<p>Hey all! My Rutgers audition is coming up, and one of their requirements is to have 16 bars of a song prepared to sing a capella for BFA Acting applicants. I was unsure of what this really meant--are they asking for a showtune, a traditional classical piece, or should I be prepared for anything? If anyone has any past experience with this requirement, let me know! Is it really that big of a deal, or am I stressing over nothing?</p>
<p>From my daughters audition last year I would think just something that shows the best part of your voice. The are not an MT program so vocal ability is not their main concern. Very often the acting schools are just looking for the tone and quality. My D sang a jazzy piece.</p>
<p>My D just had this requirement at UNCSA and will also be at Rutgers. She is doing a music theatre piece, and the others I heard at UNCSA also did music theatre pieces.
The Rutgers website just says “16 bars of a song” so I think you could also select a classical piece if you are more comfortable with that. Good luck!</p>
<p>My S (auditioning a year ago) also went with a jazz tune because he thought it best suited his style and range. Pick something that highlights your voice and – I think I saw this elsewhere on the thread regarding auditions – you are comfortable with and says something about you. It’s basically a monologue in song, so pick something that speaks to you. </p>
<p>The young lady who was helping at Rutgers auditions last year (first year Mason Gross BFA student) told those auditioning that when she auditioned, she was not asked to sing, so she thought it meant she didn’t get in. Turned out she was wrong.</p>
<p>That said, she had gone to the Rutgers summer program and also had a sister in the program, so the auditors might have already been familiar with her work? Anyway, it would be interesting to know from the folks who got into Rutgers last year whether they all were asked to sing.</p>
<p>My S is at UNCSA, btw.</p>
<p>Remember that 16 bars is very short. Not much at all.</p>
<p>If you are not auditioning for an MT program, then just pick something easy for you to sing. Not something with hard notes or belting. If the instructions just say “16 bars of a song” then they are not too picky, if they wanted a specific kind of song, they would have specified the kind they wanted.</p>
<p>Thank you all! I didn’t think it was something to stress over, but this close to audition day and everything and anything is something to cause a freak out. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>My kid (who was accepted to Mason Gross) decided on her song five minutes before the audition. She was asked to sing-- but they’re just getting a sense of your voice and vocal range. They’re not judging your singing. Don’t sweat this one.</p>
<p>I think Glassharmonica’s advice is spot on for Rutgers. But I just throw a word of caution that I’m not sure the same standard applies at UNCSA. Unlike Rutgers, UNCSA incorporates singing as part of the program and does a MT show every year. They’ve also had a lot of success with some of their graduates working in MT. For UNCSA, unless you really think your voice is not suited for singing a MT piece, I would advise doing an MT piece. Now, it does not have to be any particular style or era. My daughter did a Gershwin era number. Rest assured, UNCSA absolutely does take people that can’t sing (they do think they can teach most anyone to sing) so I don’t say this to scare anyone into thinking its a litmus test. On the other hand, I do think its a plus factors for those who can sing so I would treat it more serious as a singing exercise than at Rutgers whose program (as far as I know) does not do any MT shows at all. </p>