<p>Hi, I have a few questions for current students/graduates/people who are familiar with Steinhardt’s MT program at NYU. How much acting training is involved? I know the focus is primarily voice but I was wondering what kind of acting courses are available. Also, are there a lot of performance opportunities even with the grad students? Thanks!</p>
<p>D is a freshman at Steinhardt---Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Theatre. She is really loving the program! Her program is probably pretty typical of most, except for a 4 credit scholars course she took in literary theory and an honors seminar once a week.</p>
<p>Private voice--one hour/week (3 credits)
Aural Comprehension--2/a week (1 credit)
Keyboarding--1/week (1 credit)
Vocal production for singer--1/week (2 credits)
Music theatre workshop (speech and diction/acting)-- 2/week (2 credits)
Music theatre workshop (dance)--2/week (1 credit)
Writing the essay--2/week (4 credits)
Literary Theory (scholars seminar)-- 4 credits</p>
<p>Also required (but no credit): New student seminar, collegium and program seminar and chamber ensemble</p>
<p>Her spring program will be similar, except for an additional class in acting and music theory. Her first semester of theory was waived. She will also be taking more dance requirements in the future.</p>
<p>To answer the rest of your questions...</p>
<p>I think a primary difference between this MT program and others is the fact that it is a BM degree. Students will take the same basic music requirements as those studying instrumentental music or music compostion throughout their 4 years at NYU.</p>
<p>Because of this emphasis and these stringent music requirements, students who apply and are admitted to Steinhardt are coming from more of a music background (with voice as their "instrument") than other MT programs. </p>
<p>Within the vocal performance major, students will have a concentration in either classical voice or music theatre. Acting, diction and dance requirements are required within these concentrations. </p>
<p>So, as the schedule above reflects, D is taking about 4 hours worth of acting/diction and 4 hours worth of dance per week. Also, an hour of private voice and an hour or so of vocal production. There is also an optional "studio" class run by voice teachers wherein students can perform works they are studying and gain input from different instructors. There are also dance classes that are required in modern dance, tap and ballet. In subsequent terms, group voice classes will also coach acting and performance.</p>
<p>As for performance opportunities, first semester freshman cannot audition for any faculty run shows. After that, all students are required to audition for shows. Vocal performance majors can be cast in either musical theatre or classical works, regardless of their concentration. In lieu of a show, all freshman VP majors were part of a new student cabaret in which each student performed a song and performed in 3 ensemble pieces. </p>
<p>Cast lists just were posted for the upcoming spring productions. Several male freshmen were cast in productions, with one male freshman getting a lead. Freshman females did not fare as well. There are, however, many undergraduate students who are cast, along with grad students. Traditionally, it is very difficult for female freshman to get cast their first year, although opportunities seem to open up as they become sophomores. Yes, the fact that lower classmen are competing with grad students will influence the outcome, but I do not think that grad students are given preference. I think casting is all talent/type based.</p>
<p>D is loving all aspects of NYU. She enjoyed all of her classes and has been very impressed with the faculty. She feels it is a very supportive, yet challenging environment. She has formed close friendships with many other VP majors (both MT and classical.)</p>
<p>If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Thank you so much!!! You have really helped a lot. Another question, though. I know it is a vocal performance major, but do students who specialize in Musical Theatre ever study/sing contemporary mt pieces or is the focus only on traditional musical theatre? Also, I just looked at the course description on the website. It seems that there are 2 straight acting classes. If they are both one semester, does this mean that you will only take straight acting classes for 1 out of 4 years? Thanks again, your information is so helpful!</p>
<p>Not sure what you were looking at on-line, but to the best of my knowledge it looks like this is the basic MT program of study concerning acting:</p>
<p>First year fall and spring semester MT students take MT: Speech and Diction I and II. (These classes meet twice a week for 2 hour sessions each.) They also take acting fundamentals in the spring.</p>
<p>Second year students take Acting: Scene Study in the fall. They also take Song Analysis which is "acting" the song.</p>
<p>Third years are required to take Acting: Character Study.</p>
<p>There are also Music Theatre workshops each term...not sure of the emphasis for each. One is called Scene Study, the other Repetoire. I would imagine that they incorporate acting and vocal skills as well as dance. Additionally, there is room in the schedule for elective credits. I'm really not sure what acting electives are offered.</p>
<p>As for vocal repetoire, that is basically worked out with one's voice teacher. I think there is definite flexibility there. However, in the course of four years students are required to study a certain number of songs in various genres for a total of 64 songs:
Art Songs and/or Arias in a foreign language : 4
American Art Songs and/or Arias : 4
British Art Songs and/or Arias : 4
Songs written prior to 1939 (Kern, Berlin, Gershwin, Arlen, Coward, Porter, Romberg, Sullivan): 12
Songs written between 1940 and 1960 (Porter, Berlin, Loesser, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, Hague, Rome, Bernstein, Rodgers & Hart) : 20
Songs written between 1960 and 1975 (Bock & Harnick, Schmidt & Jones, Leigh & Darion, Herman, Kander & Ebb): 10
1975 – present (Yeston, Sondheim, Schwartz, Brown) :10</p>
<p>Hope this answers your questions!</p>
<p>Thanks so much!!! You have really helped. I will definitely be applying to the summer program this summer. They said they will notify applicants by may 1st. I'm hoping maybe they will let me know a little bit sooner if I get my audition in soon so I can apply to more than one program.</p>