Meramec music professor discusses the benefit of music classes at any age, grade level
By: RYAN OBRADOVIC
Opinions Editor
There are so many courses to choose from at STLCC-Meramec, whether it be the traditional courses like math and English, but also electives like p.e. and economics. With all the courses to choose from, music classes are often not chosen because people see them as not useful or a waste of time because they do not have anything to do with their major. But is this true?
Music may not be seen as beneficial to some, however studying music can be very helpful and help you learn better.
“Listening to or learning music affects the brain and actually helps it learn faster and more efficiently. Put those two ideas together and you can understand why Plato said that learning music is more important than physics or even philosophy because it holds the keys to all other learning,” STLCC-Meramec Music Professor Gary Gackstatter said.
The lack of students in the arts and music has decreased funding for art departments nationwide, he said.
“Public schools in our country have cut the arts so much over the years to the detriment of our students and our society. Without the arts in education, only half of the brain is being taught,” Gackstatter said. “Plato also said that if a student is properly taught music, he/she will be also be able to discern between what is good and what is not.”
Being involved in a music class can help boost grades in other classes as well. “Students who are involved in learning music make higher grades on the standardized tests. I think it is even more valuable today, when so much of our time is spent on screens, to actually use your hands, your breath, your heart and mind to create something that lasts longer than a few seconds,” Gackstatter said.
Everyone has heard the saying “you are what you eat,” Gackstatter said, and the same applies for music.
“If you want to look and feel like a Big Mac or a Twinkie, just eat a lot of them and you eventually will. You will also become what you listen to. If you want to expand your mind and change your life, you need nutritious music. Simply put: music is food,” Gackstatter said
