Over 1000 VAPA Student Voices 01) “I like band because I like playing music but I don't always get the time to play but now I'm in band I can play my favorite instrument every other day. I think the arts are important because music is like another part of your life. It's another way to express your self. A fun memory is when me and my friend Fabian was messing around and we made our own beat but he could never get his note right.” - James Mattox, NCMS - 7th grade 02) “I like band because I like how we could get any instrument and learn how to play it we may not be good like a professional but we learn and we are able to perform in front of people. I think the arts are important because it's a part of our life and also because whenever we learn things our brains get bigger. What I personally like about band was when we perform for example when we went last semester in the fall to Band Pageant and we saw all those different bands perform.” - Alessandra Luevano 03) “I like band because at home I am really stressed and always in trouble so at band I play music and I get relaxed playing music and hearing it to. I think the arts is important because art has been going hundreds of years and people still do it like us in band class. What I like about band is that we get to perform for other people in different places.” - Kevin Ortiz, NCM 7- grade 04) “I like band because I get to play an instrument and I learn something new. I think the arts are important because you can express how you feel while playing. A fun memory is when we went to band pageant and we saw other kids perform.” - Salvador Lopez, NCM-7th grade 05) “I like band because we had a lot of fun memories past semester for example Band Pageant. I think the arts are important because they are parts of history. What I like about it or a fun memory is that we went to Band Pageant and we go sometimes on Saturday to practice.” - Sebastian Gonzalez, NCM-7th Grade 06) “I like band because I get to express my feeling through music. I think the arts are important because it's a great class I believe it one of the best classes in the entire school. What I like about band is that we could go to places like Band Pageant and see other people play and learn from them, then play ourselves.” Jonathan Joel Contreras, NCM 7th Grade 07) “I like band because I like to play instruments. I think the arts are important because with arts you can express yourself. What I like about band is when we went to go places like Band Pageant and I also like that I made new friends.” - Carlos Garcia, NCM-7th grade 08) “I think band is important because for thousands and thousands of years band has been here and band is something that makes people calm without music the world wouldn't be how it is right at this moment. I like band because although I'm the worst player in the class I have fun trying to play the trumpet. One big memory of band class was when I went to band pageant (practice) I couldn't go to the band pageant but I did go to the practice and if I didn't have band I wouldn't be in a bunch of classes with a bunch of friends from band. One reason it's important to learn band is because one day you might grow up to be in a professional band and earn a lot of money not only that but it's just important there are millions of reasons why it's important.” - Gerald Jackson, NCM - 7th grade 09) “I like band because I like playing instruments and it helps me say things that I can't really say in words. I think the arts are important because it helps people express themselves as who they want people to see them by. What I like about it is that it helps me concentrate, at least keep calm for a few minutes and to make friends.” - Mildred Carrillo 10) “I like band because it's very fun and it is nice to play it. When you play your instrument it is a other way to express your self. I think the arts are important because they have been for long times like in history and they are really good because you can make anything with art. What I like about it when we went to band pageant and we did not know how to play but it was fun seeing the other bands play.” - Manuel Lopez, NCM-7th grade 11) “I like band because we can go to different places and I have always wanted to play an instrument. I think the arts are important because it can be fun. What I like about band is that it is really fun I I like all the people in my class.” - Joseph Hernandez, NCMS-7th grade 12) “I like band because I like to be with my friends and because I like to play my first instrument. I think that band is important because you can learn how to play well an instrument. What I like about a fun memory is when we went to the Band Pageant and played in front of people.” - Marco Alcantar, NCM-7th grade 13) “I like band because it's an opportunity to learn something else besides the basic subjects. I think the arts are important because we can learn different ways to play music that we already know. What I like about it is that it's my favorite class and I like playing the flute.” - Alexa Lucero, NCM-7th grade 14) “I like band because music is plays an important part in life. I think the arts are important because how would life feel like without music, everything would be plain, dull, and boring.. What I like about band is that we all get to know others who play the same instruments as us, working with them in songs, going to Band Pageant, and making new friends...” - Antonio Rosas, NCM-7th grade 15) “I like band because it's a way of expressing yourself in new ways and music is part of life. I think the arts are important because the activities that we do like write about other musicians. The funniest memory in band would be Band Pageant because you talk to other schools and are standing next to them when playing. Also, seeing the high schools play was awesome.” - Juan Perez, NCM-7th grade 16) “I like band because I had a lot of fun when we went to Band Pageant, and because I like the type of music we are learning. I think the arts are important because it helps a lot of students express themselves. What I like about band is that it's my favorite class because we play our instruments and learn some songs that I like.” - Yesenia Salgado, NCM- 7th grade 17) “I like band because they teach us things that we don't learn at other classes. I also like it because we learn how to play different instruments and it might be easier to co to college. I think that arts are important because we learn how to play different instruments and that way later on I'll learn how to play an instrument and I'll be able to express my feelings by music or by art. What I like about it is that it's one of my favorite classes and we even went to band pageant and it was really fun watching all the other schools performing.” - Alan Garcia NCM-7th grade 18) “The arts are important to me because it allows me to be creative and express myself. I am able to create whatever my heart desires and it's pretty amazing that what you thought of can be made into something tangible. Art is also important to me because without it the world will be pretty bland. I can even relate my own experiences to art pieces to create my own meaning of the piece while others can have a different perspective of the artwork. I can also immerse myself into another world that doesn't exist like when we read novels and art can also be used to relieve stress. 19) Often, schools don't fund VAPA classes because they put most of their money into STEM classes and sports which is unfair because many students want to excel in that area and maybe get a job in the arts. We also lose our creativity as we get older because of the large focus on the STEM classes instead of VAPA classes. Some people may think that VAPA classes are less important that STEM classes, but in reality the arts are just another form of intelligence and are just as important as the STEM field.” - Katie Russell 20) “I believe that from the moment your born you naturally have creativity bursting out of you. Going to school and learning the same thing everyone else is doing and being required to do it the "right way" can limit your mind. This is why I think it is extremely important to have VAPA classes. You can release your biggest imaginations and create things you love into art, weather it be music, photography, drawing, or drama.