VPA Reflection

Leila Turner

Reading the VPA frameworks I discovered that there are many things that you must know
and understand about the Visual and Performing Arts in order to properly teach them to children.
Visual and performing arts allow children to explore the world around them through their senses.
This improves their perceptual skills. Dancing allows children to explore movement and how to
use the space around them which allows them more practice at controlling their movement.
Young children are still getting used to their growing and changing body so with dance it allows
them to explore movement in a safe and controlled environment. Music helps kids learn about
rhythm, tempo, and dynamics as well as how it connects with dance. Studies have also shown
that music help children learn core subjects better like math and science. Students who learn
music do better in school. Theatre helps children really learn the difference between real and
imaginary. Theatre teaches them how to take an emotion or feeling and recreate it. It also helps
with social skills because in theatre you must work together and be a team in order to get the best
finished product. Visual arts helps students better recognize patterns, shapes, lines, understanding
perspective, texture, and also how to express feeling through art. In some ways art can also help
with math because there is a lot of work using geometric shapes as well as using rulers and
measurement for specific projects which connects it with Math.
At CSUDH I have taken many VPA classes. As a music minor I have been in two choirs
for 5 years, I have also taken music history, music for children, music education, voice class,
voice lessons, and many others. I have also taken Theater 337 which is creative dramatics.
Creative dramatics really showed just how many core subjects you can teach through theatre
games and that you can really make any subject fun and interesting to learn as long as you are
creative. The classes that have helped me the most are choir, voice lessons, and music for

children. Music for children was great because it taught us just how important movement
through music is to a childs development. We learned about Dalcroze which is a way of learning
music and rhythm through music that allows children to be more comfortable with their bodies.
Choir and voice lessons not only helped my singing but it also boosted my confidence in myself,
taught me leadership skills because I am the Alto section leader, and I also learned many
techniques in my voice lessons that I can transfer into a classroom. I feel well prepared in
anything music related. I also feel well prepared in dance and theatre. The only VPA subject I
feel less prepared is in the visual arts field. Since I did not take many art classes in my college
career and I have never been all too artistic I know I have a lot to learn.
For my artifacts I am including a photo of my two nieces when I brought out my guitar
for them to explore as well as an audio clip of my older niece where I had her make up her own
song. You can hear her baby sister in the background trying to join in and sing along. I am also
including photos of myself with my choir members and this reflection. These artifacts
demonstrate my content knowledge because they show just how much work I have put into my
music education minor. Music has always been a big part of my life and it has always been my
dream to incorporate music into my teaching. Getting my minor in music has been a wonderful
learning experience for me. Not only has it boosted my confidence but it has also given me a
sense of balance in my school days. Singing every day is a wonderful stress reliever and it keeps
me going throughout the day. I truly believe that the visual and performing arts should be a
mandatory part of the school day because the benefits are just too great to ignore.