The Outline - Amanda & Mubeen's Class

Create An Opera – North Kipling –Mubeen & Amanda’s Class

Premise
For the 2009 Create An Opera project, we will be exploring conflict and resolution. Using the character of the trickster (Nanabush in Aboriginal culture and Anansi in West African & Caribbean culture), we will explore how these characters are the catalyst for conflict and resolution in folklore.

Approach
Using a combination of writing, movement, improvisation, music in the collective creation framework, the class will create their opera. The collective creation frame work will be broken into 4 phases: story and music composition, movement and drama exploration of material and putting it all together and rehearsal. I will direct the process and be the outside eye who will facilitate the process of creating the final opera. The collective creation framework requires individual contribution of group members. For our project this will be achieved through breaking the class into smaller groups. These groups will often be given a creative challenge to be solved and asked to present their work to the wider class. The emphasis for this opera will be on a choral work as to allow all students to feel apart of the piece and emphasize team work and cooperation.

Elements in every class, they may be combined, but they will be present in every class.

-1 Drama Game
-1 Singing Warm Up
-1 Movement Warm up


Schedule

Class One – Intro to Opera / Mythmaking and Story Creation
Beginning with a quick name game intro and an intro to me, we will have a brief intro to opera, we will isolate the necessary elements of opera and move forward. The students will be introduced to one story based on Nanabush and one story based on Anansi. We will discuss the elements of conflict and resolutionThe students will then be given the task of creating their own stories in smaller groups.

Teacher Task – have students complete their stories to prepare for presentation in groups.

Class Two – Story Finalization / Storytelling
After some drama games to get the students moving and on their feet, students will present their stories in groups. With some critique, they will be encouraged to improve their storytelling techniques. At the end of the class, students will isolate which elements, ideas of the stories that they enjoyed and want to explore further.

Teacher Task – Have students complete their collective story for the libretto writing class.

Class Three – Let’s Sing / Libretto Writing
Beginning with an extensive vocal warm up, we will write the libretto for their opera. Using their story as a basis, the accompanist will facilitate a libretto writing process. The accompanist will provide a simple musical score and the students will work together to create a libretto. This libretto will be a choral work for the time being. This will be recorded for future rehearsal.

Teacher Task – Have students rehearse libretto and continue exploration of ancient West Africa and Aboriginal culture.

Class Four – Text Exploration/ Movement Exploration
Using the story, libretto and music, we will create scenes in small groups for presentation. I will give each group a challenge which will include a simple plot and characters. They will then have to create short scenes for presentation to the class. As a group, we will decide our favourite scenes for inclusion in our piece.

Using elements from the story isolated by me, the students will also create a movement vocabulary (ideas, gestures) that we will use for the piece. En masse, we will explore movement and I will highlight movements that are interesting for inclusion in final piece.

Teacher Task – Have students rehearse libretto, movement and scenes for the next class.

Class Five - Put It All Together!
We will put all the elements together to create our opera. I will facilitate this process as the final picture will be my puzzle piecing based on their work.

Teacher Task – Have students rehearse their opera, newly pieced together

Class Six – Design Class
Students will design their costumes and decide on any essential props.

Class Seven – Tweaking / Improving
Students will present their opera based on week 5’s piecing together. We will tweak, improve and push story telling boundaries. We will decide on the final storytelling format.
Teacher Task – Have students rehearse the opera (maybe with costumes)

Class Eight – Presentation!
We will present our creation for the school after warm up and final notes.