What I learn from American Idol & Chris Brogan

Posted 3 years ago at 11:51 pm. 1 comment

Yes, I admit it.  I watch American Idol.  My husband got me hooked in Season 5, and now I don’t miss it (thank goodness for the DVR!).  I find it mesmerizing and, for those who pay attention & know a bit about the business, a great insight into the marathon that is the professional music business.

What is required of the contestants and the constant grind is just amazing.  Right now, the final four who are in are all artists that I think are amazing – musically and vocally gifted.  I hope that they all have spectacular careers.  I love, especially, that Adam Lambert is proving to be such a strong contestant.  He shows that a strong background in performance and musical study can really help you to succeed in any business – even the machine that is American Idol.

I must admit, I have at times hoped that he gets voted off before the top 5 so that he has more chance of forging his own path, rather than that prescribed by the machine.  But, he’s in the top 4 now & there’s no chance of that.  I do hope that young boys are watching and noticing the strong falsetto.  If they then play around with that upper registration that is so necessary for good vocal production throughout the entire register.  Young girls also need to notice this and play around with their “little girl” voice so that they can vocalize throughout the entire register (something I come across frequently when teaching my high school girls).

The other 3 contestants are all different in their own ways – but all have extremely strong vocal technique and amazing musicality.  I am proud of America – they’ve gotten it right when it comes both to vocal talent and flexibility.  I also love it when the “mentors” give really strong & straight advice.  This season it seems that the editing has been generous so that no REAL advice is being given.  Let America hear someone tell it like it is!  It’s not right to make singers feel like all criticism is bad.  There are times when you really need to get told straight out, “That really needs work on this…”  Specifics and strong critique are, I believe, absolutely imperative for us to improve in this world.

That leads to my thoughts on Chris Brogan’s post this week “The Mirror Game” talking about listening to criticism and not letting the negative pull you under.  You MUST listen to the criticism of others and take what you can – even if it doesn’t seem like helpful critique, take it, turn it around.  If it comes from someone you respect there is often a grain of truth in it.  I trust my voice teacher implicitly (Mary Sue Hyatt).  She tells me to jump & I don’t even ask when I should stop.  I just do it.  That’s why I’m going to New York City in 2 ½ weeks to do a competition.

One of the most mystifying comments I have ever received was last year at the Classical Singer Convention after singing on a Master Class for Sherrill Milnes.  He told me I needed “more.”  I tried to politely push him for greater specifics, but all he really told me was that I needed more of everything.  I have spent the past year turning that comment over in my mind.   Sherrill Milnes is an amazing artist who has worked with (and is one of) the greatest opera singers in the world.  So, what he has to say has great value.  He wasn’t explicit with me – so I’ve had to think about his comments for much longer that I might otherwise.

I’ve been working on the “more.”  I know that my voice has improved immeasurably since last spring when I sang for him.  I have been pushing myself vocally & physically in preparation for my upcoming marathon of auditions and performances (NYC, Arizona Opera Small Roles auditions , Classical Singer Convention Audition Feedback Experience & hopefully master classes, and an AGMA fundraiser for Arizona Opera).

So, take the comments.  Take the advice.  Push it to the edge.  Learn from American Idol about performance values and how to keep it up for weeks on end.  Focus on your goals and how to get there.  Learn from every experience you can and find the good in every bit of advice.  No matter what the advice, there is, somewhere, a grain of truth.  Examine it and then decide whether or not to take that advice.  Always know who you are & where you’re going.  Don’t let negative comments get you down – try to find what there is for you to work on (see my post on “I don’t care what you don’t want“).  Above all, follow your own path.

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