sasha1

Right before the development of the much needed new MT forum I had asked for information about OCU's summer program and its appropriateness in helping a good but not great or experienced singer. Any info on this or any other summer program you would like to discuss appreciated

mtpop

I can't say enough good things about OCU's summer program, but first things first. You must apply and send in an audition tape/cd. If accepted, the staff knows how to work with all kinds of students, with all kinds of different talent levels. The master classes are with very accomplished teachers, and they know how to challenge the strong singer, and how to bring the less experienced singer to a higher level. The kids have a great time rehearsing and putting on a musical (Cinderella last year). The ensemble parts were well done, and the ALL the kids appeared to have a great time. But more importantly, I believe that most learned a whole lot. I don't think this program is nearly as intense as CCM or CMU. If you have any specific questions I can answer, let me know.

musicalthtrmom

Sasha1
I would second all mtpop had to say about OCU's summer program. It can be especially helpful for students particularly interested in attending OCU because they will get an excellent idea of the program...enough to decide whether or not it is a good place for them to study. You ask if OCU would help a good but not great or experienced singer. I would answer yes, that they would certainly address any specific issues they notice when working with the student in voice classes. It could help the student to return home to target those issues prior to auditions. I do think that the vocal portion of the audition at OCU is probably the most important part. The student is required to sing a MT song AND an art song. They care if you have classical training. I do think it divides the crowd and helps them make decisions on who to accept based on the voice audition. (Just my observation of course!)

Just like mtpop, I'm happy to answer any specific questions regarding the OCU program. Our kids both had a great experience there!

sasha1

MTPOP and musicalthtrmom
Thank you for your responses. They are very helpful. Thankfully, my D's new teacher is a NATS teacher and is teaching her Italian and English arts songs as well as MT songs. She is also providing music theory classes. So I think D is on the right track but she is relatively new to it . Her prior teacher was more of a vocal coach, into belting, only MT songs and no theory. D has had to unlearn bad habits as well learn new ones. This spring D wil participate in a NATS conference and I think she will get some valuable feedback from that. I don't know if she will ultimately want a BM at OCU but if she is accepted for the summer program it could be very helpful for what she wants to do right now--and honestly the price is pretty good too!.

musicalthtrmom

sasha1...
sounds like she is on the right track....getting classical training...fixing bad habits...hopefully the classical teacher will be able to teach her how to belt correctly. All the things she is doing WILL be noticed on the audition trail!

wct

I have a student who is in 8th grade and looking for a good summer program for MT. I suggested Stage Door Manor but they are pretty much booked already. I will suggest Innerspark (California State Summer School for the Arts), and the summer program at Idyllwild. I would like to hear your input on other summer programs for a student entering 9th grade in the fall.

monkey

One possibility for a rising high school freshman might be Interlochen in upstate Michigan. We visited there when a friend or ours was director of the MT program ( this was about 6 or 7 years ago ) and were so impressed by the high quality of teaching and performing across all the arts areas. It is very expensive and of course, extremely competitive. We considered it for our D when she was a freshman but other less expensive choices closer to home were available. One of the things that stayed with me was the strong discipline that the students demonstrated - complete devotion to their craft while still maintaing a joyful connection. The setting is absolutely gorgeous with lots of performance spaces set among the Michigan woods and lakes.
wct:
Be sure to stay in touch regarding your S and Utah Shakes and I'll do the same.

kegosnell

Monkey,

I had read wct's question about other summer programs, and was JUST about to tab down to the reply box and say "Interlochen!!", when I saw your post about it! :-) It is a great program, and all that you said about it is exactly so. I know someone (she is now a freshman @ UofM, and actually told me how great Interlochen was, in the first place) who went to Interlochen for the 8 week Musical Theatre Performance course, played the lead in Sweet Charity, and she absolutely RAVED about it - said it was quote: "like heaven for a performer..."
I am sending my audition tape in this month for Interlochen. The selection pool IS extemely competitive, but I am putting forth my all and hoping for the best! If I don't make it into Interlochen, the UofM Musical theatre Workshop is my 2nd choice (only because it is 2 weeks, instead of the entire summer). My voice teacher keeps bugging me about it not being my first choice, because you work w/ Brent Wagner the entire week (he graduated from UofM's musical theatre dept.), but I just say "It's just not LONG enough!!" :-)
Also, Another great summer camp (though, for only 17 & up - yes, mainly for young adult performers), for anyone who's interested, is American Singer Seminars in Breckenridge, CO. It is a 2 week Intensive directed by theatre & opera performer, Douglas Webster. I auditioned for it last year, but being as I was only 16 at the time (and they only except one or two 16-17 year olds per year) and much less-experienced vocally as I am now (it's amazing how much one can learn in a years' time!) I did not get selected to go. But, I was recommended it by an amazing professional performer, Josh Young. (Syracuse U. grad., played Marius on the Les Miz tour last year.) He raved about how much he learned there. So, even for all of you on this forum who are in college, this is a GREAT Intensive to go to, to continue to hone your craft. Much more information is on the website: http://members.aol.com/americansinger/index.html

Well, I hope this info helps someone! That's my 2 cents on Summer Programs!

The not-so-frequent-poster,
Keggo

theatermom

Hi Keggo,

Listen to your voice teacher! The reason he/she wants you to study with Brent Wagner is because he is the CHAIR of the MT department at Michigan not because he graduated from UM. My D is currently a freshman MT at Michigan so she is a classmate of your friend. My guess is that your friend also studied with Mr Wagner at Interlochen because until last summer, when it moved to the Michigan campus, he taught MT as part of the Michigan All States program which took place at Interlochen. Being seen by him and doing good work for him could give you an advantage in regular auditions for UM if you are interested in that program.

Best of luck!

kegosnell

Theatermom,

Oh wow... I read my post, and I really worded the thing about Brent Wagner and my voice teacher totally wrong! It almost seemed that I came across a bit, contemptable, towards Brent Wagner... lol. I didn't mean it at all! Just a mess up w/ words. :-) Also, I don't know if you thought I was saying that Mr. Wagner graduated from UofM?? If so, just to clarify, I was talking about my voice teacher. (I thought it could have been either way, but again, just to clarify what I meant.) I was going to send you a private message, but I thought I should really clarify myself publicly. lol.
I have TONS of respect for what my new voice teacher tells me... I don't know if I should say his name on here, but he DOES know what he's talking about. And? I really should listen to him... He's been a professional theatre artist for 15 years, is a voice teacher at NYU CAP21, has connections up the wazzoo in the musical theatre world, and is an absolutely AMAZING teacher!(I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be one of his students.!)Anyway, UofM is my first choice college musical theatre program - it rocks!! I've studdied the program for a year or so now... I also live in Michigan, so that is a plus, too! What you said kind of drives it home, how I really should, all out, be going to the UofM workshop. (since UofM IS my top-choice school) I have looked at the CMU pre-college and the NYU camps, as well... But right now, my parents aren't really going for the nyu one... cause It's so far. But, those are my other two other "top, top" choices for BFA MT programs.
I guess i'm kind of in a tough/confusing/crucial decision-making process right now as far as theatre camps go... Either I stay home for most of the summer, and try to fit in some community theatre shows, go to the UofM workshop, and prepare for college auditions next fall, OR audition for Interlochen (maybe, make it in...) go there for the entire summer, have the time of my life (not saying I wouldn't have the time of my life @ UofM!), then prepare for college auditions. *sigh* Life is full of decisions... But, on the bright side, at least I HAVE decisions to make - that's a blessing in and of itself!
Okay, so now that I've gone into my annoyingly normal ruitine of blasting everyone w/ my verbal vomit and rambling on and on. . . I'll just sum up by saying, Thank you, for your insight and information you gave me in your post, Theatremom. I do truly, appreciate you help! :-)

All the Best!

K

kegosnell

Oh! (almost forgot!) Another question to anybody... just to satisfy my curiosity and also for my own knowledge, could anyone who has been to the CMU Pre-college program give me some in-depth details about it? Because I know that it's really intense, but if so, why do they not have the musical theatre kids audition to get in? (I'm thinking that they have some kind of "audition" thing when you get to the college, so that they can assess you, or something of the sort?) I do have many questions about it, but if someone could give me an 'intense overview', of sorts, of their experience there, I would *Really* appreciate it!

Best,
K

aspiringactress1

hello all hooray for CC recognzing this amazing thread by turning it into an entire board! I just wanted to add that I also am auditioning for Interlochen, I have a friend who is a junior at CMU who did the program several years ago (was the lead in How to Succeed) and absolutely raves about it. I'm assuming that the UofM program is the michigan all-state camp? And that there isn't one for those who don't live in michigan... bummer. haha, anyways I may (MAY) be applying for CMU's summer program and I was wondering when the deadline is for submitting an application AND once you do submit one when you hear back?? I couldn't find that info on the website. Thanks!

kegosnell

Aspringactress1,

Actually, the UofM MT program is now no longer "Michigan All-state" (as of last year, I think??), as they have made it into more of a 2 week pre-college Musical theatre Workshop, open to kids around the nation, not just for MI kids anymore. It is also located totally on the UofM campus, not at Interlochen. Here is the link to the website w/ more information... http://www.music.umich.edu/resources...lse/index.html
I hope this brightens you up a bit, or at least gives you some information to consider...

(wow, I'm all of a sudden becoming a very frequent poster, aren't I? lol)
K

peggy

CMU Pre-College Program

Because I had Starbucks Expresso for supper tonight and have too much energy, I decided to figure out where we had previously discussed the CMU Pre-College program. For anyone looking for details, check Parts 16 and 17.

After re-reading what we wrote, three things stand out:

#1 Be prepared to work, and work hard.

#2 It was a totally awesome experience.

#3 Bring lots of fans.

Off to see if I can sleep . . .

Peg

theatermom

Kegosnell,

No problem! I appreciate your response and I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were being disrespectful to your teacher. I'm going to respond to the email you sent me, but also wanted to respond publicly and welcome you to the forum. You are asking important questions and have come to a good place to begin to find some answers. Glad you're here!!!