Vocal Performance if one want's to do musical theatre?

<p>x-posted in Music forum:
My love has always been singing, and i feel that like ballet is the backbone of all dance, classical singing is the backbone of singing. If you can sing classicaly , you can sing anything. My dilemma. My passions is musical theatre, but one of my top choices is Lawrence, where they have a very well regarded conservatory. If i want to go into musical theatre would it be a detriment to get a degree in vocal performance where most everyone wants to be an opera singer? The Laurey in the production of Oklahoma I am in got her degree in vocal performance at BU, as did alot of the cast. I mean Lawrence does put on two musicals a year, one mainstage, one student run, so I would def. participate in those. Any words of advice etc.?</p>

<p>Kristin Chenoweth & Kelly O'Hara both have degrees in vocal performance (not MT) from OCU. I don't necessarily think VP means you have to sing opera. Your question was would it be a detriment to get a degree in VP, and I would say no.</p>

<p>Worked pretty well for Audra McDonald as well :)</p>

<p>Kristen Chenoweth has a Undergrad in MT and a graduate in Opera</p>

<p>My D selected 1/2 her schools in music theatre and the other 1/2 in vocal performance. She even found some performance degrees that have an emphasis in music theatre.</p>

<p>While everyone considers Baldwin-Wallace to be an actual Music Theatre degree... It is technically a vocal performance degree with a music theatre emphasis.</p>

<p>I am interested in what rglick posted. My daughter, a hs junior, is a good actor and dancer, but her strength is voice. She is interested in applying to Shenandoah, OCU and Baldwin-Wallace. A big reason is their strong emphasis with voice. </p>

<p>Two questions: </p>

<ol>
<li> Can you apply to both VP and MT at these schools? Can you go on one audition day and audition in both areas? Even though my daughter loves MT, she would be interested in VP, especially if she gets into a better program in VP rather than MT.</li>
<li> What other schools should we consider with a good MT program that is also known for outstanding VP programs?<br></li>
</ol>

<p>I appreciate the info that we get from CC. There is no other site like it!</p>

<p>henrob, my D's strength is also voice. I know 2 years ago at OCU, she auditioned VP and was admitted, and was told (after she inquired) that she could choose either VP or MT. She chose MT because she wanted more dance and acting than the VP curriculum included. OCU is very classically based. Even for MT majors, the junior recital is required to be classical. I also think she can audition for both at the same time, but you would need to contact the school to be sure. Of course, things could have changed since two years ago. I don't know about the other schools on your list.</p>

<p>Henrob, I am not sure, but I do believe they require separate applications with these two programs, and then possibly depending on the program, they might be flexible with scheduling audtions, but I would definitley ask admissions beforehand. Scheduling 2 auditions is not for the faint of heart if you have to attend different dates for the same school! Yikes!</p>

<p>Henrob,
Just thought I might mention that students who audition for the BM in MT (not the BFA, which is also offered) at Florida State are automatically considered for the BM in voice. So, if your D did not get accepted into the MT program she could possibly be offered a place in the classical voice program. Two auditions would not be necessary.</p>

<p>FSU's MT vocal training encompasses both MT literature and classical literature. Students work on both every semester.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Just thought I might mention that students who audition for the BM in MT (not the BFA, which is also offered) at Florida State are automatically considered for the BM in voice. So, if your D did not get accepted into the MT program she could possibly be offered a place in the classical voice program. Two auditions would not be necessary.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>I have to post a quick correction. Students who audition for the BM in MT are NOT eligible for Vocal Performance also with one audition. They do perform a classical selection for possible admission into the College of Music if they are not admitted to MT, but it is admission to the BA program in music. In the BA program students are eligible to major in subjects such as Music Education or Music Therapy. All of the BM performance majors in the College of Music require a separate audition. That said.... several of the audition days for both majors are on the same day so it is very easy for a candidate to schedule both in the same day. We have many students who do that.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
FSU's MT vocal training encompasses both MT literature and classical literature. Students work on both every semester.

[/QUOTE]

This is exactly right - Dr. Seaton is equally accomplished in classical and music theatre repertoire, and requires students to master both.</p>

<p>All4FSU,</p>

<p>Thanks for the correction. Sorry I didn't have all of my facts straight!</p>

<p>What about Berklee for a vocal performance major? Any good for MT?</p>

<p>I'm no expert, I hear that Berklee is great for voice, several Emerson students have chosen to take classes there so I have heard, but they have no MT program. I'm guessing there is no dance there, could be wrong, and I think thir voice is more rock/jazz/pop/emphahsis than MT, but probably quite good.</p>

<p>Well, with one of my safety schools, they have a VERY weak MT program, but their BM music program is one of the best in the state, so if I went there, I would be a music performance major with probably a dance minor, and transfer in a few years once I get more experience.</p>

<p>Well I am back. As I was talking to the students alot are doing voice and double degree in theatre, and there are many oppurtunites for straight plays, opera and musicals. In fact they just had audition for "Working" which they will put on in April. Alot of the kids I talked to that were seniors in the vocal major were headed to grad school for musical theatre, so I thought that was a good sign lol.</p>