<p>Happy New Year, all. I’m wondering which MT programs’ voice classes have their students study classical/art songs and classical technique, along with MT?</p>
<p>I think that many musical theatre programs have musical theatre students study classical as well as musical theatre repertory in their lessons. The amount of classical training may vary, however. At James Madison University students in the BA program study one to two classical pieces per semester as part of their voice lesson repertory. Students in the BM program will have at least 1/2 of their repertory classical each semester. The BM students follow the same music core as all music majors, and have a curriculum similar to the classical VP concentrators. The BA students follow a similar core to the theatre concentrators. Students in both degree programs participate in musicals, operas, university choirs, acappella groups, and are integrated in classes. I graduated from the BFA program at Syracuse (although quite a few years ago) when I was there we usually studied 1 to 2 classical pieces each semester.</p>
<p>Elons policy for MT students voice lessons is copied below. Each student has a one hour private voice lesson every semester. In addition, second semester sophomore students take a class called Music Theatre Performance with Cathy McNeela, head of MT, in which each student performs songs (apparently many, as assigned by Prof. McNeela, over the course of the semester). </p>
<p>(Copied) Elons policies regarding repertoire for Music Theatre majors. It is very important that our assignments, in terms of ratios, line up with one another so that students are not confused. As you know, it is important to stress good standards of singing to these students through the performance of classical literature and musical theatre literature.</p>
<p>In the Freshmen Year:</p>
<p>1st Semester Music theatre majors study primarily English, American, and Italian art songs and/or arias, but they are given at least one music theatre piece (more if you feel they can handle it). Four songs for the jury.</p>
<p>2nd Semester Freshmen still study primarily English, American, and Italian art songs and/or arias. We require one more song for the jury, so one more may be music theatre.</p>
<p>Sophomore Year:</p>
<p>1st Semester Sophomore - same as above, but introduce French and/or German in the art song rep.</p>
<p>2nd Semester Sophomore - six songs for the jury (4 classical, 2 music theatre). German, French, and Italian should be introduced by this semester.</p>
<p>Junior Year: </p>
<p>Half classical and half music theatre (hybrids such as Bernstein, Sondheim, and others are allowed for both categories). Six Songs. Stress on languages is less important at this point.</p>
<p>Senior Year: All Music Theatre. Six Songs</p>
<p>Any good MT program makes sure its students are well-versed in classical technique and art songs/ classical pieces, much like the great rockers (ie Elton John) study classical piano and great jazz and modern dancers/choreographers( ie Twyla Tharp) study ballet at the core. If the school(s) you are considering do not include classical training I would rethink applying to them.JMHO.</p>
<p>My D is a junior at Syracuse in the BFA MT department. In her private voice lessons, she studies a mix of classical and MT songs and techniques, with a strong emphasis on healthy singing in both areas. There are several classes, including MT repertoire, that focus solely on MT.</p>
<p>How does she like Syracuse?</p>
<p>CMU has weekly private voice lessons and a weekly voice lab (all MT’s across class years meet weekly and individual students sing). The individual voice lessons include a mix of classical pieces and selections from the full range of the musical theatre’s repertory. Juries at the end of semester may include the classical pieces, depending on what the faculty asks to hear.</p>
<p>datripp --my D is very happy at Syracuse. The atmosphere is very nurturing; she has developed excellent relationships with both faculty and students. She has shown a big improvement in all three areas: acting, dance and voice. Every production we have seen is very high-level, even the black box shows. If you have any specific questions about the program, feel free to PM or e-mail me.</p>
<p>At BW you take 4 years of weekly 1 hour voice lessons. You are studying from teachers with their Masters or Doctorates. Starting freshmen year you focus on classical rep and will probably be singing %75 classical and %25 Musical Theatre. These percentages become more balanced up till your junior year and your junior recital which is a half classical recital that can also include classical musical theatre (written before 1960). After that you completely focus on Music Theatre in your voice lessons in preparation for your Senior Musical Theatre recital and becoming a musical theatre performer in general. BW’s focus on voice comes from classical singing technique and taking that technique and applying it to contemporary music stylings. On top of voice lessons we also have regular music theatre workshop class where you work on other singing skills such as audition technique and acting a song.</p>