by Dejen Tesfagiorgis
Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy, Diddy, Puffy, Puff Daddy) has recently launched his latest reality show, “Making HIS Band,” featuring instrumentalists and singers competing for a spot as a touring live band for Comb’s forthcoming album, Last Train to Paris.
Normally I don’t follow reality shows or believe in the ‘musicianship’ displayed in 90% of MTV, but after the first two episode I can see the HUGE long-term potential in this series. Young artists can benefit by seeing non-traditional avenues to performance careers. Showcasing the discipline and musicality of aspiring band members also shows viewers that practice, routine, listening, and supporting each other are integral parts of being a performing artist. I was especially surprised to see the keyboard coach hand out a book of Hanon Studies to the keyboard players. Hanon Studies on MTV?!?
Here are a few lines about the show from the MTV Making HIS band webpage:
With the help of his judges (Laurie Ann Gibson, world renowned choreographer, Om’Mas Keith, producer and lyricist, Rob Lewis, songwriter to the the stars, Nisan Stewart, musical director/unofficial peacemaker, and Romeo, former vocal coach to Michael Jackson himself), Diddy will put his would-be collaborators through rounds of grueling auditions designed to weed out the wannabes from the future music legends and turn this talented team of rookies into the Bad Boy backup band of his dreams.
Those who do make it through the early do-or-die rounds will still have endure scathing reviews, endless trials and constant critique in order to prove they’ve got the talent, drive and ambition to succeed.
The series is pretty legitimate, and the auditions very critical. The first episode showed panel members holding auditions in LA, Chicago, Detroit and New York. This is no Big Brother, if you don’t perform to the judge’s standards, you’re out of the house. Eight of the show’s forty were sent home after their first challenge – Play the first 9 Hanon studies on command in any key.
Some of my favorite quotes so far:
- Strength, speed, agility, all are indispensable qualities for fine execution of music.
- None of you played the Hanon Exercises with Swag.
- This is a proficiency test, you all divided yourself.
- (On Hanon and basic piano technique) You all can play [Diddy's] songs, but we’re going to see who has the discipline to get through the boring sh*!
We’ll see the long-term effects of show like this making it to mainstream television.
