Ernie Jackson is a classical guitarist, musicology scholar, full-time college professor and a music production, technology educator in New York. He has been a guitarist for more than forty years. He is the author of:

• The Music of Justin Holland (Cherry Lane Music) - the first African-American classical guitarist.
• The Everything Guitar Book with CD, (Adams Media Publishing 2nd Edition)
• The Only Guitar Book You’ll Ever Need (co-author, Adams Media Publishing)
• The Guitar Chord Composer (Adams Media Publishing)

Jackson’s academic career includes a graduate scholarship to study classical guitar performance at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford with Richard Provost and Allan Spreistersbach. He furthered his studies in theory at the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of David Starobin. His other teachers included Sharon Isbin at Juilliard and Benjamin Verdery at Yale.

Professor Jackson complements the work in the classroom with regular guest lectures by successful artists and producers, as well as scheduling trips off campus to professional sound studios. He is a Certified Product Specialist for:

• AVID Technologies (Pro Tools, Sibelius Master Instructor)
• SoundTree (Korg Educational)
• WaveArts Software for Audio Production

Jackson’s many artistic and scholarly accolades include an invitation from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to perform on a rare (1860s era) six-string guitar made by Christian Frederick Martin. He performed "Rochester Schottische," by W. H. Ruliston and arranged by Justin Holland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQtzTHZvKl8

In 2021, Jackson was asked by Minnesota Public Radio (an NPR affiliate) to record 30 guitar arrangements by Justin Holland. So far, the interview with the recordings have been played on a10 stations nationwide. The show can be heard here:

https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2022/02/22/justin-holland-the-guitars-black-pioneer