Elon Audition - Friday, February 16
I had a great time at Elon when I went to audition on Friday. First I was welcomed by mum2four (best of luck to your daughter!)
[note] Before the audition day, they send you an email with your schedule of the day. This includes what time you have to be where. They schedule you a time to rehearse with your accompanist (how nice is that!?), and give you your own audition time.
I went to the Center for the Arts a little before 10:30 AM (when we were called), and checked in for the day. Then we were off to observe an acting 3 class. The auditioners observed the acting class while the parents had free time (mine talked to mum2four @ a coffee shop nearby). The acting class was really cool, the students were working on showing impediments/pain. Very interesting. The teacher gave great feedback.
Next we had a bit of free time, so we walked to a campus all-you-can-eat dining hall, and it was great!! Then we met back in the Arts building for an information session, held by the department chair and 4 current MT students. They all seemed so nice and so happy to be at Elon (especially Katie). After the info session, 2 of those MT students sang a song together for everyone... This was awesome to hear current student talent. I wish they did this at every school (so far i've heard current students only @ BW and Elon - i guess seeing a musical would be helpful too!)
The dance call was next for me, at 4:00. First we went through a bunch of ballet stuff (I'm not a dancer, don't know all of the terms, but it was a bunch of pleas -spelling-). Then we did a simple, short ballet-ish combination. We learned it all together, and then performed it in groups of 3 twice each. Next they taught us an awesome Charleston combo--kind of long, very upbeat, and fun. So far I've auditioned at 3 other schools, and I think the Elon dance call (the Charleston combination) was definitely the most fun, and the easiest to show your personality..
Next I had my accompanist rehearsal at 5:20, I went upstairs in the Arts Building and it was very easy - just to make sure tempo is right, etc. He was very nice. Since we didn't have tempo problems we just ran through each song once.
One of my friends from high school goes to Elon for MT, and so after the rehearsal he gave my parents and me a tour of the campus. This was AWESOME. If you don't know anyone there, I suggest you ask for a student to show you the campus. It is BEAUTIFUL and you need to see it! I think it is definitely one of the pluses to the school, so the auditoners would benefit from seeing it. They have a gorgeous library, nice athletic work/out facility, nice dorms, tons of green grass and brick buildings, sand volleyball courts (im a volleyball player
Anyway - my audition was scheduled for 6:55, but they were ahead of schedule so I ended up going a little before that I think. I had just walked in from my unofficial "tour" and they were like "Kyle, you are on deck!". The auditions were held in the Yeager recital hall (it was awesome to sing in!), and (I didn't count but) I would say there were about 6 faculty watching. A current student escorts you in and out (and also listens to your audition). You presented your material, and could do it in whatever order.
Overall the people were very nice (faculty and students) - I think Elon is just full of friendly people who LOVE Elon. The audition day was very welcoming, don't be nervous (like you've never heard that
).
Advice:
-Bring Chapstick to all auditions (haha). Walking out in the cold makes my mouth/lips dry. I realized this @ Syracuse.
-Wear jazz shoes (the slipper kind, i think) and not jazz sneakers... At least the instructor had me take my jazz sneakers off so I got to do it in socks (which I like better actually). But there were like 3 other people with jazz sneakers on?? lol... Maybe they made me 6'6" and that was too tall?? Not sure haha.
-You will probably have a good amount of free time. Try and get a campus tour--It is gorgeous.
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