<p>Hi!
I guess this is a FAQ but I really have no idea of which school to apply to...
I love acting, singing and dancing so much.
I want to learn lots of vocal technique, but I also want to have a good trainig in acting. I've been dancing since I was four years old, and I want to keep learning. Do these schools have good dance programs?
Thank you so muchhh!!!</p>
<p>You will find that the programs are quite different in ways that make sense. I think the best help I can give you is a shortcut to navigating where the relevant information you need is on the NYU Website (which is admittedly terrible.) That way you can explore the differences yourself and gain a sense of what the programs are about to decide which appeals to you the most. Unless things have changed, you can only apply to one of them. Good luck!</p>
<p>Here is a detailed listing of the course work for the Music Theatre emphasis at Steinhardt. As you can see, it is very voice heavy and has less emphasis on acting and dance than what you’d find at Tisch. That makes sense because the degree at Steinhardt is a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance: Specialization in Music Theatre
<a href=“http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/theatre/curriculum/undergraduate”>http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/theatre/curriculum/undergraduate</a></p>
<p>Here is an overview of the music theatre track at Tisch. I do not know if there is a year by year breakdown of the studio classes on the website. I’ve never found one but it doesn’t mean there isn’t one somewhere on the website. The degree earned at Tisch is a BFA in Theatre.
<a href=“http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_studios_nsb_mt.html”>http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_studios_nsb_mt.html</a></p>
<p>This is an overview about the New Studio on Broadway which is the music theatre studio at Tisch. You can get a sense of the philosophy and objective of the training here.
<a href=“http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_studios_nsbnew.html”>http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_studios_nsbnew.html</a></p>
<p>This is an overview of the Department of Drama at Tisch. On this page you will find a link to where you can download a PDF of the degree requirements for the BFA in Theatre.
<a href=“http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_aboutprogram.html”>http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_aboutprogram.html</a></p>
<p>This link will get you to the page where you can download the Tisch Bulletin PDF file which gives more detailed information about Tisch Drama and course descriptions. The info about the undergraduate drama program begins on page 45 of the PDF.
<a href=“Student Life”>Student Life;
<p>Thank you so much! this is exactly what I’ve been looking for but the NYU website is really confusing! 
THANKS!!</p>
<p>You are most welcome. I completely understand the confusion as the NYU website is very tough to navigate. Steinhardt’s is way easier than Tisch’s so props to them for that.</p>
<p>D had the same issue. She is now a freshman at NYUSteinhardt in MT. D is legit soprano and classically trained ballerina. Steinhardt MT is a Bachelor of Music program with the majority of the classes in voice and music. Ballet jazz tap and modern are all required. There are acting classes as well but the emphasis is on voice. Very small class with a family atmosphere. There are 16 or 17 Mt freshman and 15 classical voice who all take classes together their first two years. D is extremely happy here. But forget about sleeping</p>
<p>Tisch has several studios that you are sorted into. Only new studio on broadway is strictly mt with a freshman class of about 70 i think. You dont know which studio you will get. Tisch is huge! Either school has excellent training. Just depends on what you want.</p>
<p>New Studio on Broadway at Tisch admits 60-64 students. Studio classes are divided into 4 groups of 15-16. Though the MT program is larger in Tisch, actual class sizes I guess are smaller than in Steinhardt if the classical voice students and the MTs are together. (I don’t know but is that what you mean @Princessjpmom?) My daughter has several friends in Steinhardt and I think they have had a great experience and are extremely talented.</p>
<p>I’d never describe Tisch’s MT program as a family atmosphere. It’s a place where you go to train with remarkable and unbelievably well-credentialed instructors who care but don’t coddle and is a place where if you are lucky, you can make some wonderful friends who share your interests and who can push you artistically. As far as some of the handholding and warmth that I know exists in other programs (and may exist in Steinhardt which is lovely if that’s the case) no, that’s not an accurate description of studying MT at Tisch. </p>
<p>I have several friends whose students are in very nurturing, “we are a family” programs outside of NYC and are thriving and loving it. The students are Facebook friends with the program director and with the instructors and amazingly, so are their parents. There is actual social communication that goes on between parent and faculty. It’s one big love fest and part of me is in awe because I promise you, that would just never happen in New Studio at Tisch. The other part of me is also very much aware of what adjusting to life in the big city will look like after graduation if your destination is NYC. The competitive talent pool is huge and a thick skin to deal with it, as well as basic survival skills come in handy. The Tisch kids have had practice. </p>
<p>Again, it shows how things can and do change over the process. I would have said last year that being a part of a program with a “family” atmosphere would have been a huge priority. And don’t get me wrong, it sounds great. But now, I can see how much growing up is going on- even in these 1st few weeks, b/c NYU expects kids to handle their business. It was one of my fears, now it is one of my pluses. You never can tell</p>
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<p>I think this is an accurate depiction. My kid is a graduate of Tisch (not same studio as halflokum’s kid). There are surely strong bonds between the students and even with professors, but the students are quite independent. One thing that is unlike some programs like halflokum describes, is that the parents are not in social contact with the professors. I do think life at Tisch was great prep for life in NYC once they graduate. They have made strong connections but yet, are living life pretty independently at the same time.</p>
<p>By the way, halflokum also mentions this, when people talk about how many are in a class at a studio, and that it is large, they don’t always realize that when “in class,” there are just around 15 students. The same sort of faculty to student ratio is like at other programs. Over the four years, the students have a variety of instructors, not the same small handful. </p>
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<p>That’s really true but as a parent with a current kid in Tisch who is a couple years ahead of yours, there will be plenty of times when you are telling yourself the same thing to “talk you down” (code for "justify’) something you’ve heard from your daughter that sounds incredibly un-nurturing (not a word) which pisses you off about NYU and meanwhile your other MT parent friends will be painting a picture filled with pink ponies, butterflies and rainbows and you’ll be wishing you were them. So good that you have already got the rationalization down. It will be helpful. And then calm will be restored and you’ll be back to thinking that this early cutting your teeth thing is a good thing. </p>
<p>At the risk of telling a overly specific story about my own daughter which I’m not a fan of overdoing because it is my story and well… it’s a sample of one which may or may not have relevance to your stories and I respect that - I’m going to tell one anyway. I hope you will bear with me for the sake of this thread since it is about NYU’s two MT programs and I do have a student who is in one of them right now. </p>
<p>My daughter (Tisch junior now) this past summer took a crack at practicing life in the big city on her own as an actress. It involved numerous housing options falling through. Moves of “stuff” on subways with no one to help you which is really tricky with turnstiles. Planes trains and automobiles as far as auditions went before even getting the work. Lack of air-conditioning in the eventual place she rented. Two hostessing jobs including losing one during the peak of one of her performances for the show that they knew about and agreed to work around but then just didn’t. Two late night pick ups off of a NJ train platform by thank God… a friend of mine who was willing to get out of bed and go get her from the last train that she missed. And blah blah blah a whole bunch of stuff that will not include me saying anything about working for Tony award winning this or Broadway producer that and glamorous established pedigree anything as far as contacts go. Oh if you all could see the show that she was in at the end of the summer that was a new work from a director who has been around for 14 years and I have no idea how. It was so dreadful. But the cast was huge and amazingly talented and she had a lead whatever that meant in that weird show. The music director was fantastic (they are good people to know). None of the actors were paid. It was in a great space “off Broadway” as in a stone’s throw from but not an off Broadway house though big enough to be one. How does that even happen? Yep. Typical life in the big city and you never know what future opportunity may or may not come from having done it anyway though it SUCKED! (Sorry to my daughter if she ever reads CC and has figured out halflokum is her mother. Oh god how that show sucked… peace out.)</p>
<p>And meanwhile back in glamorville, to sum up the summer, she went on many auditions. Booked work and also a fair share of auditions that went nowhere. She got cast in an off-Broadway show which would have had her on stage right now but she opted not to do it because of school conflicts. Her summer of working two restaurant jobs plus theatre work added not a dime to her bank account but she managed to not have it go to zero either. Her whole summer practicing life in the big city was on her with the help of a kick starter from her parents because of the timing of when various things (rent) had to be paid for with deposits etc.</p>
<p>My Tisch kid who is not in a “we are a family nurturing program” pulled it off. I’m good with that. Unmatchable training for what things really may look like on the ground.</p>
<p>While I am not a proponent of “you should go to college in NYC if you are pursuing theater,” and believe you should go to the best fit program you are accepted to, there is something to be said for having gone to a program in NYC. The stories halflokum just related are part of the reason. I feel when my kid graduated Tisch, she was already acclimated to life in NYC and the transition from student to real life was pretty seamless. Also, like halflokum’s daughter, my daughter spent all but one summer of college, working in theater in NYC and so sampling life as a non-student there too. This is not for all kids. But I do think there were a lot of benefits from having gone through this type of program in NYC. Also, there is a built in network right out of the gate, right in the city, that they have been building up for four years. I don’t think this is a “must” at all, but I have observed many benefits that derive from this program and it being in the city. AND add in that the program doesn’t hold your hand or parent you in any shape or form.</p>
<p>Other side of the coin: NYC born and raised yearns for a four year experience elsewhere with all focus on education. Notes with strong interest that Jay Armstrong Johnson is a recent Steinhardt grad but still wishes to fly the coop. I firmly believe that separation is profoundly important at this age developmentally so I can’t imagine wanting to be involved with the faculty or parent body in any social way. Different strokes.</p>
<p>As so often mentioned- there is no one “best”. Not in training, or in faculty style, or campus location, or anything. @halflokum is certainly entirely correct about the idea of needing a “justification” and my husband laughed when I told him what I was writing last night. After all, I’m the one who started the “how much is too much” thread- used to not only a family atmosphere, but being a part of the process as a whole! There are pros and cons to every school, every program, every city. </p>
<p>Toowonderful . I am with you on how much is too much… Since i am from the South i will quote Scarlett O Hara. I will think about it tomorrow… Back to the subject trying to help Cla122 make an educated choice between the two NYU MTs. Why D chose to apply at Steinhardt. Tisch NSB is a fantastic program. BUT there are no guarantees that you will get NSB and may be placed in another studio with other emphases. My D is all the way MT and would not have liked or thrived in an Acting studio. Plus she is a singer, dancer. Actor in that order. Ds voice is her ticket, if there is such a thing. Her training as a dancer has been the best. Professional dance calls as singer who dances will be no problem even now as a freshman. D is classically trained in voice and can sing arias as well as MT. Steinhardt is her perfect fit. She may have done just as well in NSB but Steinhardt was the better fit for her. NYU was her dream school. Cla122 choose the program that fits your talent. If you would be just as happy in acting as Mt then Tisch may be great for you. Good luck.</p>
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<p>Wow. That leaves me speechless.</p>
<p>Just wanted to tell the truth because the struggle was real! Tisch or Steinhardt is a tough decision. D is lucky that her choice turned out to be a good one. And yes NYU does expect a lot from their students. Independence being one. I firmly believe that NYU will prepare a student for the real New York. </p>
<p>Why speechless?</p>
<p>^^Parents and faculty communicating on social media? That leaves me speechless. Why on earth would a parent need to be FB friends with their son’s or daughter’s profs? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, especially after reading about kjgc’s experiences as a prof that he mentioned about his book when he posted about it here a couple of weeks ago. Some parents are far too involved in their children’s lives.</p>
<p>Not appropriate for faculty to be ‘friends’ with students much less their parents. That’s something that most educational institutions strictly forbid.</p>
<p>Just to clarify one point about studio placement in Tisch @Princessjpmom for the sake of anyone looking at this thread. It is actually possible to guarantee that you will get the MT studio if Tisch accepts you and this has long been the case. You simply need to indicate on your application that you will only take placement in the MT studio (NSB). There are 6 primary acting studios that admit freshman and only 1 MT studio so your odds of getting into Tisch drop a lot by limiting yourself but yes, you absolutely control the studio decision as far as MT goes. What don’t control, is whether or not you’ll get admitted - at all to NYU which the same is true if you are applying to Steinhardt for MT. They are not different in that respect at all. </p>
<p>Directly from the Tisch website’s FAQ page:
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<p>Now I’m not 100% positive that last sentence is still correct. It used to be the case that if you apply to Tisch and didn’t get in artistically, you’re out for NYU entirely. Now in another place on the FAQs it says this:
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<p>To be clear though, those other schools, colleges or programs they are referring to would not include Steinhardt (or Stern School of Business.) So you can’t apply to Tisch and have Steinhardt as second choice nor vice versa. You can only schedule an artistic review for one or the other and both branches require an artistic review for admission. </p>