Expert: Sean Martinfield - 1/3/2011

Question
Hello, I´m 17 years old, and my dream is to perform in broadway. I used to do theater when I was younger, but I had to drop off becouse of sicronyzed swimming, I practiced this sport for 7 years and got to professional level, but in the end , I decided that I would rather go back to theater. I go to an arts school in my country where I have taken part in 3 "Cultural festivals" that are based on tipicall dances from all around the world and where each group of students gets to perform one of this dance styles, I have also been the host of this show the three times I took part of it. In acting I have less experience, but right now I am the creator and star of a choreographic musical that started as a school play but ended up including big actors from my country and grew up a lot, and I also took part in 2 other school plays. I have never had any singing lessons, but I was part of the school chorus for two years and I play traverse flute,so my air controll is good thanks to swimming and I can controll things like vribatto becouse flute playing has a lot in common with singing when you talk about air matters, my singing is not bad, but it´s not outstanding I am aware that this isn´t enough to get to broadway and I´m moving to LA for college. I was wondering if 4 years of singing, dancing, and acting lessons might give me enough experience and the skills needed for broadway. I am also taking dance lessons in a dance academy, my family wont let me study "musical theatre" as a proffesion, but I am trully determinated to acomplish this dream, so I´m choosing comunication studies as my career but at the same time I will take singing and acting lessons on weekends; I am a good dancer already, and my years as a swimmer have taught me a lot about choreography, should I still take dancing lessons or small schools and courses will work for me? Are 4 years of singing enough to get a voice from "good" to "great"? Where can I do community theater in LA? and finally, does TV acting training works for theater too?

Answer
Hello, Valentina –

Thank you for contacting me.

My expertise on this website is about vocal coaching. Your concerns require a dissertation.

At 17, you need to know more about the Business of Broadway before you decide to invest your academic career in "Communications" along with a part-time approach to vocal training and dramatic studies as a path toward sustaining a living in the performing arts. The vast majority of musical theatre majors will never appear on Broadway. They may appear in a lot of community musicals along the way – working for nothing as they earn their Union eligibility points – and a rare few might suddenly be snapped-out of obscurity and suddenly thrown into the spotlight. Bottom-line, musical theatre offers absolutely no guarantees to anyone – including performers who win the shiniest trophies available.

My job as a professional vocal coach is to identify your vocal category, i.e., soprano, mezzo-soprano, etc., and to train you accordingly. My musical theatre clients include those who have appeared on Broadway and National Tours, in community and academic theatre, etc. Each of them has a portfolio of material that demonstrates their vocal skills, along with specific material for the audition or job opportunity at hand. Ultimately, you must have the same. You must know how to demonstrate your vocal skills in front of the musical director. If hired, you must sustain your vocal chops from the first rehearsal to the final curtain. You must have a spine of steel to endure the pressures of competition and the frustrations of the casting process.

Becoming "great" is the end result of a series of opportunities. No school can guarantee those opportunities will come your way – not while you're there and certainly not after you graduate.

I am a vocal coach to working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com All my articles and interviews provide a link to my personal e-mail.
Below are links to my articles and youtubes on San Francisco's entertainment and cultural scene:

"Would You Like A Souvenir?" – Sean Martinfield and Janet Roitz explore a song from Film Noir classic NORA PRENTISS (1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiqTp0tjvg

PIANIST HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD – This Week with the SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102180

FILM NOIR FESTIVAL – At the Castro Theatre, 1/21–30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101857

THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS – Opening Celebration, January 14th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101597

OF THE EARTH – New Year’s Eve with the Shotgun Players
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101452

THIS WEEK ON STAGE – Leanne Borghesi, Tom Orr, Teatro ZinZanni, New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101334

WOMEN ON THE WAY FESTIVAL – “The Dark Season”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101077

JENNIFER EWING: Artist-in-Residence, at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101006

GISELLE – Opens SF Ballet’s 78th Season, 1/19/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99745

A Conversation with Elza van den Heever
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99268

Greg Weber – Appointed Director of Production by SF Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99472

A.C.T.’S RENÉ AUGESEN – to Participate in Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=98897

HEART OF A SOLDIER – SF Opera Commissions New Work
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=98518

ARTHUR SZYK: Miniature Paintings and Modern Illuminations
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97709

SF SYMPHONY – Announces 2011/12 Centennial Celebration
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97495

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS – What were they smoking?
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97281

SHREK THE MUSICAL – Ogres and Freaks and Spells, “Oh, my!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96975

THE BLACK SWAN – Don’t Save The Drippings
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96580

CD: MAHLER’S “Songs With Orchestra” – SF Symphony Completes Mahler Recording Project
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95840

YIGIT PURA – Local Pastry Chef Wins Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95774

GENIUS WITHIN: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95683

AUDITIONS: Wanted – Beefcake For San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95413

KARITA MATTILA – “Viva To The Diva!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95163

THE MAKROPULOS CASE – Opens Tonight At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95016

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – Program changes for this week’s concerts with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94998

CLUB FOOT ORCHESTRA – A Conversation with Richard Marriot
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94863

ELZA VAN DEN HEEVER – Performs Strauss’ Four Last Songs with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94646

TIMOTHY SEELIG – Takes His Baton To SF Gay Men’s Chorus
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94577


RECLAIMED: Paintings From The Collection of Jacques Goudstikker
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94007

WEST SIDE STORY – Most of it, anyway
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93786

PLÁCIDO DOMINGO – An Interview with the Tenor turned Baritone for “Cyrano”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93275

JAPANESQUE – At the Legion of Honor, Japanese Prints in the Era of Impressionism
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92923

BEYOND GOLDEN CLOUDS – At the Asian Art Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92699

SCHEHERAZADE – A Spectacular Opening Night for Alonzo King Lines Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92361

FLEET WEEK – Souvenirs From the Party At Pier 39
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92106

MADAMA BUTTERFLY – A Beautiful Ensemble At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91730

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – World Premiere of Five Shakespeare Sonnets, November 11–13
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91632

Dr. ELISA STEPHENS – My Visit with the President
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90791

TALES OF THE CITY – Casting for A.C.T. Workshop Announced
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90166

MARIA CALLAS EXHIBIT – A Rare Collection At the Italian Cultural Institute
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89563

PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA – 30th Anniversary Gala, 9/24
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88961

TENOR RAMÓN VARGAS – A Worthy “Werther” At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88856

AÏDA – Spectacular Opening Night At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88247

JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA – Now At The Victoria Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88014

OPENING NIGHT AT SF SYMPHONY – A Mixed Bag
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=87772

WERTHER – French Classic At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86829

DREAMGIRLS – High Gloss and Not Much Soul
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86316

CUBAN BALLET – An Interview with Octavio Roca
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86049

A Look At "Giselle" with Ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-a6Oa-0j4

DOLORA ZAJICK – Internationally Acclaimed Mezzo To Receive Merola Distinguished Alumni Award
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85363

BLACK SABBATH – The Secret Musical History of Black-Jewish Relations
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85115

CD: SONIDOS LATINOS – Guitarist, David Russell
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84374

EAT PRAY LOVE – Julia Roberts Is Gorgeous
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84196

JAMES LEVINE – Celebrating 40 Years at the Metropoitan Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84017

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Broadcasts Return to KQED
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=83505

“L’ELISIR D’AMORE” – Members of the Merola Opera Program, this week at Fort Mason
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82920

DIVALICIOUS – Leanne Borghesi Raises The Roof At New Conservatory Theatre Center
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82831

AÏDA – Verdi’s Masterpiece To Open SF Opera, September 10th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81526

NORMA TALMADGE & GILBERT ROLAND – “A Woman Disputed” At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81297

JULIAN COX – Appointed Chief Curator of the de Young Museum and Founding Curator of Photography
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80803

BACH & FRIENDS – West Coast Premiere At The Kabuki, 7/14
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80577

STONEWALL UPRISING – New Documentary Captures Pivotal Moment in the Gay Rights Movement
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80102

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN – "Puttin' On The Ritz" At the Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=79580

FROM BEGINNING TO END – At the Castro Theatre, FRAMELINE34
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=78854

DEBORAH VOIGT – A Captivating "Fanciulla del West"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=77858

SABINA ALLEMANN – Former SF Ballet Ballerina Returns In A.C.T.'s "The Tosca Project"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76516

CD/DVD Release: CAMERON LIVE! – Organist Cameron Carpenter
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76093

THE RUFFATTI ORGAN & CAMERON CARPENTER at DAVIES HALL
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76169

JEANETTE MacDONALD – Hollywood Diva Remembered at the War Memorial Opera House
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=75637

IN THE HEIGHTS – Hits the heights in San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=72988

AMANDA McBROOM – A rose for new CD, "CHANSON"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68879

CAMERON CARPENTER – Stellar Organist Returns to San Francisco May 2nd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68311

HANDEL'S "ORLANDO" – TONIGHT AT THE HERBST. An Interview with Conductor Nicholas McGagen
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=67774

WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY – An Interview with Director Don Hahn and Producer Peter Schneider
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=66140

CAMERON CARPENTER – At Davies Symphony Hall, May 2nd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=64126

PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – An Interview with Russell Blackwood
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=63625

PIANIST MISHA DICHTER – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59695

ZUILL BAILEY – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58241

DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487

NATHAN GUNN – Sings Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056

CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761

A CONVERSATION WITH LUCIE ARNAZ – This Week At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51605

ON THE ORGAN – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49615

JANE MONHEIT – This Sunday At The Empire Ballroom
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083

NORMA SHEARER – Hollywood Dreams Made Real
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38082

THE EGYPTIAN (1954) – A Swords & Sandals Cultural Encounter at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37554

DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007

CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462

AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122

A Conversation with Ruben Martin Cintas, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65
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