<p>(Helping to spread the questions by tracyvp)</p>
<p>We are starting to understand that most BFA Musical Theatre programs try very hard to train “triple threat” performers, but in the end, one of the three disciplines tends to emerge as slightly more prominent or emphasized than the others, and there is usually a second, then third.</p>
<p>For current Indiana students (or parents, if you know), what would you say is the primary emphasis of your training at IU?</p>
<p>Also, can you describe the type of training you get in each of the three disciplines? For example, in music, how much time and what sort of training in voice, theory, repertoire, piano, etc. Do you learn both “classical” MT styles as well as contemporary pop styles? When and how?</p>
<p>For acting, do you explore the different approaches, and in what depth? Do you train with the acting BFA’s or separately? Do you get a lot of straight acting training, or is most of the acting training in the context of “acting the song?”</p>
<p>In dance, can more advanced dancers take classes with the Dance majors? How much time is devoted to “specialty” dance like tap, partnering, hip hop, etc?</p>
<p>Sometimes different students have different experiences, so it would be awesome to hear from several!!</p>
<p>Hi kksmom5! This is Terry L. from the IU faculty. My name just happened to pop up in a google search in a nearby post and saw your question. Here is what I can tell you regarding each of the disciplines. VOICE TRAINING: Classical voice study is “the ballet” of voice - all other contemporary styles are built on this solid foundation. So…all of us who teach voice in IU MT have classical training. In addition, we also teach the high pop belt technique which the theater industry requires nowadays. Also, every BFA student studies with a faculty member privately, every semester, during their entire residency here at IU.
DANCE: Well…I’m not a ballerina (even though one of my students once photoshopped my head onto Barishnikov’s body 8->). However, I do know that the dance department is strong, the classes are varied - a student can be in a least one dance class every semester…at least. In addition, advanced dancers are able to study with the dance majors, quite extensively.
MUSIC THEORY: See the curriculum - but note that we have added a special theory course just for the BFA’s - it centers a little more on contemporary styles of music and more useful stuff, rather than the baroque “part writing.” Piano is in the curriculum as well. If a student places out of either class (is advanced), they will still need to fulfill the credit hours by taking an upper level course. At Indiana there are MANY different theory courses to fulfill the advanced students’ needs with different areas of concentration. ACTING: MT Students are in the mainstream with all of the drama majors. Since the MT degree is housed in the Department of Theatre & Drama, the normal day is spent with all theater types (the music college is just next door and we have a great relationship with them). MT students can audition for operas, and plays, and outside students can audition for the musicals as well. Another word about the acting classes (4 levels in order to graduate) - there is a very large acting faculty, and they teach many different methods. As students progress through the 4 level cycle they are exposed to many different ways of “peeling the apple.” And while the teachers are all different, they have a very unified mission with regards to what they want the undergraduate students to learn, and when. And finally, a personal note: I love it here. I used to teach at another school. I’m very glad I made the switch. Now I would encourage you to contact me directly and I can send you to many resourceful people. We keep our program on the small side just so that we have time to think and to answer questions exactly like yours! I can’t post my email address here, but you can find me at the Indiana Website. Go to the main page - go to “Arts” - then “Department of Theatre & Drama” then “people” and you can read about me and also my colleagues. Best of luck to you! (Don’t answer me here as I am rarely, if ever, on this site.) - Terry L.</p>