American Idol

It’s fun watching talented people sing their hearts out and get feedback in shows like American Idol. Judges often talk about how passionate the performers are.

When it comes to feedback, one common observation is that the singers are “pitchy” (out of tune).

What’s the problem with this? There’s not enough actionable information for the singers.

Are the singers singing too high or too low? If they’re singing too high, then they can aim lower and adjust.

More importantly, what’s leading them to sing higher? If it’s nerves, then focus on how to relax under pressure. If they’re singing too high in comfortable environments, then is the issue that they don’t know they’re singing too high or they do but don’t know how to fix it?

Observing the symptoms is the first step. Diagnosing the root causes is where the fun begins.

Next time you have to troubleshoot an issue, how might you tease out all the symptoms so you can get to the root causes and save the day?

Thanks for caring!

With gratitude,

Anwell Tsai