As the new Education Coordinator of HGOco, I am now in charge of the Teacher Workshops, offered on the night of each dress rehearsal of the main stage productions. We offered a questionnaire at the Cav/Pag to get a sense of what the teachers wanted to learn, and were pleased to find their thirst of knowledge exceeds our own!
The first Teacher Workshops were a hit. Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagilacci was led by Colin Ure and Sandra Bernhard. The teachers began with a pasta meal (in honor of the Italian opera), followed by a presentation on the two operas. After the presentation, Ms. Bernhard led the teachers in a quick fine arts integration exercise. They were given three exercises based on Pagliacci, and were asked to come up with three for Cavalleria. Mary Neely Stevens, who teaches at Carter Academy for the Performing Arts, emailed me the following exercises.
1. "Intermezzo--What Comes Next?" An intermezzo is an orchestral movement performed between the acts of an opera. The music of the intermezzo reflects on the mood and the music of the previous act, as well as, foretells the action about to happen. Select a familiar story, such as "Cinderella," and add instrumental intermezzi between segments of the story. Use melodic and percussive instruments to create the appropriate mood.
2. There are five main characters in the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana"--a mother, her son, his wife, a woman and her husband. The conflict in this opera is one of jealousy. Develop five different characters for each of the following five words: anger, trust, family, rumor and love. Create a story with a conflict of jealousy. Unlike the opera, your conflict will have a resolution--a happy ending.
3. "Cavalleria Rusticana" is set in a small village during Eastertide. Select a familiar story that is also set in a small village, such as "Cinderella." Change the setting to a big city at the 4th of July. How would the scenery be altered? What changes would you make to the costumes? What type of music would reflect the sights and sounds of the city? Are there special events or customs on the 4th of July?
Thank you Ms. Stevens! What a wonderful way to bring opera into the classroom.
This week we hosted the Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice & Benedict) Teacher Workshop, and Ms. Bernhard was joined by Rob Kimbro from the Alley Theatre. They held a wonderful conversation about directing Shakespeare, and the ties between the theatre and music in his works. After that, each table of teachers had to take a Shakespeare play and create a cast list for their Shakespeare-based opera. We had some serious sopranos and tricky tenors in Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice.
The next Teacher Workshops are in January for Chorus! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Check our Teacher Workshop page on the HGO website for more information.
Thank you,
The first Teacher Workshops were a hit. Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagilacci was led by Colin Ure and Sandra Bernhard. The teachers began with a pasta meal (in honor of the Italian opera), followed by a presentation on the two operas. After the presentation, Ms. Bernhard led the teachers in a quick fine arts integration exercise. They were given three exercises based on Pagliacci, and were asked to come up with three for Cavalleria. Mary Neely Stevens, who teaches at Carter Academy for the Performing Arts, emailed me the following exercises.
1. "Intermezzo--What Comes Next?" An intermezzo is an orchestral movement performed between the acts of an opera. The music of the intermezzo reflects on the mood and the music of the previous act, as well as, foretells the action about to happen. Select a familiar story, such as "Cinderella," and add instrumental intermezzi between segments of the story. Use melodic and percussive instruments to create the appropriate mood.
2. There are five main characters in the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana"--a mother, her son, his wife, a woman and her husband. The conflict in this opera is one of jealousy. Develop five different characters for each of the following five words: anger, trust, family, rumor and love. Create a story with a conflict of jealousy. Unlike the opera, your conflict will have a resolution--a happy ending.
3. "Cavalleria Rusticana" is set in a small village during Eastertide. Select a familiar story that is also set in a small village, such as "Cinderella." Change the setting to a big city at the 4th of July. How would the scenery be altered? What changes would you make to the costumes? What type of music would reflect the sights and sounds of the city? Are there special events or customs on the 4th of July?
Thank you Ms. Stevens! What a wonderful way to bring opera into the classroom.
This week we hosted the Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice & Benedict) Teacher Workshop, and Ms. Bernhard was joined by Rob Kimbro from the Alley Theatre. They held a wonderful conversation about directing Shakespeare, and the ties between the theatre and music in his works. After that, each table of teachers had to take a Shakespeare play and create a cast list for their Shakespeare-based opera. We had some serious sopranos and tricky tenors in Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice.
The next Teacher Workshops are in January for Chorus! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Check our Teacher Workshop page on the HGO website for more information.
Thank you,
Kade
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