Opera Baltimore

“Voice your Story" is Opera Baltimore's small-group interactive programming for children and youth, offering wellness oriented opera-based storytelling activities . Our work encourages emotional exploration and sparks creativity, collaboration, and joy. We believe opera is not just about viewing, but doing. This programming begins with introductions and several age-appropriate somatic breathing exercises that encourage mindful engagement. Next, our experienced Teaching Artists (Rachel and Denique) who have been leading these activities since June 2023, do an Opera Freeze game, introducing the kids to operatic singing and helping them focus on their bodies' reaction to music. Finally, the TA's lead group story-telling through the creation of "mini-operas" based on children’s books using call-and-response singing. Each student gets to select their own mode of creative participation (writer, conductor, performer, dancer or visual artist) and takes a corresponding badge. The TAs help them rehearse their interpretation of the book in each creative mode (underlining important text, directing call-and response moments, singing, creating movements, or selecting a back-drop). Finally,  they perform their story! This programming is designed as a single-contact 60 minute program for children PreK-5th grade. Teaching artists Rachel Sitomer and Denique Isaac have been extensively trained in this programming, receiving instruction in somatic breathwork and this specific literary-musical delivery system from our consultant partners and our Director of Education. This activity is based upon story books which are often found in the libraries and schools we serve. These books must include both a) a message of social-emotional well being, and b.) characters reflective of the communities we serve. Special consideration is given to books that also mention calming breathing techniques or musical aspects.

Ultimately, the “Voice Your Story” lesson plan meets the following objectives: 1) we encourage children to own their own voices by learning breathing exercises to help regulate their emotional responses 2) we introduce them to powerful operatic singing (sung by these local Teaching Artists) through games, 3) we foster agency by allowing the students to choose their own way of participating and designing the call-and-response storytelling (as a writer, dancer, visual artist, singer, or conductor); 2) we help them recognize their own experiences by selecting and discussing the messages of story books that we highlight at each event.

This programming was designed to align with and support all of the Maryland State Music Anchor Standards which are applicable to PK-Grade 5 and focusing on the Exposure and Exploration steps of each standard, specifically: 

#1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work -> Students generate their own musical and theatrical concepts during the mini opera creation activity
#2 - Organize and develop artistic ideas and work -> Students select, discuss, and work together to rehearse their story book opera ideas
#3 - Refine and complete artistic work -> Students work with the TA's to refine their rehearsals while receiving gentle guidance and feedback
#4 - Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation -> Students are given the chance to make appropriate artistic choices and demonstrate how intent is conveyed through those properties while they pair story text with singing choices
#5 - Develop and refine artistic work for presentation -> Students work with the TA's to refine their mini-opera performance to present to their peers at the end of the session
#6 - Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. -> Students are asked to identify and convey the "Big Feeling" moments in their opera, so that they can highlight them for their audience, communicating the purpose of their work to the audience
#7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.-> Students clearly communicate personal preferences when making the creative choices necessary for performing in their opera
#8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work --> When listening to the TA's sing, students are prompted to communicate how the use of musical elements and performance choices might make them feel
#9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. Engage appropriately as an active listener -> Students engage as active listeners to the TA and their peers' performances
#10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. -> Students identify personal and cultural influences as well as creative preferences by choosing their own books for this activity from our options. The activity itself is a way to make music outside of school and/or music class, as it is often an after-school program.
#11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. -> With some guidance, students make connections between music and literary arts, dance, leadership and visual art by creating, performing, and responding to their mini-operas.

Opera Baltimore’s "What is Opera? A Team!" presentation is an interactive, engaging 35-50 minute program that can be tailored to grades PK-12. Facilitated by an experienced real-life opera performer, students learn about the imagination and teamwork that creates an opera – people who work together to tell a story all at once – like blockbuster movie, but with no second takes! They learn about the courage and creativity it sometimes takes to tell stories.

Through energetic narrative and a projected presentation, students discover that opera is the ultimate mash up:

music + words + acting + dance + visual art! 

Students learn what opera is and look behind the curtain at opera productions: learning about the scenic, costume, and lighting components of opera. They also hear about different voice types (soprano, mezzo, tenor and baritone) and how opera singers train their voices to make them louder, stronger and faster – just like an athlete. Students hear about a groundbreaking Baltimore opera singer that stood up for what was right, soprano Anne Wiggins Brown, even hearing her signature song. Throughout the show, the opera-singing presenter performs selections of operatic classics – but they always need help to perform the songs! Students join our artist onstage to become a part of the 'opera team' right then and there. The message is clear:

Whatever you love to do, find your team…
and do it together!

Details: The assembly costs $500 for the entire event. Minimal onsite requirements include a sound system that can play from a laptop computer, and a projector & or TV screen (or we can bring our own, with notice). 

More QUESTIONS?

Email our Education Team at Education@OperaBaltimore.org