School spirit amplified through karaoke

In addition to eating and catching up with friends, Laguna Beach High School students can spend lunch testing their vocal cords courtesy of a new karaoke machine.

A Singtrix machine arrived a week ago and students have already tried it three times during lunch.

“We wanted to get one last year, but they had sold out,” activities coordinator Yvette Kelly said Monday as students Dante Amodeo and Dylan Wolf, part of the school’s Associated Student Body, gathered for a brief practice session.

The machine has 300 different voice settings and includes an amplifier, microphone and a display screen with a handful of dials to adjust sound levels and other effects. The device accepts either smartphone music apps or You Tube downloads.

“You can make yourself sound deeper, or have a higher pitch,” Dylan, a junior, said.

Dylan and Dante, who thought of incorporating the karaoke machine into school activities, are both ASB pep commissioners charged with igniting student participation.

Dante was watching the television show “Shark Tank” during dinner last year when inspiration knocked.

He saw the Singtrix founders promoting their product to the panel and thought karaoke would be a welcome addition during lunch and school events.

“It looked fun,” Dante said. “We’re promoting it as, ‘everyone has a voice.’ Even a terrible singer can sound amazing and have fun.

“We’re experimenting with it to try and figure out how to get it working consistently. Last week we used it outside, but people had a hard time hearing it.”

ASB spent $350 for the machine, using rollover money in the group’s account.

Dante said he hopes to incorporate the karaoke machine during the school’s winter formal dance.

Until then, it stays inside the activities office, waiting for the next willing singer.