Auditioning for College Website

[auditioningforcolleg]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 11:17pm

Hey guys-

This is the best place I could think of to come for this.

I'm starting up a new website... AuditioningforCollege.com

Hopefully it will be a complete and comprehensive website that High School students can go to that are looking to audition for Music Theatre programs across the country.

I'm hoping that you guys can help me out.

If you have any suggestions, no matter how small or random, please email me ([e-mail]) and let me know what you think should be included on the page. I already have a list of stuff, but I want to get some more ideas, see what you guys want to see. It's been a while since I've had to go through the whole college thing, so let me know what you would like to see, what questions you want answered, should there be a message board, should there be song lists? college lists? Should I include information for both Music Theatre and Acting students? Have part of the site dedicated to pianists that are looking to go to college to become a theatre pianists (like me)?

Let me know, thanks guys!!!

[e-mail]

www.AuditioningforCollege.com

THANK YOU!!!
Updated On: 9/21/06 at 11:17 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 10:40am

Not to discourage you, but the most comprehensive online resource for information on auditioning for college theatre and MT programs is:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=501

There are dozens of knowledgeable parents, professors, administrators, professionals, and current BFA students who participate. It's going to be very difficult for you to duplicate that type of resource.

[auditioningforcolleg]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 11:09pm

I'm not trying to 'duplicate' collegeconfidential. I'm trying to consolidate it. Right now it has give or take 8 million threads to go through.

I want to create a site that has specific pages on the process, not a hundred parents opinions.

I've played countless auditions for incoming college students, and I currently work as an audition pianist in NYC, and part time teaching at NYU, so I want to take what I've learned and consolidate collegeconfidential.

Have a site that is simple to follow... Pages that deal with finding a college, audition material, music prep, kids that want to become theatre pianists, stuff like that, also get information from current students at universities and have them listed by school with their experiences, lists of good audition songs, how to deal with accompanist, things you can do to stick out, that type of stuff. I'm just tired of looking through threads for what I want. And of course I would have my own message board.

I want to make an easier to follow page, with less opinion and more I've been there and played probably 10,000 auditions, this is what you need to do, and how you need to do it.

Maybe no one wants that source.

Oh well, I'm still going ahead with the project, maybe someone will find it useful to have information boiled down and consolidated.

[LiLMuNkEe22]

Posted: 9/23/06 at 12:20am

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!

thank you so much!!

PM me if you need help getting the word out!

[PeaceFrog]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 12:04pm

Best of luck getting it going and definitely include a section for acting majors! The College Confidential site used to be an amazing resource and there's still an awful lot of helpful stuff there if you want to take the time to search it out. Unfortunately, in the past year or so it's been almost completely taken over by obsessed stage parents to the point that it's now really more of a support group for them than a place that's useful to kids who are actually going through the application/audition process. Updated On: 9/24/06 at 12:04 PM

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 7:17pm

peacefrog does have a bit of a point there....i've been finding it harder and harder to actually weed through stories and find real information.

it's still incredibly helpful, though.

best of luck with starting the site!! when it gets up and running i'll definitely check it out.

[auditioningforcolleg]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 8:53pm

Thanks for the support guys.

Definitely on the path to making this website happen.

Not going to sugar coat anything, this is a hard business, and too many high school kids just don't get that. So the website is going to break it all down in real terms, as to how it really is when you want to become an actor professionally.

It would help me out if you guys gave me bullet point lists of what you would like to know about. The more questions you ask, the more answers I can give, because I know what I want to include, but I don't know what the mentality is of the classes moving up to college.

So give me some bullet points... Thanks guys!!

Either post here, or better for me send an email to [e-mail]

Thanks!!!

[auditioningforcolleg]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 9:37pm

Thanks for all the advice.

I need some help from you guys that are currently in college.

Can you send me a list of pros and cons about your programs.

What you like, what you don't like, what you would change, the general atmosphere, the politics game, all that stuff.

That would be amazing to be able to use as a resource on my page for looking high school students.

Send emails to [e-mail]

Thank you so much!!!!

[PeaceFrog]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 11:05pm

Keep in mind that I am in straight drama and not musical theatre and all the info will be very time consuming to get. It will also rely on the honesty of the different schools which can sometimes be sketchy, but here are some considerations I thought important when I was looking at different schools:

How many prospective students auditioned for the program in each of the past five years?

How many students are admitted into the first year of the program?

How many students graduated from the program over the past five years vs. the number who initially matriculated?

Is there a set number of students who will be cut/dismissed from the program after first or second year?

What percentage of graduates are working in the business five years after graduation?

How many credits hours are required for graduation?

How many credit hours are required in acting, voice and speech, and movement?

How many credit hours are required in Theatre History and Literature?

How many credit hours are required in liberal arts/general studies?

How many academic elective credit hours are required?

How many hours per week are spent in acting classes?

How many hours per week are spent in voice and speech classes?

How many hours per week are spent in movement classes?

Which acting techniques are taught?

Which voice and speech systems are taught?

Which movement systems are taught?

Is it possible and/or encouraged to double major or minor in another subject?

How many and which liberal arts/general studies and elective requirements may be substituted through Advanced Placement or transfer credit and what are the standards for this?

In which year are students eligible to audition for shows?

Can students audition for shows outside the department?

During which months is school in session? If the fall session begins in August, will arrangements be made for students who work on summer theatre contracts that last until September?

Does the program have a senior showcase? If so, in which cities does it take place and how many agents and casting professionals attended over the past five years?

Even if all this isn't on a website, these are all questions you high school seniors should be asking of the schools you’re considering. :)

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 11:15pm

again, i agree with peacefrog. all those questions are really important.

also, i really appreciate you, auditioningforcollege, wanting to not sugarcoat anything. i think students/parents often think "if she has the dream she'll make it work" and a lot of time sthat's really just not true. i LOVE hearing from professionals about the reality of "the business" -- it really helps to put things into perspective.

[auditioningforcolleg]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 11:23pm

Sporti-

Perfect, that's exactly what I want!

Lots of work to do, it'll be an ever continuing page, I hope to get a basic outline of it up and live this week.

I have lots of phone calls to make, and since I'm a professional in this business still trying to make it, it'll take me a while, cause I've got rent to make each month... UGH!!

But I'm working at it. Tell your friends to send me emails to and let me know what they want to know about schools, or if you have friends that are in college in music theatre/acting programs tell them to get in touch with me about the pros/cons of their programs.

Thanks!