<p>Son and husband love CCM, the campus, and the City. All the present students were very helpful and welcoming. Professor Hess spent a lot of time with our son and the other admitted student. S thinks that this is the perfect place for him. Thanks to all who have helped make this happen.</p>
<p>2dogs1cat - I was so excited to read your post. My son was accepted for MT and we are going to visit this month as well. Can’t wait!!</p>
<p>So glad to hear this! I wish that everyone will find the place for them and I’m so glad your S did. :)</p>
<p>My D is an incoming senior, and very much loves CCM. I can tell you she has grown as a performer and as a human being. She has gotten more out of this school than we would have expected going into it.
Hope everyone finds that good fit!
Please feel free to ask me questions if you need parental information.</p>
<p>Are the freshman assigned grad students as their voice teachers to start with?</p>
<p>I am not sure, but I believe so.</p>
<p>I cannot comment on the MT program, but voice performance majors are NOT assigned to grad students. My daughter is a freshman and is assigned to Barbara Paver. She tells me that ALL of the incoming VP freshman were assigned to professors.</p>
<p>Hi everyone-- D will be applying to CCM next year as an acting major-- not MT-- from what she knows and what she’s seen of the curriculum online she’s just crazy about it. We’ve never even been to Cincinnatti-- I know this is the MT forum but if there’s anything anyone can tell me about the acting BFA or the college and surroundings, I would love to hear. Thank you!</p>
<p>Daughter’s h.s. guidance counselor had a son graduate from CCM Drama. Overall, I think they were pleased with the program. I happened to be at a fundraiser event at CCM last night, and saw some scenes put on by the drama majors. Good stuff. There is a group of 4 current seniors who are leaving this summer to partner w/a group in Africa, and they were very excited about that outreach opportunity.</p>
<p>Campus-wise, CCM village is beautiful, excellent facilities. The University as a whole is, well, a big college campus. Dorms range from heck holes, as described by one of my daughter’s friends, a ballet major and resident (the ones most convenient to CCM) to modern suites. </p>
<p>Surrounding campus…a little edgy, as are most urban campus neighborhoods. Years ago, when I attended CCM (classical music major, not theatre), the neighborhood was funky/edgy, and it still is. However, there are various restaurants, stores, and such.</p>
<p>Gwen, you may wish to contact CC member, letsfigureitout, as her son is a BFA Acting major at CCM.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, both! I will pm letsfigureitout. I’m trying to imagine the neighborhood, mommafrog-- will a kid who’s comfortable at BU [mid-city, huge campus, tons of traffic but not much danger of crime] feel safe and at ease there?</p>
<p>I spoke to 2dogs1cat right after Christmas and she said that her S is loving it at CCM! She isn’t on CC much (if at all) any more but you could try sending her an email through her CC account.</p>
<p>Gwen- my DD is not at CCM but she has many friends who are in a variety of programs, including several in drama. I also work at UC, so we have spent a lot of time there. One thing I wanted to mention about the drama versus MT programs which we have noticed as outsiders, is that the drama program is much more involved in the Cincinnati theatre and arts scene than MT. WHen DD was in high school she worked with many drama majors from CCM, but only once a MT major. THe drama program has also done several collaborative programs with other theatres and organizations in the area. This seems to go for both the faculty and the students, as we have seen some of the drama faculty in local productions and they have directored with local productions.
Just so you know - Cincinnati has a VERY large theatre community with two equity and several other professional (paying) companies, so there are lots of opportunities in the city.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much-- I will pursue all suggestions and am so glad to hear more about Cincinnati, especially its theater community. We may not get to visit until audition time so this is wonderfully helpful.</p>
<p>Hi Gwen:
Austinmom raised my name as a possible contact person regarding CCM. My son is a Freshman in the acting program (Drama) and loves it - he was a fish to water since day one. I have lots to tell you if you are still interested:
- I had never been to Ohio (we are in Texas) before drop off day - my husband came to tour the school with my son. To say that the area around the campus is “edgy” is probably one of the better terms. Two sides of the campus are “edgy” and eccletic - the other two sides are very rough and students are told by administrators not to go to those areas. I was not that happy to say the least.
- However, the campus is beautiful! And CCM Village is a campus in “the campus” - everything a student may need is there. The CCM Freshmen students are all assigned to the same dorm - which really bonds them all together. They have underground tunnels and a the student center is within walking distance. If your daughter follows the “rules” and does not venture off, she should be fine.
- My son’s class is one of the largest that they have ever had - but within the first few weeks they lost two students who didn’t want to go there or this was not the time in their lives to start this career.
- The professors are all excellent with wonderful reputations - but they can and do call it as they see it - not always in sugar coated words either.
- It is a very time consuming program and requires a students full attention. They can not be working on the side unless they are just super human.
- It’s strange - the kids don’t get “grades” (ccm only) when they turn in assignments - they get a check showing that they did it - this, however, does not mean that the professors don’t keep track of the quality of the work - they do!! As some of them found out in the December boards. If they are doing only what is needed to get by, it will kill them at boards. Several students were told, after the December boards, that if they did not improve by Spring - the second set of boards - that they would be removed from the program. (That’s how they “cut”).
- Boards: out of the 20 students who took the boards in December - only 11 passed the boards (thankfully my son did), 9 did not. HOWEVER, all 9 did not receive a letter saying that they should look for another school - only those kids that are just not trying or those that won’t follow the direction of the professors. You do not have to pass the boards to advance to the next year - in fact, as I have been told by my son, one upper class girl has not passed a board her entire time at CCM - this is probably the exception, not the norm.
- Finally, the Freshman year consists of the professors getting rid of bad theatre skills the students have aquired and then building them back up - many of the student’s don’t accept the comments lightly - many are offended or hurt. The kids just have to remember that they are attending that school to learn at a professional level and listen to the teachers.</p>
<p>Hope this helps you and others out. Sorry that I don’t post any more - never having been a drama mom I don’t feel that I can really give advise - this is all new to me. </p>
<p>I am happy to report that my son made the Dean’s List, was ranked very high in his boards, was selected by Mr. Hess to play a small role in the Senior play of “Our Town”, has made two radio commercials helping the tech students, and will now be in a short movie helping another tech student.</p>