Apologies for the long post - giving context but feel free to skip to the TL/DR a few paragraphs down!
Son is going to be a HS junior next year. He’s been a standout performer and loved the stage since early childhood, but he’s on the fence about pursuing acting vs music. He knows he doesn’t want to pursue musical theater, despite having done a fair amount of it. As far as music, he has a natural ear and exceptional voice, which he’s been demonstrating for years but not received any formal instrument/orchestra instruction since elementary school. But he’s in multiple choruses as for-credit classes and keeps being recognized and awarded for his singing ability. He hasn’t had too much in the way outside training, because we haven’t had the money for that, but has a ton of talent, charisma, and drive, and we’re lucky to be in a well-off public school system with a lot of performing arts opportunities available.
He’s a self-taught piano player, which is something he took up fairly recently in part to become a better singer. And is now receiving private instruction towards an AP music theory class. His school doesn’t offer that and he felt like having a junior year AP would be a good idea (he doesn’t excel in academics subjects the way he does in the performing arts.) But also he’s taking it to try and figure out which route he wants to go for college as far as pursuing an education in acting vs music.
TL/DR:
Wondering if there are conservatory style schools that might offer the opportunity to focus on both acting and music/singing even if to a lesser extent? I know at liberal arts schools this kind of dabbling is a lot more likely, but son much prefers the idea of a conservatory style education, with less gen-ed requirements and because he likely wont have the academic numbers to get into the best lib arts theater programs.
At Hartt, during freshman year the acting majors and the MT majors take “musical theatre chorus” together, where they sing in a chorus. Acting majors also are allowed to take private singing lessons with the voice teachers (for an extra fee, but at least the option is there.)
@arkham - I have a question after reading your post. You say your son wants to study acting but he has an exceptional voice, one that regularly wins accolades. Plus he wants a conservatory program. I’d look seriously at whether he wouldn’t have a better chance of being admitted as a Vocal Performance student at a conservatory program where non-majors can take acting classes. I’d consider playing to his strongest suit in applications and make sure the voice programs he applies to have strong acting programs. The schools that come to mind are Chapman, U Az and Boston Conservatory but I’m sure there are others. Not trying to discourage your son from applying to acting, just putting it out there that Conservatory programs tend get more highly skilled and trained performers than they can accept and coming from a non-PA high school I’d want him to put his “best foot forward” in auditions.
@CaMom13 oh, that’s a very interesting idea! will talk it over with him and also see how junior year shakes up where he’s at on both fields.
i’ve been doing quite a bit of research on acting programs over the past few months. vocal performance is potentially a whole new rabbit hole to go down.
Much depends upon your financial situation! If you can full pay (or close) for college, this combination becomes easier. If not, I would very much suggest that you find a way to get him voice lessons asap… even just once or twice a month, but from a highly regarded teacher of safe and healthy, classically based singing. If your S is a truly gifted singer AND has talent, charisma and drive, the world can be his oyster!!! Many singers don’t start lessons until relatively late (compared to instrumentalists), and males, especially, are highly sought after, so you are not too late! I would look at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, which has a Conservatory and a good acting program with very good crossover and meets full-need!
@dramasopranomom we’re not in a good place as far as college finances go. i think my income will disqualify us from need based aid but there’s nowhere near enough put aside, and another kid to do this with four years behind him.
it sounds like you’re saying voice is a better path to top schools and talent based aid? i think he’s a very gifted actor as well - but probably more of a standout and more accomplished with singing so far. in vocals, most of his experience (and preference) has been with jazz/pop/rock/standards. you mention classical as the way to go. please expound. thanks!
@arkham - Not to push you to spend money but it might really benefit you to have an initial consult with one of the performing arts audition coaching folks. There are lots of threads on coaches but essentially - everyone loves the one they used. The reason I say “initial consult” is you are early enough in the process to just meet once with them get some sound advice for your particular situation about pursuing an acting vs vocal performance program. They might also know more about which types of schools offer merit scholarships. It’ll set you back some $ but that would be a good investment if it helped you orient yourself for the next year’s worth of preparation.
@arkham he is still young, but has he expressed any ideas of what he may like to do after he graduated from college.
This is a completely unfair question:-) … but, thinking about post college dreams may help focus in on theatre, music, musical theatre, etc…
Why does he not want to pursue musical theatre… completely valid not to want to… but identifying why not, or what is is about musical theatre he doesn’t want to pursue could help focus college ideas. Sometimes a high school student doesn’t want to pursue something because of the way they experience in high school, when the way it would be experiences in college, or professionally is different.
Depending on his current educational and longer range goals he may find that he can have the experiences and receive education and training in many different kinds of programs… conservatory, non-conservatory, theatre, musical theatre, music… some combination of majors and minors… attending a school where students craft their own interdisciplinary major.
It is great that he is a rising junior. So much time to explore many opportunities and be open to many options.