I don't doubt Jessica's friend's account in the slightest -- but it's
worth mentioning that the word "trained" in this context is extremely
ambiguous. There's (obviously) a big difference between a Juilliard
student and a pop singer with a voice coach. The former is virtually
guaranteed to be excluded from American Idol competition (for
stylistic reasons alone), whereas having a voice coach can help you
or hurt you, depending on what the judges are looking for in any
given year. My impression is that virtually all of the finalists have
at least had some voice coaching at some point, and based on the
article I linked to, it seems that many Idol contestants do in fact
show up with their voice coach in tow.
- Darcy
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http://secretsociety.typepad.com
Brooklyn, NY
On 09 Jul 2006, at 9:02 PM, Chuck Israels wrote:
Hey guys,
I posted the anecdote, and the information came from my daughter,
Jessica, whose friend, a talented baritone with whom she had worked
in the Soldier's Chorus, was the contestant. The story she heard
from him, here reported as I remember she told me, was that after
he sang, the response was something like, "You have a trained voice
haven't you?", and as soon as he said yes (he was studying at
Juilliard at the time), they said, "Thank you, we don't want
trained voices."
I know the young man, and I doubt he'd have much reason to
exaggerate. He then offered to do some Korean Rap (he's Korean-
American), which they also declined. Not sure I disagree with them
on that one!
Chuck
On Jul 9, 2006, at 5:06 PM, Darcy James Argue wrote:
Andrew,
The reporter you spoke to is right -- however, the anecdote posted
here, while technically incorrect, was based on a grain of truth:
Coaching to win on 'American Idol'
Philip Chaffee
2006/02/14
Voice teachers are turning into stylists and advisers to help
their students get selected by "American Idol" and "Canadian Idol".
The first time Heather Elmer of Salt Lake City tried out for
"American Idol," about three years ago, she didn’t make it past
the initial audition. So this season she went all out. Elmer
hired a local voice teacher who had had success in getting
students selected for the show.
"Thirty percent of how well you do is your voice," the coach told
her, "the rest is the presentation."
Elmer, 24, took those words to heart, and her sharp outfit (black
pinstripe pants, gray tank top) combined with her confident
rendition of a Mark Anthony song, helped her pass the first two
rounds in the competition.
In round three, facing the executive producers of the show, she
sang Donna Summer’s "Last Dance," managing to belt out the parts
she’d worked on with her coach. Elmer, though, may have prepared
too much.
"You’re too polished and professional a performer for this year’s
competition," the producers told her.
<http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-02-14/chaffee-Idolcoaches>
- Darcy
-----
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://secretsociety.typepad.com
Brooklyn, NY
On 09 Jul 2006, at 7:45 PM, Andrew Stiller wrote:
Had an interesting email exchange w. a Phila. Inquirer reporter
to whom I had passed on the anecdote posted here a few weeks ago
to the effect that American Idol contestants were disqualified if
they had any musical training. She countered that she thought
many of them showed up w. their teachers in tow.
Comment?
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://home.netcom.com/~kallisti/
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fax (360) 676-6055
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