<p>Permit me to begin this post by saying I don't wish to detract from anyone who has taken another route to MT through their high school experiences. I have read many, many posts here regarding the experiences many students have undertaken in order to nurture their up and coming talents - most of them involve summer pre-college programs for several weeks. Sometimes (but not for too long), I've felt neglectful as a mother who is not even willing to consider these programs for my daughter, and wonder, "If she is not accepted into an audition-based program, is it my fault for not providing this for her" (although I did briefly consider NU Cherub program, but only because it's 45 minutes from home). However, she is busy this summer - with a 30-hour a week job; taking four dance classes a week, voice lessons, and tomorrow we start with an audition coach (thanks CoachC for your wisdom regarding the audition coach). But the bulk of my daughter's "performance" experience has come from show choir. I don't see that mentioned much on here, and I realize students that participate in show choir must sacrifice time they might otherwise be able to devote to other activities that also nurture their gifts. </p>
<p>So, on another web site that I follow (showchoir.com), I read this post today that made my day. It really affirms the experience show choir can provide for the stage performer. So... I share it with you:::::::</p>
<p>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</p>
<p>Last night I received a delightful message on YouTube from a Broadway actor named John Paul Almon. I've debated whether to post it on here and have come to the conclusion to do so. He really seems to be addressing the show choir community as a whole moreso than me personally. It's wonderful to know that show choir can be and is appreciated by those in professional theatre. </p>
<p>QUOTE
I am not certain who will receive this email, but, I stumbled upon many of your concert videos on you tube.com and felt compelled to write. My name is John Paul Almon and I am an actor who has appeared on Broadway in 'Parade', 'Side Show' 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and recently did 'Candide' at Lincoln Center. I am amazed at how incredible your show choirs are.The talent and programs I viewed were truly exceptional. I will tell Henry Kreiger and Bill Russell how wonderful the 'Devil' number was . I have recently been working with Linda Eder on a new musical and we have spoken about how valuable music is in our lives. I know that your school and administration and entire community must feel blessed to have such a creative team of directors and such a dedicated group of students. The Broadway community would be lucky to have many of your voices here and your enthusiasm is inspiring. I just wanted to write to say congratulations. I hope my travels will bring me to one of your concerts at some point in the near future.
Warm Regards, John Paul Almon</p>
<ul>
<li>The "Devil" number he's referring to is a video I posted of Lafayette Jefferson </li>
<li>Henry Krieger wrote the music to Side Show and Bill Russell wrote the book/lyrics.</li>
</ul>
<p>Teri,
There are so so so many variations of what kids do growing up and in HS who eventually go into Musical Theater in college. There is no one right recipe for what experiences you must have. Pre college programs are not necessary. They are great if you want that experience, for sure. But there are many kinds of experiences that help a young person grow their skills. I think that training in voice, dance and acting is necessary but can be achieved through many different avenues. As well, I believe experiences on stage in productions are valuable. Again, those can be of different sorts. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, we do not have show choir here. I hadn't heard of show choir until my D had some friends from the midwest (whom she knew through her theater camp). I guess it is big in that area. I learned what it was about and thought how great that must be! I wish we had it here. I know one good friend my D went to camp with for years who is from the midwest who did showchoir in HS (that's where I first heard of it). This girl went onto CAP21 at NYU/Tisch, just graduated, and in fact, was just cast as the understudy for the role of Olive in the first National Tour that starts soon of Spelling Bee. Now, Showchoir is not the ONLY thing she did in HS. I know that she did not do her school musicals. She did other musical theater in her area and she also went to summer theater camp that my D went to. She took voice and dance a lot where she lived. </p>
<p>Each kid will have different sorts of experiences. Also, the opportunities available where one lives will vary with what another kid had. Some have performing arts public schools where they live. We don't have any. Some public schools have drama departments with classes. We don't. Some have youth theater companies where they live. We don't. Some have show choir. We don't. Some live where there are many theaters to audition at but we don't. Just seek out training and performing experiences that are valuable where you llive. No one way is the right way. Frankly, if we had show choir here, I am sure my D would have wanted to participate. We have regular choir plus select choir, both of which she was in for years. They were just the normal sorts of choirs. While we don't have show choir and surely no competition oriented things like that....my D did created her own opportunities for herself and others but creating and directing and performing in musical theater cabarets for two years at her school, which had never been done before. I have a feeling that that sort of thing has some overlaps with showchoir though I have never seen a showchoir actually, but I know it involves blocked and choreographed musical numbers. While show choir sounds like an excellent musical experience and performance experience, it likely would be also beneficial to do actual musical theater productions or plays as the portrayal of characters and script is not part of show choir. It need not be either/or but sometimes having a variety of experiences is good too as each has something different to offer.</p>
<p>terriwtt-Thanks for sharing that! It's wonderful to get terrific feedback from someone "in the business". Sort of validates all the hard work these kids put into everything they do. As they say, there are many ways to skin a cat...that's true in this business as well. As long as you're working at your craft, it doesn't have to be in one, particular direction. Best of luck!</p>
<p>FYI, show choirs are HUGE in the midwest. I know first hand as my Ss were show choir members when their school began competing in their senior year. The shows these choirs put together were astounding. Much like mini Vegas showcases with costume changes, special effects, and lots of props. All GLITZ!! At some competitions they also offered solo competitions. The top 3 would be announced at the end of the day and would be asked to sing at the final showcase. It is an all day affair.</p>
<p>Before Ss' high school began doing show choirs they performed in jazz choirs which went east for competitions. Personally speaking I preferred the jazz choirs. I know I am in the minority as most people enjoy the show choir competitions vs old jazz....but that's me. Some of the show choirs become a bit cultish and I happen to prefer things simple. MHO....that's all....perhaps a different perspective.</p>
<p>5Pants, I haven't ever seen ShowChoirs. Actually the whole competition type of thing is not big in my neck of the woods. Besides Show Choir, I have read about things on CC like Thespian competitions and dance competitions. Things are so regional. Here, there are not these sorts of competitions. My D's dance troupe was a repertory troupe at our studio but no competition involved. We don't have competitions in theater or state theater awards or Cappies. No Show Choir. It is all so different but I love reading about what goes on in other areas of the country. </p>
<p>I have to say we do have jazz here. In fact, our school is very strong at jazz band. Both my D's used to play piano in jazz band. Last year, my D became the vocalist with the jazz band. Of course that is very different than musical theater repetoire. Actually, they were set to enter some jazz band competition thing at Berkelee College in Boston last year and there was some mix up with the teacher entering the school by the deadline and so they were unable to go. The day they were supposed to be there was the day of my D's car crash and she always talks with the "what ifs" and how she should have been in Boston in the jazz festival competition and then this never would have happened! Anyway, she graduated early but this past year when she was no longer there, the school did enter and won. While we don't have competitions, we have adjudicated things like All States and Regionals that you get selected for. There are scholarship competitions in music. That is not quite the same as a competition though, but my D won a State Scholarship for Jazz as a vocalist but was in the same category as the instrumentalists. Anyway, jazz is big here. Nothing like what I am reading about with show choir and all. There is no glitz to it. And it is almost all instrumental. Actually, Teri, as you can see, kids have varied experiences (that's the point) like my D was involved in jazz band even though she went into MT.</p>
<p>Wow. Lafayette Jeff. I went there and was in one of their show choirs. The program really is top-notch. I do remember their Side Show set from a few years back, it was very very good.</p>
<p>My D was the first 9th grader to ever be acepted into her school's Show Choir (which was being completely remvamped) and has just completed her first year- had a blast! It is an all-girls school and they chose to head to Williamsburg,VA and compete in their big festival, winning first place in the Show Choir and Women's Choir groups. It seems to be a good way to gain ensemble experience as all the kids are not at the same level, either vocally or dance-wise (my D is a singer), so they all learn from each other and learn to "blend" when they have to. I would definitely reccomend the experience!</p>
<p>Show choir is amazing!! Aside from tons of performing in shows, it is my only music training if that makes sense. We practice sight-reading (especially for all-state auditions) and learn tons of new pieces. Since singing is my "forte", I LOVE IT...And most of the people in it are the same people that do all of the musicals. We have after school "Advanced Drama" and after school "Show Choir".. Both are honors courses and very selective > Most of the show casting comes from these 2 groups.</p>