March 3, 2009 (Nashville Tennessee) Mom and Dad might not be musically inclined, but their kid has talent. How do they know whether their child has what it takes to be a star? How does a parent know whether they should consider taking out a second mortgage on the house to support little Suzie?s big ambitions? Expert vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams poses ten questions that will help parents make the right decision about what to do when their child announces they want to be a superstar.
?Most importantly, parents need to be absolutely certain that the driving force behind the dream of superstardom is their child and not them,? says Grant-Williams, vocal coach to some of the recording industry?s biggest stars. ?Fortunately, in my experience, it?s more often the kids. When I asked twelve-year-old Yahoo national yodeling champion and America?s Got Talent runner-up Taylor Ware what she wanted for Christmas, she solemnly told me that she asked Santa to bring her a tour bus. This girl is clearly in the driver?s seat.?
As a place to start, parents can answer the following ten questions to gain valuable insight into their child?s potential for stardom. The questions address motivation and talent ? both of which are essential to a successful career in music. Does your child:
1. Seem to be motivated more by making music than by the promise of fame and fortune?
2. Willingly pass up other activities in order to practice their music lessons?
3. Study and learn from shows like American Idol, Rock Star, and Nashville Star?
4. Appear to be passionate about singing, always looking for opportunities to perform?
5. Handle constructive criticism and rejection by learning from them?
6. Sing as well a cappella as when they sing along with the radio?
7. Naturally personalize popular songs by adding their own special touches?
8. Sound as good to legitimate music professionals as the singers on the radio?
9. Feel at ease in the spotlight and comfortable relating to an audience?
10. Get frequent requests to perform in public?
?If the answer was ?no? to several of these questions, don?t rush off to the bank for that second mortgage,? says Grant-Williams. ?Your child may be talented, but most likely may not have everything it takes to have a successful career. Encourage them and give them some time to explore their talent. Revisit these ten questions in a year or two and assess your child?s progress. If there has not been substantial improvement, consider that your child may be destined to use their talent in the church choir or in a local band for fun, rather than for profit as a professional.?
On the other hand, parents who answer ?yes? to most of these questions should seriously consider their child?s future as a musician. ?Encourage your young musician and support them as best you can,? says Grant-Williams. ?Seek professional guidance for responsible ways to help them grow musically. Remember that the drive for a music career must always be theirs, not yours.?
Grant-Williams coaches aspiring performers as well as celebrity entertainers like Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Bo Bice, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Christina Aquilera, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and Ben Folds. She is the author of Voice Power (AMACOM Books, NY), as well as Vocal Master Class, a three-part instructional DVD and a CD for singers titled Vocal Warm-Up.
Grant-Williams is a former instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as the former director of the Division of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley. She has been quoted by Cosmopolitan, TV Guide, Elle, Esquire, Business Week, Southern Living, US Weekly, Associated Press, UPI, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and San Francisco Chronicle. She has appeared on many broadcast outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Bravo, USA, MTV, GAC, BBC, PBS, and NPR.
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For more information, photos, or to schedule an interview with Renee Grant-Williams, call 615-259-4900 or visit www.MyVoiceCoach.com.
3/3/2009