Auditioning Blues & Master's Ambitions

[MacMorighan]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 2:12am

Hey guys, I want to return to college and earn my associates, then my bachelor's, and finally my master's degree in vocal performance!  However, I have a lot of trepidation about doing so!

The first time i attended college the program was a hot mess intended for a high rate of failure.  Imagine, for example, assigning kids with marginal keyboard skills at best an assignment where they were given less than two days to memorize a song and be able to play it in whatever knew key the instructor calls out!  There weren't even any textbooks to rely upon, and to this day I swear that most of the faculty (save for my brilliant voice teacher who had his Master's Degree) didn't have a degree in whatever they were teaching!  The founder of the program prized the Choir as his, to quote Gollum, "Precious!"  His website featured a bold-faced lie by stating he had a degree in choir conduction; but, my best friend at the time asked him if he did, and he said, "No.  But, I've read lot of books on the subject!"  Meanwhile, I came from a High School choir that one first place in every regional award we entered, yet I had to interpret the gestures of the founder of this program, which honestly made him look like he were taking a dump!  He even had no knowledge of the human voice by telling some of his singers to put "more vibrato" on a note, as in a faster oscillation than natural, which isn't possible.  On top of that, I had no idea that this program couldn't even offer an Associate's Degree--just a certificate of completion.  I've become so hard on myself due to my experience at this community college, berating myself for simple and even accidental flaws.

Unlike many folks studying music and majoring in voice as their primary instrument, I didn't emerge from the womb with a set of pipes like Streisand, Eder, and Davis Jr.  It took me a couple of years of working with my brilliant voice teacher whom, by my second year, likened the Vibrato I was producing to that of Eder and Streisand (though it wasn't always there when i wanted it!).  Still, he passed on a lot of what he knew to me so that I could teach others by altering my own vocal exercises to suit other voice types and explaining to me why/ how they work!  Few teachers, IMO, go to those lengths for their students.  So, he has inspired me to want to go into teaching.

Sadly, when it comes to auditioning, I have never been chosen for a role based upon an audition.  Plus, I will always be up against many folks who were born innately talented, and to whom auditioning is merely a formality.  I actually went to High School with a person like this!  She was horribly conceited, and auditioning was only a formality for her.  (I swear, our Choir Director chose shows with songs to highlight her!)  Even after she graduated, every role she auditioned for was only a formality--she was going to get it, anyway!  Personally, if I were teaching at a High School, I would institute a rule in which if one gets a lead role for one production they don't get another one no matter how talented so that the other kids have more of a shot rather than casting the same kids time and time again!  But, I digress...

While I genuinely enjoy singing and genuinely want to teach since I would be good at it, I am concerned about the auditioning process for Universities.  You see, I just cannot be compared wth those with raw talent, or I'll lose every time.  But, being one who likes to over-prepare since I care about the quality of my performance, I asked several music program what their vocal faculty looks for during auditions into a Bachelor program.  You know, so I could have a check list that I can keep in mind.  This made sense to me since I have enrolled in local solo competitions and noted the judges tallying point values on a note card.  Well, each of these Universities gave me a very unsatisfying answer, saying that their faculty doesn't really have a list of what they look for, which struck me as a polite way of saying, it's a popularity contest based on whose voice they prefer and whose has the most innate talent.

Another facet that worries me is: If I should get into a Bach. program, my goal will be to enter into a Master's program in Vocal Performance, which means that I need to amass a resume of professional performance experiences/ opportunities.  What if I don't land any roles during these two years?  Furthermore, as a part of my resume I have to demonstrate not only my passion for teaching and academia within this field, but my teaching experience within this field when learning to teach voice is a part of this master's program.  It feels like a Catch 22 to me.  What do you think?  Outside of auditioning for roles that I may never receive and "teaching" as an unqualified voice teacher without a master's degree, what opportunities might I look for to document performance experience and aptitude for teaching and vocal performance academia to the Master's Program adjudicators. 

Take Care,
Wade

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 2:18am

If you're interested in teaching, why not get a degree in music education or vocal pedagogy instead of performance? Westminster Choir College in New Jersey has an excellent reputation for both, and they also offer performance degrees. 

[A Director]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 2:35am

You are overthinking which will keep you from doing anything or going anywhere.  You've tied yourself in knots.  If you want to teach, find a school or schools with music education programs.  If possible, visit the schools, talk with the professors, ask to sit in one a class or two and talk to some of the students. Your first college experience sounds awful, but you need to put it behind you.  It is easier said than done, but don't let it scar you for life.

[MacMorighan]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 11:58am

None of the Public Universities I have been looking to seem to offer a degree in Vocal Ped.  It seems to only be Vocal Performance (where coaching/ teaching classes are the reserve for the Master's Program, despite requiring a teaching resume), along with all these attached strings.  But, still, there's always the audition requirement even for a bachelor's degree (now a days many Community College music seem to require a formal audition).