10 Benefits of Music Education

Language Development
Increased IQ
Spatial-Temporal Skills
Improved Test Scores
Self Esteem

Listening Skills
Leadership Skills
Goal Setting
Creativity
Better Study Habits

Students who participate in music programs also have a wonderful social experience in school as well!

Ms. Cami Mathusek
Assistant Director of Fine Arts
​Jazz Band Director

As a fifth-generation music educator, Cami Mathusek believes that she has been genetically encoded to have a passion for music education.  From the time she was six years old, she has studied music with many prestigious teachers from all over the world.  
 
Over the last twenty years she has built a very successful and innovative private music studio where she has taught hundreds of students on many instruments, but specialized primarily in piano and voice.  Many of her students have gone on to become private instructors, Drum Corp International members or have continued their music education in college. 
 
In her community, she has organized many great musical events. For several years, she conducted the Messiah with a full symphonic orchestra and combined choir of almost 200.  Ms. Mathusek has also had a part in running and organizing many local festivals and music camps in the valley including the Highland/ASU Jazz Festival and MCC summer band camp.   Over the last 15 years, she has been a choir and orchestra director for 5 different congregations.
 
As a student teacher, Ms. Mathusek chose to go to Lorena, Texas to study all aspects of band directing with an emphasis on pedagogy of the drumline with Head Band Director, Damon Vela who consistently yields National Snare Drum Champions.   She graduated from the MCC/Ottawa University Secondary Music Education Program.
 
She was the interim Director of Bands at Red Mountain High School where she helped the Honor Band receive their first ever Superior rating and the Full Symphony their first ever Superior with Distinction rating.

Ms. Mathusek has spent the last two years building brand new programs as the Director of Bands and Team Lead of the Fine Arts Department at the ALA Gilbert-North Campus.  In 2017, the band program started with the  "Bucket Brigade".  Today, Eagles Band is comprehensive and competitive concert, marching and jazz program.  Under her director, the Eagles Jazz Blue Ensemble performed at the 2019 Highland/ASU Jazz festival and received a rating of Superior and was placed 6th place in the HS division.  She is currently the Director of Jazz Bands and Advanced Orchestra as well as the Assitant Director of Fine Arts.  Currently, there are now over 1,000 students enrolled in Fine Arts Classes at the ALA Gilbert, 7-12.