Musical Theater Summer Programs - Which One Is Right For You?

Attending a summer training program can be very valuable for students who are thinking about pursuing a career in Music or the Performing Arts. 

There are hundreds of programs offered each summer and finding the program that is right for you can be a challenge! So over the next few weeks I will be discussing some questions that can help you find the right program for you!

First of all, you will find a WIDE variety of programs out there - some will be in beautiful picturesque locations and others will be in noisy cities. Some will have busy jam-packed schedules while some have a more laid-back feel. A program can feel similar to your high school productions or have an intense pre-college curriculum. It’s important to start by knowing what YOU want to gain from a program.

The #1 question you need to ask yourself: “AM I SERIOUS ABOUT PURSUING MUSICAL THEATRE?”

If the answer is no then finding the right program just got a lot easier… look for a program in a location you would like to spend a few weeks in and enjoy! You’ve got nothing to lose so go and have fun.

If you answered yes - or HECK YES!! - then you need to do your research and I’m going to give you some things to think about that hopefully will help you make informed decisions!

When researching a program ask these 3 questions FIRST:

• How is the program structured

• How much time is devoted to instruction and learning

• What is the focus of the curriculum

1. Does the program offer structure?

By this I mean a daily schedule with pre-planned blocks of time devoted to specific activities. You want a program that is going to teach you specific skills and they should be able to tell you what those skills are and how much time you will spend working on them. A structured program will have more to offer in the long run!

In the program I run - OCU Summer Music Programs - our schedule is broken up into 3 parts:

• Mornings - 3 hours devoted to dance, acting and music theory 

• Afternoons - voice studios, masterclasses and one-on-one time with our Artistic Director

• Evenings - rehearsal for our showcase or fully staged production

2. How much time is devoted to instruction and how much is “Free Time”?

If a program has tons of “free time” listed or you see big gaps of unscheduled time then you have to ask yourself how much time is actually spent learning. I know the idea of tons of free time may sound appealing but do you really want to spend LOTS of money to hang out in a dorm room or cabin for several weeks? You are attending a program to LEARN so make sure you see plenty of time in the schedule dedicated to learning new skills or to improving the skills you already have!

3. What is the focus of the curriculum and what can I expect to take away from the program?

Ideally, you will be learning skills that will directly relate to two things:

1. Getting accepted to the college you want to attend

2. Skill-building in singing, acting, dancing

If the program you are looking at only does a “show” then how is that time you are spending different than working on your high school or community production? The actors will be different but that is all. I know this is not a popular opinion but YOU DON’T NEED TO BE IN MORE PRODUCTIONS! You need to build SKILLS - dance class, acting class, master class, voice studios, audition techniques, resume writing, pre-screen video techniques - these are the skills that will get you to the next level.

For the past 20 years I have been running summer music training programs designed to help students acquire the skills they need to successfully move to the next step. Now is the time to start looking for the perfect summer program for you. If you would like more information about the OCU Summer Music Programs you can call 405-208-5410 or email me at jmoad@okcu.edu.

Let your inner light shine! And good luck on the journey...