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Soozviet..what are your daughters choices for where to apply to music school? D. is a freshman so we have to think about it and your D seems to have similar interests.

Also can anyone tell me what NYU is about..I understand they have different schools. But am not sure how admittance works and if the school is on a campus or spread around? What is tisch and cap 21?

By Voronwe (Voronwe) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 10:37 am: Edit

Also to Soozie - I know you have an incredibly talented, gifted daughter who will probably get into a top theater program (that's what she is looking for, right?. I wonder if you have suggestions for schools your D wouldn't dream of looking, because they are too easy for her ----they'd probably be right for mine!

My D would like to go to a school where there is some real chance she can do *some* theater. She doesn't know if she wants to major in it. I hear Holy Cross lets nonmajors audition for musical theater shows; that Muhlenberg has a really good theater program and does not require auditions, but that's it. She would preferably like to go to the Northeast or Mid Atlantic (NY, PA etc).

I am sure you have zero interest in this subject, but in your infinite wisdom about all these things, you may have come across schools that you would reject outright, but would be good for my D!
She's had a lifetime of dance, performs in the high school musicals in the ensemble(competitive auditions even for ensemble)and is in the choral group class at the HS that must be auditioned for, not the general chorus. She is perfectly happy NOT having any lead part but LOVES being in shows. She is taking all honors and APs and has an A- average, but is definitely not material for top ten schools, as her older siblings were.

Any ideas from anyone would be appreciated.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 11:05 am: Edit

Hi Angstridden...I admire you for thinking about this as a freshman! Wow! We did the school selections with both kids junior year (my youngest is truthfully only a soph but next year will be a senior due to graduating early so it is the same idea).

I want to clarify that my older daughter has been heavily involved in performing arts her whole life. These are extracurricular interests that she hopes to continue in college but she is NOT pursuing performing arts as an academic major or career so her college list would not be relevant to this discussion. Mostly she just made sure her colleges had the EC interests she wanted and they do.

Second child who has a college list is not applying to music schools. She is applying for BFA degree programs in musical theater. I want to point out that those are different than music schools. I can share her list but I am not sure if you are interested in music schools as your post indicated or musical theater college programs (since you mentioned Tisch/Cap).

In choosing a list of colleges for musical theater, it has been nothing like my other daughter's college search that used various criteria she drew up. In the second one's case, there is a limitted number of musical theater BFA degree programs in the first place. You cannot be picky when it comes to location/size like you might be when choosing from hundreds of colleges. Rather, there is a finite number of choices, particularly if striving for the better musical theater programs out there. My daughter does have a preference for the eastern half of the country, though truthfully the majority of the better programs (not all) are in the eastern half anyway.

There are many factors to weigh in comparing these programs. I cannot get into them all here but buying a directory of colleges for performing arts might help you cause they point out a lot of this stuff. But for example, some schools are strictly a conservatory. Some colleges have a conservatory experience within a regular college setting. And of course, you can get a BA degree in theater where you do not audition to get in but that is different than a BFA program. My daughter is going for a BFA program and has some conservatories on her list but many colleges that have a conservatory type program within the college. At first the strictly conservatory thing sounded of interest to her (eat, sleep and breathe theater 24/7!!). But now she is changing her tune and while she does love to do theater 24/7, she wants SOME liberal arts courses in the mix to be more educated. There are many schools that offer both things, though the theater training is still the bigger part of the program.

Also you need to be aware that at most of the better regarded programs in this field, the admit rate hovers between 5-10%!!!!! Very daunting. Worse than Ivy league. Hard to think of any school as an honest to goodness safety though she does feel some on her list will be easier for her to get into than the others but not easy in most people's book in general. Also be aware that besides academic qualifications required to get admitted, there is also an audition where the student sings, performs monologues and dances. At some schools, about 90% of the admission is based on the audition and then the student must meet a minimum academic requirement with GPA and SATs and so on. But for some schools such as NYU or UMich, you must get into the university academically as well as into the theater program by audition, each aspect counting 50%. And the academic requirements at said institutions are quite selective. For example, to get into NYU academically, there is a 25% admit rate. SATs and SAT2s are required, etc. To get into Tisch School for the Performing Arts at NYU there is a 20% admit rate. To get into the Cap21 (musical theater program), the admit rate is lower than 10%.

My daughter's list right now includes:
NYU/Tisch/Cap21
UMichigan
Carnegie Mellon
Cincinatti College Conservatory of Music
Boston Conservatory
Syracuse
Penn State
Emerson
Ithaca College

The four at the top of that list are the handful of the most highly regarded ones in the field of musical theater. None on the list are easy to get into, but some are easier than others. Some programs only take 15-20 kids per year!

As far as NYU...I suggest you explore their website and also go to the website for Tisch. NYU is a big university that has several schools within it and you apply directly to the school you are interested in (though must get into NYU general admissions as well). Tisch is their reknowned school of performing arts. They have various programs...theater, dance, film, directing, technical theater. If your child is interested in theater, then she applies via audition. The theater program has 8 studios. The kid can specify which studio she would like to be placed in (you can read about each studio program on the website). ONE of the studios is for musical theater (rest are more acting studios, not musical focus). The musical theater studio is called Cap21 (stands for Collaborative Arts Project). Very hard to get into. You can make it into Tisch but not Cap21 and be assigned a different theater studio and then if you want switch after two years. The child's program at Tisch involves three FULL days of studio per week with a myriad of classes (all are listed on the website....ie, in Cap, there is voice, dance, acting, etc.). Then the student takes liberal arts courses two days per week at NYU. That is it in a nutshell. However, there is another school at NYU called Steinhardt that is a music school but you can major in musical theater in that school, though it is a BA in music, not a BFA. It is more music based though offers the three disciplines of voice, acting and dance but not quite as balanced among the three as at Tisch.


There is a TERRIFIC thread on musical theater programs on College Confidential in the College Search and Selection forum. This thread is now in its 16th part!!! It takes a long time to read all 16 parts but I highly suggest it sometime (hey you have a couple years still to do it in!)...cause it is one of the most comprehensive resources of first hand experiences with this very special area of college admissions. You will learn a lot. There are even posts detailing the difference between the STeinhardt program and Tisch at NYU.

As far as NYU, the campus is spread out. Unlike other campuses that have grassy greens or a more enclosed feeling of a campus, NYU is in an urban setting and the buildings are mixed in around non college buildings and over many blocks. Most of the campus, however, is located in the Washington Square Park area, near Greenwich Village...a neat area of NYC. The Tisch Studios are spread over a wide area. We visited Cap21 and it was maybe ten blocks from the dorm my D stayed at with friends.

Well, I hope this helps. Check out the discussions on the thread I pointed you to. It is a wealth of knowledge!


Also, it is very early for your D but you can get some directories of schools in the performing arts to peruse. Also visit the websites of schools on my D's list but be aware there are others not on her list.....some are: Hartt School at Univ. of Hartford, North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Florida, Elon, Oklahoma City University, Otterbein, Webster, USC, University of the Arts, and so on. I gave you some of the "biggies" earlier in my post.

Soozie

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 11:40 am: Edit

Voronwe...sorry did not see your post when I was responding to Angstridden.

I have no idea how admissions to these select BFA programs in musical theater will turn out for my daughter. She has many summer theater camp friends who have been quite successful in this pursuit and can only evaluate herself among those kids and has high hopes. The admit rates are daunting to say the least.

From what you just shared, your daughter sounds VERY talented and VERY into this area as well.

I need to clarify perhaps a misconception you might have based on the questions you raised. It is not like I would be suggesting colleges a step down from the programs my daughter is likely going to apply to. From what you describe, your daughter may or may not major in theater, and most of all wants to continue pursuing theater productions while in college. So, we are talking different programs/schools, not quality necessarily.

Let me put it this way. For a kid who wants to pursue a career on stage, that kid might go for BFA degree programs (as my child is) where you audition to get in. I gave such a list to Angstriden above. Another type of college choice is to go to a college where there is a major in theater, like any other liberal arts major where you get a BA and you do not audition to get in. These programs do not always have much in the way of musical theater training, however, but there are usually musical theater production opportunities available (and some schools have dance departments on campus as well). The third kind of college that might fit your daughter's criteria if she is NOT going to major in theater, is to be at a school that has a LOT of theater opportunities for students on campus to participate in, including nonmajors.

So, let me start in YOUR daughter's case, in saying I am not even going to suggest any BFA musical theater programs that are "easier" than the list I gave above. I do not think your daughter is looking for a BFA program. I know a lot of talented theater kids who opt for the second kind of college thing I described above, and in fact, have been talking with another mom from camp whose son is a junior, a very good student in a private school, lots of theater background but is going for colleges with BA in theater and opportunities on campus to participate in theater. For example, I know they are looking at Middlebury, Skidmore, Connecticut College, Vassar, Oberlin, Williams, Tufts as some of the list. They would look at Brown but they felt it was too much of a reach. All those schools have theater departments. All have opportunities for students not even majoring in theater to participate in productions. I can tell you from having visited Tufts and Brown, for example with my older daughter who also has done a lot of musical theater growing up and dance too, and would like to continue as an EC in college if she can fit it in, and both Brown and Tufts have many theatrical productions that nonmajors can be in. In fact, on one visit to Tufts, we caught a production of Godspell. I would liken the talent to a very good high school production, where not every single person was amazing but all were very good. I noticed in the playbill that many were not theater majors but some were. I just went to a panel discussion there two weeks ago to do with the performing arts opportunities at Tufts. Also at Tufts there were several dance troupes. The night we left, 250 kids were going to be in a dance performance (again nonmajors). At Brown, we have a list (and my daughter met with) of theater opportunities, and one in fact is strictly a group that puts on musicals. I know a boy at Brown who is very talented in musical theater and went to Brown and not a BFA program. One of my younger D's friends in FL is looking into BFA programs but also schools like Brown where she could do a lot of musicals but major in theater or a liberal arts subject and not a BFA program. I know some very talented musical theater kids who are at Yale, for example, who are not majoring in theater (or some might be) but they do not have a musical theater program there, but they put on LOTS of musicals anyway on campus...as performing arts groups are big at Yale. I know a girl from our region who was the lead in a musical at Yale her freshman year. And once when we were visiting, another group was putting on Cabaret and my younger daughter knew the lead from camp. Again, not all were theater majors. That is the kind of thing your daughter likely wants.

I have heard of Mulenberg being good in this area. I have not truly researched schools with theater BA degrees or ones that have a very active Extracurricular theater production opportunities, though gave you some from a list that this boy we know is looking into. There are many schools out there that put on alot of theater productions open to all students. YOUR daughter sounds a lot like mine as far as dance, doing musicals, and select choir, etc. Also both are very good students.

If I were you, and your daughter does not want to major in theater but wants to have lots of theater opportunities on campus, as you investigate colleges, have this as one of her criteria (like my older one wanted the colleges to have a ski team among many other criteria). As you visit a college's website, do not just look into if there is a theater major or department but look into the extracurricular offerings and see if there is a lot going on as far as productions, clubs, etc. Also dance troupes! My older daughter made sure there were dance troupes at the schools she looked at. In fact, one tip factor, among many, at Brown for her was that they actually have a dance troupe just for tap dance (her favorite style of dance) called What's On Tap. I discovered this group by viewing a list of student organizations. She made an appointment to meet with them on our visit. So, those are what you want to look for. There are many students like your daughter or my older daughter, who have grown up doing performing arts but do not wish to major in it or make it their career, yet want to continue with this passion in college. You will find many colleges have student run musicals that are excellent and same with dance troupes, made up of kids who trained when growing up. I wish I had more to list for you but go with the list I mentioned that the boy we know is looking into. But also I have first hand experience at Brown, Tufts, Yale, Connecticut College and others where your daughter's interest COULD be pursued without a college major in it. My inlaws live where Skidmore College is located (might be a safety for your daughter, not sure her entire profile) and they go to many theater productions there, many are student run, and they rave about them. I know some very talented theater kids who opted for Vassar. The boy I mentioned currently selecting colleges has said he really liked what he found at Middlebury. I was looking at the bios of every girl in this one dance troupe at Tufts (student run troupe, nonmajors) and each girl had extensive dance trainiing prior to college. So, you see many want to continue in college, thus these troupes and productions, but they are not majors.

Peruse some of those websites. If I ever hear of more, I will share them.

Your daughter should not pursue the schools on my D's list, but NOT cause she is NOT talented enough but cause it is a different "career" or college path to go for a BFA program and to audition to get in. Your daughter wants those other options I just discussed.

Let me know what you find that looks interesting!
Susan

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 11:49 am: Edit

Do all the musical theatre schools require DANCE auditions. Mine can dance and has been in shows where she has..but hasnt really had training in it since a young age though she likes it.
She really is interested in pop style music and not classical. Though she sings both for her training

By Voronwe (Voronwe) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 11:51 am: Edit

Wow, Susan, that was unbelievably helpful. I am totally ignorant in this area and you have sketched it out so well! You understand and clarified my question in a way I could not have done. I will take your advice....

I think what I meant about your daughter is that with all that Stage Door under her belt, I assume she was a lead player, whereas my D has never had a lead and may never get one - she could end up with a lesser character part - but that's OK. However, now I see the diff. between a BFA and a BA, and you're right that a BFA would not be right for her - I don't imagine she could ever make a living at MT, but doesn't want to give it up.

She's currently a sophomore and I don't know class rank or test scores yet, but I am afraid that many "matches" for my other two will be "reaches" for her, such as Middlebury - she was in the gifted program but does not work as hard as siblings (more social!) - but we'll have to see next year...

Thank you again - it was very generous of you to post in such detail....

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 12:08 pm: Edit

I do not think every musical theater program has a dance audition but lots of them do. Your daughter is young still and if she wants to pursue musical theater, you might want to have her take a little dance the next three years.

If she is interested in majoring in vocal performance, that is a different list of schools than musical theater. For a musical theater audition, her song selection needs to come from the musical theater repetoire (perhaps she could pick a song from more contemporary musical theater). For a vocal performance program in a music school, she would have to sing classical.

Pop is good but not what would be sung at an audition for either of these programs. But if your daughter wants to go into that realm specifically, she might opt for a program such as one at the Berklee School of Music in Boston...good for that.

My theater D also sings some pop or contemporary music. She is recording a CD right now and has some musical theater pieces on it but actually I think so far she has more contemporary stuff on it than showtunes! She recorded Norah Jones stuff, Alicia Keys stuff, is about to record the Beatles Imagine in the style of Eva Cassidy, even did Over the Rainbow in a more pop style....I reminded her she might want to make sure she puts songs on it that really are her forte which is musical theater (though is likely recording some jazz as well)! I think next she is recording Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie and Life of the Party from the Wild Party. So, I share that even though her passion and her forte is musical theater, she still sings pop or jazz or other stuff! She won the state scholarship award for voice (gets it tomorrow night) and that audition was all classical and I do not even think of her singing classical! So, really your daughter can sing all that. But for a theater program, the audition really needs to be from the theater repertoire. My D has a friend who is in Cap21 now as a freshman, and we have her CD and she wrote all the songs on it, accompanying herself on piano (I think this is where my D got the idea) and her music on it is all contemporary, not theater (though she has a lot of background in musical theater) and I think she even submitted it with her college application. I may have my D submit hers too even though that is not why she recorded this CD. It is a project she opted to do cause she wanted to record her own CD and is doing it for a music tech class. We have a recording studio at our school and she also has to learn how to do all the mixing and technical work herself.

If your D really wants to pursue musical theater (not sure yet if she does or if she wants a voice program in a music school), she really should have some dance training. She will have to study dance in such a program in college as well. I know she is busy but you could have her take either one ballet or one jazz class. Ballet gives the backbone in technique for all styles of dance. Jazz is a common background in musical theater as well. And then there is tap of course. But the dance audition for musical theater programs is going to consist or either jazz or ballet, not tap, even though tap is part of the college training. You need to have her think if musical theater is her goal or just singing. The reason being is that to excel at musical theater, ideally you need to be a triple threat...in other words, be talented in all three disciplines...singing, acting, dancing. Often, I see kids who are good at one or two of these areas, and not all three. Even if your daughter's forte is singing, IF she wants a musical theater program, she should have some background in all three of these areas. But maybe she wants to go for a music degree...so different approach there.

Susan

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 12:22 pm: Edit

Voronwe...glad that helped a bit. Let me tell ya, I knew nothing about any of this either but have learned it along the way. Whatever the kids got into, I had to learn about it. Still learning. Am just a little ahead of you on the theater stuff. I will admit that my daughter has played the lead many times both in our area and at Stagedoor. I was a bit shocked her first summer there at nine when she got leads cause I saw the talent there which is like taking all the leads from everyone's home town and putting them in one place. It has been an eye opener. She has played supporting roles and ensemble too, of course. She does self evaluate when it comes to her odds in getting into these college programs in terms of the audition part by observing where older Stagedoor friends have gotten in who also play leads there. So many have gotten into the top programs. I am very cautious but she does have a lot of confidence in herself and feels that up to this point, she has followed in the footsteps of some of these older peers but who knows, we shall see. The odds seem so slim to me but I guess I have to realize that some get in and I know the ones who did so maybe she has a chance.

Your daughter sounds very much like mine though!! She too is very social! She is a good student in the hardest classes as well....we don't have gifted programs here but we have been dealing with her "giftedness" for years and in how to meet her learning needs. She has accelerated in many areas and is in classes with older peers. She is in tenth like your daughter though. We have a GPA right now and rank (though her rank just went up cause she is going to have to be ranked with the current 11th graders cause she is joining them as a senior next year due to her desire to graduate a year early). She also took the SATs and the SAT2s. I do not know how to give a letter grade average but generally speaking, I would imagine she is in your D's ballpark with an A- avg. maybe, mostly gets As, but has a couple grades that are not.

Anyway, look into Skidmore, Tufts, Vassar. But moreover, find schools that meet what she wants and then see what they have in terms of a theater scene in their campus life. Again, that is not in the "academic" section of the school's website but often more in the campus life area. My younger one has a friend who went to Stagedoor for nine years and she is a junior right now....has done a lot of musical theater and a lot of dance, goes to a private school in Phila. I know she will not major in this but I cannot see this girl giving it all up. I know when I talked to her mom last summer (ironically they are from the town where I grew up), she talked of her top choice being Emory so my GUESS is that there are opportunities at Emory for musical theater and dance for kids like her and your daughter, so check that one out....sounds like your daughter academically is suited to a school on that level! I have no idea what state you live in or if this is too far away.

Susan

By Voronwe (Voronwe) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 12:37 pm: Edit

Omigosh, anyone who is graduating a year early is WAY SMART. Nope, our D's aren't in the same ballpark at all!!! You must be very proud of her, both for her talent and academics!

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 12:37 pm: Edit

Ok well let me share whats she wants and you can tell me then cus I dont really know alot about it.
She does NOT want classical. She wants to sing and become a singer ala Celine Dion type.
She has been in shows and enjoyed them. But the goal is to be a singer and actress. With singing the main focus. She does not enjoy being in plays where its just acting. Wants to sing.
She is smart and does well in school and will be doing the Advance Music Program we have in her junior year. Given her interests what direction do I point her.
Now when I think musical theater I think of shows like bye bye birdie or something..like that..is that what you mean?

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 01:10 pm: Edit

Voronwe...let me assure you that graduating early is not an indication of how smart someone is. Also I am proud of my kids in general like any mom would be but not cause she is graduating early. I do not see that as "better" at all. The idea to graduate early came solely from her and she pleaded to us to let her. She gave her reasons....don't wanna get into them all here...had to do with academics (acceleration all along, not enough for her here if she stays a fourth year in her view), socially gravitates toward older peers even as a leader with them, and performing arts training level at this point in her life. Anyway, I had no idea I would be doing the college thing with her already as I am not over the last one's process that just came to a climax.

Angstridden...not sure what to advise your daughter. I hear her main interest being singing, particularly pop. She may want a music program in college, though am not sure cause many of those emphasize classical and she does not want that. Again, Berklee College of Music is an option for contemporary vocals.

In terms of musical theater, of course it is a field that attracts great singers who love to sing. I mean that is one of my daughter's main loves...singing. But musical theater is more than singing...it involves acting and dance too. You say your daughter wants to be an actress as well so maybe she truly would like musical theater. Also in today's theater scene, there are many hit musicals that have a more contemporary type of music....be it Hairspray, Wild Party, Rent, Footloose, Pippen (not so new of a show), and so on. So there can be a pop sound in some musicals.

You mention your daughter does not like to be in plays where it is just acting, not singing. Well, even my own daughter has done mostly musicals, but has done some dramas/plays. She much prefers musicals, though she knows that her drama experiences have given her occasions to focus on the acting component which is a very necessary component of the musical stage. Your daughter does not have to like straight plays to go into musical theater. Musical theater involves acting, singing and dancing. So a major in musical theater in college is different than a theater performance major which focuses solely on acting. So, rest assured that a musical theater program has lots of singing. But be aware it also has acting and dancing. Maybe your daughter will be interested in Steinhardt at NYU where singing is a bigger emphasis than acting and dance though they do all three there too. She might like Ithaca where dance is a bit weak.

Musical theater is the theater genre where there are musical production numbers in the show, unlike a play. Bye Bye Birdie is one, yes. If you look at what is currently on Broadway, some of the musicals are Thoroughly Modern Millie, Rent, The Producers, Hairspray, Gypsy, Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors and so forth. Some musicals are traditional ones like Birdie or Fiddler or Guys and Dolls. Some are very contemporary like RENT, The Wiz, or Urinetown. Musicals run the gamut. But they ALL have singing in them. But they all have acting too. Some have dance, some do not. Into the Woods, for example, has barely any dance at all. You once said your daughter was in Secret Garden...that's a musical (though one with hardly any dance). But it is an example of one with no pop songs in it.

Hope that helps.

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 02:21 pm: Edit

Yes she loves singing like in the secret garden..so I dont know what you call that kind of music..
it does not have to have pop in it..I just said pop cus I know she does not want say Italian opera..
but she does want to sing the songs like in all the broadway shows.

By Angstridden (Angstridden) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 02:24 pm: Edit

Example she just did Copacabana..lots of dancing in that one and she enjoys it and I guess cus she had jazz when she was younger she can do the high kicks and pick up the movements fast..but she hasnt had training lately and really isnt that interested in taking it..though she enjoys the dancing.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 03:54 pm: Edit

Musical theater has many styles of music. No, they are not classical music. But I know Copacabana as I saw a production of it at my daughter's theater camp. It is based on music by Barry Manilow. That music is so different from Secret Garden! Both are musical theater. As I said before some musicals are more traditional musicals like Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, and so on. But musical theater can have so many styles in it. Take a song from RENT, contrast it with Ragtime, then with Urinetown, then with Grease, then with Millie....all soooo different...and then you have Movin' Out (Billy Joel's music) or Sondheim musicals or Kander and Ebb. A very wide range! None of it is classical singing, such as in opera. Of course La Boheme was recently done on Broadway but that is an exception.

It sou nds to me like your daughter has participated in musicals and enjoys them. Singing in a musical involves more than just singing a song but you have to ACT the song. But she has experienced that and she can discuss whether she enjoys being in a theatrical production or just singing solo in a pop venue. For my own kid, while she loves to sing solo or even contemporary stuff, her true calling is the musical theater stage. I think your daughter can experience both training (lessons, classes) and participate in theater productions...both have value. If she wants to go into theater in college, it helps to have been in shows and build a bit of a resume of experience. Sounds like she is doing that. She will know what she wants. You will be able to tell and not have to ask. You can chat about it informally about what direction she might like to go in and what she might need to do in the next few years prior to college to pursue that....ie, if musical theater, be in shows and take some dance and voice lessons, etc. If she simply is interested only in singing and not being in musicals, then maybe you can talk of what she wants to do to pursue that. Maybe she can start a band where you live with other teens and be the singer!

It is helpful for singers to have a music background. Does she study any instruments? Music theory? Just throwing that out there if her main direction is to pursue singing in a music program vs. a musical theater program, though honestly my theater kid is very into music and plays three instruments and it does enhance her skills as a singer, I think (though that is not why she studies music).

Being part of a theatrical production is very different than being a singer. The first one you can't do alone but the second one you can. So, I don't know if your D just loves singing or does she love being part of a theater production? That is another aspect to think about.

Susan

By Newlygrayhaired (Newlygrayhaired) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 04:03 pm: Edit

Susan,
I have to tell you, you are simply amazing. I have read many of your posts, and am EXTREMELY impressed by how much genuine thought and effort you put into each response, providing a wealth of targeted and relevant information. And they are always so interesting, too! I hereby nominate you POSTER OF THE YEAR!!! Good luck with your older daughter at Brown, and with your younger daughter in her search this year.

By Voronwe (Voronwe) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 06:40 pm: Edit

Newlygrayhaired:

"Here, here!" Or is it, "Hear, hear!" (smile!)

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 06:54 pm: Edit

Newlygrayhaired, what a name! I could adopt it, I am afraid, lol! I also like the parent who posted as "taximom" a while ago. You are too kind but I will take a cheerleader in my life any day, lol.

I do like sharing with others if I have something that may help and likewise, I have learned so much here from the other parents and kids! I must admit that today I got going on this thread and shirked too many things I should be doing! ha!

Thanks for your positive feedback. This forum has such terrific people on it...wish we had a little CC reunion!

Susan

By Achat (Achat) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 08:55 am: Edit

Susan, I would nominate you 'poster of the year' too. I agree about the thought and effort you put in to help people out. Kudos to you!!

Congratulations to your family!!

By Achat (Achat) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 08:57 am: Edit

Susan, although I don't know much about music, how about:
1) Peabody conservatory of music at JHU?
2) Oberlin college?

This is not for me (I only have one kid going to Swarthmore who if he puts a tune together doesn't sound all that great), I am just curious..

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 10:14 am: Edit

Achat, I am not as up on music schools. Usually they are different than the theater schools. I do have two college directories I bought for the performing arts and there is a major section on music. I just am not as well versed on these.

I know Peabody is a top conservatory. Oberlin is a liberal arts college with top music programs. Just like with theater, there are conservatories that stand alone, ones associated with a college/university, or music departments in a liberal arts college. For instance, with music for a conservatory there is Curtis or Mann or Juilliard. There are conservatories linked to colleges like Peabody (with Johns Hopkins) and New England Conservatory (with Tufts). And then there are great colleges with music programs...like Oberlin, Michigan, etc. But I am not the person to talk to about music programs! My girls play instruments but that is not going to be their focus in college. And the one that IS going on in performing arts, though she can play 3 instruments, is going on in the field of musical theater and those programs are in theater schools/departments/conservatories for the most part, not music ones.

Don't worry, I cannot sing a tune either. I played piano til age 12 and now my kids play the baby grand I grew up with. I forgot how to play totally but when they were each starting at age 7, I was more involved in helping them (not at all now) and I found myself learning the basics all over again. But I can't play. My kids have always loved many facets of music. I am not sure how that all started except that they always went to bed listening to tapes (no CDs in the early years). We always had tapes going in the car, they were so so into them. They saw shows when younger, were in them and the rest just grew and grew, even though I am not musical at all!

On my 17 year old's annotated "activity list" she sent to colleges, her annotation after she lists her piano lessons and achievements in that area, includes this comment: "My love of music was ignited at age seven when I began piano lessons and crescendoed over the years to a heavy dedication to the performing arts." Her final chapter in regard to piano will be next week when her piano teacher arranged a recital for the two seniors she has. I don't know how much she will get to play piano in college, but hopefully clarinet. But you always have these things in your life no matter what and I think the experience has been influential in a general sense to her life even though she is not pursuing a field in the performing arts.

Susan

By Dave72 (Dave72) on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 02:38 pm: Edit

Susan's information about Oberlin is incorrect. Oberlin has a Conservatory of Music which is administratively separate from the college of arts and sciences, though they're both part of Oberlin College. Students interested in music may audition for the Conservatory, or they can major in music as students in the College. Or they can enroll simultaneously in the College and the Conservatory, and earn both a BA and a BM in five years.