Auditioning for 2017

[lotsolaffs]

I have been thinking more about this too,our last resort a Level 3 BTEC is 15 hours at a local college,, that is the same offered at The Brit school too but I expect a great deal depends on what is taught in that time and who by.

[martint]

I have to say the thread on 19 hours worries me a lot. To be industry ready ,contact hours have to high and the days long. There a some uni courses where I know of students doing their showcases about now and are concerned over whether they will get an agent. They are about to leave feeling totally unready . At the musical theatre schools ,it is which agent will I get ? Not everyone is in a position to go to one of these or necessarily wants to. The colleges, unis will give you figures so worth contacting them but the students that do the courses are best informed . Staff may put in more than their contact hours etc.

For a Uni, 19 hours is very good. When we enquirer around many only guaranteed 7 hours! If our DD hadn't got in one of the known colleges she'd probably have gone to Chichester or another uni for a year and reapplied at the colleges next year. She's already been offered a job on the cruise ship that's been on TV but really wants west end.

[jennifer1972]

I have to say the thread on 19 hours worries me a lot. To be industry ready ,contact hours have to high and the days long. There a some uni courses where I know of students doing their showcases about now and are concerned over whether they will get an agent. They are about to leave feeling totally unready . At the musical theatre schools ,it is which agent will I get ? Not everyone is in a position to go to one of these or necessarily wants to. The colleges, unis will give you figures so worth contacting them but the students that do the courses are best informed . Staff may put in more than their contact hours etc.

For a Uni, 19 hours is very good. When we enquirer around many only guaranteed 7 hours! If our DD hadn't got in one of the known colleges she'd probably have gone to Chichester or another uni for a year and reapplied at the colleges next year. She's already been offered a job on the cruise ship that's been on TV but really wants west end.

7 hours!! That is crazy!! That makes me really cross actually. How can you offer a MT course which offers such few contact hours. Is it worth all of the financial sacrifice that families make, just for that? It just shows you have to do your research. Even 19 hours doesn't sound enough. How can those kids compete with those who will be doing 8-10 hours a day? Not only that, but how will they then cope if one of these magical contractos comes their way? They won't know what has hit them!! I think part of the reason for such long hours is to make sure that the students build up their stamina and fitness. Most of our DCs are already doing more than 19 hours on top of the full school day. My DD is expecting to be singing, dancing and acting from dawn till dusk when she starts in September and she can't wait for the challenge!!

[jasmine2]

7 hours is unreal! also 19 hours is not a great deal either..
DD starts Bodyworks at 8.30 -sometimes earlier- and does not finish until 6.00pm (again sometimes later if they have extra classes/rehearsals etc)
she would not have it any other way..
you should be getting at least 30 hours a week really..

[2dancersmum]

Re contact hours. I think it should be remembered that contact hours are 'taught' hours only and are not necessarily the hours the students are required to do. Looking at the modules covered by a university course there is more emphasis put on independent study than on diploma courses and this is usually not just academic study but work for solo or group pieces which are all extra to the contact hours.

My DD left Hammond before the degree course started so I cannot offer any experience of what the degree students do. I would not pay too much attention to Unistats in this instance as there has not yet been a third year of the course so how can they say what the hours are or the graduate destinations.

In the final year the diploma course students do a graduate showcase tour - including performances in Chester and London. There are plenty of agents in attendance and I believe the vast majority of students acquire an agent. Some of the agents, after viewing the showcase, have then led workshops at the school or invited students to auditions. I would be asking if the degree students are going to be part of this showcase tour or do something similar.

Hammond offers RAD ballet and ISTD jazz and tap classes before the normal day starts or after it finishes and students can take exams if they wish or just do the classes. I believe the degree students can join any of these (I have seen tweets about 8am ballet!) and that is again on top of the contact hours of the actual BA course.

It perhaps goes without saying that rehearsals for any performances, Cathedral carol concert, assessments etc will also be on top of contact hours.

I would certainly not be put off contacting the Hammond or any other college and asking for more information. It is an important decision and investment of time and money. At the end of the month Hammond students, including degree course students are performing in Miss Saigon. That might give you an idea of the standard.

[chivers61]

I'm so glad that this topic is out in the open now. It has troubled me for a while that the impression was being given that the Uni courses are the same as the London MT courses. They are not. They are not better or worse they are just very different. Couple of things which are worthy of highlighting. Do the ISTD extra ballet/jazz exams referred to above cost extra? If so then it's important to know. How much extra budget do you need on top of rent and living costs. What other top up costs are there over the theee years? For gym/fitnesss classes for example? Also the notion of independent study, whilst fine in itself, is not everyone's bag so it's important to be honest about your DCs attitude to self-teaching/independent work. All three of ours are very different and I know which of them would swim and which would sink if left to their own devices.

[Danceandsing]

I agree with you 19 hours isn't enough. We've always looked at the degrees at the colleges as value for money- 40+ hours a week, school term dates (the year runs from the beginning of September to mid July) rather than mid September to mid May- all for £9000pa!

[2girlsmum]

Firstly, congratulations on the recall. I would say go to that anyway as you might as well get your money's worth for your audition fee (unless it means incurring a lot of expense in getting there of course). It's a good experience that might help with other auditions if he has any left. Most people who got offers today at GSA recall had just done a foundation. DD enjoyed it, thought it went well but got a no. About the grades, I think they are strict but if you get an offer there may be a way as bop said? Maybe see how recall goes then tackle it. Would resits or a level 3 btec be an option?

Glad to hear it was a positive experience for your DD, Robin64, even though it wasn't the outcome she was hoping for. Onwards and upwards. what's her plan now?

[oscar]

I agree with you 19 hours isn't enough. We've always looked at the degrees at the colleges as value for money- 40+ hours a week, school term dates (the year runs from the beginning of September to mid July) rather than mid September to mid May- all for £9000pa!

I couldn't agree more.

[islandofsodor]

I've just counted the hours up from a copy of last year's timetable & there are a lot more than 19 hours & that's not including rehearsal periods.

[Robin64]

Firstly, congratulations on the recall. I would say go to that anyway as you might as well get your money's worth for your audition fee (unless it means incurring a lot of expense in getting there of course). It's a good experience that might help with other auditions if he has any left. Most people who got offers today at GSA recall had just done a foundation. DD enjoyed it, thought it went well but got a no. About the grades, I think they are strict but if you get an offer there may be a way as bop said? Maybe see how recall goes then tackle it. Would resits or a level 3 btec be an option?

Glad to hear it was a positive experience for your DD, Robin64, even though it wasn't the outcome she was hoping for. Onwards and upwards. what's her plan now?

Thanks 2girlsmum
Well 2 places to audition yet, then decide between year off and work or take the foundation place. I am in favour of the foundation but DH not so sure yet. It seemed to be foundation students getting into GSA and why not I guess? They have had a year of training already so must be a good bet for the degree. It was sad to see one student very upset not to get picked after doing the foundation there too. I am sure they will get another great offer though. DD's confidence is taking a knock, she seems quite low but hopefully she will bounce back, she is normally quite resilient. Has your DD decided for sure on where she is going yet?

[Robin64]

I'm so glad that this topic is out in the open now. It has troubled me for a while that the impression was being given that the Uni courses are the same as the London MT courses. They are not. They are not better or worse they are just very different. Couple of things which are worthy of highlighting. Do the ISTD extra ballet/jazz exams referred to above cost extra? If so then it's important to know. How much extra budget do you need on top of rent and living costs. What other top up costs are there over the theee years? For gym/fitnesss classes for example? Also the notion of independent study, whilst fine in itself, is not everyone's bag so it's important to be honest about your DCs attitude to self-teaching/independent work. All three of ours are very different and I know which of them would swim and which would sink if left to their own devices.

To be totally honest here, it is one of the well known MT places for DD (and I know it might take more than one year of trying) or a change of plan. Just don't see anything coming from a MT uni course unless teaching is the goal (and nothing wrong with that of course). Hope that is not too harsh. If you ask me a lot of uni courses are taking the you know what with the contact hours and what the students really get for the money (we have an older DD at uni too).

[Robin64]

Meant to say above that I agree with Chivers after that quote.

[islandofsodor]

Couple of things which are worthy of highlighting. Do the ISTD extra ballet/jazz exams referred to above cost extra? .

My daughter is in Lower School & I have to pay RAD/ISTD exam entry fees (MDS funded students don't) but I don't pay extra for the classes.

[lawn]

I know someone at GSA on MT course, who got in at 18, having not done a foundation course first. Though I don't know her A level results, I know she's highly academic as well as having an outstanding voice. So it is possible to get in aged 18 if you have what they are looking for.

Good luck everyone