Josh Groban’s Master Class on HBO

For the 18th edition of YoungArts on HBO, Josh Groban, the youngest ever to give such a class, challenges three YoungArts alumni to write a song in two days. Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon, Academy Award winning documentarians, follow the creation and ultimate performances of the SB3 (Super Baby 3), Miranda Scott Johnson, David Stewart, Jr., and Elena Pinderhughes, all the way from brainstorming to the ultimate performance with Groban in Boston. It’s a thrilling ride, entertaining as a reality show, but with Groban’s insights about what works and what doesn’t useful to anyone who is learning anything. Josh Groban charmingly seems surprised as his pupils succeed so well in this process. As a display of what YoungArts, a foundation dedicated to providing life-changing experiences to young artists, can do, this film is both entertaining and inspiring. On Monday night at a special screening at MoMA, they all performed their song, “Fade Away” for family and friends. Everyone could see, these young artists have a big future.