<p>I'm usually a lurker here on CC, but I find I have the need to share and perhaps receive feedback from the CC MT community. My son attended a regional Theatre Conference sponsored by our state's Thespians. The conference hosted students from eight states. My S, who is a Junior, performed in the Solo Musical Theatre event which was judged by 3 adjudicators. My son was given a Superior rating, and was also chosen to perform again in the "Best of Fest" performance which closed the conference. He was also invited to go to the National Conference in Lincoln, Neb. in June, and will be performing then. </p>
<p>Here is the interesting part, my son has been planning to be a percussion major in Jazz Studies! He has loved participating in plays and musicals from elementary school on, and has had progressively larger roles in High School productions. To be honest, though he loves his drumming, he is almost always singing. He took 3 private voice lessons a year ago, but had to stop due to scheduling issues. My son's perfect world would include both instrumental music performance and MT. The plan is for him to go to the National Conference, and to also audition for the Colleges/Universities who will be there. It is an opportunity to receive feedback and to determine if he should apply/audition for MT in the Fall. </p>
<p>My question is, could he have what it takes, even though he has not received formal voice lessons? He definitely has the right mindset to be a performer, and as my moniker implies, he does not envision himself doing anything other than performing in some form or another.</p>
<p>One of my alums from JMU started as a trumpet major as a freshman before auditioning for and switching to a MT major. He had not done many shows in HS as a performer, nor had he studied voice much privately if at all. It has been seven years since he switched his major from trumpet to MT. He is currently making his Broadway debut. </p>
<p>If your son decides MT is the path he would like to follow his skills as a musician will serve him well! It is not “too late” for him to adjust his focus to MT if he so chooses.<br>
:)</p>
<p>I’ve shared this before on here and think it’s important to know: A boy who was two years ahead of my sons in HS went into college auditions with no coaching, no formal voice (just high school choir), no community theatre or professional credits (just high school plays/musicals), no acting lessons, no dance lessons. What he did have was a beautiful natural gift. He was accepted to many top MT programs at the LA Unifieds and is now a junior at Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>Northwestern recently did a mainstage show where every actor also had to play an instrument in a rock band, and an NU actor just took a break from school to tour as the lead in American Idiot and IIRC his guitar playing was viewed as a major asset by casting.</p>
<p>Many actors are also accomplished instrumentalists, so don’t assume he can’t pursue both. Congrats to him on his regional Thespian success!</p>
<p>Just the other day I heard about an Oberlin student who majored in percussion but took part in a lot of the student musicals while in college. Apparently, he was cast in the first season of Smash. I don’t watch the show, so I don’t know which character he played, but it sounds as though it is going well for him.</p>
<p>Thank you for the encouraging words. We will see where the road leads him. Right now he is one happy guy. As a matter fact, he is singing away as I write.</p>
<p>MTTwinsinCA – my daughter met the person you are referring to when she was at CMU this summer and is friends with him on facebook. He was far and away the most impressive (to her) of the acting and MT kids at CMU that performed for the pre-college kids.</p>
<p>entertainersmom, there’s nothing to prevent your son from changing focus to MT or even splitting his focus into the two areas. It is not as unusual as you may think. Most MT actors are going to also be proficient on one or more instruments, and this should be encouraged! Many of the most successful actors I know, maybe even most of them, are also passionate about their own music and songwriting. Most routinely play gigs on the nights that their shows are dark, and many have released CDs of their music. Best of luck to him!</p>
<p>You should check with any prospective school to see if they allow/encourage continuing on an instrument while in an MT program. Some do, some don’t.</p>
<p>I know Baldwin Wallace does. My D is a jazz drummer and she asked Vicky Bussert in a master class whether it was possible to continue with her instrument at BW. Vicky said they absolutely encourage kids to continue with their instruments.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information, it is good to know. I would be sad if his opportunity to drum languished. Most programs seem very intense and time consuming, which he would love, but carving time out of an already long day would be a challenge.</p>