<p>Okay, so, the school I’m applying to has an acting major. I have to read two monologues and sing a song.</p>
<p>I’m auditioning for acting. Why do I have to sing?! I am an awful singer…</p>
<p>Am I toast because I can’t sing?</p>
<p>What school is it? </p>
<p>And if it’s really an acting major and not a musical theatre major, then no, not at all. Just pick a showtune of a character that you can relate to - just like you would your monologue, and concentrate more on the story of the character told through the song. They’re not only or even necessarily primarily concerned with your vocal talent, but also the way you carry yourself, your stage presence, and especially your ability to tell the story truthfully. </p>
<p>Having you sing does a couple of things, it lets them know first off whether or not musical theatre might be one of your interests, but it also allows them to see your acting prowess from another perspective and your risk taking abilities. </p>
<p>Most straight-acting programs won’t really care if you can sing - SOME might, but that depends on a school-to-school basis. </p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>Singing helps the audition panel hear the real “timber” of your voice… its tone and quality. This is important as an actor; an audience doesn’t want to listen to a voice with annoying qualities.
Some schools are just looking for this and some are really looking to know if you would be an asset to their musicals as well as plays.
Pick something you like to sing and are comfortable with. You may want to get the advice of a singing teacher or maybe the choir teacher at your school who could help you pick a song or the part of the song that makes your voice sound best. The right person will be able to listen to you sing and then pick a song or a few songs for you to choose from in minutes. Since singing is not your strong point though, don’t overdo this process or get “over” coached. Just let them hear your voice.
Also, you are probably not as bad as you think. My D and I have spent years looking for the right voice teacher. For most people, singing MUST be taught. It is not natural. Now that we found the right teacher, she has made rapid progress and will be a very strong contender for the lead in the school musical this year. Something I would not have said two years ago! She wanted to quit singing altogether and it was only the fact that some colleges require it that made her push on. Now she’s really happy she kept trying and feels much more confident about her singing. Right now she is up for a play where the role sings acapella briefly… so singing does come up in plays as well as musicals.
Good luck!</p>
<p>When I was undergrad at Columbia College Chicago, the chair of the department (Sheldon Patinkin) would often suggest to acting students who had vocal issues that they take a singing class. Because singing helps you learn proper breathing, projection, and so on, all of which are equally important to actors.</p>
<p>I also know a senior citizen with Parkinson’s who we have great trouble hearing when he speaks, but is incredible clear when he sings.</p>
<p>When folks say “find a song you are comfortable with”, they mean find a song that is EASY. Since you are not auditioning for MT, they won’t be looking at your range, so go ahead and find a song that has notes that are easy to hit (i.e. nothing too high or too low). And they certainly are not looking for any operatic flourishes.</p>
<p>But also bear in mind that occasionally “singing” comes up even in non-musical theatre. Quite a few of Shakespeare’s plays have songs in them, but I don’t think we would call those plays “musicals”. And in many other plays as well sometimes characters have to sing, just as people do occasionally sing in real life.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>