by: Kathryn Crider
The forum drew four faculty members from Texas State, as well as a number of arts supporters from the San Marcos community, to the San Marcos Public Library to discuss the necessity of an arts education.
Practice Makes Everything Perfect
“When you focus just on the basic fundamentals of education, [the students’ development] just doesn’t seem to get better,” said John Lopez, coordinator of multicultural music and associate professor of music. “The totality of including arts education with all the other subjects will make things better.”
Grady Hillman, coordinator for the center of community arts, facilitated the discussion. He said in his work he has personally seen the growth of students of every age as a direct result of their training in some form of the arts.
“You bring music in there and they feel hope and joy and they feel smart,” said Kaitlin Hopkins, head of musical theatre at Texas State.
“Nothing is going to happen in the microwave for 10 seconds. It will take discipline,” said Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, director of choral music education and associate professor of music. That discipline, she said, is learned when studying music and arts.
Living Proof
Grady Hillman, coordinator for the center of community arts, facilitated the discussion. He said in his work he has personally seen the growth of students of every age as a direct result of their training in some form of the arts.
“You bring music in there and they feel hope and joy and they feel smart,” said Kaitlin Hopkins, head of musical theatre at Texas State.
“Nothing is going to happen in the microwave for 10 seconds. It will take discipline,” said Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, director of choral music education and associate professor of music. That discipline, she said, is learned when studying music and arts.
Living Proof
The panel members’ own lives serve as evidence to the long-term benefit of growing up studying the arts and continuing that pursuit in adult life.
Hopkins, the daughter of actress Shirley Knight and producer Gene Persson, said her musical origins came from being surrounded by it throughout her childhood. When Hopkins was 3, her father was simultaneously producing both the musicals “Hair” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
“I eventually knew the music so well that I was very upset I wasn’t cast in one of those shows,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins, the daughter of actress Shirley Knight and producer Gene Persson, said her musical origins came from being surrounded by it throughout her childhood. When Hopkins was 3, her father was simultaneously producing both the musicals “Hair” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
“I eventually knew the music so well that I was very upset I wasn’t cast in one of those shows,” Hopkins said.
Her career spans over 25 years with experience in acting, directing and teaching. Her work includes appearances both on and off Broadway, in 11 feature films, over 50 TV shows and in national tours. Additionally, Hopkins has received numerous awards for her work.
Lopez said both of his parents grew up in Mexico, where they developed the love for music that they imparted to their children. After his father died in a tragic fire, the music was gone from his household for about 10 years, said Lopez. He said he rediscovered it through percussion around the age of 14 or 15 and has been pursuing it consistently ever since.
Lopez now serves as ensemble director of Texas State’s Salsa del Rio, Mariachi Nueva Generacion, Orquesta del Rio, and the youth group Mariachi Infantil.
Brinckmeyer’s start was “home grown,” she said, since her parents were not professional musicians, unlike Lopez and Hopkins. From the time she could read music until she moved away from home, Brinckmeyer said she would sing at the piano for hours while her cousin played.
She has since gone on to perform in 11 countries and 47 states, receive a Ph.D. in music education, publish several books for choral educators, conduct many award-winning choirs nationwide and currently directs the Texas State Women’s Choir and Hill Country Youth Choir.
With the support of three such examples for the importance of art in education, the discussion concluded with an audience of art enthusiasts armed to spread their love for the arts further into San Marcos and the surrounding area.
Lopez said both of his parents grew up in Mexico, where they developed the love for music that they imparted to their children. After his father died in a tragic fire, the music was gone from his household for about 10 years, said Lopez. He said he rediscovered it through percussion around the age of 14 or 15 and has been pursuing it consistently ever since.
Lopez now serves as ensemble director of Texas State’s Salsa del Rio, Mariachi Nueva Generacion, Orquesta del Rio, and the youth group Mariachi Infantil.
Brinckmeyer’s start was “home grown,” she said, since her parents were not professional musicians, unlike Lopez and Hopkins. From the time she could read music until she moved away from home, Brinckmeyer said she would sing at the piano for hours while her cousin played.
She has since gone on to perform in 11 countries and 47 states, receive a Ph.D. in music education, publish several books for choral educators, conduct many award-winning choirs nationwide and currently directs the Texas State Women’s Choir and Hill Country Youth Choir.
With the support of three such examples for the importance of art in education, the discussion concluded with an audience of art enthusiasts armed to spread their love for the arts further into San Marcos and the surrounding area.
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