<p>I have a major dilemma! I have been a CC member for several years and I thought I had made up my mind about my first year of college. I was planning on going to the University at Buffalo and working in the theatre department for a year and auditioning for the musical theatre department after my freshman year, when I got more experience under my wing.
Then about a week ago, I received an email from UB urging me to apply for the Millonzi arts scholarship. The scholarship requires that I audition for the department right away. I called the MT department. The woman told me that she highly suggests that I audition right away, on February 14th, IN TWO WEEKS!!! </p>
<p>I have decided to go for it, but I am pretty alone in the process. My school councilor knows NOTHING about MT, and even several of my voice coaches don't understand. My parents are supportive, but they get confused every time I try to explain the process to them. </p>
<p>I need two contrasting songs. I understand that you shouldn't choose a Sondheim, a recent Broadway song, a classic, etc. I also understand how extremely difficult it is to advise someone about song choices over the internet. I have come across so many "Do Not" lists, and due to lack of time, I would like to compile a "Possibly do" list. I asked several of my vocal teachers to help me choose a song, and they both gave me songs from the DO NOT list. They understand the process less than I do.If I have song options, I can work on them to find a good fit. what are some UNDERDONE, LESSER-KNOWN songs? (I'm a lyric soprano, btw.)</p>
<p>I also need help on a resume, headshot, and monologue, but right now the songs are my top priority.</p>
<p>I NEED YOU, CC family! I am determined to conquer this audition!</p>
<p>With this short of a period of time I would choose songs you are already familiar and comfortable with if possible even if they are on some lists of overused songs. You will find throughout CC stories of people who got in singing some of the most well known songs. If University of Buffalo has a “do not use” list, pay attention to it. But I would not worry at this point about the generic “do not use” lists that are out there. Given you have such a short timeframe to get ready, I think the big thing is to make sure you choose something you are comfortable with and do well whether its on one of those lists or not. </p>
<p>Most important, choose a song that shows off YOU - who you are as a person. Are you quirky? Funny? Sweet? A tomboy? Choose a song that feels natural to you, even if it’s overdone. The auditioners may have heard that song a lot, but they haven’t heard it the way you do it. Also, an audition like this is NOT the time to try to impress them with the extreme ends of your vocal range. The stresses of the day, your health, the weather, the alignment of the stars. . . Could all take their toll in an audition environment. Don’t make your song choice one of the “unknowns”. You want to feel like you own the world when you walk into that room. In the same vein, don’t feel like you have to dress to impress. Wear professional looking, COMFORTABLE clothing and SHOES that allow you to move with ease and portray the character who is singing that song. Whatever song you choose, do it in your voice, not an imitation of someone else’s. Just in case no one has mentioned this to you, there are generally no props allowed - except perhaps a chair. Also, most programs say “no dance steps or choreography”. That said, you might want to find an acting “coach” who can help you portray the song’s character through the movement of your body. Most typical voice teachers do not know how to do this. Above all, do not stress. You have been given a VERY short time frame. Control what you can and let the chips fall where they may. Good luck.</p>
<p>@vvnstar and mom4bwayboy, thank you so much for your advice! I see that it is more important to own your song than to sing something unknown. However, even though I only have a short time frame, I will not give myself an excuse to have anything less than a great audition, so I am continuing to look for two contrasting songs, but does anyone have any song ideas that I can try? I will make sure they fit my voice, of course. I heard that Fred Silver’s book has a good list? Does anyone have it? I need to buy the sheet music in about a day!</p>
<p>What are the songs from the “DO NOT” list, that were suggested by your voice teacher?</p>
<p>Do they want a complete song, or only 16 or 32 bars? Do you have the sheet music in the right key? All these are important with your short time frame.</p>
<p>I need two contrasting songs of no more than 32 bars. I have searched all night and I have found several songs. For my up tempo, I thought “Gimme Gimme” from Thoroughly Modern Millie. I am more of a lyric singer, but my strength is acting the song, so my songs must allow me to showcase that. For my other song, I thought “Someone Else’s Story” from Chess. However, since I am unquestionably a soprano, I would have it transposed. Do you think these are contrasting enough? I know you can’t hear me sing them, but are these songs pretty good options if I can make them my own and own them? Also, I know someone who can transpose for me, but would he write it on my music using a separate color? What is acceptable for the audition?</p>
<p>For transposition, it depends on how he works. Usually nowadays software is used – my son does this for people as a business, starting with scans of the sheet music, which he digitizes, makes any changes necessary, and then prints out the new version and also generates MP3 backing tracks! But some talented pianists just transpose while they play. I think there is also a way a pianist with the right equipment can play the accompaniment in the original key, and the software will transpose without digitizing the sheet music.</p>
<p>I’m inclined to advise you to go with what your voice teacher recommends, because he or she presumably thinks you sing those songs well. The “DO NOT” list is not definitive. (Except for “Defying Gravity.” Don’t do that one.)</p>
<p>Also check out The Unified Facebook group. It is for us going through the process and you might be able to find someone on that page who knows more info about the school or even goes there. Also sometimes those people might listen to your material and give some feedback if you find/ask the right person. Also they are all very nice and helpful, I’ve had nothing but good experiences with current students. Also you might get more help in relation to material suggestions if you are still looking because they can see what you look like.</p>
<p>@Bwaydreamer, do you think those are good choices because you already know them and are under the gun or would you have to learn them? If you know them and the best you can do with the time you have is to perfect them, go for it, Go for both of them.</p>
<p>But if you do have to work on songs and learn new ones, I’d avoid “Gimme Gimme” for sure. At college auditions, that is a very popular song. I would also not transpose Someone Else’s Story… a soprano should be able to stay in their head voice and sing it as written. </p>
<p>I think Prodesse’s advice about going with your voice teacher recommendations … even if they are on the “do not list” is a good idea if she has vetted that those songs really are suited for your voice. Unless we are talking back to back Disney princess sort of things which I’m fairly sure would not be appreciated by any college. What songs is she recommending for you? </p>
<p>I think I will do “I ain’t down yet” from The Unsinkable Molly Brown instead of “gimme Gimme.” I can really belt that one out. Is a nice senior portrait ok for my headshot? </p>
<p>yes. use your senior portrait. You need to triage what you can do vs. what you can’t and your picture isn’t the hill to die on. There are plenty of kids that go off to college auditions with headshots that were shot in their backyards by their parents… ummm… like mine.</p>
<p>I am going to sing “Someone Else’s Story” from Chess. I know it was suggested not to transpose it, but my teacher and I decided that it sounded much better transposed. </p>
<p>So I am putting together my Performing Arts Profile. These are the requirements directly from the site:</p>
<p>Performing Arts Profile:</p>
<p>Prospective MUSIC THEATRE students are required to bring a PERFORMING ARTS PROFILE with them to the audition. This profile should be clearly labeled with the student’s name and should include:</p>
<p>Training History </p>
<p>Dance students - two references (names and addresses only)
Music Theatre students - two reference letters that include the references’ contact information </p>
<p>3" x 5" or larger photo - head shot or dance pose</p>
<p>Music Theatre Students only - resume of production/performance experience</p>
<p>HOW SHOULD I ORGANIZE MY PROFILE? SHOULD I PUT EVERYTHING IN A FOLDER? A BINDER? PROTECTIVE COVERS? HOW DO I LIST MY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE? PLEASE HELP! Thank you!</p>
<p>If you google “musical theater student resume” you will come up with some sources for good advice. Some of the sites (the first one that popped up for me) had a great sample. These requirements are a little different than what most auditioning schools ask for, as usually most of this has already been sent in, except for a head shot stapled to the back of a resume. So, I would think that putting your training history and productions, etc. on your resume, then having your headshot/senior photo (8 by 10 if you can) and then your career goal statement and reference letters, all printed out on separate pages would be great if put into protective covers from which they can easily be pulled out in a ‘presentation folder’ from your local office store would be fine. You might think about putting a copy of your photo on the front cover with your name and contact info and then another one inside.</p>
<p>Thank you @christie2 ! Can I type my resume/ performance experience and training in Microsoft Word? Is there any software I can use to make it? Also, since my headshot is my Senior portrait, will I be able to get it duplicated, and how do I put my name and contact info on it?</p>
<p>Yes, you can use Word and just play with font sizes. You should contact your photographer if you don’t already have your photo digital and see if you can talk her into sending you one image only so you can blow it up and print it out on photo paper. You do not need to put your name and contact info on it, just on a card that you could slip into the front cover also, and then put you info on the top of your resume, also. If the photographer won’t give you a digital image to print, just take a couple you already have printed with you, if you have extras. I doubt that they will care about the size.</p>