by W. Diane Van Zwol

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: June 30, 2008

Talent Scouts: A Modern Day Phenomenon?

Talent scouts are not new or unique for our era, but the advent of modern day talent scouts bringing new artists, as singers, musicians and dancers, to television and then to the internet, is helping to restore the relationship between the composer, the musician and the audience. It appeared for a number of years, that the relationship between the three groups of people was broken, or at best, it seemed to have become extremely fragmented. In reality, it was more than likely under cover, while the tools of the trade were being further refined.

In the year 2008 AD, we see hundreds of new singers, dancers, musicians and songwriters, even composers and arrangers, taking the stage, in front of live television audiences.

What is even more amazing, is the fact that they are all front and center on the stage together, with talent scouts, who critique the stage performances!

New music, as well as new musical arrangements of older pieces of music, are exploding everywhere! Many of the performers are using sheet music for musical compositions that have just been written, while others are re-introducing favorites, or even lesser known pieces of music from the past.

What is interesting is the reality that mentoring is being done at the very same time!

Thus, the door stands wide open for the potential exposure of new and exciting music, of all genres, globally.

It appears that the necessary criteria for this kind of success are present in our era, now as never before.

* a talent scout discovers a person with new artistic talent
* the artist as a singer, dancer or musician is exposed to public awareness
* there is an opportunity for the introduction of new music to be written and arranged by a composer
* there is also room for the revival or re-introduction of older musical compositions
* new bands and orchestras suddenly appear on the horizon, utilizing new multimedia expression to advantage
* critiques and live reality show audience participation re-enforce the validity and merit of the performances
* television acts as a mode of exposure to millions of people
* digital distribution or internet downloading allows that music to be accessible internationally

It appears that all of the above factors are extremely important and each one plays its own role in terms of global entertainment. Somehow, everything seems to begin with the talent scout, but all of the other steps are equally important.

Even you could write a piece of music and see it skyrocket all the way around the world!

The bottom line is that the internet is restoring the relationship between the composer, musician and the audience.

One can only state, "Well done!"

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