Shin Yong-jae compares Hongik University applied music majors to organized machines

During the second season of "On the Way to Sing," singer Shin Yong-jae visited Hongik University to observe students, noting that applied music majors display a predetermined, computer-like perfection in their vocal skills compared to the emotional focus of musical theater majors.

Singer Shin Yong-jae has compared the vocal characteristics of applied music majors at Hongik University to "organized machines." Through the second season of "On the Way to Sing," a content series hosted by Onestar, the program captured the performances of applied music and musical theater majors.

"Like everything, even the vibrato, is predetermined," says Shin Yong-jae regarding major details

Shin Yong-jae, an applied music major himself, visited practice rooms on the Hongik University campus to meet students and discuss the practical differences in professional education. Analyzing the vocal styles of applied music majors, Shin noted, "They employ a vast array of skills within a single bar and are extremely organized." He mentioned their high level of perfection, stating, "There is a feeling, like a computer, where it seems as if everything is predetermined, including how they sing and how many times they apply vibrato."

In contrast, he added that non-majors "tend to go more with the feeling." Recalling his own past, Shin also identified "applied music disease" as a characteristic found in majors, confessing that he himself only listened to pop songs back then, saying, "Majors always have 'applied music disease,' where they only listen to pop songs."

Differences in vocalization between musical theater and applied music majors

The journey extended beyond applied music to include the stages of musical theater majors. These students demonstrated vocal characteristics distinct from those of applied music majors. Students met on-site explained, "Musical theater vocalization is very different from applied music vocalization."

A characteristic of musical theater majors was noted as "holding the sound" to ensure clear message delivery through diction. When singing, they showed an ability to convey the emotions of a song by adding acting elements, much like actors preparing for an audition. While applied music majors showcased sophisticated and highly polished vocal skills, musical theater majors differed by focusing on expressing the narrative of the song.

Vocal showdown of majors in Hongik University practice rooms

Onestar and Shin Yong-jae visited various practice rooms and ensemble rooms around Hongik University to listen to various students. Ryu Su-geun, a third-year vocal major, sang Yoon Kwon Na's "If It Were Me" and was evaluated as having a "feeling of having prepared very precisely," while musical theater major Cha Seung-woo demonstrated acting immersion through Kim Dong-ryul's "Should I Say I Love You Again?"

Subsequent performances included a student singing Yoon Mi-rae's "Gift" and another singing Lee Seon Hee's "I Always Think of You." In particular, regarding the student who performed the Yoon Mi-rae song, the cast highly praised their professional stability, noting, "The rhythm and pitch are so accurate that it feels like the voice is coming out through a filter." The students also shared the depth of their professional studies, including learning specialized music theory such as songwriting and harmony.

Source: original video (YouTube)