Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Edna Manley College student Serena Constantine sings at the launch of the Reggae Academy and Awards in April. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Based on the number and quality of aspiring artistes who are written about in the newspapers, squeezed in on stage shows and hang around studios, talent is slowly dwindling. The few who truly get forwards on a show are those with clever lyrics and outstanding voices; otherwise, the majority are like a parade of poor circus acts.

However, organisations such as the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam) and the Reggae Academy are on a mission, by assisting the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts’ Music Department to properly groom the entertainers of the future.

Recently, there have been complaints that Jamaican entertainers lack proper training, business know-how and professionalism. According to a press release issued by the RIAJam, “In the music industry there is the feeling that over the years standards have fallen drastically in the areas of songwriting, vocal performance, and stage presentation. There is also the feeling that enough emphasis is not being placed on creating new musicians for the industry, nor to encourage music appreciation among our new and upcoming artists.”

Musician’s essence lost

In an era when an ‘artiste’ with talent – or without talent – can hit it big in the streets by hanging around other artistes, producers and music persons, the essence of what it means to be a real musician has been lost. The RIAJam and the Reggae Academy intend to do their part in assisting with the training needs. One strategy is to establish an ongoing relationship with the Music Department of the Edna Manley College for the Performing Arts.

Lloyd Stanbury, project coordinator of the Reggae Academy, told The Sunday Gleaner that RIAJam has a number of developmental projects in action and also in the works to implement. They have identified the Edna Manley College as an integral part of the entertainment industry, thus RIAJam has contributed over $100,000 in donations and other support over the last 12 months to the school’s Music Department. Recently, a cheque for $40,000 was presented to the school by RIAJam chairman, Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne.

Students recruited

According to Stanbury, the Reggae Academy has recruited some of the students to perform at the Reggae Awards in early 2008, while some of the students performed at the launch of the Reggae Academy. Soon they plan to move beyond the Music Department to the Visual Department as well.

Stanbury said, “I found that the school, until recently, was training the students to become music teachers. For the past three years, under the tutelage of Ibo Cooper, the students have become integrated into the music industry. Most of them have been doing backing for various artistes. We’re trying to help them become more directly integrated.”

He claims that several of Jamaica’s leading artistes have been benefiting from the Edna Manley Music Department, as they have tapped into this source for musicians to accompany them on stage locally and on tours around the world. Stanbury is encouraging music producers, however, to get with the programme and start interacting more closely with this source of talent by entering into recording arrangements with students and graduates of the school.

Stanbury also said that the Reggae Awards involves a series of workshops and seminars where various industry persons will lecture and students participate. “We feel that on the creative side we’re doing very well over the years – both formal and informal training. On the business side there are some serious weaknesses that we hope to reach,” Stanbury stated.