This anecdote is more than telling inre American attitude towards quality in our lives. It is no surprise to me that what America most idolizes is the lowest common denominator.

Dean

On Jul 9, 2006, at 6:02 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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