MELODIES // music education
Garner Music Academy: ‘Make the Music Happen’ // by Richard Coupe
WINTER EVENTS PREVIEW
wanted (to learn) music were distracted by students who would rather be somewhere else. (I learned) to be more creative to reach a classroom of 25 students.” GARNER MUSIC ACADEMY
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n her hometown of Pocahontas, Miss., Latongya Garner developed her affinity for music at Baker’s Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she currently serves as music minister. “That’s my stomping ground and where I learned to express myself musically,” she says. Today, Garner encourages others to polish their musical gifts—as owner and director of Garner Music Academy, a Jackson-based music education and performance business that she opened in December 2019. While her students recognize her “Make the music happen” mantra, the Clinton resident did not originally pursue a career in music education upon graduating from Lanier High School in 1993. Enrolling in Jackson State University, Garner earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1998 and entered the mental-health field. Outside of work, she continued to perform with bands in and around the Jackson area. Eventually, the siren’s call of music beckoned, and she returned to JSU, receiving a bachelor’s degree in music and vocal performance in 2008. As she promoted her jazz shows, she also taught voice and began teaching music at Oak Forest Elementary School in South Jackson. “It was an eye-opening experience,” she says. “I got to learn classroom management, which helps me today. The classes were large, and sometimes the students who really
Latongya Garner opened Garner Music Academy in December 2019, where she hones others’ crafts.
Touched by the kids who really wanted to learn music, Garner’s frustration with her inability to give them the extra attention they wanted in that setting inspired her to open her company. Before taking that next step, though, she decided to attend JSU for a third time and earn a master’s degree in music education. Garner Music Academy teaches children from pre-K
// Looking for something great to do in Jackson? Visit JFPEVENTS.COM for more.
Prizes for first and second place, best team name, best dressed and most spirited. The first craft beer is free for participants. Apples JXN offers a cash bar. Ages 21 and up. See Highland Village’s Facebook page for each week’s theme. Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-982-5861; email highlandvillage@wsdevelopment.com.
LITERARY PHOTO BY STUDIO MEDIA ON UNSPLASH
MLK Convocation Jan. 15, 8 a.m.-noon, at Rose Embly McCoy Auditorium (1400 John R. Lynch St.). The Jackson State University archive and museum hosts the annual convocation honoring the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Free event; call 601-979-0592; email mwa@jsums.edu.
November 25 - December 8, 2020 • jfp.ms
SPORTS & WELLNESS
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Creative Healing Studio Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 16, Dec. 23, Dec. 30, 12:30-2 p.m., at Virtual (Zoom). Licensed art therapist Susan Anand leads a weekly art therapy gathering via Zoom for adults being treated for cancer or those who have had a cancer diagnosis in their past. Please register by noon on the Tuesday before the event. Free online; call 601-960-1515; email smainlay@aol.com; find it on Facebook. Black Friday Par 3 Four Ball Tournament Nov. 27, 10 a.m., at Castlewoods Golf & Country Club (403 Bradford Drive, Brandon). The Rankin County golf and country club hosts a par 3 golf tournament for members and guests. Two-player teams play 18 par 3 holes, recording the best score of each team. Prizes are based on gross scores. Golf cart not included in fee, except for members on the
to 12th grade and adults of all ages who are interested in artistic development in their musical crafts. The business’ oldest client is nearly 70 years old. “(Many adults) just want something to do, and one (of her clients) describes it as self-care, or it is something they can scratch off their bucket list—if they always wanted to learn how to play an instrument—or they may just want to keep their voices intact,” she says. Garner Music Academy currently employs two other instructors: Nellie Mack, who teaches bass guitar, and Will Brown, who teaches intermediate and advanced piano. Garner herself hopes to add instructors for strings, percussion, horns and electric guitar in the future. The academy is open for other musicians who want to share their crafts with the community, as well, she says. While many students enroll at Garner’s Music Academy to learn or polish a musical craft, Garner hopes to help prepare young students for the world. “I seek to equip students of diverse career paths with the tools to be more professional, and I believe that the experiences should lead students to be confident, to discover their creative self, to establish accountability, to earn a sense of achievement, and to build character to become a productive citizen,” Garner says. To learn more about Garner Music Academy, visit garnermusicacademy.com or find it on Facebook.
Virtual Holiday Book Festival Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Online (Zoom, Facebook Live). Community Library Mississippi presents the book festival via Zoom and Facebook live. Features include a book & vendor marketplace, a spelling bee for grades 1 thru 6 (begins at 4:15 p.m.), and poetry contests with categories for elementary, middle school, and high school/adult (begins at 5 p.m.). Free event, vendors’ prices vary; call 601-3720229; email communitylibrary.ms@gmail.com; eventbrite.com. Virtual Holiday Book Festival Poetry Contest Nov. 28, 4:10-5:30 p.m., at online (1052 Maria Court). Community Library Mississippi presents the poetry contest and spelling bee in conjunction with their book festival on Zoom. Free event; call 601-372-0229; email communitylibrary.ms@gmail.com; eventbrite.com. Welty at Home | A Virtual Book Club Nov. 30, Dec. 7, noon-1 p.m., at Virtual (Zoom). The Eudora Welty Home and Gardens, along with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, hosts a virtual book club, via zoom. The current book choice is “The Golden Apples” a short story collection by Eudora Welty. Dr. Suzanne Marrs leads discussions on each story in the collection. See website for reading schedule. Books may be purchased from the Eudora Welty House & Garden Gift Shop. Shipping is available. Free online event, book price varies; call 601-353-7762; email info@eudoraweltyhouse.com; welty.mdah.ms.gov. Black Poets Then and Now Dec. 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m., at Virtual (Zoom). Dr. Janice K. Neal-Vincent presents “Black Poets Then and Now,” part of the Virtual Book Toasters Speaking Series by the organization supporting library and literacy services in Jackson. The program looks at Black poets and their impact on social justice and society. Free event; call 601-372-0229; email communitylibrary.ms@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.
Castlewoods Cart Plan. $30 per player for members, $50 per player for non-members; call 601-882-9030; email toni@castlewoodscountryclub.com; find it on Facebook. Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinic Dec. 1, Dec. 3, Dec. 8, Dec. 10, Dec. 15, Dec. 17, 12:304:30 p.m., at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
Medical Center (1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The clinic offers the convenience of drive-through flu vaccinations for veterans who are registered for healthcare at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. Employees of the medical center are also eligible. The clinic is located at the west entrance
of the medical center. No appointment necessary. Masks required. Free to registered veterans and VA employees; call 601-362-4471; find it on Facebook. Kukuwa African Dance Fitness Dec. 5, 10-10:30 a.m., at Old Trace Park (118 Madison Landing Circle, Ridgeland). Niketa
