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Help please.. especially WAAPA< NIDA< CPA students

Sat, 27 Sept 2003, 05:51 pm
Clint26 posts in thread
My daughter is currently studying year 10 (year 11 drama)
She is working a lot in amateur theatre (musical theatre and drama)and is getting paid to sing solo at al festivals carols etc...
She currently takes private dance, singing and music theory lessons
She has won acting and singing scholarships

However...

we feel we have reached a watershed and need to decide some things NOW to assist in possible entry to WAAPA, NIDA or CPA

The school she is at provides dance, drama and music to year twelve..
but lately has had trouble keeping teachers.... this of course varies the quality of her education a lot...

we are trying to decide;

whether to attend a recognised PA school (which would mean a lot more travelling and cut down on productions and private lessons)

remain where we are and pursue the same avenue

do a 2 year PA course in Adelaide (but subjects other than dance/drama have to be open access study)

switch to a recognised private school (which again cuts down time for productions and private training)

soooooo

if there is an answer to this

which carries the most weight??

Examination certificates ie level 4 music theory / voice

Experience in large productions with large roles

A recognised school

or a fulltime performing arts course


We need to make the switch soon

any advice gratefully appreciated

Clint

My thoughts!

Thu, 16 Oct 2003, 02:44 am
Walter Plinge
IMHO nothing you do or don't do will help you to get into one of these institutions. I can only speak of WAAPA but I know people who are astonishingly talented but were never accepted and those who worked their butts off for years to be "the package that the panel wanted" but never found out what that was. I also know people who got into the course and were laughed at by their peers for three years because they were so bad but, hey, they still graduated. I know people who got into the course straight from high school and people who were qualified doctors before they began. I know people who were exceptionally talented but never got a chorus role in a show after they graduated and people who were terribly average who went on to have great careers in the performing arts. I know a man who got kicked out of the Musical Theatre course at WAAPA and went on to do so well in the industry that they decided to 'graduate' him anyway. Be the best you can be and if they don't like it.... well, that's up to you.

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