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BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Open Day
Why train with Arts1?
Welcome to the online Open Day for our Musical Theatre degree programme. The courses development is a response to the changing landscape of full-time training in performing arts and the need for a more individualised approach. In this video you'll hear from past students and staff about the core message that runs through our training.
Third Year
Your third year is the final step before launching into the industry and in this video you'll hear about your final year shows, your digital portfolio and what to expect as you come to graduate.
Industry Links
Having and maintaining a well established connection to the industry you're graduating into is a must for any Musical Theatre degree. Nikki Woollaston and John Rigby are reknown for their incredible work in the musical theatre world on a global scale and they are the crucial industry link on this course.
Matt Mattox Inspired Jazz
Here begins our breakdown of what the day to day training will look like on the course, starting with the most powerful jazz isolation technique which was developed by Matt Mattox. This model is a core foundation of the dance training at Arts1.
Estill Voice Training
Our degree course is the only one in the UK to be officially affiliated with Estill Voice Training. Both our singing and spoken voice training uses Estill, meaning you are at the very cutting edge of one of the world's leading approaches to voice training.
Who you'll be working with
Meet some of the top class talent trainers that will be at the very core of your training with us. Including Allyson-Ava Brown, Adam Scott, Ben Papworth, Amy Shackcloth, Pierina Penny and Gavin Spokes.
Weekly 1-to-1 Singing Lessons
Each student on our degree course will receive 2 x 30 minute singing lessons each week. One lesson will focus on your technique, and the other will be focusing on your repertoire.
Swing Project
As part of your second year, we'll be introducing you into the world of being a Swing. These performance projects are another opportunity for you to take your technique and add your own individual artistry in front of an audience.
Signature Masterclass Programme
Alongside your weekly team of staff members, we have our Signature Masterclass programme. We will be bringing the best in the business to Arts1 to work with you and pass on knowledge and experience. Including Rosalie Craig, Ivano Turco, Jai Ramage.
Creating the best environment to learn
We believe that training should be in an environment that is kind, safe and above all else, supportive. You can hear from previous students here on their experiences at drama school.
Love MK
Milton Keynes is a thriving city with an incredible amount of green space, a fantastic nightlife and home to one of the best theatres in the country. Here's a little look into MK.
Our new home
We're incredibly excited to be launching this degree programme into our new home and you get to be the first to experience it. Our new space includes 8 new studios, 4 music rooms, an in-house theatre, a wardrobe and workshop, a cafe and a library. Take a little look into our past, where we are currently and where we're moving to.
This is your career
Training for a professional career in Musical Theatre will be tough, but so incredibly rewarding. This is your career, and with that comes your own individual story.
Your Audition Day
Here's a breakdown of what to prepare and what to expect on your audition day with us.
Fees & Funding
A breakdown of the fees and funding for the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a specific approach to dance training?
Dance training on this course is designed to give you the fundamental technique that will mean you can perform in a wide range of style applications. The core training will come from a Matt Mattox isolation based technique, an approach which means everyone in the studio can work to their fullest potential in a new syllabus written by 2 of the UKs leading dance educators. Paired with classical ballet training, performers will explore the terminology, technique and application that underpins all dance styles.
In addition to the core training you will develop your artistry in a range of styles from a range of key disciplines including Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Commercial, Acro and Tricks. The current Musical Theatre landscape has incredible demands of style, not only for performers to be able to technically execute an authentic range of styles but also to understand dance language to a point where performers can fuse styles in fast pickup audition situations for boundary pushing choreographers.
Is there much written work on the course?
As with any degree programme there is an element of academic work, however this is highly vocational training. The written work completed as part of the course relates very closely to the development of your craft and artistry. Research is an important part of a professional performers preparation, understanding the history of performance and what has gone before really helps to understand the established rules and conventions and most importantly when we want to follow them and most excitingly when we want to break them.
In the third year there will be a dissertation, which is your opportunity to undertake a research project around a subject you are interested in, this is supported by meetings with your dissertation supervisor to help you choose a subject and create a piece of work that you feel connected to and motivated to explore.
What do you look for the audition?
We are looking for training potential and someone we feel we can work with. We love to see individuality, bold ideas and a sense of comfort in yourself as a human being. These elements all contribute towards trainability.
In your singing audition we are looking for a good level of preparation. Music should be in the right key and be taped together or in a presentation folder. Any cuts should be clearly marked and you will chat to the accompanist before you perform each song. In this chat you can set the tempo (speed) you would like the song played at and point out any corners (tricky bits) where you change speed or do something unexpected!
The dance audition is about you demonstrating a level of physical engagement and a strong response to feedback and direction. We will be working with you to see where our current technical level is at and how quickly you are able to adjust. For more experienced dancers we are looking for your artistry, performance and technicality. For less experienced dancers we are looking for fearless engagement and a comfort with making mistakes and showing you can apply notes from the dance teacher positively and without any self criticism.
In the acting session we are looking for you to show you have opinions and that in a group you are an active member, someone that makes the whole team better because you are on it. You will take part in a range of games and exercises and perform your monologues for each other, we may re-direct your monologue and give you a new situation or scenario to perform it in.
Ultimately, we want to know all about you as a performer, what you are good at, where you are less experienced and through working closely with you, if we think you would be a good fit for the course.
How do I apply?
There is an application form on the website, you can find it by heading to the degree landing page and clicking Apply Now.
Why should Estill Voice Training matter to me?
The professional musical theatre performer is a vocal athlete. The requirements to perform complex vocal material with big dynamic and pitch range for 8 shows a week is a massive challenge. The technique of a performer needs to be grounded in understanding how the voice actually works. Our unique approach will mean that you learn how to safely create an incredible range of vocal qualities, safely and on demand. This means that not only are you equipped to get the job but you are setup to keep yourself healthy whilst working and most importantly you know what to do when things are not working well.
Your core vocal training comprises of learning the anatomy and physiology of the vocal mechanism, the structures we can all independently control and the exercises to find and develop your maximum range with each of the components. This is all taught through Estill voice training levels 1 and 2 which you will receive an additional qualification for whilst in training.
You will also engage in a wide range of vocal artistry classes in a wide range of styles in the Musical Theatre, Pop and Classical vocal universes with a focus on understanding conventions and how to effectively develop your performance in each style. You will also apply the Estill work in your choral classes which will cover everything from Contemporary A Capella to classical based choral pieces.
Is entry via UCAS?
No, entry is through direct application and audition.
I've already started or completed another degree course elsewhere, can I still apply?
Absolutely. If you would like to audition for us, then please apply via the degree landing page.
What is the minimum and maximum age to enrol on the course?
You must be 18 years old when the course commences and there is no maximum age limit.
Are there any residential halls for students?
No, but we will send details of local letting agents that can help find your accommodation. Most students live locally in rented accommodation in shared flats and houses.