This is their pet project, a dream come true. Joy Mathew and his wife Minmini wanted to run a music school from the time they got married. What was conceived as a ‘chinna chinna aasai’ long time ago has now become a reality. It’s nearly a year since they founded Joy’s Academy of Performing Arts in Vazhakkala in the city.
Joy, deft at the keyboard, guitar and piano and Mini with her magical voice are enjoying every minute of their new venture. The afternoons at D8 on the eighth floor of Heavenly Plaza at Vazhakkala are filled with music of different tones, heavenly at times and cacophony when practice is in full swing.
Drumbeats are heard from one room while the other bursts with notes from the keyboard, piano and violin. Amid them are the singers and dancers trying to finetune their skills in music and dance. The academy offers classes in piano, keyboard, guitar, violin both western and eastern, tabla, mridangam, jazz drums and vocal (western, Carnatic and Hindustani and light music.) They offer Trinity guildhall exams of the Trinity College of Music, London. One can hone their skills in western, classical, folk, cinematic dance or salsa. Those with a flair for painting can dabble in oil, water colour or glass painting.
Individual guidance is given by experts, says Joy Mathew who handles keyboard, piano and guitar. Classes are held from 3 pm to 9 pm on weekdays. On Saturdays classes go on from 9 am to 9 pm.
“This is like an extended family, the time is flexible, and the atmosphere relaxing. Though the Academy aims to tap the talents of the young as they are very receptive, people of different age groups and walks of life can be seen at the Academy,” says Joy.
Around 200 aspirants come here. “Since reality shows are the order of the day, the public is more aware of music and the opportunities to showcase one’s talent,” says Minmini who teaches vocal, light music and cinema songs.
They are assisted by a strong faculty. Enquiries are flooding. Both Joy and Minmini are planning an expansion. Music is their world and their life revolves round this school. Their children who are into music in their own way are regulars at the joint. Son Allan Joy Mathew has sung for the movie ‘Loudspeaker’ while he along with sister Anna Keerthana have many jingles to their credit. Joy was earlier playing the keyboard for many an orchestra. Days were busy with recording and re-recording. He used to be in music director Rajamani’s troupe, did keyboard for Mohan Sitara, Shyam and many other directors. He was at the keyboard whenever Mini sang. “The mid 90s was a traumatic phase,” he says. Mini who sang about 2000 film songs in different languages lost her voice, her world collapsed and she took shelter in God. Joy was a great support and gradually she regained it after treatment. Joy wedded Mini in 1995. “No, it was not a love affair, our parents were family friends and we were good friends,” says Mini who sings a lot of devotional songs and for albums.
Both Joy and Mini were active in church choir and had their training at Cochin Arts and Communication.
In the Gulf Joy was with Dubai radio station but when their daughter was born, minmini returned to Kochi. By then the music scenario here had changed and when Joy returned offers hardly came his way. He resorted to giving private classes in different parts of Kochi. The couple’s ardent prayers to found a school took root when the parents of one of their wards requested him to begin a school in their apartment complex.
They have had to sacrifice a lot; cut down on many music programmes to commit themselves to the Academy. Balancing everything is an art, they say. The Academy which took shape in a studio apartment is all set to make bigger strides.
surekha@expressbuzz.com