by Dianne Austin

Upon meeting Michael Orland, American Idol's Associate Musical Director and sometimes personal guru to the up and coming stars who emerge from that show, one is reminded of an oversized teddy bear. A tall man with broad shoulders, a wry smile, eyes that are constantly twinkling, and a black leather jacket which is often casually thrown over the shoulders, he definitely gives off a warm and fuzzy kind of feeling.

This was my first reaction, without a doubt. He exudes the open easiness of someone who is there to listen, but who also has a lot to give. These are desirable qualities to have in a person who spends a large amount of time with America's talented youth--the contestants on American Idol who have much to learn in the months it takes to turn them into pop stars.

And with the new season already upon us, it seemed like a good idea to check in with the man who has such a key role in helping the contestants be the best they can be.

The Music Team, which consists of Orland, two vocal coaches and another pianist, spend about an hour a day with each of the contestants when it gets down to the final twelve. They begin on Thursday to introduce a list of songs the kids must choose from, which generally speaks some kind of theme for that week. Orland feels that the sooner they can zero in on their choice, the better--if they wait and vacillate, they lose out, because a lot of their success in pulling it off comes from hard practice right from the start. If someone decides to switch songs mid-stream, it can be done, but the psychological effect of starting with something new, even on the second day, can be detrimental.



Michael had this to say about the process:

'The contestant gets a song list at the beginning of their work week and has to choose on their own, what song it is they will perform for that show. Even if they seem to be hanging on two different songs, it is that person alone who makes the decision which song is best to sing for them. After they've picked it, we can then arrange, advise and hone to help them be the best they can be. That's our job.'

Orland has to connect with each of these kids, harness a particular style that might be buried inside, and make them realize what it is they do best. He must guide and direct them, and then inspire them to deliver and interpret the songs every week with uncommon technique. After their work is done, they often surprise not only the audience with the performance they give, but also themselves!

Not an easy task, I would say, and a question comes to mind: what myriad of talents must this man possess in order to fill such a role?

First, Michael is a fabulous pianist. Growing up in Worcester, MA, he began playing at age three, showing evidence of huge talent even then, when he would play songs by ear that came from movies and shows his parents took him to see. He started formal lessons at age four and proceeded to study piano privately for twelve years thereafter.

After graduating from high school, Michael attended the University of Massachusetts where he studied to be an accountant. This was a surprising fact he revealed to me, whereupon I commented, 'Oh, then you're right AND left brained!' He replied in the affirmative, with a modest little laugh.

How different his life would have been had he continued along that path! Instead, he left college two years later to move to New York City to try and make a living as an accompanying pianist in the piano bars and lounges throughout the city. He was nineteen years old. He played the clubs where many of the actors from Broadway musical theater congregated and performed on weekends.

“Engagements in those clubs provided the most basic but fabulous experience I could've had at that time in my life. I got to meet and work with so many incredibly talented people. It opened up a whole new world of show business I had never known before and there was lots of room for creative expression. I got to meet scores of people in the business; not only musical people, but stand-up comedians too. I was making lots of friends and beginning to establish myself in the professional musical world.'

Which brings us to another quality he possesses which I'm sure has contributed to his success-- besides the obvious, extreme talent, Orland easily connects with people. This helps a great deal in the world of show business, of course--people remember you and want to work with you.

After working approximately five years in New York, Michael signed on for a job on a cruise ship for a few weeks. While working on the ship, he met a famous Puppeteer/comedian who was the headliner for the entertainment on the cruise named Wayland Flowers. Wayland advised Michael to move to Hollywood because he said, 'There are not many pianists out there who can do what you do. With your pick of jobs on the west coast, you'd be meeting movie and TV people too.'

Michael moved to Hollywood in 1987. He began songwriting in the latter part of the year and has been writing ever since. The rest is history.

He enjoys life in California and has made some interesting and devoted friends during the time he's lived here. One very special lady, Estelle Getty, the former Golden Girls star and stage actress, is his best friend to this day, and she visits him as often as she can so that she can just sit and listen to him play for her.

The list of names in the music industry that have been part of Orland’s past is just too long to mention here (I was amazed at the distinguished celebrities he has worked with). He credits these people with making him the man he is today. There’s the feeling that the experience of collaborating with each gifted songwriter or popular vocalist is like borrowing a little from an artist's palette; it adds more color and texture to his own life, making him better at what he does.

If you want to see what an impressive resume looks like, go to his website at www.michaelorland.com.

In the same way these great talents have graced Michael’s past, he now has new alliances with present projects in the works. One such commitment is his nurturing of musical talent in the youth of America.

YADA, Youth Academy for the Dramatic Arts, is a school that Michael is affiliated with here in southern California. Upon traveling to the east coast recently, he made a stop in Atlanta to attend Musical Theater International, a convention planned for high school kids studying the performing arts. They are chosen from schools nationwide to take part in a selection of downsized Broadway musicals to showcase their talent. Three students from Michael's affiliate school YADA were chosen to attend.

'I love working with kids--it's something I do well, and I have a good knack for spotting early and innate talent. The kids in Atlanta were amazing'.

With this kind of dedication to our youth, it's no wonder he was chosen to do what he does on American Idol. Michael began his role as Associate Musical Director on the show beginning with the second season. Working with the likes of Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke was quite a joy, he says. It was astounding to see that kind of talent packed into one season.

And the benefit of having the opportunity to see these particular stars grow on the show didn’t end there. Orland continues close friendships with Clay and Kimberley and he even shared living quarters with them for awhile.

“It was a transitional phase for me—I was in between selling the old home and buying a new one and I was looking for a temporary residence. Clay and Kimberley (who were roommates at the time) graciously offered their place to me for a few months. They even said yes to my Shepard-mix Tina, which I thought was really generous of them”.

I asked how Tina and Raleigh (Clay Aiken’s funny little pooch) got along living in the same house, and Michael said they were fine together. (But then, I don’t think Raleigh would pose a threat to anything living, be it human or beast—she looks like a little stuffed toy to me.)

And what does the one-time-prodigy-himself do in those 'off' hours away from his job on the popular TV show? Well, let's see, not much really. Right!

His present down-time projects include producing a Lullaby album, entitled 'Starring You', due out this spring. Michael has co-written seven of the songs on this CD.

He explains, “The lullaby album came about because I appeared on the UPN TV hit Half and Half last year and I got to work with Valarie Pettiford, who stars on the show. Jamie Wooten, the Executive Producer of Half and Half is a friend of mine, and we’ve written songs together in the past. The three of us enjoyed working together on the show, and it was then that we came up with the idea for the lullaby CD. Valerie is the vocalist and she’s great.”

He’s also working and recording with singer Sally Kellerman, one of the co-stars of the movie MASH.

Recently, he had the opportunity to work with the director Chris Columbus as audition pianist for the movie 'Rent'.

You'd think all of that is enough for one man. But at the end of our chat, Orland happened to mention one more thing he's currently involved with.

With that little smile returning and the light catching the twinkle in his eye he said, “I'm also presently writing songs with . . . some past American Idol contestants'.

It was all he'd give me, but it left me dying to know more.

If you're intrigued and want to catch a glimpse of the 'Idol Pianist' who's far from idle, then check him out on American Idol every Tuesday and Wednesday nights for the next few months.

He would tell you, however, in his own inimitable, stand-up comic style, 'You better not blink, 'cause you'll miss me!'

*Michael Orland is most often seen with the rest of the Music Team on Tuesday nights with the Idol kids around the piano practicing, The taped segments are shown in between contestant performances.

Edited by: Michelle Arce

Dianne Austin is a former Social Worker and teacher, mother of two and wife to a wonderful husband. Now a prolific freelance entertainment writer, she has written over forty feature length articles.

Originally published on Entertainment World. Reprinted with permission.