Leesville Jr. High School
Music Department
Course Descriptions
Band
Band is one of the two performance based classes offered. Students are assigned a band class based on their playing experience: beginning band or advanced band. Students will learn basic music theory as well as the proper fundamentals to successfully play their chosen woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. This course is co-curricular which may require mandatory graded performances outside of the normal school day. These performances will make up a percentage of a student’s quarterly grade.
Choir
Choir is the other performance based class offered to the students of Leesville Jr. High. Students will learn basic music theory as well as the fundamentals needed to successfully perform vocal music. This course is co-curricular which may require mandatory performances outside of the normal school day. These performances will make up a percentage of a student’s quarterly grade.
Music Appreciation
Music Appreciation is an elective offered at Leesville Jr. High for students who enjoy music but do not want to participate in a performance based class. The course aims to develop music literacy and listening skills while exposing students to music of different genres and cultures. The course also gives students an opportunity to create and perform music, as well as learn about various music occupations. The course will also give a brief survey of the history of western music to help students appreciate the music they currently listen to.
Meet the Teacher
intro.mp4Academic Background
My name is Ola Demus-Jackson and this will be my 8th year teaching music at the junior high level. I've lived in Vernon Parish since I was two and was in this school system until the end of my sophomore year. I finished my last two years of high school at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches, La and continued on to Northwestern State University. While there I joined Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. I student taught at DeRidder High School and earned my B.S. in Music Education in December of 2012. I worked as a substitute in Beauregard and Vernon parish before eventually becoming a long-term sub for my current position. I was officially hired for the 2013-14 school year and have been teaching Music Appreciation, Band, and Choir classes ever since.
Life Outside of School
I am a former member of the Vernon Parish Community Orchestra and the Lake Charles Community Band. I am currently a member of the First Baptist DeRidder church orchestra, First Baptist DeRidder's Bells of Praise, and I am the Tenor 2 player for Southwest Jazz. My hobbies include reading books and manga, playing video games, listening to music and podcasts, going to the movies, crafting, and watching foreign dramas.