WAAPA v. The Con
Tue, 18 Oct 2005, 08:52 pmWalter Plinge12 posts in thread
WAAPA v. The Con
Tue, 18 Oct 2005, 08:52 pmHi everyone,
I am a prospective Music Theatre WAAPA student. I am, however, keen in not limiting myself to just doing musicals for my career. I am interested in what people have to say about the possibility and/or fesebility of completing the music theatre course but having a classically trained voice.
My biggest predicament seems to be that I don't particulary want to go to a conservatorium where I would get no training in any dancing, which is somewhat crucial as a music theatre performer.
On the other hand, I would miss out on subjects like diction and language coaching that I would recieve at the con, if I were to get accepted to WAAPA.
My ideal situation would perhaps to go to WAAPA but have the access to classical voice training, whilst still completing all the other aspects of the music theatre course, like dancing. Would it then mean my voice wouldn't be up to scratch for things like light opera? I mean, who's ever heard of an opera singer who went to WAAPA? Perhaps my ideal situation would be attending the con and doing dance training? But where (sydney or brisbane con, that is).
Or, I could do an opera course after WAAPA like a post grad study of opera performance. Perhaps I wouldn't be good enough for it though!
God, you can see how confused I am!
Please, I'd appreciate any input.
I am a prospective Music Theatre WAAPA student. I am, however, keen in not limiting myself to just doing musicals for my career. I am interested in what people have to say about the possibility and/or fesebility of completing the music theatre course but having a classically trained voice.
My biggest predicament seems to be that I don't particulary want to go to a conservatorium where I would get no training in any dancing, which is somewhat crucial as a music theatre performer.
On the other hand, I would miss out on subjects like diction and language coaching that I would recieve at the con, if I were to get accepted to WAAPA.
My ideal situation would perhaps to go to WAAPA but have the access to classical voice training, whilst still completing all the other aspects of the music theatre course, like dancing. Would it then mean my voice wouldn't be up to scratch for things like light opera? I mean, who's ever heard of an opera singer who went to WAAPA? Perhaps my ideal situation would be attending the con and doing dance training? But where (sydney or brisbane con, that is).
Or, I could do an opera course after WAAPA like a post grad study of opera performance. Perhaps I wouldn't be good enough for it though!
God, you can see how confused I am!
Please, I'd appreciate any input.
Re: WAAPA v. The Con
Fri, 28 Oct 2005, 12:46 amLook, sorry to be a bit of a boring depressing voice in all of this BUT:
1. I have a full time career in opera both here in Australia and overseas.
2. I teach voice students in music theatre at WAAPA
What can I deduce from these two seemingly opposed activities?
THAT:
1. Basically, technique is the same old same old, whether for Classic/Opera or Music Theatre
BUT:
2. You need to specialize - not this year or even next year but by the time you are early 20's YOU NEED TO SPECIALIZE. The idiomatic differences are too great to be surmounted easily. SOME singers manage it - 90% try and fail. Either you are a Music Theatre singer or you are not. Do not try to be a chocolate cake AND a vanilla cake. Choose which one and go for it - there is some cross over repertoire and you might want to aim for that. BUT Paul O'Neill, Emma Matthews, Rachelle Durkin et al have all SPECIALISED to become successful - and that, bluntly, is the truth.
You can be successful if you commit to an artform, or you can be Sarah Brightman - jack of all trades, master of ......
Go figure it out yourself....
1. I have a full time career in opera both here in Australia and overseas.
2. I teach voice students in music theatre at WAAPA
What can I deduce from these two seemingly opposed activities?
THAT:
1. Basically, technique is the same old same old, whether for Classic/Opera or Music Theatre
BUT:
2. You need to specialize - not this year or even next year but by the time you are early 20's YOU NEED TO SPECIALIZE. The idiomatic differences are too great to be surmounted easily. SOME singers manage it - 90% try and fail. Either you are a Music Theatre singer or you are not. Do not try to be a chocolate cake AND a vanilla cake. Choose which one and go for it - there is some cross over repertoire and you might want to aim for that. BUT Paul O'Neill, Emma Matthews, Rachelle Durkin et al have all SPECIALISED to become successful - and that, bluntly, is the truth.
You can be successful if you commit to an artform, or you can be Sarah Brightman - jack of all trades, master of ......
Go figure it out yourself....