[Perform-Talk] Question about musical theater and performing arts college

Wed Jan 1 00:54:59 UTC 2020

Hello Cierra,
I'd like to second what Cristina said to you. I couldn't have put it
better myself. I'm a Soprano Singer, Radio Broadcast Presenter and
Actor. I use Braille and a long cane. Directors seem to be very aware
of disability in general, much more so than years ago. They appear to
be making a lot of effort to find actors with genuine disabilities for
these types of roles even though it is difficult to get work in the
performing arts as a blind performer. You're aware of the struggle
and, if you're determined and work hard to achieve what you want to
do, I expect you'll do it and do well.

Very best wishes and happy New Year to everyone on this list.
Sandra.

On 1/1/20, Cristina Jones via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hia, Cierra,
> You can absolutely follow your dream and passion in majoring in what you'd
> like to major in.
> As far as practicality goes, honestly, you never know. I think it's fair to
> say that a lot of us have had negative or less than satisfactory experiences
> with directors, etc. when it comes to performance. But we're also moving
> toward and forging ahead into the next decade with more of a realistic and
> positive outlook on ability in general, but in the arts in particular.
> Knowing that you might not end up performing solidly on stage consistently
> for a living is true. But it doesn't mean you won't be performing in other
> ways.
> I initially went to college thinking I wanted to be a music education major.
> I changed that when I was bitten by the opera bug, and I decided I wanted to
> be an opera singer, damn the success rates and what the naysayers still say.
> I graduated from Cal State Fullerton with my BM in vocal performance, and I
> decided to go to the Royal Academy of Music for my graduate studies in
> performance. I graduated in 2015, and I'll be honest in saying I was so lost
> and confused about everything when I moved back to the States. I didn't know
> what to do, where to go, who I could reach out to, and it made me feel
> really hopeless for a bit. I lacked direction. I started teaching at the
> Academy of Music for the Blind on Saturdays, and I still do that. I continue
> to audition and perform for things. That said, I'm very selective with what
> I choose to spend my time auditioning for since a lot of the companies don't
> pay much for the amount of work you end up doing, especially as a blind
> person running around town on public transport.
> That said, that doesn't mean I'm unhappy. I'm actually feeling quite happy
> and fulfilled, thank you, even though ow'm not performing as much as I'd
> like to. I'm doing other things, though, in the music and acting world. I've
> opened myself up to film opportunities, as well as studio recording
> opportunities. A lot of it is building yourself a group of supportive
> people, working hard on your artistry and craft, and surrounding yourself
> with, not just forward-thinking, sound-minded people, but creative people
> who are positive and are going to encourage you and maybe give you ideas
> when you run out, both in your craft, as well as in the advocacy and
> accessibility aspect of your desired work.
> As far as selecting a program for yourself, that really depends on where you
> want to end up, for one, but also what you want to do, what you value in a
> program, and what you personally need and are comfortable with.
> Musical theater's leading program in the States right now is
> Carnegie-Mellon. University. I have no idea how forward-thinking their MT
> program is, but it's worth looking at the program and speaking with Katelyn
> Macentire about it as she went to CMU for her graduate studies as a vocal
> performance major, I believe.
> That said, MT programs are and are not similar to vocal performance. There
> are a lot of similar concepts etc., but MT people, I per sopersonally find,
> tend to be more progressive and forward-thinking. I mean, look at Ali
> Stroker's major win for the disabled community as a whole! There's a guy who
> is blind who has been on broadway quite successfully, but ow'm not
> remembering his name right now. So it's doable.
> Surround yourself with positive people who will remind you how amazing you
> are when you're not as confident in yourself. Surround yourself with people
> who might be able to give you opportunities to explore and find your own
> strengths and comfort level on stage. Make it a lifestyle and commitment if
> this is what you want. Work on your physical gestures, facial expressions,
> dance, etc., as those are usually going to be the bits that sighted
> directors and such will be the most concerned about. That way, you have the
> power and the choice to use your body the way you want to.
> You're in a great group of people here who are empowering themselves and
> barging up to the table and making room for themselves in the conversation.
> Be part of it, and learn where you're comfortable backing off, and learn
> when and how you're willing to assert yourself. Remember, too, that being
> assertive comes in multiple forms. It's not always immediately aggressive.
> You'll capture more flies with honey than with vinegar. And if you need to
> pull out the vinegar, you'll know when and how to do it and walk away
> eventually feeling more powerful.
> NYU is where Ali Stroker went, and they have a good reputation, and Ali
> Stroker spoke very highly of the program, but I'm sure she, too, had her
> issues in figuring out how to do things.
> Remember that no matter where you end up, they're going to accept you based
> on your potential. Then they will either tell you what they think you're
> able to do as a blind person, or they won't know how to deal with your
> blindness or what to do with you. So this is where you'll have to get
> creative and figure out how you're comfortable and build on that. Having
> plenty of transparent conversations with those professors is a learning
> experience for everyone, but mainly you. And it's always okay to say that
> you're not sure how you'll be doing one thing or another, but that you'll do
> some thinking and reaching out to others.
> There are so many programs and so many things to talk about with those. Feel
> free to reach out to me off list or carry on this conversation on list if
> others might find that more useful.
> Future work will be mix, and you might have to take a job outside of your
> field altogether to make ends meet and whatnot, and that's okay, too. It's
> actually good for you. That said, try taking on other jobs now, either
> during summer or during school. Either online jobs or whatever to get work
> experience. Remember that work experience is life experience and will only
> make you a more rounded human being, which will make you a more rounded
> performer. There's nothing wrong at all with taking jobs outside of your
> field to live Most sighted people end up having to do that as well. It's the
> great equalizer in that sense.
> Free yourself up to explore and make mistakes now. The right program will
> eventually make itself known to you, even if it's not your first choice.
> Good luck with everything, and keep us posted! I'm looking forward to
> hearing more from you in the next decade! :)
> ^
> Best:
> Cristina Jones
> +1(562) 308-7591
> www.theblindsoprano.com
>
>
>
>> On Dec 28, 2019, at 6:51 PM, Cierra Theriot via Perform-Talk
>> <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all.
>> as I am currently in training getting my independence trying to decide
>> what I want to do in my life, I am also researching different colleges
>> that have good musical theater programs. there are so many to choose from
>> I’m just having a hard time trying to narrow down the choices and
>> sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming because it’s like I don’t know what
>> to look for. I just love performing and I assume like ini of you I feel
>> like this is my only calling. I just can’t picture myself doing anything
>> else because this is something I’m just so passionate about and I just
>> really want to do it. I love making people happy through the performing
>> arts. I love how getting up on a stage just wipes away my anxieties that
>> may have happened previously the date of the performance. I love how the
>> music just swept me off my toes as I dance. I love how the words just come
>> out so clearly as I sing out with my tiny voice. and all of the hard work
>> that I’ve put into a performance no matter what it is just shines through
>> when the audience cheer at the end of the performance. as I know it is
>> hard to get into this field especially for those of us with disabilities,
>> I would really like it for them to understand that we have a passion just
>> as anyone else. That we may need accommodations with certain things but we
>> can make it work. So my question to you is, what colleges do you
>> recommend? And I was wondering what’s the best state? Where the teachers
>> excepting of you getting in to the college? Did you have to reassure them
>> that you should be treated just like the other kids and if you have any
>> accommodations that you will speak to them about? Thank you all for
>> reading and I hope I made sense to you all.
>>
>>
>> Cierra Theriot
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Perform-Talk mailing list
>> Perform-Talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/perform-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Perform-Talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/perform-talk_nfbnet.org/caldomo%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Perform-Talk mailing list
> Perform-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/perform-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Perform-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/perform-talk_nfbnet.org/sandragayer7%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

Soprano Singer
www.sandragayer.com

Broadcast Presenter
www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html

Actor
www.visablepeople.com

Voiceover Artist
www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer