Malvern School District music teacher returns

Jackson obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education at the University of Central Arkansas and taught briefly at Maumelle Charter Elementary before taking a year off and then joining the Malvern School District.

Jackson began teaching in Malvern just last semester, so she is very happy to be back with her students and bringing her love and knowledge of music to the classroom again. She brought an exciting new aspect to the music program before her maternity leave by acquiring 26 new ukuleles to add to the stock of musical instruments available to students, and the kids are thrilled to have her back this semester to lead them in this exhilarating new avenue of learning.

Jackson’s classroom is full of life between the excited kids, the colorful walls, and the music floating through the air. She aptly guides the students in lining up to exchange the more traditional drums, bells, and tambourines in their hands with the ukuleles. As soon as Jackson mentions the ukuleles, the students beam with obvious excitement.

\Jackson expertly wrangles dozens of rowdy kids to center their focus on the notes in front of them, and musical chaos somehow transforms itself into a beautiful melody as the students follow along with the surprising choice of song playing in the background and the notes flashing on the projector screen at the front of the room.

When asked about her choice of music—a modern mix of radio hits that sharply contrast with the classic Americana tunes older students suffered through—Jackson replied, “A lot of musicians can be pompous about what they think kids, people, should learn and be exposed to, but I think my job as a general music teacher is to appeal to everybody.”

“And I think that things like ukulele, it’s super accessible to everybody,” Jackson stated, noting that some families who may not have a lot of money to spend on Christmas or birthdays might splurge on the ukulele, because a decent one can be purchased for as little as $50.

“I have taught them how to play some chords, how to access [lessons] on the Internet and play the songs they want to learn, and then they can just do that at home,” Jackson stated. “Right now we’re playing with a video, they could easily look the video tutorials on how to play the ukulele.”

For the entire story, pick up the Weds., March 16 edition of the Malvern Daily Record. You can also visit www.malvern-online.com to subscribe to our e-edition.