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Hi
My dd is going into yr 12 so different requirements. Well done for the re call.

Hello everyone

Huge congratulations on all you're DC!! I understand how proud you must be!!

I'm hearing a lot of metioning about the musical theatre course (sixth form) so here's a bit of info of what happens in the two years. I know theatre strand change classes every term and dance strand spend the first week running all styles of dance classes to put the students in the right set class to match their dancing ability so musical theatre will either spend the first week doing classes so their teachers can set their dance and singing classes (drama classes are not set by ability) or they will just go from what they see in the auditions! Anyway ....

The first term they study a range of classes .. Drama, ballet, jazz. Contemporary, street dance, voice, ensemble singing, tap, private singing and/or private musical instrument lessons and gym/fitness. Theses classes continue through the whole of year 12 with extra classes added like microphone technique or physical theatre and classes are switched or replaced ie; street dance and tap is not every term although you can take it as an extra curricular class! At the end of each term they put on a big show of all their work although it's not a full length musical it includes theatre snippets songs and dances!

In year 13 all pupils begin by putting on a show of musical theatre throughout the ages; where they perform song&dances from a wide range of pretty much every musical!! This is their finale showing of work before their full lengh musical where auditions go through November/December and rehearsals start in January for about four months then they perform their show in April! There are always three shows, where your DC be placed in 1! There are around 40 pupils in musical theatre with class sizes ranging from 10/15 pupils.

This has been the timetable for this year and previous years however they always change it "slightly" so hopefully it will give you an idea as to what the course is like. Sorry it's not a lot, DD is in theatre and is currently in a lot of long rehearsals but when she catches up with her friends then I'll be able to tell you more about it, if needed

It's great that you're DC have got recalls, goodluck and enjoy yourselves:)

Also, are you're DC applying to any other vocational schools? If so which ones?

Wish I'd seen this earlier - my computer broke!

X

Misspatricia wrote:Hello everyone

Huge congratulations on all you're DC!! I understand how proud you must be!!

I'm hearing a lot of metioning about the musical theatre course (sixth form) so here's a bit of info of what happens in the two years. I know theatre strand change classes every term and dance strand spend the first week running all styles of dance classes to put the students in the right set class to match their dancing ability so musical theatre will either spend the first week doing classes so their teachers can set their dance and singing classes (drama classes are not set by ability) or they will just go from what they see in the auditions! Anyway ....

The first term they study a range of classes .. Drama, ballet, jazz. Contemporary, street dance, voice, ensemble singing, tap, private singing and/or private musical instrument lessons and gym/fitness. Theses classes continue through the whole of year 12 with extra classes added like microphone technique or physical theatre and classes are switched or replaced ie; street dance and tap is not every term although you can take it as an extra curricular class! At the end of each term they put on a big show of all their work although it's not a full length musical it includes theatre snippets songs and dances!

In year 13 all pupils begin by putting on a show of musical theatre throughout the ages; where they perform song&dances from a wide range of pretty much every musical!! This is their finale showing of work before their full lengh musical where auditions go through November/December and rehearsals start in January for about four months then they perform their show in April! There are always three shows, where your DC be placed in 1! There are around 40 pupils in musical theatre with class sizes ranging from 10/15 pupils.

This has been the timetable for this year and previous years however they always change it "slightly" so hopefully it will give you an idea as to what the course is like. Sorry it's not a lot, DD is in theatre and is currently in a lot of long rehearsals but when she catches up with her friends then I'll be able to tell you more about it, if needed

It's great that you're DC have got recalls, goodluck and enjoy yourselves:)

Also, are you're DC applying to any other vocational schools? If so which ones?

Wish I'd seen this earlier - my computer broke!

X

Hi Misspatricia
Thank you so much for spending the time with all this information I will show this to my DD when she comes home
from school.
Do you know what the standard is that they expect from the audition ie acting,singing and dancing.
DD is ok with the dancing I think intermediate Ballet Tap and modern, grade 8 lamda verse and prose and grade 7 lamda
acting but singing is not her thing so very nervous about this.
Do you think this will go against her? any advise would be appreciated.
Also when they sing in the audition are they singing accompanied by a piansit.
Regards
Mumamia

Hi mumamia
- love the name by the way - only just noticed it! Haha!
The standard varies a lot - you always get people at the re call auditions who are at least very talented in one domain - ie; acting,dancing or singing- as it's a re call the teachers have already seen potential in you and want to see you again.

DD's friend in musical theatre was always an "ok" singer, she was really good when she was young but her voice never really progressed however she was a really excellent dancer therefore that really upped her audition - her acting was really good too - not as strong as her dancing but better than her singing. ( DD has know this girl before Brit- since they were ten so definitely knows her standard of dance! Therefore usually teachers have said if you're quite strong in two subjects then they can work with you on the third - like I said above - it's a re call - so they have seen something they liked about you're DD

Also they are set in singing ability classes so this is a class for singers who need more work than others so I'm sure if their strong in other subjects there should be no reason why they wouldn't accept someone because there not as strong in another subject - the teachers say the pupils are there to progress and learn with them after all!

DD's friend was intermediate dance level when she auditioned too! Grade 8 lamda - WOW! that's truly awsome - well done for that alone haha!

Oh and I'm pretty sure they will have accompaniment - they did last year and the years before however I'm pretty sure it's you're DD's choice whether she wants to sing with accompaniment or with out- although they can't do both - so whatever you're DD would do better with - do that.

When is you're DD's re call? Wow it's so nerve wracking - even though my DD ain't auditioning - I can remember the feeling!

X

Hi Misspatricia

Thank you so much for all this information acting seems to be the way my DD wants to go only because of her disability she will never be a dancer and she also has
a problem with retaining information this we only found out 2 years ago, but at least she gets extra time with her GCSE, even if she comes out with Cs we will still be proud of her.
DD has overcome a lot of this by working with pictures to learn, this is how she learns her monologues, she is very good at art we are hoping she will get an A in this but we will see.
When we had her checked we was told that if a child lacks in one thing they are normally good on the artistic side.
She liked the feel of Brit School when she went for the 1st audition I was not sure if everyone got a chance to audition after filling in the application form.
Her audition is in 2 weeks she can only do her best as can all our children.
I wish everyone with auditions coming up lots of good luck.
Regards
Mumamia

Hi mumamia

Usung pictures to help with monologues seems like an incredible way to
Help, that's great that she's useing that. Yes, my DD also got exstra time with her GCSEs - It helped a lot! DD would never have passed if she hadn't of been given extra time. Goodluck with you're DDs GCSEs and her audition - she can only try her best! X

Yes not every ones application gets chosesn so it's always great when they get an audition at the school.

My son is dyslexic and he was alotted maximum extra time in his GCSE exams. Just knowing the time pressure was off (he'd never finished an exam/test all the way through his school life) took the pressure off and he passed, with excellent results, every exam and finished everyone in the 'normal' alotted time.

Hi Miss patricia

Thank you once again for your help did your DD leave when she was 16 or go onto the Btec sorry I did look back
on prev messages but got a bit confused.
Did they guide her when she left Brit school to help her decide what to do?
Also what is she and her friend doing now is it something exciting?
When we first looked at the Brit application Book my DD said I like the look of the acting course but I felt
she was not mature enough, children are all different and grow up at different times she is sensible but lacks
life experience this I'm sure will come what will be will be.
Do you know where a lot of the children go onto after they have left Brit School?
Thank you once again
Regards
Mumamia

Hi
Every one can any one tell me when you go for the audition for MT post 16 2 year course this is for the 2nd audition
when you do the acting,singing and a dance do they let you know on the day or if not how long do you have to wait?

Its just in their book they say that you are sometimes told on the day.

I hope somebody on hear has gone through this and can advise.

Many thanks
Mumamia

No one is ever told on the day. Everyone will find out one way or other on Apr 1st. Gd luck

Hi
Thank you for the information such a long time to wait but everyone is in the same position so
makes me feel better.
Mumamia

Hello everyone, I hope you're all well.
Hi mumamia, sorry I didn't reply (I didn't know) I've been away for ages - it's been so unbelieveably busy in my house I just didn't have time. But I hope the auditions for everyone went okay

Mumamia- answering you're question, even though its four months late (sorry) the students go on to do loads of different things, they vary in the strands and in the person themself. Nearly all the dance students go on to dance colleges - this year about 38 out of the 40 are going off to urdang, laines, bird, London studio centre, the place, northern contemporary dance school , and performers and millennium, only 1 or 2 are not there taking a gap year, musical theatre are all mainly going on to the same colleges plus arted, mount view , Italia conti, and GSA, only a few take gap years - some people in the MT course are doing the 1 year course which Is like a foundation. In music and drama it's quite different - especially drama. Music students are off to music schools and universities - but quiet a lot are doing loads of gigs places. Dd goes and supports them in clubs/ coffee shops/ festivals etc, and some are staying on for the year 14 course in music! Drama schools are really difficult to get in to - at any age- for dancers they want them younger so they accept them younger - but as dramas for any age theirs more competion and if their gonna be ready for that sought of environment , there's about 60 pupils in drama (more than the usual 40 in the other strands) and out of them 12 got in to drama schools for their 3 year courses, so two are off to central school of speech and drama, two off to lamda, two of to drama centre, four going to rosé Brudford,1 going to rada, and 1 going guildhall, another 4 pupils are going to drama centre and lamda on their 1 year or 2 year foundation courses, 10 or so pupils are going of to university and 15 pupils are staying on at Brit as they've been accepted in to their year 14 company course. Then around 20 or so are taking a gap year - this year a tight nit group of friends are going traveling the world together , to get some life expirence -and to have some fun and time off.

Some pupils were spotted by agents at the showcase and are signing up to see if any work happens in the year or so, there prepared if its not, their not expecting anything, it's just worth a try. Some are going in to teachig at part time vocational schools - as they've all ready gotten the job , it's quite lucky really. The teachers have helped so much ! Theirs not enough words to describe how helpful they've been! Two ladies who run the career and further education department have talked to them all individually and helped them with ucas etc , they've had the same meetings with their form tutors lots of times. They really have been helpful in guiding them in the right direction - and keeping them from stressing out!

I know I have probably written a lot but once I start I can't stop! Haha!
As for my DD, she didn't want to audition for any drama schools this year - I actually tried to encourage her for experience - I was so worried about what she was going to do for this year, I just didn't want her to leave school. I'm still worried - it's wierd having you're child completely leave school. Well she wants to apply to drama schools this year after having a year off, and she wants to see if she can get an agent for a year and see if anything comes of it- she knows it might not happen- she might not even get an agent, she didn't do the showcase as the actual date of the show we had tickets to see Charlie in the west end and it was her choice - and she chose Charlie, although she would have missed out on the final showcase of the school, she didn't want to waste the money we spent and she said she had a great year anyway.
However during a professional opportunities class - where industry professionals come in and run workshops ect ... She was spotted by some actress from Eastenders (who I had no Idea who she was as I don't watch Eastenders ) the woman said that my DD reminded her of herself when she was my DDs age and she really liked her acting and she asked me could she be DDs "acting mentor". I was like huh? .. To me it was just some strange woman asking about my DD ... But everyone else seemed to know the lady from the TV ,anyway the teachers sorted it out properly and once I spoke to the lady "properly" who is extremely lovely and very kind- (I was just freaking out) she has arranged to stay in touch - it's nothing more than guidance from someone who's working in the industry on a one to one level - which is great , they've been emailing and speaking on the phone , and meet up - sadly for my Dd I'm there too! And weirdly I have "YouTubed" the lady to watch her acting! I'm becoming a stalker!!! Anyway DD will keep up her evening acting/dance singing classes and Saturday classes and see if the agency thing will work out- the teachers have Said to help her with that. I know I've just rambled a lot about my daughter , which really wasn't intended ... Once I start writing about anything I can't stop !

I hope everything is going well with you're DC , and word on the auditions?
Take care all
X

Oh my goodness!!! I wrote so much !!
And half of its talking about my daughter!!!

Sorry everyone!!

Hah! Really!

X

misspraticia, thank you for giving us an 'insider' view of what happens at the end of schooling, very useful to get this sort of insight.

Can anyone help me who has experience of The Brit School audition process? My DS is applying for the KS3 music strand. It says that if he is selected for audition there will be five tasks, including a 'Letter of Preparation'. I haven't heard this mentioned anywhere and haven't been able to find anything online about it. Probably if he is fortunate enough to audition there will be more information in the letter, but I just wanted to start thinking ahead!! Any information about the process would be so welcome!