in need of advice on college

[TISHI LOLO 15]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:12pm

Hey.....I'm kind of confused about what style musical theater I want to do later in life....I'm really into the classical stylings of The Light in the Piazza and the current Sweeney revival- so I really see myself doing that. However, I don't see myself completely going into vocal performance because I love to act. Is it just me or do musical theater majors usually lean towards the belters? I was looking on youtube at a CCM Showcase, and all of the girls were pretty much a bunch of sherie rene scotts (don't get me wrong- i love her work). Do any of you know about any colleges that have a musical theater program with a more classical sound to it?

Also:
What do you think is better? To be a belter and sing opera as well? Or strictly a belter or strictly an opera singer?

How important is dance training? I'm more of a singer/actor...

Thanks!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:20pm

opera's not really that important but since you want to do a classical style, that may be what you want to look into.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 8:13pm

look for schools that have a classical emphasis (OCU is one, Otterbein and Baldwin-Wallace are two others). some of these programs will be BMs instead of BFAs because they are more music-based. (sidenote -- you like piazza... kelli o'hara went to OCU. so did kristin chenoweth. they have a really good music school)

studying opera, i feel, really limits you to strictly classical repertoire. if you study MT in a classical program (like the ones above) you do both MT and classical repertiore, which i think is a REALLY good idea. that way, you're not limited to only mix/belt roles, legit roles, or only opera. in my personal opinion, i can't stand it when one's voice has been so incredibly affected that they can only sing one style. i believe that you can develop your voice to it's full potential without limiting yourself style-wise -- and that's what it seems like you want to do.

best of luck!

PM me if you have more questions...i've done the college-search thing three times now....

[Blair]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 8:34pm

Yes, definitely look into OCU. There, all musical theatre majors are required to audition for all productions, musicals AND operas. And vice versa; vocal performance majors don't have to completely give up musicals.

That's why the school completely appeals to me as a future vocal performance major. I love classical singing, and I think I could make that my career, but I am not ready to give up musical theatre. I can make my decisions later on, rather than pidgeon-holeing myself into one way of singing so early on without knowing exactly how I'm going to feel about the whole thing in 4 years.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 8:44pm

Thank you for asking this queation! I'm in a similar dilema. I don't want to have to choose between musical theater and opera, I want to do both.

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 8:54pm

at many schools the vocal performance majors will have intense training in "opera theater" which is probably very handy for someone who would like to become a musical theater performer with a classical base.

i know i really want to be a classical musical theater performer... i mean, it's kind of a contradiction because some of my favorite musicals are pop musicals, and i would never mind doing them...

i just see myself as more of a classical performer. i am still looking at programs like university of cincinnati, but i have recently become very interested in Indiana University, which is started a BFA Musical Theatre program next year.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:02pm

IU is amazing...I love that school (my parents both went there) there music program is to die for and yes has strong classical roots.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:36pm

If you can sing classical, you can sing musical theater. The important thing is getting training on excellent technique. Kelli O'Hara sang the classical Light in the Piazza score and then immediately went to the Pajama Game and sang that legitimate musical theater score. I think what you really should do is get well-rounded training, because if you just focus on the more classical sound, you are limiting yourself to the number of jobs you can get as a musical theater actress.

[MattSingsAlot]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:32pm

Updated On: 1/23/07 at 11:32 PM

[suchclumsytime]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 9:48am

Just a reminder: classical training will give you a fantastic technical foundation from which you can go on to sing ANYTHING. :0)

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 1:28pm

Getting your classical training is the most important. It's similar to what Patti LuPone was saying that theatre actors are trained so they can work on the stage or film. Operetic singers can belt and do a wonderful job with it. If you sign up to be a belter you limit yourself too quickly. Work on the pretty classical tone first, and then modify it from Broadway job to job.

[TISHI LOLO 15]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:25pm

Also- How important is dance training??