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So, I have been trawling the colleges web pages to try to find out all about the differences between auditions and I have a few questions. Firstly, Urdang: at the audition it says there is a chance to do a solo freestyle dance, any style. How does that work? Do they have to take music? Does everyone come with something prepared? Secondly Bird: what does the audition involve? It says details will be sent on application, but as we are not at that stage yet, it would be good to know. I assume a ballet and jazz class, but one or two monologues and songs? Thirdly, ArtsEd, are all of the courses for 18+, including the foundation? Seems a bit odd if this is the case. If any of you knowledgeable folk can clarify any of these questions......

I don't know if anything will have changed this year but from DS's experiences last year, the freestyle at Urdang was just for a few bars in a routine that they were taught on the day so nobody had prepared anything or taken their own music. The only audition he had where he did a solo of his own was at Laine. He said Bird was the most intense for dancing. I think they only asked for one monologue and song but it is best to have others up your sleeve. ArtsEd do only take from eighteen and that is the same for Mountview. They both had less dance in their auditions but more of a concentration on the acting and singing. They wanted contemporary and a Shakespeare monologue and I think two songs in contrasting styles also. ArtsEd also sent a duologue to learn and then if they got through to the afternoon they were asked to perform it in several different styles (given different scenarios for it). Hope all that helps and good luck!

Thanks for that!!

Arts ed does take a lower age 11-18 click on the independent school box on home page. Entrance to degree courses is completely separate.

Another question, why is Italia Conti's 3 yr diploma so expensive? Almost £16,000 pa!! I thought £12,000 was bad enough! Is there any benefit to the students for paying so much more?

ajbew wrote:I don't know if anything will have changed this year but from DS's experiences last year, the freestyle at Urdang was just for a few bars in a routine that they were taught on the day so nobody had prepared anything or taken their own music. The only audition he had where he did a solo of his own was at Laine. He said Bird was the most intense for dancing. I think they only asked for one monologue and song but it is best to have others up your sleeve. ArtsEd do only take from eighteen and that is the same for Mountview. They both had less dance in their auditions but more of a concentration on the acting and singing. They wanted contemporary and a Shakespeare monologue and I think two songs in contrasting styles also. ArtsEd also sent a duologue to learn and then if they got through to the afternoon they were asked to perform it in several different styles (given different scenarios for it). Hope all that helps and good luck!

Re Mountview , first round , do they sing two songs ? And do they prefer contemporary ?

As far as I can remember they only sang one song in the first round. I know my DS had two prepared and gave them the choice. He had one more 'legit' song and a more contemporary one from Beauty and the Beast. I think they heard the Beauty and the Beast one although I couldn't swear to that. He is at Mountview now and the singing lessons seem to focus more on legit though. For the dancing they were asked to put themselves into one of two ability groups depending on how much dancing they had done.

ajbew wrote:As far as I can remember they only sang one song in the first round. I know my DS had two prepared and gave them the choice. He had one more 'legit' song and a more contemporary one from Beauty and the Beast. I think they heard the Beauty and the Beast one although I couldn't swear to that. He is at Mountview now and the singing lessons seem to focus more on legit though. For the dancing they were asked to put themselves into one of two ability groups depending on how much dancing they had done.

Thanks ajbew , daughter has a call back for the Mt at Mountview , 8 pupils made it through from Knightswood School, know it is very competitive , great achievement for your son . Daughter has a copy of the list of songs for second round

bethjinty66 wrote:

ajbew wrote:As far as I can remember they only sang one song in the first round. I know my DS had two prepared and gave them the choice. He had one more 'legit' song and a more contemporary one from Beauty and the Beast. I think they heard the Beauty and the Beast one although I couldn't swear to that. He is at Mountview now and the singing lessons seem to focus more on legit though. For the dancing they were asked to put themselves into one of two ability groups depending on how much dancing they had done.

Thanks ajbew , daughter has a call back for the Mt at Mountview , 8 pupils made it through from Knightswood School, know it is very competitive , great achievement for your son . Daughter has a copy of the list of songs for second round

Bethjinty66 - out of curiosity, what songs are on the recall list?
Dd will begin auditioning at the end of this year, interested as to what's on there. Thanks!

Send me a private message so I can email you the list

Have been looking around for monologues and have a question. Is DNA by Dennis Kelly too much of an obvious place to start or would it be ok for MT course auditions?

For the MT courses I wouldn't worry too much as long as they can perform it well.