<p>My son has done community theater since he was 10, and I was sure he would want to study acting or musical theater in college. But his voice teacher (a former opera singer) is encouraging him to pursue vocal performance instead. My son is seriously considering it, though hes only a sophomore, and has time to change his mind. I wont stop him from following either path. But I am strangely disappointed, perhaps because I enjoy theater so much and know so little about opera or music in general. Any words of wisdom from other parents of musically inclined children?</p>
<p>Why does his teacher want him to study opera instead of musical theater? Is he more interested in classical VP?</p>
<p>My son’s voice teacher is definitely more interested in classical VP than musical theater. Does a classical voice education prepare students for anything but opera? (Not that there’s anything wrong with it.)</p>
<p>What is S’s voice type? My S is a bass-baritone and has decided to pursue classical versus musical theater because, these days, there are almost no MT roles written for his voice type (especially if you are a young white man). He still enjoys MT and would be happy to cross-over, but for college, he’s sticking with classical.</p>
<p>That’s good to know. He’s a bass-baritone, too.</p>
<p>I am not really an expert on voice training, but over the years I have been to plenty of musical theater performances and when looking at the bios of the students, have seen more then a few that had training in opera or classical voice. I would assume MT also includes things Opera may not (not sure, to be honest), on the acting side of things or prob in spoken voice (given that MT has speaking roles, Opera generally does not)…in any event, wanted to give my observation , FWIW.</p>
<p>My son started out in college in MT, not any thought given to VP. A couple of weeks into freshman year his voice teacher encouraged him to switch to VP. After a bit (IMO to little) of thought he made the switch. I hated it! He had worked so hard to become a good MT performer. I also knew nothing about opera. I said little and began to learn about opera, the art form and the business of. He never looked back, he is now a working opera singer. Best decision he ever made.</p>
<p>My daughter has been doing musical theatre since she was six, and she always assumed she would major in music theatre. But, I knew she had the voice of an opera singer, but she always said she hated opera, etc. And then her junior year, she started becoming more open to the idea of vocal performance. She really opened her horizons this summer by attending a vocal jazz camp and an opera workshop, and she really figured out that she enjoyed singing classical…and to make a long story short, she will be auditioning this year for vocal performance. And I think she will be much happier and she can still do musical theatre, if she wants, whereas you don’t see music theatre people singing opera, do you?</p>
<p>If your son believes his ultimate goal is to perform in theatre and musical theatre he would likely be better off studying musical theatre… In MT programs there is a focus on acting, dance, and ability to sing more legit through contemporary pop/ rock MT styles. MT performers these days need to be as proficient in as many MT styles as possible, and know how to create the sounds called for in all of those styles in a healthy, can perform eight shows a week, manner. Training will also include the business of making a career as a professional actor. Generally speaking, MT students need to be ready to go out into the profession immediately following graduation, while VPs go on to MMs and/or professional training programs. So, the undergraduate career prep focus is different. </p>
<p>If he is not sure, is leaning towards a career in classical music performance, and/ or wants to keep his options open, VP can be adequate training for MT. In that case he may want to look at schools where VP students can take acting and dance class, audition for musicals with MTs etc… Off the top of my head VP students at OCU and JMU have these opportunities.</p>
<p>He could also look at BM MT programs which often focus a bit more on voice and music. These students are likely to have the prerequisite musicianship background that will be needed for MM programs. If they supplement with additional foreign language, music history, Opera Lit., etc… and focus on more classical repertory in lessons, they may find themselves set up well to audition for MM programs. A few of the BM MTs I know have gone this route for graduate school auditions and were very successful. </p>
<p>You mention that your son is a sophomore, and that his teacher thinks he should pursue VP. What does your son say? As you say, he is still young and has time to continue to explore all options. A former student of mine who was VP but a theatre minor and very involved in MT and Theatre at JMU went back and forth for a couple of years as to whether to pursue the MT performance or MM graduate school route post grad. He ultimately decided that while he really likes MT, classical singing was more his passion and is now pursuing his MM in VP. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>Thank you all for the good advice! It is good to know that students in some programs can change their minds. I think it will help to visit some colleges so he can see what students in vocal performance, musical theater, and acting actually do.</p>
<p>Dcs, what state are you in? Attending a few performances and talking to students/profs may help, and posters here might be familiar with programs close to you that have strong programs. Some schools also have MT summer programs that might help him decide which path to pursue. Ex. If you live near University of Michigan, which has a strong MT program, attending a few student performances and visiting will help. They also have a vp program, but I don’t believe it’s a true opera degree officially, but I am unclear about the distinction, as they do seem to produce the occasional opera there as well (and my son, who took voice lessons as an elective to his music degree, did have to sing in French ;))</p>
<p>At any rate, let us know and maybe his true heart’s desire will be revealed to him during a few well-guided visits and observed performances.</p>
<p>I might also be tempted to have a conversation with the teacher asking about the specifics of the rationale. Sometime people see themselves in a talented student and their own young desires fuel their enthusiasms 
just sayin!</p>
<p>At Rice classical voice is the only choice (MT is not offered). Several of DD’s studio mates used the summers to round out their MT training. VP gives a singer the healthy vocal techniques that are useful throughout their careers and also the option to go in either direction. Several have pursued MT. Currently, DD’s same year studio mate is performing in the touring company of West Side Story in Europe as part of the ensemble, the off stage voice for “Somewhere”, and as understudy for Maria, with already scheduled performances in France when the primary is not available. One Studio mate dropped the BM for BA and more theater. She is a year older and is in off Broadway productions. 2 others who were younger are in grad school in NY for MT to round out their MT training. Majoring in VP does not prohibit pursuing MT.</p>
<p>Take a look at Oklahoma City University. They offer both BM in MT and BM in VP in the school of music, plus the option to do both! All voice students audition for every performance (opera and MT) and can be cast in either. Both of my kids (D1 is junior MT major and S2 will be VP) researched this school for undergrad and S2 is auditioning in 2 weeks. One of the few schools where there is a true crossover between the 2 disciplines. (They also liked JMU).</p>
<p>@kcmom13- The University of Michigan does indeed have a very fine Voice Department and offers several types of degrees in Vocal Performance. Undergraduates do not “major in opera” per se, as there is much to learn before even getting to the arias and in most top schools, undergrads would be very lucky to make it into the chorus of a fully staged opera much less have a role. Most grad degrees are also in Vocal Performance with the opera designation coming in for Artist Diplomas, etc. Slightly different in at least one UK school, where the grad students audition for the VP program and some are then “pulled” for the opera track.
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance will be putting on “Don Giovanni” in November along with the musical,“Bat Boy” and the straight plays, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Skin of Our Teeth”.</p>
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<p>My D and S both studied Vocal Performance (classical) in College. The important thing to learn right now and through college is proper technique, and voice appropriate songs (don’t push the voice too early and ruin it). Like Singersmom07 said: “VP gives a singer the healthy vocal techniques that are useful throughout their careers”</p>
<p>Note: I have heard my son’s college voice teacher comment that a student returned from a summer of doing MT, and it ruined her voice. It took a semester to restore it back to where it was. MT is a different singing technique, and it should not be mixed with classical singing. I think it is easier to sing classical, and then switch to MT. It is much harder to do the reverse.</p>
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<p>The male voice does not mature until the late 20’s/early 30’s. There is also a big change that occurs during the College years. My son’s voice teacher could not predict what my son’s voice would be. In fact, as it is maturing, there is not a consensus on what he is. The teacher said it is not unusual for a freshman to be one voice part, and graduate with a totally different voice part. As it mature further, it can change even more.</p>
<p>Is it possible that the voice teachers were VP majors themselves and are encouraging it because that is what they did, therefore, what they are familiar with or want to support? After all, it was their choice for themselves. It might be natural for them to feel it is a great choice for others.</p>
<p>This thread hits close to home. My S is a HS junior and would like to pursue a musical career, with emphasis on singing. Currently, he/we are pursuing the MT track, because husband and I feel that MT is the broader avenue, with potentially more opportunities down the road (at least, in our mind. But-- what do we really know about the road and where it will lead our son?)</p>
<p>S has kind-of signed on with our thinking, but in the back of my mind, I feel that we are pushing the MT while he would rather do vocal performance. Just yesterday, in our email inbox, was a “Welcome!” email from Shenandoah University that S had filled out. In area of interest, he filled out: Bachelor of Music Performance program with a Voice applied concentration. Not MT! <sigh> What am I to think? Here he is taking dance lessons, and working with audition/monologue coaches. Are we wasting our time/money? (I’m constantly asking myself these questions.) I look at Music programs, and I see that he needs to know musical theory and how to play the piano-- both of which he doesn’t know a lick of. </sigh></p>
<p>He loves singing, and is good at it. He was pursued by an excellent, local voice coach to be her student. His best friend is at NEC studying opera and has fallen off the face of the earth in delirium with the program. </p>
<p>He will audition for the Voice program at the Virginia Summer Governors School program, held at Radford Univ. He’s very excited about it, and we hope that he gets accepted. It will be a good taste of what’s to come in college. I just worry that this summer will be too late to make a college major change-- so much prep work is needed for auditioning for these majors.</p>
<p>My S (a HS senior) has been performing in Musical Theater since he was 8 - regional professional stuff, one national tour, etc. Thirteen years of dance lessons, acting lessons and MT coaching since he was 8, voice lessons since he was 12. And, he is planning on majoring in classical voice in college. We don’t consider any of his previous training to be “wasted.” He enjoyed what he was doing at the time and he still dabbles in MT (if the right role comes along). He worked at a summer camp as a choreographer for the last two summers and gets occasional gigs to do acting/voiceover work. It all contributes to making him very employable during college and after. His passion right now is classical, but who knows what it will be in 4 years, or 6 or 8. All training is valuable. </p>
<p>As far as piano and theory - it will help if he can start piano now and get the rudiments down, and maybe take AP Music Theory in high school - although most conservatories won’t accept it for credit, it will help with placement.</p>
<p>P.S. His current voice teacher is classically trained - sang all over Europe and US - then decided he wanted a change, now he sings pop comtemporary (think Josh Groban type) and is very happy and successful. For everything, there is a season.</p>
<p>While neither of these majors can come anywhere close to guaranteed employment after graduation, keep in mind that VP majors these days petty much have to attend grad school (as you’ve heard here, voices take a long time to mature and settle), while very, very few MT grads go on to advanced study. Due to the popularity of certain TV shows, etc, the number of MT programs has exploded and they’re turning out many more grads than there will be jobs for. A guy, in VP anyway, may have a lot more opportunities for performance opportunities. The training certainly won’t hurt him and you just don’t know where his voice will end up- I know of a guy who moved from baritone to tenor in his second year if grad school because his voice had shifted upwards. Don’t worry about music theory, he’ll have to take that no matter what happens if he goes for VP; my D had only had some basic training when she began school and has worked hard and is consistently at the top of each theory class. She took her time, and an extra semester, with piano, and finally tested out at the end of her junior year.
Having been down this road, with some of the same confusion, I know what you’re feeling, but your S has to do what feels right for him. PM me if you want to talk further!</p>
<p>One of the nearby universities is doing “Carmen” in February. My son rolled his eyes at the idea of going to see it, yet he went to see “Hello, Dolly” twice last weekend. That tells me that his voice teacher may have a tough time persuading him to become a VP major! (Or maybe he’ll fall in love with opera after seeing one. We’ll see!)</p>