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If you know you've got acting, dancing and singing skills and wondered how you might use them all or where to begin, then Glenn Lee, ex-Principal of London School of Musical Theatre offers some helpful advice.
Glenn explains the importance of proper training plus the nature and benefits of a one-year musical theatre training programme.
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Musical theatre is a unique genre which requires people with a strong skill-base in singing, acting and dancing, and the ability to combine these core skills into a convincing performance.
It is therefore incredibly important that training for the musical theatre stage should increase an individual's ability in all three disciplines, as well as teaching the integration of these skills.
You need to think carefully when choosing a course. There are some courses that simply offer musical theatre as an addition or extension to their acting or dance curriculum rather than as a separate and specialist area. This is evident in the balance of the training, offering far too few singing-based classes within the timetable. The minimum requirement for an individual embarking on a career in musical theatre today is a strong singing voice and good training should recognise this. So when looking at which course to choose, find out as much as you can about the actual timetable of the course, to make sure you are getting the best possible training in ALL three of the core skill areas.
Is a one-year course right for me?
When considering vocational training in musical theatre there are three main options open to a prospective student: a performing arts degree, which usually lasts for three years; a three-year musical theatre course; or a one-year musical theatre training programme. Choosing the right course for you is essential.
For some individuals three years of training at a reputable establishment is imperative as they may have potential but limited stage-craft or technical foundation. These people need three years to develop their skills and abilities to achieve their goals.
For others a three-year course is neither necessary nor desirable, especially when considering the high cost of tuition and living expenses. These people fall into the following categories:
a university graduate that may have previously embarked on a more academic type of degree and who now seeks to supplement this with practical and career-oriented arts training
someone who has already taken a two-year course, for example a BTEC Diploma (which they would usually have studied between the ages of 16 and 18) or a Higher National Diploma (HND), is naturally talented and is now mature enough to cope with a more intense approach
a mature individual who may have extensive non-professional stage experience, has privately embarked on singing lessons and dance classes and wishes to pursue a professional career
somebody who has extensive experience on the cabaret circuit, who possesses a strong singing voice and now wishes to embark on a career within theatre.
A suitable candidate
There are no hard-and-fast rules as to who would be a suitable candidate - and the main criteria for admission - is that they must demonstrate a level of maturity, experience and talent that will enable them to reach a professional standard in one year. This assessment requires experience and an understanding of the ever-changing needs of the industry. Audition panels often consist of working practitioners (producer, director and musical director), therefore it is possible for them to make an informed judgement in this respect.
However, there are other institutions that have different intake criteria for their one-year programmes. Some courses are designated 'postgraduate' and only take degree holders or students over the age of 21. It is therefore important for a prospective student to ensure that they check with the course provider and that they satisfy any intake criteria that may apply.
What a one-year musical theatre course should provide
When choosing the one-year option, check first that the course provides:
An approach to working the weaker aspects: Particularly of an individual's skill-base, as well as maintaining and working on their strengths. This is the key to improving their employability.
A balanced curriculum: With an understanding of the unique requirements of musical theatre. The course should not be an acting course with some token singing classes!
An extremely intensive training:
There should be few - if any - 'free periods', students should be pushed as hard as possible and expectations should be very high. Learning through application in performance should also be a key component.
Preparation for the business: Including guidance with agents, CVs, photos, tax and National Insurance issues.
Employment prospects: In today's competitive industry, high-quality representation is essential to a young person embarking on a career in theatre. A reputable establishment will ensure that the students get exposure to good agents in their final term, in the form of either a well-attended showcase or preferably private auditions with top agents.
A prospective student should research the institution's track-record regarding obtaining representation for their graduates. It is also an excellent idea to keep an eye on the biographies in show programmes and see where the cast members trained.
A one-year course isn't right for everybody but if you are a talented and hard-working individual with a mature and focused attitude, it may be the perfect route to achieve your career objective.
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