Named five schools have musical therter training in NYC.

NYU
AMDA
Pace
Marymount Manhattan - I believe its a minor but it is a BFA
isn't the New School offering musical theater now?
also maybe Neighborhood Playhouse

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also some of the CUNY schools I know offer degrees

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Yes, it's the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

One of my friends who auditioned there said that they were horribly disorganized and extremely rude. Also, I've met countless individuals - at theatre events - who had attended AMDA for a year or less and decided to transfer because they didn't like the training they were receiving (and weren't having a good experience altogether).

And the director of admissions at a high-ranking film school in NYC (I don't want to go posting his name all over the web) strongly discouraged attending AMDA, telling us (my mom and I) that the instructors and courses there just aren't as top-notch as they used to be. He wasn't just saying that because he wanted me to go to his school. He actually went on to suggest and praise NYU Tisch and SUNY Purchase.

Lastly, NYU Tisch IS extremely expensive. Well, NYU is expensive on its own. And then in Tisch you pay a certain amount extra for the required private voice lessons, etc. Well, the voice lessons are only for CAP21, I believe...but I'm sure there are other such add-ons in some of the other studios. Surely you didn't expect this endeavor to be cheap! ; )

Marymount Manhattan is actually on the low end of tuition at performing arts schools. If I recall correctly, it's around a third (maybe even a fourth) of the tuition cost at NYU. However, if your brother has strong academics, there's a chance he can get a hefty scholarship at NYU. I've heard they're stingy with scholarships, but a friend of mine was offered a financial package that payed for her full tuition there...so there's always a chance!

Updated On: 7/29/06 at 10:34 AM

I don't mean to pry, but what do you mean by "stellar academic record"? My friend that had full tuition payed has like a 1500 (1600 scale) on the SAT, National Merit Semi-Finalist (maybe higher), and graduated at least in the top 10 in the class.

My credentials are about the same. 1520 SAT, National Merit, 4.0 unweighted (so far), and like number 6 in the class. Almost all AP classes.

I mean, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get a scholarship, but I keep hearing things such as what you've just said...you know, students with really great academic records getting zilch when it comes to financial aid, aaaand...it's pretty disheartening. : (

Don't be disheartening. I got scholarship for my second year.but I'm not in Tisch department,so I really can't tell what's like in there.

The only thing in AMDA attracts my brother is its courses list on its website.Full of musical training.

Updated On: 7/30/06 at 11:53 AM

Look outside NYC for training. Some of the best schools are in Michigan, Cincy and Oklahoma City.

Search for AMDA. It has been discussed way too much here.

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Aha! Thank you, Soozie!

(By the way, with the "fee" thing I was talking about, I just meant that Tisch might be slightly more expensive because of the voice lessons and other such activities. Eh, never mind, it makes sense in my head.)

But, since you've got a child in the program, I'm sure you've got lots of information that could be given. Do you mind us asking more questions of you? Because I'm sure my mom and I could come up with a laundry list. Haha, not to overwhelm you or anything...

And suchclumsytime, oh goodness. Now I'm even more stressed! But thank you for telling me this. Gah, I guess Ireland isn't an option now...(my mom said if I get enough financial aid, we can go to Ireland next summer). That is UNLESS I might just be one of those lucky few! If I even get into NYU in the first place!

THANKS Soozie~
You did give me(my brother)good advices.My brother has many questions wants to ask you!(he doesn't listen to me...god~I've already in NYU~).his dance ability has been great trained,a amazing dancer I can tell.but he is worry about singing.He saw some productions of NYU. He totally loses confidence.Everyone has great voice.haha~(I'm sure lovelyspotlight you already had a great voice as well)so he is having singing classes now.I think he has talent,but everything seems not good enough for him.

And lovelyspotlight,when are you going to Tisch? can you post some advices of audition in Tisch,please?(although I found many informations on its website.)and do you know how many singing courses they offer per semester?Thank you~

I showed this thread and other threads about AMDA to my baby brother.He's really such a baby.Like I said,he doesn't listen to me. But after he saw this. He finally gave up about AMDA and willing to go to a college which the same with mine!

Mikey3, I like to THINK that I can sing. : )
Hopefully my thinking that has at least a little basis in reality.
Also, I believe auditions are in October. I'll be going to the city to audition, since I'm applying early decision, and ED applicants have to go to the school for auditions. I'll definitely post tips once I've auditioned! As soon as I get home or to a computer, in fact!

And, suchclumsytime, I absolutely adore your optimism. (That wasn't sarcasm, either.)

I have a friend who went there. And he absolutely ADORED it. He had so much fun and learned a lot. Plus, the surroundings are awesome, of course. I haven't experienced it myself, but based on reviews from my friend and from other places on the internet (I researched summer schools in depth last year), I would highly recommend it!

Lovely Spotlight and Mikey,
Yes, I am back. Actually, I came back after that trip I posted about and then I went back again and just got back from seeing my daughter in her shows. They were great, thanks.

If you have specific questions, I can try to help.

About the dancing with regard to BFA auditions.....every school's audition requirements differ so you need to look them up for each school you are considering. Many schools require songs, monologues and a dance audition. Some BFA programs do not hold a dance audition to be admitted but dance is an integral part of the BFA program and some of these then have a dance placement audition at the start of freshman year.

With regard to Tisch auditions, for CAP21, you have to do two monologues and two songs. There is an optional dance audition, held only at the on campus auditions, on certain dates (two Sat. in Nov. for ED and two Saturdays in Feb. for RD). However, they require only advanced experienced dancers do that audition. The dance audition can't hurt your chances (since not everyone does one) but can help if you have a great dance audition. Don't sign up unless you are experienced and advanced. I recall about 18 prospective students doing the dance audition on the date in Feb. (of the two dates) that my daughter auditioned in 2005. She did the dance audition (it includes ballet and jazz) but she had been dancing for 13 years. However, since most do not do the dance auditions, there is a dance placement at CAP21 on the first day. There are four levels of ballet, of jazz, and of tap for just freshmen. Same again in soph year and so forth.

So, while a few schools do not have a required dance audition, voice, acting, and dance are all needed and taught in a BFA in MT program. If all three are included in the admissions audition, sometimes it is OK if one of the three areas is weaker if they see potential. My feeling is that singing cannot be weak, however. Ideally, one has strong skills in voice, acting AND dance. If one area is weaker, it likely is better that it be dance than voice though.

Brainpolice asked:
"Does NYU give strictly academic-based scholarships, or are there also merit scholarships for the arts."

Tisch does give out some Merit Scholarships. I don't believe these are either strictly academically-based or artistically-based because admissions itself into Tisch involves BOTH academic and artistic review equally. Thus, I believe in terms of Merit, the whole student is looked at. My daughter did receive a four year Trustee Scholarship which is substantial and the merit doesn't delineate between academics and artistic aspects. I do NOT think it is a matter of who has the highest SAT or GPA or rank at all. I don't think that is how she or anyone else was selected. It is more wholistic. She is a very good student but did not have a 1600 SAT (old test), a 4.0, or wasn't in the top ten in her class. She actually graduated HS in three years at age 16. She came from an unknown HS which hardly offered any AP classes. I think Tisch looks at all facets of an applicant. Otherwise, they'd just ask you to submit test scores and grades but they don't. There are your activities, essays, recommendations, achievements, and so on, as well as academic stats and then there is artistic talent and achievements in that domain. I don't think there is some magic formula here and I don't think you can compare who had X number on this or that quite so simply.