ChadMan

Hello, everyone! This is my first post on the boards and I have a question. For any of you attending NYU, those who have attended, those with relatives/children attending, or if you plan on auditioning, etc. How many years of formal training would you recommend in each area (dance, voice, acting)? I was just wondering because I am a freshmen in high school and I have done musical theatre since I was around 7, so I know the basics on how to breathe correctly, basic jazz, ballet, and tap, but since NYU is so competitive and prestigious I think it is time for me to get one-on-one formal training. So if anyone has any suggestions, comments, or input I would love to hear it. Thanks so much!

blaneyboy

Well, you're well ahead of my son. He didn't get into theatre till he was about 13, but then you couldn't stop him!

He then did maybe three shows a year, throughout high school. He'd had about 7 years of piano lessons, but he gave that up for two years of guitar. He had about 2.5 years of private voice lessons, which helped him a great deal, but no private dance lessons, although he hung around a dance studio periodically to take some jazz or tap group lessons. He also took two intensive summer school "theatre camps" at a local youth program. Very demanding; very professional; taught him a lot.

You've got lots of time. Develop a plan of some kind and stick with it. You'll be fine. Don't forget the academics. Big deal at a place like NYU.

Good luck.

ChadMan

Thanks so much for responding, I really appreciate it. Yes, academics aren't really a problem (yet but hopefully not ever) as I have straight A's and will be taking 9 APs throughout my high school years.

Alright, so I suppose it would be adventageous for me to start taking private voice lessons sometime within this next year. Thanks again! And tell your son congratulations. Is he in CAP?

Justoneyes, God!

If you are only interested in CAP21, I'd get some private voice lessons. If you want any studio, my ex-girlfriend who's a freshman did NOTHING--no lessons, no professional theatre, very little MT or drama in HS, some religious community theatre; and she's right there at Tisch. (2100 SAT, 4.0 GPA, though).
She would laugh at me because I would have my mom pay for dance and voice and drag me around to auditions and we're middle class and she is rich and spent no money preparing and got in. Such is life.

ChadMan

Wow, she is very fortunate, some people just have it. I am most interested in CAP, but I am sure any studio would be an amazing experience. Thanks!

JennyD123

Yeah, you don't NEED anything but as much experience as you can get helps - whether that's training or performing or auditioning. It would be good to take voice and/or dance lessons if you're thinking of CAP, or if you're thinking of one of the others read their recommended books on the technique they teach there (it says on the wbesite). But that said, only do this stuff if it's fun for you - it's good to be prepared but you don't wana overprepare so everything feels like a chore...because once you get here you'll probably learn everything all over again in a different way anyway!
good luck!!

ChadMan

Thanks! I love performing, rehearsing, auditioning, etc. so it is definitely not a chore. And do you know the acting style they teach at CAP?

JennyD123

I don't know for sure but I've heard the acting is not the strongest part of CAP. I don't think it's one sole specific method, more like doing scenes and looking at them for beats and objectives and stuff, and acting with songs too. Perhaps someone else who's had first hand experience can clarify that for you. But if you're looking for a strong acting training in a particular style, you'd be better off going to one of the acting studios (if you want more info on those, that I can give you. or there should be some on the website). CAP is really only best if you want to learn singing, dancing, acting equally.