I don't know what to major in

[brokencadence]

I don't know what to major in#1

Posted: 6/29/08 at 1:29am

I'm about to be a junior at the University of North Texas. I am majoring in jazz studies vocal performance because they didn't offer a degree in musical theatre and that was my second choice. I'm wondering if I would need to switch schools at this point to pursue music theatre, or if I should finish out my bachelor's. I don't know how handy a jazz studies degree would be. I have a lot of classical voice training and experience, but not very much acting experience. What are my options? Thank you!!

[PeaceFrog]

re: I don't know what to major in#2

Posted: 6/29/08 at 7:57pm

It's a little late to be completely starting over at an undergraduate school and that's what you would have to do at most. You might want to look into some schools like Cal State Fullerton that apparently take transfers. I'd say finish up your degree but also find the time to take some acting and dance classes and be in plays and musicals. Then maybe go for an MFA or get some actor training at a two year conservatory program.

[brokencadence]

re: I don't know what to major in#2

Posted: 6/29/08 at 9:39pm

So, what I'm planning to do is finish out my bachelor's in jazz studies, spend an extra year getting my music education certification, and then got my master's in fine arts. What I'm wondering is, will that make me as marketable for music theatre as it would if I were to get my bachelor's in classical performance instead of jazz studies?

[WOSQ]

re: I don't know what to major in#3

Posted: 6/30/08 at 1:53pm

Get your BA in Jazz. Get your BA in anything if truth be told. Your degrees will help get you your first job and while they will help in further jobs, the degrees will help less the further out you go. YOU will make yourself marketable in the job interview, not all the degrees in the world or a high GPA.

That said, this year and next get as many classical courses under you as you can. Classical will give you the technique to segue into musical theatre. Jazz is a much harder transition and you would probably have to 'travel through' classical anyway to get to musical theatre.

(The same logic applies to dance. Take ballet first since everything including body awareness seems to come from it. This is my own theory, but run it by some people. Get the technique and then move outside the circle.)

Jazz will give you wider interpretation boundaries so you can give each phrase a subtext. You have to have a reason to sing each song you sing. This reason can be in the text or in your head and heart, but there precious little that is duller on stage than someone singing a song for no reason. Make the material your own.

Don't forget acting either.

Whatever you do, have fun. If you're not having fun, what's the point?

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher