production is possible, but you have to be really organized to pull it all off!! Best of luck!!
@collegeistricky, do you want to do Musical Theatre, Acting, or a combo of both? There is a ton of information on the Musical Theatre board with tons of great information. The theatre board isn’t as active, but still a lot of good information available. My older D just graduated from a well-regarded MT program, & younger D is currently auditioning for Acting programs. If you/your parents can afford it, look into a coach - it can be expensive (some of them offer scholarships), but is well worth it in the long run. Mary Anna Dennard, Dave Clemmons, and MTCA are 3 of the big ones mentioned a lot, but there are many others out there - multiple threads on coaches, so check into those. They can help you find songs and monologues, help with a good list of schools, and get you prepared for your auditions. D1 used a coach, D2 didn’t want to, but we did pay a coaching service to get monologues. D2 also worked with her local acting coach and a lesser-known college coach on an as-needed basis.
Do your research - some schools actually have lists of overdone songs/monologues, which is helpful. The schools you listed are super-competitive (acceptance rates under 10% and in some cases 4-5%). This process is incredibly difficult/complicated, and the more information you have, the better. @frontrowmama has great advice! Teachers can help you, but may not realize the highly competitive nature of BFA MT and Acting programs - you will have to educate them!
You are smart to start thinking/researching now. Start making a list of schools, use a spreadsheet, and keep up with every bit of information. I’m a parent who has already been through this once, and it’s still complicated/confusing! There are lots of parents & quite a few students here who are happy to help you out. Best of luck to you!
Thank you so much ! I definitely will be checking out those threads.
Thanks again @frontrowmama ! I go to a Arts high school, but I’ve personally found many of the teachers sort of overwhelmed and unorganized with helping students individually… I’ll look into hiring a voice coach and hopefully she’ll help me with the videos.