<p><em>I feel that im restricted to what i can do…because of where i live…</em></p>
<p>Hey, my name is Kayla, i am a 16 year old girl from Barbados and an aspiring musical theatre performer. Let me lay out my whole life story for you and tell you my problem.
You see,all of my life I have been in love of performing, since the age of four ive been dancing ballet, and since the age of 7/6 jazz…in my heart i just feel like i belong on stage, its the one place where i can be myself and let down all barriers…and show everybody the real, true, me.
The problem is that i live in Barbados…dont get me wrong, Barbados is not a bad place to live and grow up in, but the problem with Barbados (which is a big problem for me)…is that they dont have much trianing in the arts here atall. The only training ive had is dancing nearly all my life at the ‘Louise Dance Academy’…ive received several awards there and got an award for being the best dancer in the whole academy. Ive also performed in competions (NIFCA) for dancing and i was recently asked to perform in Jamaica for a concert to raise money for the people who had to go through Hurricane Katrina.
The biggest thing they have here, that is the closest thing to theatre productions…are the school pantomines, and ive also been doing them every other year since the age of four and i stopped doing them when i tunred 15.
Barbados does not have any proper trianing when it comes ot the arts…i come online and hear about these girl my age who are performing in concerts and at community theatres…and im like…gosh, i wish i could do that…but the reality is that i cant…cause barbados just doesnt have enough money to facilitate that. I have also never received vocal coaching, because my mum is finding it extremly hard to find a vocal coach…she has brought me and singing software that has helped me tremdously, made my tone purer and increased my range ot about 4 octaves…but my dream is to be in musical theatre…no matter how much i have to do to get there…so i teach myself,i dont allow myself to do songs that would damage my voice, and the singing software i have helps me alot. I also record my voice everytime i sing, so that i can see if there is a steady improvement.
This year i was greatly thinking (i had my audition things prepared) to go and audition for Walnut Hill arts school this january, but i decided against it, because it is alot of money for my parents to pay for that and university…and also my mum said that i will have a better chance if i stay in Barbados and then apply to go to univeristy at the end of all my high school years. She said that since Barbados is such minority place…and i go to the best school in Barbados, i might get slightly higher preference. But i dont agree, i think that it would be lovely to have more formal training…and go to a place where i can eat, sleep and drink music and then that will increase my chances of getting into a good university eg. university of michigan.
but my parents said that it will make no sense going and i should complete my high school eyars here, casue im on line for a barbados schlorship. You see, here we have a program called CAPE and it takes two years to complete the whoel program and then oyu go to university…i am now starting my first year of CAPE…doing, biology, chemistry ,physics and communication studeis (there is not arts programs at my school that i can do 
)…but my teachers and parents expect that i will get a barbados schlorship cause i am a very high academic student…and its true i would love to get one. But i would also like ot go to another high school in the states (eg. walnut hill)…so that i can get proper trianing in the arts in my last year before university.
I ahve gotten awards for dancing so im not worried about that, i have acted before in plays so im not really worried about that, and ive also been told that i am a surprisingly great voice, my parents are surprised caus ei have trained myself…but i still feel and know that they are probably others in NY better than me becuase they’ve had more taining and they are probably going to get into a good univeristy easier than me becuase of all the extra things they’ve done…the things that barbados cant offer me.
The only thing i have right now to do, is to apply to a summer program, which would give me extra trainign so im excited about that.
My biggest worry is that because of come from Barbados, a places that does not have much, would i still be able to get into a good university?
Another thing slightly wrong with Barbados is the training for the SAT’s…they have none, we are not trained here to do those exams…and we have to go against tons of american student who have been trained for them.
Univeristy of Pennslyvania came down here last year and told my school that they understand that we dont have trianing and that they will take that into consideration when looking at our exam marks…when i heard that it was a relief for me…and i hope other colleges are the same…casue it just doesnt seem fair that i have to be judged fausely because of where i come from.
Musical theatre is a dream of mine and has always been, i do believe that i can do it and i will do everything i can to make it…no matter where i come from. I will conitnue to train myself and i will still apply to the universities i want to go to…in order of preference:
univeristy of michigan
NYU
syracuse university
CMU
…i kow thats not much…but im bascially looing for schools where i can do both my academics and musical theatre…cause i dont want to give up on my academics.
So if there is anybody here that knows about universities and they admissions and selections…i would love your info and advice…i have done the best that i can do to make use of what my country has to offer and im proud to be from Barbados…but it would break my heart if i found out that because im from here, a place with not excellent arts but with exellent academis…that that would stop me form conitnuing musical theatre and a great university…and right now my dream university is UMich.
Thank you very much for reading this…i realise that it is very long…
Well i will probably post back here later…but i have to go to school now :)</p>
<p>byeeee
*Kayla</p>
<p>Kayla, you should look into Interlochen Arts Academy/Camp. They have many many international students, particularly in the summer program, and many of them are on scholarships. Same is true for the Academy. <a href=“http://www.interlochen.org%5B/url%5D”>www.interlochen.org</a></p>
<p>Interlochen would give you a taste of the training you so clearly covet. </p>
<p>Many kids go to the academy for just one year (say their senior year, I’m sorry I read your letter quickly so I was not clear if you are in your last or next to last year in HS). The academy and camp also have a post senior year program.</p>
<p>Hi Kayla,</p>
<p>Welcome to the forum! Thanks for sharing such a detailed description of your experiences in Barbados and your love of performing. It is very clear that you have one of the key ingredients for success in this field - PASSION! I can’t predict the odds of your admissions success without knowing things about you that are impossible to know over the internet, but I will offer a little advice that I hope will be helpful.</p>
<p>My own daughter is currently a sophomore MT at the University of Michigan and so I totally understand why you want to go to this program - it really does offer top tier MT training while also respecting the desire to continue to pursue interests in other academic areas held by many students in the performing arts. While a “normal” UMich MT student takes one academic class per semester, there always seem to be one or two students in each class who find a way to double major along with MT or to minor in an additional academic area. I’m amazed that they do so because the MT courseload is significant, but if the student is willing to take on the extra courses, the department will support them. As you are probably aware, UMich is one of only a few schools that review a students’ academic qualifications and only upon passing muster academically are students then invited to audition. It sounds as though your academic qualifications are strong so it shouldn’t be a problem for you. But if you have questions or concerns (like the one about SAT’s you posed), you can and should contact the schools you are interested in and pose your questions to them directly. You could also share your concerns with them about the advantages or disadvantages of trying to gain admission as a foreign student. While I don’t have information about whom to contact at other schools, you should send an email with all of your UMich questions to a woman named Laura Strozeski, the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Services in the Music School. She is a veritable font of wisdom and the nicest person ever! Her email address is <a href=“mailto:lauras@umich.edu”>lauras@umich.edu</a></p>
<p>With regard to going to a performing arts high school/prep school for your senior year, I think it might not be a bad idea, if only to give you some formal training, other than in dance, that might in turn give you the confidence that you are competitive with others who share your dreams. If that is not feasible given your parents concerns or limited resources (although you could always inquire about scholarship opportunities - your foreign student status might make you a very attractive scholarship candidate), do look into a summer MT program in order to give you some audition prep work, a REALLY important piece of this puzzle.</p>
<p>Lastly, just as Ericsmom advised you on another thread, you will need to broaden your list of schools as the ones you currently list (UM, NYU, CMU and Syracuse) are all considered among the most selective. And if you are truly looking for schools that will allow you to continue some level of regular academic studies, cross off CMU. It is a fabulous program, but as an MT there you are not allowed to take any courses outside the proscribed curriculum as being an MT at CMU is already considered a double major.</p>
<p>Check the FAQ website related to MT and the Big List located there for other schools to consider. You can access it by clicking on the link at the top of the Musical Theater Forum page where all the threads are listed. And as time permits, do read as many of the threads on this site as possible. It will provide you with the best education that exists on applying to MT college programs. I know that the answers to many of your questions will be found there and I hope you will be inspired to continue to follow your dream by many of the individual stories you read.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you Kaylagurl! We’re here to help.</p>
<p>What about a summer intensive program? Yes they are costly, but not as much as boarding school and you could stay on track for your scholarship at your home school.</p>
<p>Test scores are not the end all and be all either, don’t get me wrong they can/are important, however, the creative ways you have dealt with pursuing your passion on an island without the opportunities to study your art will at the very least make a compelling college admissions essay. It demonstrates determination, ambition and drive—things that schools prize highly.</p>
<p>Hey everybody…i just got home from school, thank you so much for replying!..i will definetly look into other schools…</p>
<p>and yes believersmom…i think my parents would prefer that, and i guess i also prefer…i have already found a intensive summer 6 week workshop program in NYC, so i will definetly audition for that :)</p>
<p>I would truly like to leave to do my final year away at another high school…but i just think it would be better if i applied to a university from here…being a foreign student and all…</p>
<p>thank you all so much for your help…theatremom, i will definetly e-mail laura as soon as possible and tell her about my concerns.</p>
<p>thanks you all
bye
*Kays</p>
<p>You have the drive, the ambition and the passion and the academics…that’s alot already. Be aware that there are many who get into musical theater programs who did not come from a big training area or a performing arts high school or such. While it is understandably easier in the states to get some training, there is wide variation as to what is available depending where you live in the states. </p>
<p>For instance, we live in a rural area. Our high school has good music but no drama classes and there is no acting training around here. There is a great dance studio 25 miles away and that sounds like what you also get to do, good. Others talk about which show they might audition for in their region whereas where we live, maybe one theater opportunity to try for comes up in a season (and that is if you get in). Our high school does put on one drama and one musical per year though so we do have more than you but not as much around the area as many who post here. We are able to find a voice teacher but that is also 50 miles away. I do not know if you can find anyone in Barbados to help you with singing…anyone trained in music. There might be. But yes, you have limits of what is available where you are. More than most kids who post here but just know that some do not have that much where they live either, as is the case here in my rural area. You don’t have to go to an arts high school. I think others’ suggestion of trying a summer intensive in the states will help you with additional training and perspective as well. I’m glad your parents are willing to look into those. Try for several, not just one. My daughter went to a summer intensive for many years and loved it and only wished it was like that where we live. </p>
<p>I really think you can make it from anywhere. I know it is easy to think of being at a disadvantage when you read of opportunities that people have had elsewhere but if you have the drive and the talent, with some training (maybe not as much as others had), you stand a chance and should go for it. Also with regard to SATs…our school does not “train” kids for these tests. True it is an American education but nothing my kids’ school did was aimed at any of the tests for college admissions. But you can buy a book of 10 Real SATs and take practice tests and work independently to prepare for those tests. My MT child did that…she took about five practice tests. She did very well on the real tests (took them twice) and 3 SAT2s (took them once), all taken in spring of tenth grade, by doing a review of the material independently. She did not come out of a well regarded high school. Many at her high school do not even go to college. Sometimes, I point out to my D that she should feel good that she has gotten where she is coming from our tiny town of 1700 people in the mountains and from a regular public rural high school with no drama program. A region with very few theater productions in a given year to even try out at (more than you, yes, but less than where most people live). But she did get into BFA programs. She’s at NYU for CAP21. She placed into the highest levels of dance in all disciplines at CAP and placed out of music theory totally (has studied piano ten years so learned lots of music theory that way) and just got into a very selective singing troupe there where hundreds tried out and they took four girls three boys. You can come from “nowhere” and still fare well amongst those who went to the right schools and had lots of opportunities in their bigger cities. You really can. Go for it ! Don’t worry about what others have done. Train in whatever ways you can, do a summer intensive, and maybe even try to create performance opportunities for yourself at home. Start up a drama group at your school. Put on a concert or cabaret. My D created some opportunities. You can do that too. Find anyone involved in music on your island. Ask them where there is any music training. Learn to play piano. I realize it is tougher for you but you can come from a place like that and make it. You really can. Don’t give up.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Have you checked with churches on the island?</p>
<p>Perhaps a choir with a talented director is another way to get more training? Or they may be able to point you towards someone in their network with the ability to train what you are looking for?</p>
<p>That is an excellent suggestion. There must be some church choirs. There are also entertainers and performers. I have been to Barbados. Talk with any musicians, even people in bands and such. They might have advice for music training and performance opportunities. Singing on stage might be a possibility for you even if not a musical. If you can find some interested kids at school willing to put on a one act play, maybe you can start a club for that too.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>I’d also say the church idea might be a good opportunity for you. In fact, you might find an opportunity w/in a church community to also do the drama club or cabaret. They often have more freedom/ flexible parameters to consider these new situations. Cabarets or the like can be great fundraisers. If you can find an adult who you consider like a mentor to you, someone you already know, and your family knows, they might have the connections to help. That person could also be the advisor type/ supervision when you approach a school or church about your new ideas. Many churches are clamoring for ways to bring younger people in. If you have the enthusiasm and can gather the support, and are willing to work hard, you might be surprised at what doors are open to you. I believe your community and colleges would look very well on you for your efforts, your talents, and your role in organizing a forum to share them and the talents of others. It might sound like a very large task, but if you take it one step at a time w/ a few strong people by your side (even if they’re not theatre people,) I believe you’ll find success. Good luck and keep us posted.</p>