<p>S is attending the Audition Preparation Camp at Indiana University next week. They just sent an email suggesting he bring along his resume so they can work on them. </p>
<p>What is included on a vocalist's resume?</p>
<p>Do you list:</p>
<p>the roles in school shows?
the pieces sang at winter/spring recitals?
the pieces sang at All-State?
ACT, PSAT, SAT, AP scores?
solos sang at church?
singing and/or dramatic roles in church productions?
GPA and class rank?
dance classes?
voice and piano lessons?
awards given by choral department "Best newcomer" type?
non-singing extracurriculars?
non-singing community service?
non-singing leadership things?
hobbies?</p>
<p>It is hard to know how much detail to put in. Thanks for your hlep.</p>
<p>MaryTN, the music resume is pretty standarized in that will include name, address, (musical) education, principal teachers and years studied, current positions, past experiences, masterclasses & festival attendance, awards & honors, and solo (or specific featured ensemble) appearances.</p>
<p>Don’t know how others do it but DD did 2 different documents, a resume and a repertoire list. The music resume had a summary of her education achievements in a very short paragraph. She did not list all of the things that were in an educational summary. Just enough to show she was an excellent student. She then listed the school ensembles she was in. She listed her shows with major roles; lessons and who she studied with; major awards and special performances of note (i.e. solos); and performances outside of school. Her repertoire list showed the actual pieces she sang in various recitals and major performances.</p>
<p>Since this is an audition preparation camp, it is possible that they might spend time addressing the topic of musical resumes. I think it might be better to make it more rather than less detailed, because it would be easier to trim it down than add things that he might not remember once he is there. </p>
<p>Also, just wanted to say the audition preparation camp sounds very interesting and I have not read about it on this site. Please consider posting something about it on the summer programs thread after he gets home. Hope he enjoys it!</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies. Violadad - I did a search prior to posting my question but did not find any of the threads you did! Thanks.</p>
<p>I will report back after the camp. Part of the reason he is going is just to see if he want to apply to IU. (but the out of state tuition is terrible)</p>
<p>Just thinking about test scores, GPA and class rank- please check to find out if his school puts those on his transcripts. My D’s school includes them on each transcript they send out and class rank isn’t very important until the very end (and the basis for the rankings can vary so widely that that almost doesn’t matter). Also talk to his guidance counselor and see what she/he includes in the letter sent from that office; often things can be worked into those letters, which sound much better coming from the school than a student! Transcripts and reccomendation letters are going to be sent from his school anyway, so let your son concentrate on the things,musically, which present him in the best possible light.
I would narrow it down and not include “departmental awards”, info about dance level, solos at church or recitals or songs sung at All-State(just the fact that he went, the years, which chorus and the section he was in should be on the resume). As for shows, put down the name of the show and the role he played and include the same for shows done outside of school. His repertoire list is where to include the pieces he has mastered, so he would include the recital/competition pieces there. That list may be very short or two pages, depending upon his level and how much competition he has done, but don’t include songs/solos from shows he’s been in- if he is going for VP, it’s the place for the art songs, arias, the classical side of things. If he has a job singing in a church, or has paid gigs in other singing venues, then, by all means, include them. Singersmom07 and musicamusica summed it up very well, now that I went back and read the column again, so I’ll go quietly now!</p>
<p>I disagree with the inclusion of non-musical stuff on a musical resume. That’s the answer to a different question and those looking at a musical background normally don’t care about the academic side.</p>
<p>To answer the original question, my D had the same sort of resume coaching at the Opera Institute for Young Voices and they totally revamped what she’d been using. He’d probably be just as well of bringing a list of accomplishments, dates, and rep, and then letting his coaches help him arrange it in a meaningful way.</p>
<p>My daughter received many compliments on her resume from university faculty with whom she communicated regarding practice lessons – here’s a couple of other categories that she included in her resume that I didn’t see mentioned above:
– work experience, particularly if it is music-related, such as musical theater camp counselor positions (both volunteer and paid)
– organizational membership participation and leadership positions particularly for music-related org’s, such as Tri-M and the Thesbian organization.
– community service, particularly if it is music-related
– special programs, research, papers or projects that are music-related
– participation in AP music theory classes
– Other instruments played and level</p>
<p>Hope I didn’t repeat anything mentioned above.</p>
<p>DS (instrumental) also had a resume and a separate repertoire list. His teachers advised him NOT to include repertoire on the resume. He sent his resume to all places where he applied undergrad…gave it to teachers with whom he had sample lesson. There were three schools that specifically requested repertoire lists and they got that also. The others did not receive the repertoire lists.</p>
<p>The Peterson Guide to the Performing Arts (or whatever it’s called) has a number of excellent “templates” for music resumes (and dance, and drama too).</p>
<p>I have a question related to this. I have been singing in a boychoir for nearly 10 years now. While I feel my voice is “top-tier music school” level (and I have gotten varied levels of confirmation of this), I think my repetoire list would not reflect my dedication to music. As a choirboy, I didn’t really start preparing solo work until pretty much early last year, perhaps late 2007. Would the fact that I have little solo repetoire mastered besides my audition pieces look bad to music schools to which I am applying?</p>
<p>The repertoire list is not going to get you a spot in a music program. That will depend on the audition. The repertoire list gives the schools information but won’t make or break the decision with regard to admission. I assume you have a private voice teacher who is working with you on technique? Your technique is key for solo work and may well be different from what is taught in choral work.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your prompt response cartera45. Yes, I do have a private vocal teacher and I can attest to how different the two types of singing are. Anyway, thank you for clearing up that issue for me =].</p>
<p>If you choose a school with a highly valued choral program, your experience will be valuable. My D’s school, James Madison University, has a very competitive and highly regarded choral program - along with excellent musical theater and vocal performance opportunities.</p>
<p>TerrenceC - While your choral singing style is a lot different from your solo style, it’s still worth making sure your boychoir experience is included in your resume. Kids with a background in children’s choirs learned a lot of technique that’s applicable to both before they had a chance to develop bad habits that will need to be corrected like they most likely would just singing in school choirs. Besides, most voice programs are going to require some ensemble singing anyway.</p>
<p>It’s a true statement that your audition, not your resume, is what will get you into a good voice program, but it never hurts to get their attention when you’re applying.</p>
<p>Oh yes - I didn’t mean to suggest that you shouldn’t include your choral experience. I meant that the fact that you don’t have a lot of solo rep listed will not negate a great audition. Audition will trump rep list.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying that for me cartera. Thanks to both you, cartera, and don for answering my questions. I need as much help as I can get on this rocky path of music school auditions.</p>
<p>Terrence…my son was an instrumental major in college. He was also a chorister and head chorister in an auditioned children’s choir. He put that on his resume when he was in high school. It’s not on there any longer (he just finished grad school) but at the time of his auditions, it was relevant music experience.</p>