Preparing for an MT Program

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hello everyone. I'm a current freshman in high school, and I was recently bitten by the MT bug. I was cast as the male lead in my school's musical, and ever since then I've been nearly obsessed with musical theater. As a freshman, I'm wondering what kind of preparation is necessary to go to college for MT. I was recently cast in a community theater straight play, and I'm auditioning for a summer program for MT in a month. Here's some background on me:</p>

<p>-I am a very expirienced singer. I sing 10+ hours per week in some very competitive choirs. I sang in the All State choir. I have an operatic tenor voice, a very high falsetto, and I can sing baritone.
-I have no dance expirience. My dancing skills suck, to be honest.
-I'm a new actor, but I feel like I do a pretty good job. I have no expirience with any acting techniques.
-I have no expirience with set design, makeup, or tech.</p>

<p>So, my big question is: what should I do to prepare myself for applying to colleges as a MT major? Although I'm not sure if I want to be a MT major yet, I'm interested to see what kind of preparation y'all recommend.</p>

<p>My biggets concern is my dancing. What type of dancing should I take? Would you recommend learning an acting "technique?" What kind of preparation is necessary to go to college for MT?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance/</p>

2

<p>Dance dance dance dance dance. Start in ballet ASAP. If you can afford to and have the time, take jazz as well. If you can afford to and have even more time, take tap as well. But get your butt in a ballet class ASAP. That technique will serve you better than anything else I can tell you. And just keep working. Do as much as you can with as many different theatres and companies as you can- straight plays and musicals. But if you are serious about MT, you are gonna need to groom those dance skills as much as possible in the next 3 years. :)</p>

3

<p>I agree with AlexaMT! Dance (particularly ballet), dance and more dance. And if you have time and money left over, acting and piano. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Listen to Alexa!</p>

5

<p>It’s too early to pigeon hole yourself into the BFA MT trajectory. Like you said, you’re not even sure if this is what you want to do. Just keep doing and performing…rather than aim to get into MT colleges at this moment, just enjoy each project that you’re working on. Cultivate your love for the theatre and performing rather than trying so hard to burn through a checklist of skill sets. </p>

<p>Everyone keeps saying dance dance dance. I’ll say develop the voice and acting. 2 1/2 years of dance is not going to turn you into chorus line material if you aren’t already a natural mover…so work on developing the areas you are already strong in. You clearly have an extensive vocal background and have displayed a certain amount of potential as an actor to have been cast in a straight play with no formal acting training. Programs have lower expectations for boys in the dance area and most schools don’t really expect each incoming freshman to already be a triple threat. It seems like most incoming freshman Mts are really strong in two areas and are either in the weak-decent area for a third…it’s a rare case when students are truly triple threats. Those kids probably shouldn’t have a need for conservatory training if they’re already really amazing in all 3. </p>

<p>Yes, dance. Take dance. But since you’ve already stated you’re not really a great dancer, take dance classes simply to develop your ability to move. I’d say that it’s more important to really grow as a singer and actor. From the info you’ve given us, I think those are the two areas that will help you get into programs. I mean if you have the economic means and the time, find the best teachers in coaches in town to beef up all 3 areas…but I would assume that probably isn’t the case.</p>

<p>AND YES. It is extremely important to take acting classes if you can. I’m biased as I’m at a straight acting program, but watching a musical theatre performer who can’t or isn’t acting is like watching a corpse sing and dance…acting brings the life into the performance. It doesn’t matter if you learn a specific technique or method of acting, but learning how to act is vital.</p>

<p>And one more piece of advice. You’re a freshman. College is light years away. Don’t get too caught up in the future. Just do whatever you love and makes you happy at the moment…don’t do something cause you think it will get you somewhere in 3 years. Just put a lot of effort into the things you are passionate about NOW and it’ll pay off in the future. You won’t feel like you’re swimming against a scary current if you’re not thinking too ahead of yourself. 3 years from now, you may decide to go Pre-med or Pre-law or whatever, but the hard work you log in now will have taught you what it means to make commitments and hard work and collaborative efforts. If you have a huge desire to take a bunch of dance classes, do it…but if you feel that acting or singing is pulling at you do that. Be honest to yourself and what you want right now. There’s no use stressing out about things you’ve already admitted you’re unsure about. I mean, you’re just beginning your journey as an MT performer…enjoy it.</p>

6

<p>I disagree that a freshman, especially a boy, can’t develop into a bona fide dancer by senior year. I had one student this year who had some dance before he started his intensive college prep but not much. However, from end of junior year on, he dedicated himself to both private and class dance work and by the time of his auditions was an intermediate-advanced dancer who was singled out for his dance ability. He obviously had a lot of latent natural talent - gracefulness and great extension - but he worked hard enough to shape it into real dancing. I had another male student who started taking ballet late in his junior year and found he was an incredible jumper and turner. Both boys got into several top MT programs with rigorous dance auditions. Don’t decide your dancing skills suck and therefore you can’t turn into a dancer - it could really happen! And some schools care a lot about dance, regardless of how good you are as a singer-actor.</p>

7

<p>^^^^Agree! I think MT program admission has become increasingly competitive in recent years, and having some dance experience is becoming more and more necessary. I also believe you can become a proficient dancer in a few years- enough so to get you through an audition for MT programs. My gut feeling is that most auditiors don’t expect auditionees to have a lot of acting experience, but that they want to see that the student can take direction and has potential. Definitely, continue your vocal training. And definitely take as many dance classes as you can reasonably fit in, starting with ballet. At dance auditions for MT, they would like to see that you can follow basic instructions, and can pick up some basic dance steps. It will give you a real "leg up"during the audition process if you have conquered the basics of dance, and know the terminology. If you end up doing straight acting, or even go in a different direction all together, you will be no worse off.</p>

8

<p>It sounds like you are already doing many things correctly. I suggest taking private vocal lessons as choral singing …is not the same as singing as a soloist. If you aren’t sure who to take from, see if a local or regional school offers MT and approach a vocal professor there, study voice with them for the next three years. Build a binder … Of many different era’s, composers, legit, belt, uptempo, ballads, leading man, character roles. In 3 years you will know more about who you are and what YOU like…(not just what someone tells you ) Try doing shows at several different theaters…read plays ( if you don’t know where to start, check out some of the MT schools listed here go to and find out what they are doing) and have knowledge/study the different acting methods. take classes and workshops in acting. And i agree with Alexa, start moving now. So what if you stink… You will stink less if you give it your best go now. Turning a blind eye to your weakest area isn’t wise. I have a 21 year old son who is a BFA MT major and an 18 year old daughter that starting in a BFA MT program this fall. These are the things they have done to prepare. If possible, know full well what you like and who you are as a performer. You will be more successful as an auditioner if you do. Good Luck.</p>

9

<p>i was not telling him to turn a blind eye to dance. just simply stating that he shouldn’t stress about it because everyone was saying you must dance dance dance. of course it’s important and if he does have a natural ability, there is a chance of blossoming into a wonderful dancer. if moving isn’t something that comes naturally, still dance. having grown up figure skating, i am an extremely kinesthetic person and view movement as a vital part of developing as a performer even if not for the sake of musical theatre dance. i was just trying to tell him not to let it stress him out if he isn’t a “dancer”…i think his aim at this moment is work on becoming a “mover” and not a “dancer”. Set a smaller goal for the short term, and it will be much easier to reach…and once it’s reached, he can and will set the bar higher for himself. i just didn’t want a beginner dancer to feel like he had to devote all his training time to dance because that is his weakest area. yes, he needs to put forth energy in that area, but i think more importantly would be to make the two other obviously stronger areas very solid…and yes it’s true, programs for both mt and acting look more for potential in the acting area rather than training. It’s true, training counts less just more that you take immense risks as an actor and performer…but having access to good training will hopefully help you have the confidence to take risks.
but seriously, just have fun right now. take whatever training you do do seriously, and work hard, but just take it as good serious play time and explore this new world you’ve fallen in love with.</p>

10

<p>I agree, ccer2014, very good points…and advice. Don’t over stress if you aren’t a natural… It certainly wouldn’t end your chances. Make your best go of furthering your abilities and enjoy the ride along the way.</p>

11

<p>Ballet will be excellent preparation and training whether you decide to pursue MT or Acting:

  • while some Acting programs require dance, most allow or even encourage it
  • ballet will help with posture and placement for all performance including singing
  • it may be that your “dancing skills suck” now, but that may be because you’ve not had any formal training - start at a beginner level and be patient with yourself
  • if you start now and take classes year round, you will have 3 years by the time you graduate HS, and 7 years by the time you graduate college!
  • summer is a great time to start because you can often find intensives at your level - in ballet and/or a combination of dance styles - this might involve taking daily class for a week or more, or a couple classes a week for several weeks - this will get you up to speed more quickly than a weekly class during the school year, so if you can find and afford it, do a ballet intensive and a jazz-tap type combo to really jumpstart your dance training
  • check your local dance studio for classes and summer intensives (the best ones are open year round) or local colleges for summer programs
  • during the school year, in addition to weekly classes, you may be able to go to a weekend dance convention where you take various dance classes at your level for 2 days with top teachers from around the country (usually ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, etc) - they are not inexpensive, but they are another great way to boost your skills
  • as Coach C said, as a guy, you are still at the young end to be starting dance - I personally know three guys who started dance in college and went on to have careers in dance - one became a performer, one has his own modern dance company (he took his first class on a dare from his now wife!), and one teaches in NYC and around the country
  • even if you are not “a dancer” by the time you do college auditions, 3 years of dance will go a long way toward making you more comfortable in dance calls - you will know the terminology, the basic moves, and how to pick up combinations; in short, your dance skills will no longer suck ;)</p>

<p>Another suggestion which would supplement your dance is to take Yoga - it will help you to stretch and strengthen your muscles, build core strength and stability, and relieve stress… :)</p>

<p>My kids came to MT as dancers who sing, so I’m more versed in dance than acting styles and techniques. They had little formal acting training before college, but luckily, they learned to emote when they danced and act when they sang - mostly they learned from being in productions. Both are in MT programs where Acting majors also take dance.</p>

<p>Feel free to email me if you have questions about dance classes or intensives in your area.</p>

12

<p>So what about this scenario? My daughter is getting her list together for colleges now. She is a very good singer and actress, has had several roles in both musicals and dramatic plays, but now let’s talk dance. She took dance lessons when younger (jazz, ballet, tap), but around 5th grade stopped because she started playing volleyball. But she then got into show choirs in junior high and has been dancing through that since then. She currently is very good at tap, has been in the Rockettes dance group in high school, and in show choir is one of the featured dancers in many numbers. The choreographer for her show choir does stuff in NYC and I’m pretty sure must think she’s good or she wouldn’t be up front for that many numbers. Now, she has done all this without formal ballet or jazz lessons for a few years. She actually wants to make sure she goes somewhere to get good dance education, since one of her goals is to work for Disney and she feels dance would be an asset for that. </p>

<p>So the question is: does that provide enough dance experience for her for auditions, or would people here advise she polish up her dance (especially ballet) before auditions? She would like to do some more ballet before the fall, but frankly with summer productions, school work, having to earn some money to help pay for auditions next year, show choir, other productions she’ll be in in the fall, filling out applications, writing essays, time constraints and priorities will become an issue. When you watch her there’s little doubt she is flexible and can move, but she’s certainkly not a ballerina.</p>

13

<p>I think most people will tell you that the more ballet the better. Tap doesn’t factor into auditions much. But it’s a balance and no-one can do everything. People with very little dance certainly do get into good programs every year and she’s not going to become a ballerina in 6 months either. Do what you can.</p>

14

<p>Taking ballet at this point is not about becoming a ballerina, it’s about developing the basic dance technique that is the core of all other dance and MT movement. Lack of technique shows up in the hands, the feet, the core, and, well, everything… As programs are becoming more and more competitive, dance will likely become more and more important in the audition process.</p>

<p>Dance is not just for the ensemble - leads also need good technique when they move and dance (again, it shows in the hands and feet, etc - especially easy to catch in still shots and will show up on prescreen audition videos). The ballet barre is also a great place to learn how to take and apply corrections…</p>

<p>As I told a friend of mine whose daughter who was a front and center show choir dancer in HS - she could pick up MT combinations, but lacked technique: *Dancing without technique is like singing the words to the song without singing the right notes<a href=“that’s%20how%20I%20sing%20lol”>/i</a>. Happily, her daughter is in a great MT program with great dance teachers and her technique has improved greatly, as has her casting both at school and for summer work.</p>

<p>My kids were on the other end of the spectrum, they were overtrained in dance for MT and needed to focus more on vocals and acting. After dancing for 12 years (at least half of that at a pre-professional performing dance company level - read: “more hours dancing a week than going to school, sleeping, or anything else”), my kids left their formal dance training (in 10th and 11th grade) to dedicate more time to the areas they needed to improve to be competitive for college MT auditions. They restarted piano lessons, took additional voice lessons, worked with song and monologue coaches, joined the forensics team, did summer programs, etc. My point is, sometimes you have to realign what you’re doing with your goals. It wasn’t easy; in fact, it was even scary to make that big of a change at that point in HS, but it was a change for the better ;)</p>

<p>If your daughter can’t find/afford a formal class, maybe she can find a dancer friend who could teach/re-teach her the basics of how to take ballet class so she’ll be prepared for that part of the dance call.</p>

<p>Bottom line, goes back to the top line when Alexa said:
** “Start in ballet ASAP”**</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the replies everyone!</p>

<p>First off, I clearly need to do some dancing! Next year, I have signed up for ballet at my new school. That should be fun.</p>

<p>I’ve been taking private voice lessons for a while now (2 years). I’ve studied classical tenor, countertenor, as well as MT. I just sang “Bring Him Home” recently. I’m working on “why god why” and “For Good” right now.</p>

<p>So far for MT, I’m doing a really competitive summer musical (Les Mis). I got one of the ABC Students, so yay. </p>

<p>I’m also going to do a lot of acting practice. I need to work a bit on my memorization skills, as I have some memory problems.</p>