As students choose their classes for the next year, GLCs often hear complaints of performing arts requirement classes taking up room in their schedule. Despite those who claim these classes are a burden, the courses offer students opportunities to try new things while gaining important life skills.

Diamond Bar High School, along with numerous other high schools across the country, requires students to take at least one Visual Performing Arts course before graduation. VPA courses include various levels of dance, band, orchestra, choir and art.

Some believe VPA classes are useless if one is not pursuing a degree or job in the arts, and would much rather fill their schedules with rigorous academic courses. However, some VPA classes, such as AP music theory, offer college credit and can be an academic challenge, and provide a more well-rounded high school experience for students.

Most VPA courses, such as orchestra, color guard and theater, rely heavily on teamwork. Working in groups not only teaches students how to be more reliable and supportive contributors, but also helps them develop invaluable communication skills that will be crucial for future work environments.

Furthermore, these classes may also hone creativity, patience and even help relax those with schedules filled with academically-stressful classes.

There are also tangible benefits to taking VPAs. For students who want to learn a new instrument or how to use maximize their vocals, VPA courses can be an inexpensive method to try new things.

In addition, performing arts subjects can educate students on important areas of culture that can’t be found in a traditional classroom. For instance, taking classes in the fine arts exposes students to famous pieces of art from all across the world from Picasso to Botticelli. The combination of different cultures and styles could lead to students expressing themselves better while learning how to accept people’s unique cultures.

VPA courses have their usefulness through their potential of positively impacting students’ achievements in core academic classes. The Arts Education Partnership showed through a meta-analysis that students studying music had improved skills in math, reading and test taking. Multiple other organizations have conducted similar tests and research, and all came to the same conclusion—taking performing arts classes can help improve students both mentally and physically.

VPA requirements and their usefulness are often overlooked and underestimated, but they are crucial to students’ high school experiences. Instead of treating these classes like a chore, students should realize just how many benefits these classes can provide in their current academic levels and in future professional environments.