Education Brochure (PDF) - San Francisco Opera

Sing a Story
Grades K-3
STORY TELLING THROUGH OPERA:
GIANTS! VALHALLA! SERPENTS! PRINCESSES!
There is no limit to the imagination of your students as we once again invite you to participate in this lively
program. San Francisco Opera Guild is pleased to be able to offer its award-winning in-class program, Sing
a Story, to San Francisco, North Bay, South Bay, and East Bay elementary
schools for Winter 2013. A teaching artist visits your school and introduces
a classic opera story complete with singing and opera facts, with the aid of
musical excerpts from the opera. After the musical storytelling and a brief
choral coaching and singing session, the artists magically presents props
and costumes and students participate in acting out the story and singing
excerpts themselves! The whole class participates actively in this lively visit.
Prior to performance date classroom teachers receive a preview CD and
Teacher’s Guide that can be used as preparation and/or follow-up to the
artist visit. This program communicates a classic story, illustrates opera
components, and provides a creative drama and music experience for
young students.
SPACE AND TIME
Sing a story is designed to be performed in a classroom, and lasts approximately 40-45 minutes. We can
visit up to four classrooms in a day, in grades k, 1, 2, and 3. We will leave the choice of classroom up to the
coordinating staff or faculty person at your school. If you are interested in scheduling more than four visits,
we make arrangements on a case by case basis. We ask that you not combine classes for this program and
that each class size be limited to 28 students.
SCHEDULE
Sing a Story is available January 28 through April 19, 2013, Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Classroom visits should be scheduled allowing for 45 minutes in each classroom, and at least 15 minutes
between performances.
CASTING
Kindergarten: Hansel and Gretel
Grade 1: The Magic Flute
Grade 2/3: Das Rheingold
INVESTMENT
There is a fee of $125 per classroom for this program. Financial aid is available to needy schools.
Opera à la Carte
Grades 3-8
This engaging in-school program consists of a 45 minute adapted presentation of a traditional opera or
operetta. Masterfully designed, OALC reaches over 120 schools a year. This mini-opera, sung in English, is
brought to your school by professional costumed singers, a pianist, and a docent who tell a classic operatic
story with your students in the speaking roles! Students receive coaching and rehearsal with the performers
and join in an assembly presentation for the entire school. A Teacher’s Guide, training guidelines, training
workshop, and a preview CD accompany registration for this unique program. This fall will feature a
whimsical and witty adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and
Sullivan.
SPACE AND TIME
This program requires a pre-arranged faculty contact designated to
coordinate student actors and school preparation and confirm all details.
This faculty champion will facilitate the advance preparation and rehearsal
of student actors. Actors must be chosen and lines must be memorized
at least two weeks prior to the assembly. The performance space must be
adequately sized and indoors, with a recently tuned piano in good working
order (ask us about piano tuning grants for your school.)
SCHEDULE
Opera à la Carte is available October 1, 2012 through November 30,
2012. A date will be arranged for the assembly performance. A limited number of second performances
are available for an additional fee and will be scheduled back to back, using the same student actors for
both performances. Professional singers and musicians will arrive at your school 75 minutes prior to the
performance time for a dress rehearsal and coaching session with your students. Preliminary preparation,
open dress rehearsals, and facilitator coaching for this program begins in early September in order for all
aspects to run smoothly.
CASTING
Opera à la Carte is available to grades 3-8
INVESTMENT
There is a participation fee of $350 for each school.
Financial aid is available for needy schools.
This program is made
possible, in part, by
generous contributions from
the following Chapters of
San Francisco Opera Guild:
East Bay, Marin, Sonoma,
Peninsula, and San Jose.