<p>All the audition for MT program require a monologue and a dance routine, and i cant act and i haven't dance sine 6th grade. And I'm really confused if I should go toward MT or vocal performance?</p>
<p>My daughter expressed an interest in MT in middle school and high school. Her voice teachers ignored it and would only go as far as teaching her some Gibert and Sullivan.
I encouraged her to attend a private liberal arts college because she was awarded a very generous four year vocal performance scholarship. Two years later she transferred into a conservatory MT musical theatre BFA program. I’ll be fortunate if I only have to pay for an extra year. No scholarship either, well ok a little one. So if you can, know what you want and assert yourself. I don’t totally regret her path because she recieved a great two year liberal arts background but it’s more expensive. If you are in a large enough music department you can usually dance and be part of theatre. My d’s problem was the department was so small that the classes conflicted. For instance, two years of required music theory conficted with her level of dance and you couldn’t get cast in a show without more dance than she had and you had to take music theory consecutively. After that languages, required for voice conficted with dance. And nobody cared, each dept. was in it’s own little bubble and because they used a lot of adjunct professors that taught at different universities, schedules could not be adjusted for a few students at her private liberal arts college. So if you decide on vocal performance, I would chose a big school that will allow you to learn to act and dance also. Big schools often have theatre groups as clubs that put on performances and do a great job.</p>
<p>aadelugba – what year are you in HS? I assume from your post that you are not a senior, because as a senior you probably would already have had to apply to schools (or would be completing applications as I type this ;)).</p>
<p>If you are a HS freshman - junior who is interested in applying to musical theatre programs there is no reason you cannot start developing your acting and dance skills further now.</p>
<p>There is sooooo much information on this site about summer programs, HS courses, differences between musical theatre programs… BA, BM, BFA programs, etc… that I think taking the time to search past threads may help you a lot.</p>
<p>One option you could look into is pursuing a BM in Musical Theatre… many of these programs will have a strong music emphasis, and opportunity to work on both classical and musical theatre repertory (although many BA and BFA programs will afford this opportunity as well) sometimes the audition will not include a dance component, and at a few BM programs a monologue may not be required either. Some schools that offer BM programs to look at are NYU - Steinhardt, OCU, Baldwin Wallace, James Madison, Westminster Choir College/ Rider University, University of Miami, University of FL… Plymouth State University is a BA program where students can double major in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance & Pedagogy. I am sure there are more as well – check the link towards the top of the MT forum entitled the Big List… go to the last page of the thread, since it has been updated quite a bit recently. On the Big List you will find schools organized by state. Next to each school there is an indication of the types of degrees they offer. </p>
<p>If dance is what is making you particularly nervous, you maybe would want to have a few schools on your list (regardless of degree type) that do not require a dance audition for admission.</p>
<p>If when it come times to apply and audition for schools if you are still undecided between Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre you could have a combination of schools on your list… some BM vocal performance, some BM musical theatre, some BA and some BFA schools.</p>
<p>Each program is very different. Taking the time to research programs may help you clarify the kind of undergraduate educational environment you are looking for.</p>
<p>Good luck, and happy reading :)!</p>
<p>Catholic University also offers a BM.</p>
<p>aadelugba: Take a deep breathe! 
In your post you said you can’t act. Do you think you’re not good at it, you don’t enjoy acting, or that you haven’t had much opportunity to act? If you actually don’t enjoy it and want to focus more on voice, I’d say go for VP. If you think you’re not good at it, try taking an acting class. See what your community has to offer and what you can get involved in. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I have never acted in my entire life but I’m in my school’s musical, so i know that will help alittle bit but other then that I have nothing. And I was thinking about starting classes to help with my acting and dancing but Ive heard its alittle expensive. Unfortunately i really cant afford that right now.</p>
<p>You never mentioned what year are you in HS? </p>
<p>There are many people who gain admission to BA/ BFA/ BM MT programs who have not taken acting classes outside of school. If you can find a way to take dance or acting in or outside of school before you audition for programs, Great! But, take advantage of all the opportunities that you can afford… :)</p>
<p>Oh sorry i forgot mention that I’m a junior</p>
<p>I would think if you do want to go for MT, as a HS Junior, you need to be working on all your skills to get into an MT program. Singing, dancing and acting are all important. I understand that some people say try for a program without a dance audition if you’ve had little dance experience, but truthfully, if you want to work in MT I think you need to know how to dance too! It’s time to decide which direction you’re going to go and start preparing yourself for it whether it’s Vocal Performance or Musical Theatre. Preparation is the key to success in whatever you decide to do. Good luck!</p>
<p>^^I agree with you completely that anyone who wants to work in musical theatre should work on their dance – the sooner the better! Same with the acting piece of the puzzle. Musical Theatre is a competitive career (as is classical VP – where acting and movement skills are now also a huge part of the total package) and the more varied a performers skills, the more work for which they are able to audition. </p>
<p>If the OP is not as strong a dancer he or she may find more success with programs that do not have a dance component to the audition, or where music is more of the emphasis of the program. There are some MT programs that seem to focus more strongly on the music/ voice side of musical theatre. Some programs may not have a dance audition as part of the process, but have a placement audition for admitted students in the fall of freshman year. </p>
<p>Depending on the type of program the OP may be able to pursue both possibilities at the undergraduate level. In the BM MT program through the School of Music where I teach in the BA MT program in the School of Theatre & Dance there are students in the BM MT program who take additional foreign language and opera lit. who are competitive for MM VP program admissions. There probably are a few other programs that are similar, or where one can double major in VP and MT… I think OCU may be like that. I cannot remember for sure.</p>
<p>As KABee says – preparation IS key – if you want to audition for VP or MT programs you will need to start working hard on your skills now.</p>
<p>Dance and acting classes can be expensive. But you can sometimes be creative and find lower cost options. See if your local community college offers these, especially if your school offers dual credit and you can take them for free. You may also be able to find pay as you go classes at local community theatres or nonprofit dance companies. My D has taken some great classes this way. </p>
<p>And the audition process for MT programs is stressful, so try and give yourself opportunties to audition now. Local community theatres, student films, anything where you have to prep and then follow through on an audition. The more you do it, the “easier” it gets (or so my D tells me!)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much everybody, it really helped.</p>