TODAY SHOW CONTESTANTS SEEK SUPERSTARDOM WITH YAMAHA

BUENA PARK, CA (November 21, 2003)—For four weeks in October and November, an ever-shrinking pool of dreamers matched their vocal talents on live television to become the next "Today's Superstar" on NBC's Today. In the end, Anthony Campbell of Fredericksburg, VA took the prize—but it took a lot more than singing talent to make this remarkable contest a success. For acclaimed composer and pianist Jim Brickman, serving as musical director for the program meant turning to Yamaha.

	Rehearsals for the "Today's Superstar" competition took place at Yamaha Artist Services in New York, where musical director Jim Brickman helped the contestants get ready for their nationally televised performances.

A six-foot Yamaha Disklavier reproducing piano took center stage on the outdoor plaza at New York's Rockefeller Center for the twice-weekly "Superstar" broadcasts. Brickman, a Yamaha artist, said he wouldn't use anything else.

"For one thing, I've played it ever since I was 10 years old," he says. "The action is completely familiar. Also my style seems to be more of a pop sensibility, and I've always felt like the Yamaha action lends itself better to pop or rock and roll playing. Other pianos feel heavy, round and thick to me, but the Yamaha lets me do my thing. I play pretty hard, and it responds pretty well."

The first "Superstar" contest, in 2002, used pre-recorded tracks to back up the singer-contestants. Brickman told Today hosts Matt Lauer and Katie Couric on an October broadcast that using a live piano enhances the program, since he can transpose songs into a key that suits each singer's voice, and match their pacing when they're performing. "The best thing about this year is that we're doing it just with piano," he noted, "since it's the best way to showcase each person's individual talent."

Because the outdoor location, with its wind and ambient noise, made it impossible for television engineers to mic an acoustic piano to their satisfaction, they suggested to Brickman that he use an electronic keyboard instead. Nothing doing: "I wouldn't in a million years play an electronic keyboard on national TV," he says during an interview. The solution was to use the Disklavier, which offered the touch Brickman wanted, as a MIDI controller - something no other acoustic could do.

Behind the scenes, Brickman worked with each "Superstar" contestant to make sure they had the best chance to perform well under pressure. After an initial group rehearsal at Yamaha Artist Services in New York's Chelsea district—video excerpts of which were shown on the air—Brickman and the contestants got back together after each round of the contest.

"There's about a five-minute rehearsal," he said during the contest. "They'll sing through the song with me, but there's no coaching, other than a few words of wisdom." The rehearsals followed each round on Today; after each cut, a spinning wheel told each singer what song he or she would perform in the next round, and Brickman left each with a rehearsal tape for the next performance.

Brickman selected the songs that went onto the contestants' wheel, from a master list of titles that NBC had clearance to use.

"There are a few challenges," Brickman reflects. "One is that each contest only gets to sing forty-five seconds of each song. Right off the bat, you're limited in your time to show what the person can do. There's not a lot of dynamic range in forty-five seconds, and it's my job to pick the heart of the song that suits them best. Certain songs suit this type of thing better then others. Tempo is important because it's only piano; there's no rhythm section."

After the conclusion of the "Today's Superstar" contest, Brickman launched a 30-city holiday concert tour to back up his new album of seasonal tunes, Peace. Though Brickman wasn't involved in last year's Today contest - they used pre-recorded tracks the first time - he invited Christy Starling, last year's second-place finisher, along on the tour. Jeff Timins from the band 98 Degrees was part of the ensemble as well. Still, Brickman will remember the "Today's Superstar" contest as something special.

"In the initial rehearsal, it's kind of a deer-in-the-headlights sort of thing," Brickman says. "People who were never even on a plane before are suddenly in Manhattan. They look like they're freaked, then the music starts and they open their mouths and it's like they're channeling Barbra Streisand. The music is what makes them comfortable."

For more information on Yamaha, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; email infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com.