musical theater/colleges

sorry cant help u

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Check out the University of Hartford/Hartt School of Music. It is a conservatory within a regular University. The music school is very competitive (at least it was when I went there many years ago). They have a good business school, too.

NYU has an excellent computer science department in the College of Arts and Science but I'm not sure what is offered in 3d animation. That's usually something you'd take at a tech type school. Generally, most MT programs do not allow for a minor, just a major.

Roses,for MT, Tisch is definitely one of the 'Ivy's' but you wouldn't be able to double major in MT and CS, although you could do a minor in CS if you were in Tisch. NYU is not the only place to combine great conservatory training with academics. UMich does the same.

Updated On: 11/2/04 at 05:45 PM

would it be possible to major in musical theatre/drama of some sort and minor in a computer science?

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My daughter is a music theater and music education double major and will be a five year program. Her school encourages incoming MT freshmen to consider a double major with either Music Ed or Vocal Performance. A lot of thought appears to have gone into making those combination workable.

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Anyone who wants to double major (note: not minor) in two subjects is killing themselves. I would seriously consider if they indeed want tobe in the musical theater business. By double majoring, you are taking away important time needed to develop your MT skills.

And..to answer the question that's comming..I'm sure you or your daughter handle it just splendidly. But the point is..how much time are you able to spend in the practice rooms EACH night. No..not ever other night or every day or so. And how are you going to juggle 18 units a semester? What if you get cast in a show? A minor is whole different ballgame that can be done eventhough it will probably take 5 years to graduate.

The MT business is just that..a business. You need to devote your full attention to one major in order to be good. And even in this business..good is not always enough. I would also carefully examine any school that allows you to fully double major.

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You should explore all the options.

However, bottom line: Any college that allows you to major in a music program and another program does not offer a top notch music program.

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iflitifloat it's odd that you won't name your daughters school here. You must not be too sure of the musical theater program or you'd say what school it is. Youre right mr. T, I agree with you, Any college that allows you to major in a music program and another program does not offer a top notch music program.

I can't imagine a school would care too much how many years you take classes there for.
Check out any University. They are big enough to have both a theater and a solid education program. UCF (my school in Orlando) for one has a pretty good theater program and a computer science department second only to Poly Cal Tech.
Do you want to minor or double major in musical theater because you love it, or because you really want to persue it as a career. You might want to be careful. I love theater dearly but know I won't have a good career in it, thus not majoring in it.

Many colleges will allow you to double major. The big question is why would anyone put themselves through that? Do you really want to be in college for seven years to get two degrees? Do many colleges care? No. They're getting you to pay for two degrees so they're making the money.

But what are you as a student paying? You paying with your life. As I mentioned above, the incredible stress and time constraints that a student like this would go through is incredible. No matter how wonderful or talented your child or you are, it aint' worth it. The money you spend on two degrees will be follwed by even more money spent on medical bills.

There are several music schools that will not allow you to do a music double major and good for them. They're obviosuly concerned about a student's well being.

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Showstopper....I'm not being specific because I am uncomfortable discussing my child, in any detail, on a message board, especially when some people who are prone to making broad, sweeping, judgemental statements make me feel defensive and I can't defend her choices without talking about her. I hope that makes sense.

I'll be happy to answer questions privately. I'm very pleased with the program she's chosen. I think it was a good choice, for her, and she is thriving. But I am not comfortable debating or justifying it in a message board forum.

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Updated On: 11/5/04 at 07:40 PM

I totally agree that it is not a good idea to double major while in music school.

I did this a few years ago and it was a nightmare! I didn't have time to practice and learn things for music and acting class. I didn't have the time to be in shows. I couldn't brush up on my dace combos for testing.

I 100 % agree that a serious MT performer should take the time to study and that being in another program is too distracting. I find that people who have a double major in music are not serious about doing MT. They enjoy it but are too afraid of failure that they have to get another degree just to be safe. Then why even go for a MT major if you're not committed? In this business you have got to want to be a performer 100 % of the time. If you don't, then it's best that you quit now. No career option is a safe one..even banking, business, education, law.

And, just like peformers, you know if you want to be a professional athlete. People who are playing at second string colleges know that they are probably not going to the majors, but they still play. If you wanted to persue being a professional athlete, you would have taken steps long before college to prepare for that career.