Contributed
Fairclough: It takes much practice and determination to be good at music.

André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

It is common knowledge that with the right training and attitude, artistes can lift their talent to phenomenal heights. What is uncommon, however, are those special persons who help to propel an artiste to stardom.

Joy Fairclough is one such individual, who trains potential musicians and dancers who believe they can be successful.

"Its good to see some people (that) I see performing now. People used to look at them and tell them they can't do anything. I am shocked to see they have turned around. Their self-esteem is boosted and others see it and are influenced by it as well," she told The Sunday Gleaner recently.

Fairclough grew up in a family that is musically gifted, and this good trait did not pass her by. She is on the rise to becoming a noted musicologist and is managing director of Joy Music Ltd., a company that offers lessons in singing, public speaking, songwriting, stage and expression action, among a plethora of other subjects.

Fairclough has travelled the United States as a classical and popular music soloist, pianist and also as a member of the Grammy-winning group Black Uhuru. Even without her international credits, Fairclough is no stranger to the Jamaican music industry.

She might have closed the doors of an old company, J. F. Music Ventures, to pursue other interests abroad, but now that she is back in Jamaica she is picking up where she left off.

Rising Stars competition

There was a lot of buzz around the third season of the Rising Stars competition, but little did Jamaicans know about the behind-the-scenes work that went into each episode. Fairclough was one of those persons who tried to get the contestants to produce the best possible sound and performance in very little time.

For her, it was a great experience being associated with the competition, but it was like working with any other of her clients.

Her touch is not limited to the Rising Stars. Fairclough has trained the popular male trio Voice Mail along with Macka Diamond and gospel singer Robert Bailey, among others.

The petite educator may seem reserved, but she has also worked with Noel Dexter, Marjorie Whylie, Father Richard Ho Lung and Jon and Wynton Williams over a 15-year span.

Fairclough said there are often misconceptions about singing and the use of bodies during performances.

"Most times it's a problem about mindset. Sometimes they have to change that a little and then they are fine," she said.

Along with and her associates at Joy Music, Fairclough is seeking to take programmes to more communities across the island.

To date she has made her company into a travelling school in Kingston and Portmore.

Like any other pursuit, Fairclough says it takes much practice and determination to be good at music.

"I helped then to get over some of their difficulties and get the foundation straight. I have had major success where people come to me with major difficulties and we highlight those in the training and then sometimes they go on to tackle the world," Fairclough said.