at 20:21 on December 19, 2006, EST.

TORONTO (CP) - "Canadian Idol" auditions usually showcase a mixture of shining vocal talent and atrocious singers with lousy dance moves. And soon, there will be a new element to make viewers applaud - or cringe.

CTV announced Tuesday that the reality TV singing competition is making changes for Season 5 to allow competitors to play instruments during their auditions. The instruments may also return later in the series next summer. Previously, singers only went into auditions with their voices and producers say competitors who perform a cappella this year will be judged the same as those who play instruments.

"Canadian Idol remains a vocal competition, but we're hoping this new element brings out people who may have never considered auditioning before," executive producer John Brunton said in a statement.

The change does not apply to "American Idol."

"Canadian Idol's" Season 5 Audition Tour begins Jan. 27 in Vancouver and will tour malls in nine more cities across the country through mid-April.

Those stops include Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Ont., Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Halifax, St. John's and Toronto.

The series will return to CTV in June.

Eva Avila, 19, of Gatineau, Que., won the last season of the show. Her debut CD, "Somewhere Else," hit shelves in November.


©The Canadian Press, 2006

It's a good idea. It's a different breed up here.

Australian Idol has allready done that. Way ahead of you.