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It was just about a year ago that the cultural phenomenon we now know as American Idol exploded on the scene. For better or worse, regardless of your opinion of the process, the finalists, or the judges, I think youll agree it provided exposure and excitement for music usually reserved for athletes.

Granted, it wasn't ALL forms of music, and it was by definition NOT for instrumentalists. You probably won't see Paula, Randy or Simon speaking about the latest research in the healing power of music in general, or of rhythm-making, or of singing. But I bet there are articles already being written that will pick up on the publicity bubble and bring more of this information to the public.

And that's a good thing.

By the time you read this, however, the most entertaining and hilarious segments of this year's "Idol" are already over. For me, the open auditions in cities around the country provided some truly magic moments ... although some were unintentionally so.

For instance, when Randy or Simon responded to a horrifically out of tune singer by saying, "You're in a class by yourself," they were stating a fact that was obvious to most anyone — except the singer. (Not even Eddie Murphy, at his Buckwheat-impersonating best, could approach some of the hopefuls).

Interestingly, in virtually each case, the singer didn't have a clue. They had a very different opinion. Some contestants made statements like, "I've had this dream since I was 3 ..." Well, dreams are great, but they need to be backed up with training and practice.

I was struck by the fact that many other youngsters have the dream of being a major league baseball player, or a professional football player. But they don't start arguing with the coach if their performance on the field is not up to the competition.

How much of that was "staged" for Idol viewership, and how much was real? It was great entertainment either way.

Clearly, some people are born with raw talent in certain fields. But the reality is, you need to take lessons to hone your skills and natural ability. Playing "air guitar" or mimicking the posture and hand movements of a singer is not sufficient — though for a number of contestants, it was all they really had going for them.

Justin Timberlake and John Lennon Contests

On the other hand, USA Weekend (Jan 24-26, 2003) had a feature article with a great headline. "Get on Board—Music Education is a Must".

I'm sure it's no coincidence that at least two opportunities to provide education and training are already in the works.

Many schools have lost their music programs. There has been a steady drop in the budget for music in school programs (and, quite frankly, if they were similar to the programs I endured when I was a teenager, a new paradigm was in order anyway).

How was it in your school? Did you ever get singing lessons, with real vocal coaching? Or was it just a rote exercise in learning to read little black dots on white paper?

I certainly never had a class in songwriting.

Well, The John Lennon Songwriting Contest literally is (and has) a vehicle for that. It features an educational tour bus, that is traveling across the country, inviting kids on board to write, play, record and mix songs.

The idea behind this is to excite them about music ... and hopefully motivate them to push for programs in their schools.

But if not in schools, hopefully it will encourage a lot of private lessons, for all those out of work music teachers and professional musicians and vocalists (and there are lots of them).

Wouldn't it be wonderful if shows like American Idol actually contribute to a renaissance in people actively making music, rather than just listening to the radio, or their MP3?

Another wonderful development is the Justin Timberlake Foundation, started by the former boy band pop star himself. "I want to give a kid who has the same aspirations as I did to get private lessons," he says. "Music is a foundation to learn from — whether kids want to be musicians or not."

Making music can provide a support group, enhancing self-esteem, and helping kids feel more positive about themselves, and to feeling positive about academics in general.

And guess what? The benefits of music making are not limited to school-agers.

Your homework this week is to make some music of your own. You can hum the vowels, you can play rhythm patters with your hands, you can pick up an instrument you used to play years ago ... For this assignment, there are no judges, there are no mistakes, so there's no need for performance anxiety.

So let the music flow ... and enjoy.

Note: Singing in the shower is highly recommended, as is singing in your car.

For more info on the Contest, you may enter at www.usaweekend.com or by mail at:

Teen Lyric Contest
PO Box 8510
Prospect Heights, IL 60070

Until next time,

Stay tuned,

Steven Halpern

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Steven Halpern is one of the world's leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His latest recordings include PERFECT ALIGNMENT, featuring Grammy award winner Paul McCandless, and INNER PEACE II, with Madeleine Singer. Look for them at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your neighborhood independent retailer, or online at www.innerpeacemusic.com. For a free catalogue call 1-800-909-0707

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