The students who packed DePaul University’s recital hall got an earful of advice from music executives about how to succeed in the industry.
Be tough. Be persistent, said one label owner.
Another useful trait was also displayed Thursday by one of the 300 Chicago-area students attending the Grammy in the Schools Program at DePaul University: Don’t be bashful.
“Hi, I’m Jennifer Hudson.I’m a vocal music major at Dunbar High School, and if you have time, I’d like to sing you a song,” she said.
Hudson didn’t have to wait at the microphone for long to hear her answer, as the panel of deejays, label owners and managers nodded yes.
Her silver earrings shaking, Jennifer then closed her eyes and belted out a sweet, soulful rendition of a Whitney Houston song. When she finished, the audience was on its feet.
The Grammy in the Schools program, a daylong event aimed at giving students a glimpse of the ins and outs of the music industry, was in Chicago Thursday as part of a nationwide tour of major cities and college campuses.
The local students, music teachers and chaperons were bused in to meet with managers and record producers, many of whom were first attracted to the business as high school musicians. The audience also participated in workshops and heard a performance by Dejah Gomez, 15, who recently signed a record contract and has been seen on music videos on Black Entertainment Television.
Early in the day Gomez entertained the audience with a song titled, “I Wanna Be Loved.”
Gomez was “just like you,” said the man who “discovered” her, Paul Wilson, president of Chicago based Un-D-Nyable Entertainment Inc. “If you’re talented and focused, someone’s going to find you.”
Though Gomez’s career was launched in a short time, dealing with rejection is a normal part of finding success in the music industry, cautioned Eric Bradley, music director at radio station B96 (WBBM-FM).
“It’s not as easy and glamorous as you might think,” he said.
After the panel discussion, students participated in workshops ranging from the basics of songwriting to appreciating music as a universal language.
Katie Alters, 13, who plays clarinet at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee, said of what happened during the day:
“It’s really interesting to see how people pursue their careers in music. I mean, when I think of a career in music, I usually think of someone joining a band.”
But dozens of other options exist for young musicians, as promoters, managers and marketers, she now realizes.
The Grammy in the Schools program has a link to the Grammy Awards, the annual event honoring performers and other members of the record industry. Four students from Chicago will soon be selected to join 35 others from across the country to perform the night before the Feb. 24 Grammy Awards in New York City, with the National Grammy High School Jazz Band and Choir.
