One step forward, two steps back

College Majors Musical Theater Major
#1

<p>SO. I should give you some basic background first: Decided end of sophomore year I wanted to do MT, realized at the end of junior year that I had awful vocal problems (because of..."inadequate" teaching) that needed immediate attention, and didn't heal those vocal problems officially until January 25. (Before January, I couldn't sing more than 30 minutes a day)</p>

<p>I just started accessing my upper range outside of warm ups (C in the staff to A above staff) with a fairly good tone and turning into a true mezzo-soprano. I live in a little, little town in a county that is basically ignorant of musical theatre--even my voice teacher now is classically trained and doing her best to teach me theatre stuff. Don't get me wrong, she's amazing! She's the woman who turned me from raspy, unhealthy scream/singing to a clear belt and fairly accessible upper range! </p>

<p>Basically, I've been alone in this process. I have researched, googled, studied, applied, and picked songs/monologues by myself. </p>

<p>From what I've told you so far, you won't be surprised to find that I was rejected from my first audition. However, there are various factors won't let me give up MT: At a Point Park audition, they don't ask for a second song unless they like your first song. I sang a belt song and they asked for a second song--which I must have slaughtered based on my rejection. STILL! They asked for a second song! I can't be too far off! With only one month of serious preparation, and I didnt pick my second song til the week before! I wonder what I could do with 6 months! A year!
Also, (what I'm about to say is may seem cliche so take it as you want, but as a Christian I'm a firm believer that everything has a reason, and God doesn't do things on "accident" or by "coincidence). I was praying and praying for a sign of what to do, since I am fullyy aware of how behind I am. And I went to UPMC for a checkup and my vocal chords were suddenly healed. They went from 0-20% healed from July to November, then suddenly 98% healed in January. Anyone with vocal issues knows they don't go away that fast. And I didn't change any habits from November to January.</p>

<p>Anyways, the point of this extremely lengthy post --if you read this far, thank you haha-- is that I am lost! I know that my chances of getting in are low. However, I wish to reaudition next fall. </p>

<p>I am wondering if anyone has any advice on how to go about that?</p>

<p>Do I attend a close, cheap college to get my general courses in, continue voice lessons with my current teacher and take coaching from a nearby company with a very high success rate, and then reaudition in the fall? </p>

<p>Do I attend my dream college and hope I make it in? If I work over the summer, can I reaudition to the school this fall?</p>

<p>How does this work?? lol</p>

<p>Finally, does anyone have any tips for a Baldwin-Wallace audition? I have 4 days left to prepare.</p>

<p>In conclusion, please don't take anything I have said the wrong way. I am not whining, complaining, begging for reassurance or being cynical. I am very optimistic and determined and NOT ready to give up! Just simply looking for some help :] And thanks to anyone who replies. Even if you don't have specific advice, I'm open to input, opinions, stories, etc... :]</p>

#2

<p>I don't know how many schools you have applied to and your results are not all in and so you don't have to plan yet what to do if you don't get in anywhere. Do you have some non-audition schools on your list where you can study MT or theater/voice/dance? Such a school would be a great option and I hope your college list included non audition colleges where you could still study and train in this field. </p>

<p>If you don't get in anywhere, all is not over by any means. As you say, you would benefit from more adequate training and preparation and good vocal health as well. A gap year could be beneficial to you. I would not be so keen on taking local college classes as then you would have to apply to college the next year as a transfer student which is much harder odds of admissions. I would also not attend one of the BFA schools where you are only admitted academically with the hope of auditioning once there. Only a few schools may permit this and the odds seem low. You'd have to ask at each school. </p>

<p>Instead, a gap year could be spent getting more voice, dance, and acting training, being in more productions, and maybe getting a job to earn some money for college. Perhaps you could attend a summer MT intensive as well. </p>

<p>Right now, stick with your current auditions and see how things go. Break a leg!</p>

#3