theatermom

My thanks as well, Denvermom. Musicalthtrmom echoes my sentiments exactly. I'm sure these were difficult decisions (I loved your comment about wanting to strangle the voice teacher) but when the passion is there and they are willing to go down the less well trodden path, you know there is no stopping them. It speaks to your D's potential and brava to you for giving her the chance to realize her dream. Whatever happens, she'll have no cause to regret the "what-ifs."

Hey Catsmom! welcome home and check your email. With regard to my D's being comfortable performing in front of people because of her many years of dance, I'm not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg. In the early years, I think she stayed in dance class BECAUSE it gave her the chance to be in front of people. She always loved that part of it. Later on, she loved both the dance itself AND the opportunities it gave her to be "in the light."

But in truth, just being on stage is NOT the same as auditioning and it took a disastrous audition experience or two to make her understand that she needed to devote time to both learning the skill/craft of auditioning as well as learning how to choose and work on the material she would use to audition. As has been said here and elsewhere, auditioning IS the work of a performer. Getting a role is the paycheck.

soozievt

I am so glad more people are posting their experiences from every angle and perspective as it is important to learn of all the ways this can be handled.

Denvermom!! It is so great to hear from you!!! While I am sorry to hear the final outcome for your D last spring was not as hoped, I'm glad it has brought you here once again. I definitely feel for you as a mom going through this with your lovely daughter who I had the pleasure to meet at the UMich auditions. I'm sure this was stressful but it really seems that you guys have put something into place that is positive and with plans for next steps. Yes, you were a brave mom to let her go to NYC to do this plan this year but it does seem like a great plan (I hope ChrisM is reading this and connects with you as they are in the same process basically and she has contemplated letting her D do that next year at 19). I know how you feel about your D on her own in NYC at 18, trust me. While my D did land at Tisch, and she does live in a dorm, she is still on her own in the city and she is still 16! If your daughter wants to visit or talk to someone in the program, let me know. I also will try to email you the name of a friend of hers. In fact, I recall that your D went to SDM for one session several years ago (though our kids do not know each other) and in fact, this girl I'm gonna tell you about also went to SDM for a few summers, several years back and even roomed with my D. She is from Idaho, though went to a boarding school in CA. She did not get into Tisch (was trying for acting, not MT) and her parents let her get her own apt. in the city and she is ALSO going to Stella Adler Studio, so I wonder if your D has hooked up with her yet. They are the same age and I don't know how many 18 year olds are in the program or just what. I'll try to email you and send along her name. I'm VERY backlogged on email as I have been out of town for several days.

Catsmom, SO good to also hear from you! I am glad you echoed my sentiments about the importance of actually honing audition skills themselves by auditioning a lot. I also think it was beneficial for my own kid to have done so many auditions in her life that the idea of getting up in front of others and being judged is something she is comfortable with (as much as one can be). I also agree with the idea of experience gained in actual performing, even if as a dancer/ballerina. I know that the dance faculty at our dance studio used to say that they could tell my D was a performer when she dances and that is cause she has done a bunch of theater so it is beyond dance technique but also being comfortable as a performer on stage. I also had a twinge when you mentioned the pic of Theatermom's D on pointe (not that I've seen the photo) because I have photos of my D on pointe and I am realizing that she may not dance on pointe again or for a long while because they do not do pointe in ballet classes in MT programs, so who knows when she will be on pointe again. I kinda felt sad when this past spring she was out of all her dances, particularly not seeing her in her last ballet, due to her accident. Not sure she'll be in tutus and satin shoes in her MT program, lol.

Catsmom, Boston is about five hours from Philly. I'm from Philly and went to college and grad school in Boston. I hope your D is having a great time at BOCO and loving Boston itself. Great place to go to college!

Susan

chrism

Heartfelt thanks to all those posting from the Less Trodden Path. Not only is it personally heartening to those of us watching our kids on that path to find kindred spirits going through the same thing, I think it fulfills the mission of this board to broaden the conversation.

Please keep us posted on your successes and challenges along the way. Maybe we should have our own thread!

ChrisM

soozievt

I'm glad you guys are posting because there are many "paths", not just one, in this field and so it is good to bring out the various alternatives pursued. I also think it is great for some of you to hook up with one another to share how you have gone about these situations and plans.

Susan

newmtmom

I'm also a poster who hasn't been around for a while (life got in the way in a couple of big ways) but I'd like to add and affirm a couple of points. Some of this is probably repetitive, so forgive me, please.

My D also received rejections, but was accepted into the BA program at American. Before dismissing this because it is not a BFA program, I will point out that many students treat it like a BFA program--they take the 40 credits of required Gen. Ed. and then do everything else in theatre, dance and music. However, if you are a kid (or parent of one) who would like a double major or just wants a little more lib. arts or more dance or whatever, it provides flexibility. I think there are a couple of other schools out there that require auditions for BA programs that, like American's, are performance based programs.

What I would have done differently:

Hired a coach--maybe. My D, like lynnm's, had she not done the CMU summer program, would have been completely clueless. As is, in retrospect, she (and her teachers) made some poor choices in audition material. Perhaps a coach would have helped. The important thing:

Make sure that all audition material--including monologues--show off the strengths of your voice. No matter how much you love a song, if you can't hit those notes perfectly, it is not the right audition song.

Practice, practice, practice. Especially for those kids who haven't been doing this since age 5 or 10, do whatever you can to get used to auditioning.

Look for some non-"ivies." There are a lot of good programs out there that don't get talked about on this discussion. Find one or two and apply to them--they might end up being your only options--and the fact that no one here knows about them doesn't mean they are bad programs.

Re the whole rejection thing. I don't buy the fatalistic attitude that everyone ends up where they are meant to be. I have no doubt, for example, that if my D had gotten in to one of her top choices, she'd be happy and doing quite well. I do believe, however, that you deal with what life gives you. So hats off to the kids who didn't get in to the schools they wanted or in anywhere and are still pursuing their studies; and hats off to those who didn't and are doing other things and finding out that maybe they don't have to do theatre.

p.s. for anyone interested in American or BA programs, I think there was a discussion a while back here. If you can't find it and I can help, just ask.

soozievt

NewMTMom....SO glad you came back to follow up and share about your daughter. Welcome back! It is best that readers learn about the many paths that kids are taking as there is no one right single path. A BFA program is one path and the one talked about most on here. Some will do a BA program and make it in this field. Some might forego college and do a certificate program or take training at studios. Some might do theater on the side while pursuing something else in college. I'm glad something has worked out for your daughter. You do have to deal with what life gives you and she has. I don't know where she was "'meant to be" but am glad she has found a place that will work for her to become what she wants to be. Who knows where it will lead but I hope to something fulfilling.

I do feel for you as a mom because it is very tough when things don't go the way your child has hoped and a parent cannot control that. Perhaps your daughter needed more preparation and training which is understandable having come into the field of interest later on and having had limited experience. The odds of admission to the programs are so long to begin with even if well trained and prepared. I think she is going to get lots of training now and that's what matters if she wants to continue her pursuit of this field. It may be just the right step for her in the end.

I'll write you soon.
Susan

chrism

Newmtmom,
thanks so much for coming back and sharing your and your d's experiences. Every story adds to the full picture of what students can do.

Chrism

newmtmom

Soozievt--it's so nice to hear from you and I just want to stress to those parents and kids starting out--this isn't only about my D. In retrospect, I know she didn't have as much training and experience as many kids. And for some, that doesn't matter; there are always those amazing ones who are fantastic from the first. The point is, she found someplace where she will be able to study theatre and dance and voice. And that's the thing that those of us who are parents need to be able to remind the kids--that there are many more places to study than the top 20 schools that are mostly mentioned.

And by the way, Washington, DC is a great theatre town these days. Besides American U., Catholic has an MT major, and I don't know about Maryland or Howard, but they do have theatre programs.

I just want to say good luck to all you seniors (and parents of)

believersmom

Bump---
Since it is that time of year when the auditions gear up...

grmom

Denversmom listed an interesting group of schools she considers "safeties" - I know Syracuse's MT program was their MOST competitive this year -more competitive than Newhouse, Maxwell, etc. I learned through going through this process with my son last year that no BFA program should be considered a "safety" and that it is impossible to gauge what one school or another is looking for. My S is now at Syracuse, which he considered to be his "worst" audition; he was not accepted at a couple of schools where he thought he did very well . . . I would say visit the schools and audition wherever you feel you might "fit" - I would also not look at the sticker price, since you may get more scholarship/grant money from the more expensive schools. Don't let what you hear or read anywhere stop you from auditioning at every school that appeals - you never know.

theatermom

Grmom,

I'm not sure that Denvermom was/is considering Syracuse as a "safety."

I would like to add that our entire experience with Syracuse was very positive and I felt it was one of the most balanced programs for which my D auditioned. I would still classify it in the "selective" group for MT BFA admissions.

Also, for those of you who have specific concerns about your child's ability to function in what can often be a very high stress curriculum, I would also classify Syracuse among the most nurturing of MT programs.

believersmom

grmom-
Hope I am not going to stir up trouble here since maybe denvermom did mean things the way you took them, however, as I read her post above, I think she meant IF her D didn't get into any of those schools she is trying for [the ones she listed] THEN her D would try to get into some "safeties" not that the schools she listed were THE safeties. I could be wrong...

I think everyone on this site pretty much realizes that when there is an audition involved, there is no "safety" school. [sigh---if only]

On another note, and cut me off if this is too much of a hijack...
I WISH there were a school where the students got in based on their academic achievements[like all other majors except visual & PA], had 100-level classes that anyone could take, and where 200-level and above were audition only.

Okay, enough of my wishful thinking...back to those of you with helpful "I wish I knew [THIS] back when the auditions and applications began."

believersmom

Okay, one more thing, and I do think this relates to topic...

Does anyone know of a person that was admitted to a college or university with MT, but not in MT, that later transfered into the MT program from another major??? If so, which school[s]?

Thank you.

believersmom

theatermom-
You are obviously a faster typer than I am
LOL...

believersmom

And more eloquent I might add...and did.