PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
Opera: A Story that is Sung
Lyric Opera of Chicago's Opera in the Classroom program has enjoyed tremendous success over the more than 20 years it has existed. However, because of this success, we receive far more requests for the program than can possibly be honored, in spite of the unflagging determination and dedication of two dozen or so volunteer docents. Clearly, more OIC docents are needed, and what better place to find them than in classrooms? The teacher education course "Opera: A Story that is Sung" has been created so that regular classroom teachers, including those with no music, theater, or art background, can present one of Lyric's most popular education programs to their own classes by themselves.
Teachers taking the course receive complete training not only in how to do Opera in the Classroom, but also in how to incorporate arts knowledge into many parts of their own curriculum. Topics covered include in–depth study of the story and its cultural significance and origins; reading techniques to bring any curricular text alive; drama techniques; opera terminology and what makes opera tick; props, costuming, and makeup; and lesson planning. There are also roundtable discussions with guest lecturers and hands-on experience doing a workshop production of the focus opera.
The course is led by Lyric's Manager of Education Outreach Mary Kurz, a 30 year veteran public school teacher. Guest instructors include OIC docents as well as specialists in reading, theater, the humanities, and music.
Included in the price of the course is a voluminous notebook containing all the materials needed to present OIC including script, tape, props and costume guide, slides, and student materials like crossword puzzles, illustrations, and pictures to color. It also includes an almost inexhaustible supply of classroom activities and projects, lesson plans, and enough reference materials to make anyone a walking opera encyclopedia.
"Opera: A Story that is Sung" has been offered each summer since 1999 focusing on a different opera (1999 and 2003 - Rossini's Cinderella; 2000 and 2004 Mozart's The Magic Flute; 2001- Puccini's La Bohème; 2002 and 2006 Rossini's The Barber of Seville; and 2005 - Donizetti's Elixir of Love). Cinderella will once again be the focus of the 2007 course. The class is held right in the Civic Opera Building and includes a complete tour of the opera house. Past evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive: "This course was spectacular. Everything was easily applicable to classroom methods. It provided fabulous opportunities for integrated units across the curriculum." "Great materials, ideas, hand–outs, notebook, packet, and facilities!" "I enjoyed the enthusiasm of the class teacher – who makes all the difference in realizing we can do this!" "Please do more [courses]!"
Chicago Public School teachers are eligible for one lane credit. All teachers taking the course, including suburban and all private and parochial teachers, will receive 15 CPDU credits toward state recertification. State and CPS arts standards covered include: 25, 26, 27, plus a variety of language arts and social studies goals.
Click here for the course registration form
Click here to check out the Teacher Workshops we present in conjunction with our Student Matinees .
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The Teachers' Professional Development Workshops are generously sponsored by the Polk Bros. Foundation.
For more information, please contact the Lyric Opera Education Department (312) 827-5912.
