“The pitch is a little too high for you. We’re going to change it. » In the rehearsal room where each image is reflected in the dozens of mirrors hanging on the walls, singing teacher Michael Besigot makes the music start and stop. ” We take back. » He listens attentively to Alma and Laura giving voice to The singer, Emmanuel Moire version. The piece will be part of the next show by the Cannes school Diamond school, in March. And the two little girls could find themselves behind the microphone. That Wednesday, they discovered the lyrics for the first time. However, they do not hesitate. With a certain confidence. “I’m 10 years old and I want to be an international star,” confides to 20 minutes the first one. “I too would like to be known,” continues the second, 12 and a half years old. I have already released a single. »
“Be careful, here, we learn above all to become artists,” corrects the teacher of this institution opened in 2013 and which welcomes up to 350 apprentices per year. With more and more vocations among very young people. The latest victories of the little French people at Junior Eurovision, which Zoé Clausure will still try to win this Sunday afternoon in Nice, and also the success of The Voice Kids brought in applications.
To be an artist or to be famous?
“Before, we mainly had children who were already singing and who came here to improve their skills,” explains choreographer Benoit Tardieu, co-manager of the institution, who also trains in dance. Now with all these shows including the return of star Academy, more and more of them are arriving without any basis. »
Some rather driven by desires… for fame. The successes of Carla Lazzari, French representative in the European singing competition in 2019, or even of Rébecca Sayaque, winner of the TF1 telecrochet the following year, may have acted as catalysts. The young Azuréennes are both linked to the school: the first is coached by Michael Besigot and the second studied there.
Parents who experience the scene “by proxy”
Examples that Alicia, 7 years old, would like to follow. Very energetically pushed by his mother. His first fan. Laëtitia Coasne, from Cannes, in her thirties, is “absolutely behind it [sa] girl “. “Especially because all this, this whole universe, it makes you dream,” whispers this at-home beautician, also a student at the Diamond school. I encourage her all the time to progress. When I was younger, I would have really liked to have been encouraged in this area as well. Register him for castings? Yes, as soon as possible. I’ve dreamed of it since she took lessons here four years ago. »
In addition to school, in primary or middle school, the children from the Diamond school are there very regularly. “Some come until 3 p.m. every week,” calculates Benoit Tardieu. “Parents can be even more motivated than their children. They almost live the scene vicariously. But we are also here to warn them that it is not an easy job. That there are not only very exposed places. And that the performing arts can also remain a leisure activity,” says Michael Besigot. And the professional knows what he’s talking about: he himself is a coach for the candidates from Mika’s team in The Voice.
“It’s above all a pleasure”, a “passion”
In the ground floor room this Wednesday afternoon, his college Benoit Tardieu is at work with the children’s training class. It’s time for rehearsals for the choreography that will accompany The singer. Solal, 11, is the only boy. Surrounded by twenty girls, he will be at the center of the production. He began by becoming interested in dance, which he has been practicing “since he was little”. “And above all it’s a pleasure. It’s certain that I won’t be against the idea of going through castings and going further, but for that, I still have time,” says the schoolboy, wisely.
Upstairs, in another room with theater red decor, Charlotte and Clara, 13 and 14 years old, are somewhat of the same credo. As a duo at the microphone, they work on another very gentle piece: Body, from Yseult. “We are working on the cutting,” presents Michael Besigot. That is to say, we determine who sings what in the song and in what tonality based on the voices. » The two students in the “teen” class are in focus. But above all, they enjoy themselves. They live their “passion”. So when 20 minutes asks them if the desire to go to castings is pressing? The “yes” is (very) shy. “Why not,” they finally answer. “I’m mainly here to improve,” says Clara. “Singing in front of people is obviously the best, but we’re not quite there yet,” Charlotte also says.
“Here, we work on placement, breathing, vocal techniques and even widening the range. The school is above all there to help students progress. Not to teach them to become stars,” says the singing teacher. That will possibly be for later. And rather on the job.