>First, I need to make a recording. I'm trying to get a time arranged at my
>alma mater, a local university, but either I can't get the hall, or the
>tech, or my accompanist. How good does a recording need to be? Does it
>have to be a CD? I tape my lessons at the studio, but is that really good
>enough quality? I called a recording studio, and I can't afford that. What
>do I do?
This is a toughie. It's important that your recording be of a high
enough quality that it shows realistically what you can do and how
you sound. If your teacher's studio setup allows for a good and
realistic recorded sound, why not ask her if you can use the setup at
a convenient (quiet) time and record your arias there? If that's not
an option, then you might need to ask a different accompanist to work
with you, or a different tech. Either that or bite the bullet and
book a recording studio. (I'm sure you've called around to all the
possibilities and gotten price estimates.) Maybe you can barter for
a lower price in the recording studio by offering to do a few hours
of secretarial work to help out.
The schools you are choosing among *are* competitive, so it's better
to save money on your audition outfit or the paper you print your
materials on than your recording!
>Second, my voice teacher recently pointed out that I don't really know how
>difficult it is to get in to the programs I've chosen to apply to. She's
>concerned that all of them may be competitive and wants a good program that
>we feel strongly I'll be accepted into. ( I know my grammar is bad, I'm
>past the point of caring) I'm applying to Eastman, Boston U, Westminster
>Choir College, and U of NC at Greensboro. I'm a soprano. I know that
>Eastman and Boston U are difficult to get into, and I thought WCC and UNCG
>would be reasonable. Does anyone know about these programs. Are there
>other programs in the northeast that I should apply to?
The most important thing in choosing your graduate school (in my
ever-so-humble opinion!) is finding the teacher who will really put a
shine on your voice and help you to be ready for auditioning and
working. A close second is being in a place where you will get
performing experience. (Not necessarily on campus either. If the
school politics are not in your favor, it's a bonus to be in or near
a city that has an active performing life.) With that in mind, I
recommend asking yourself where you want to be -- and then
researching which voice teachers are available there and asking your
current teacher (and everyone else in the business whose opinions you
trust) whom she respects on each faculty. There are *tons* of
schools in the northeast (it sounds like that might be where you are
hoping to be); if I were you I'd prioritize based on the faculty
rather than on the name recognition of the school.
Best of luck!
Naomi Gurt Lind
P.S. I know stress is a part of the whole experience, but please try
to devote some time and energy every day to calming down. Your
recording & eventual auditions might be compromised if you get too
overheated. Speaking as a performer much further down the line, I
can say that the stakes only seem to get higher as you go ("What do
you mean, the New York Times is sending a photographer?!"), and it's
worthwhile to cultivate stress management from the start.
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