<p>Can anyone tell me what they know about their classical voice/opera programs?</p>
<p>NYU is NOT known for their VP program much less opera. Itâs their MT division thatâs top notch. What are you looking for in a school? Size, location, undergrad vs. grad, peformance-based? Youâll get a lot of feedback here because a lot of the posters and their parents, have just gone through the application, audition and acceptance process, so things are still fresh. Give us some parameters to work with1</p>
<p>Well I am a junior applying for undergrad next year and I have been studying classical voice. I want to be at a large school. The reason I ask about those two is because I would prefer to be in New York or L.A. I want to be somewhere that there is a big performance scene in general because I am also a dancer and I act. I realize dancing and opera donât really mix but Iâm not really sure what I want to do but opera will probably be my foot into the door. My voice teacher is saying Jacobs School of Music is where I should want to go but location wise itâs not ideal⊠I know MT is strong at NYU but I have heard their voice is as wellâŠthatâs why I asked.</p>
<p>Maybe someone on the thread is going there for Classical voice next year?</p>
<p>Sweinerâlook into UCLA as well. They have had a substantial infusion of cash and the Herb Alpert School of Music (yesâheâs the donor of the $30 mil+) is looking very strong right now. They also have a strong dance dept and MT (both of which are very competitive and separate from the School of Music)
A good teacher at USC is Elizabeth Hynes(sp?) and at UCLAâGiuliana Gondek and Michael Dean.</p>
<p>sweiner â</p>
<p>If you can get beyond the where you want to go to school ⊠look into Oklahoma City University. Their classical voice, vp, mt and dance departments are all very strong â and its one of the few places where there is a lot of fluidity between the different departments. Every VP or MT student is required to try out for every MT/opera production. They apparently have a wonderful network into the NYC stage/musical scene, with a good record of placement. </p>
<p>It is most emphatically NOT LA or NYC ⊠but I would consider it a solid training ground.</p>
<p>Please donât think Iâm picking on you, sweiner, but please think of expanding your horizons outside of either coast.Take it from someone who once upon a time, thought that life ended on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel- there IS a world outside of NYC! I have seen this precise demand force otherwise talented kids into looking into taking a gap year just becuase they didnât get into a school in a major urban location. While that may be OK for some, for others it could prove lethal. Do your research. Acting is incorporated into many VP curriculums at conservatories, as is dance, CIM being one which requires acting, modern dance and Eurythmics of all of the voice students. Cleveland may not be Manhattan, but it has a vibrant and expanding music scene and has first class facilities in Severance Hall and in the Playhouse Square Center. As far as NY goes, there are other schools besides Julliard and NYU,look at Mannes and MSM. You may not want to consider schools other than in NY or LA, but you will be doing yourself a disservice.</p>
<p>Mezzo, well said!</p>
<p>Also, a big school may not be the best choice for your undergrad pursuit. You have time to sort things out, and research, so do take advantage of that to read up on the different schools â and especially visit them.</p>
<p>sweinerâŠD is a VP major at NYU and the program is far from weak on any levelâŠboth academic and perfomance. She just completed her freshman year and the program exceeded her expectations if anything.</p>
<p>NYU Steinhardtâs Vocal Perfomance major offers two tracksâŠclassical voice and musical theatre. The vocal technique taught is classically based and both tracks share the same voice teachers. Many classes are the same and classical voice has an acting and dance component to the program. The VP major leads to a BM degree.</p>
<p>NYU also offers a BFA through Tisch. This is probably what mezzomama is referring to when she speaks of a MT major. It is a theatre degree and study is done in the CAP 21 studio.</p>
<p>Donât go by what anyone says on the web, least of all someone who does not attend the program or really know what it is (ahem, mezzomama!) Research the program on your own and see if it meets your requirements. If possible, visit and take a sample voice lesson.</p>
<p>But certainly NYUâs VP options are worth the time and should not be pushed aside based on one personâs opinion.</p>
<p>uskoolfish, what I said about NYUâs VP program came from the D of a friend who transferred from NYU to elsewhere because she felt that she was not challenged in their VP program, so Iâm not sure that you could really say that (I) donât âreally know what it isâ. I donât want to argue with you, or anyone, but having known kids in several of the BFA peforming arts majors (and studios) at NYU- a couple of which are very good friends of my D- I do know a bit about the school. The academic requirements are certainly important there, but for many students, programs that share teaching faculty between VP and MT may not be the optimum. I would suggest that the OP visit the school and take a lesson with any teacher she may be interested in, and that goes for any school. My main concern was that she not limit herself to only looking on either coast because there are so many great schools outside of LA and NYC. Iâm glad that your D is happy at NYU- thatâs the most important thing, isnât it? Would you please share with us some of the performace opportunities that she has at NYU?</p>
<p>The Steinhardt Vocal Performance program is totally separate from any BFA program that NYU offers. It is housed in their school of music. When you speak of your Dâs friendâs studios, you must be referring to Tisch. They share none of the same faculty and have totally different facilities and programs. </p>
<p>Was the student who transferred out of VP unchallenged and unhappy with her voice teacher? I cannot imagine her issue was with NYUâs music classes in general, ie: theory, aural training, keyboarding, etc. They seem quite professionally taught and are the same classes taken by all music majors at NYU. I would imagine that there can be an ill-fit between a voice teacher and student in any school. Did the student attempt to change teacherâs in order to address this problem?</p>
<p>As a VP major there are 2 tracksâŠeither Classical or MT. Both are taught by the same professors who approach singing from a classical perspective. The classical student is not in any way effected by the fact that some students have a repetoire that is more music theatre based. If anything, it goes the other way. The faculty does not do a lot of modern musicals and belting is outâŠunaccepted. At times, this frustrates MT students who feel that on audtiions, belting and more modern music is a necessary âevilâ.</p>
<p>As for performance opportunities, first semester freshman cannot audition for shows, but can help on crew, etc. All VP majors put on a showcase at the end of the first semesterâŠindividual songs by each student and several group numbers are performed. A special VP choir has been started for freshman who perform classical repetoire and all VP students perform in it.</p>
<p>In her second semester, all students can audition for all shows, both classical and MT. There are full-blown productions and some smaller productions. In addition, there are several student run productions that are generally associated with faculty on some level, as well. D performed in one show and ASMâed and stage managed another. Today I attended a scene study presentation at the black box theatre for an acting class she had this term (before I began moving D out.) It was excellent and the VP majors are a very talented bunch. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that everyoneâs experience is different. D has studied voice in the NY area for years, and in her experience the NYU faculty that she has worked with is top notch. She has studied both classical and MT repetoire and is very happy with her voice teacher and plans to stay with her. The instruction has been in-line with how she has been taught prior to attending the school, yet she feels she has really grown this year as a performer on all levels.</p>
<p>NYU is not for everyone. Tischâs program is definitly better known than their VP program, but the director of the program for the last 6 years or so has really done a great job. Last year their yield was much higher than expected. Iâm not sure of the classical voice numbers, but I know that all but 2 students offered spots in MT ended up there. And many of them turned down excellent programs to attend.</p>
<p>Good luck to yor D as she begins college. I hope she is as happy as my D at the end of her frist year. As parents, that is the msot we can wish for!</p>
<p>I think it was a case of a girl who had been the âstarâ at home and was suddenly in a much bigger pond! She did attempt to change teachers, but whether the school did not permit it or she went about it wrong is anyoneâs guess. You made a good point about not being allowed to audition for the shows and I think that may have been an issue too. Is the VP choir new? I donât believe that was an option then. Yet another girl from the same high school was in CAP21 (MT) and ended up in trouble because she auditioned for a bit part in a TV show at an open call! These were kids from a small city who were not used to all the opportunities presented to them in an environment like NY and they may just have had a really hard time adjusting. Their school now has placed at least 4 others at NYU, but all of these have gone either the straight Drama route or the NYU 3 yr.MT certificate (do you know anything about that? Do those students also use the same faculty as the VP majors?). Do you have a link that describes the courses for the VP major at NYU as I am now interested in knowing more about it from someone who is obviously more familiar and who also is approaching it from a positive viewpoint.What are the performance ops for them and does the major include classes such as acting, dance? Thanks for clarifying and Iâm glad that your D has had a great year!</p>
<p>[Music</a> Theatre - NYU Steinhardt](<a href=âhttp://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/theatre]Musicâ>Vocal Performance | NYU Steinhardt)</p>
<p>Here is the link to vocal performance at NYU Steinhardt. This is showing the Musical Theatre track. There is also a Classical Voice track with somewhat differing requirements, leading to the same degree (BM in Vocal performance).</p>
<p>To note, the musical theatre workshops which are listed under currriculum offer speech, diction, acting and dance, in addition to classes labeled as acting and dance.</p>
<p>I am not sure what the â3 year MT certificateâ is that you are referring to. I know that CAP21 is a 3 1/2 year studio program within TischâŠit is one studio option that leads to their 4 year BFA degree in drama. To my knowledge, CAP 21 at Tisch and the VP programâs MT track in Steinhardt are NYUâs 2 primary musical theatre tracks.</p>
<p>Hey there yall! Iâm graduating Spring '10, with my undergrad, from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Looking at grad schools. My GPA is iffy, (high 2-low 3) as I was more concerned with partying through my earlier years in college. As a result of this GPA, I am hoping to find a good mid-level program that will accept me, for my grad work. Any recommendation on good mid-level programs?</p>
<p>I have done work with San Antonio Opera with a few comprimario roles and as a leader in the chorus, and have entertained a number of leads at the university level. Have worked in both opera and musical theater, but am looking to focus on a career in opera, primarily. Currently working two operas.</p>
<p>I have been doing my research, and am aware of the âbig programsâ, (Indiana, Peabody, Juilliard, NE Cons., Curtis, etc.) but am sure there a number of fantastic ones that fall under the radar. </p>
<p>Any advice is greatly appreciated 
If you could supplement your advice with your own personal experience, as a musician, that would be cool. I love to meet new musicians and network!</p>
<p>One I would consider would be SUNY Purchase. On par with ANY voice program.</p>
<p>The SUNY Purchase program is not without itâs detractors. The Hamilton/Trussel technique stirs heated debate among singers, current and former students. In a situation like that, sample lessons are perhaps even more important.</p>
<p>Very diplomatically put, cartera45, and an important point.</p>
<p>cartera45 or sop14 could you explain a little bit more about the technique at Purchase and why it stirs debate? I googled the program, but it was just the blurb put out by the school.</p>
<p>Try searching the New Forum for Classical Singers.</p>
<p>The controversial technique is not taught by all of the teachers thereâŠMy daughter had sample lessons with one of the other teachers there and loved herâŠ(In fact almost took a gap year to study privately with her).</p>