Music department celebrates differences

By Carol Rolf

LITTLE ROCK — Visitors to the Cushman Music Department are greeted, first, by the smiling face of Julinda Dixon, the music teacher, then by sights of instruments not only set up in orchestra formation but also hanging from the walls. Another glance around the room takes the visitors' eyes to a large chalkboard, of sorts, with these words: Welcome to the place where "different" is a good thing.

"Here in the music department, being different is celebrated," said Dixon, who is in her seventh year of teaching at the small Independence County school. "The weirder they (students) are, the better I like them."

Dixon handles music classes from kindergarten to 12th-graders, teaching "everything - bands, choirs, the whole works," she said.

Dixon and her students started a compact-disc project last year that featured students and faculty singing songs. This year's project, which she described as a "salute to fine arts," consists of two discs of art, poetry and music recorded, composed or photographed by the advanced instrumental music class.

"Every submission on these CDs is a reflection of each artist's ability," Dixon said.

The class titled the CD Seriously Creative and has this footnote of explanation: Seriously Creative was the title chosen for this project because of its oxymoronic properties. We realize the lack of seriousness many creative people possess. The "art, music, poetry" in various languages on the cover is our reminder that diversity is a beautiful thing, Here in the music department, being different is celebrated.

The class has burned 100 copies of the disc and offers it for sale at $7. In addition to Dixon, other members of the production team are Devon Caron, David Elgin, Tammy Franks, Sean Garver, Marissa Medina and Chris Sanders.

Throughout the school year, the music department has sponsored a variety of fundraisers to help with the production costs of the CD and to help with the costs of a class trip that Dixon supervises. "About half the kids in the program will earn the right to go," Dixon said, adding that to be eligible to take part in the trip, a student mustnot be failing in any class nor be in any kind of trouble. This year's trip, scheduled for later this month, will be to St. Louis.

Dixon said she has received "great" support from the Cushman School District's administration, "from the superintendent on down. And I have a few wonderful parents who are involved, too."

A native of northern Missouri, Dixon said participation in the music department has increased 300 percent in the seven years she has been involved with it. "I'd say about 40 percent of the student body in grades seven through 12 take music," she said with a smile, noting that music is an elective in the Cushman School District.

Dixon will direct the music department in a spring concert at 7:30 p.m. today at the school. The public is invited, and there is no admission charge.

"Every kid gets an award at this concert," Dixon said.

"It's all about the kids," she said. "It's all about trying to get them to learn life skills that will be so important to them later in life." - crolf@arkansasonline.comat a glance Grades: Seven through 12 Enrollment: 150 Mascot: Bulldogs Colors: Red and white Athletics: Basketball, baseball, softball, track Principal: Dion Stevens Address: 45 Park St.

Cushman, AR 72526 Telephone: 870 793-6321 Web site: http://bulldog.k12.ar.us

Three Rivers, Pages 56 on 05/01/2008