@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph { margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast { margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; }
Two Pears: Discovering the Story
Micro bites # 5-16: (15 minutes for each micro bite. These may spread over the course of one day or a week. It may even need to take a month or so in order to do research, etc.)
1-Discuss story creation: What makes a good story . . . good story structure. Make it a quick chat to bring these concepts to their mind: Setting, character, plot, beginning, middle and end, etc.
2-Talk with the class about settings that would be interesting for their opera: discuss settings that might tie into subjects they have been studying. Make a list.
3-Ask the class to decide what setting they would like, where the opera to should be. Take a vote if necessary.
4-Have the class make a list of characters that could be involved with the decided setting.
5- Have the class Synthesize the list. Have the class make connections with the characters by placing them in groups. Example: Princesses, princes, and knights are the “royalty” group, whales, dolphins and fish are the “ocean” group and aliens, robots and scientists are the “space” group. If your class discovers two or three clear groups there is no need to vote, but if they have more than three character groups listed you will need to have the class vote on which characters groups to include in the opera. You could vote at this point or save it for another micro bite.
6-Have the class make a list of generic problems: that protagonists (heroes) and antagonists (villains) or (hero verses hero) need to overcome problems of good versus evil or problems such as: characters verses nature / characters verses machine (or their society creations)/ characters verses other characters / characters verses fate/ characters verses themselves (a problem they created)/ characters caught in the middle of a situation they must resolve/ characters seeking understanding . . . etc. Characters may be anything from animals, humans, aliens, and royalty to inanimate objects like rocks, volcanoes, bubbles, snowflakes or imaginary creatures. It does not matter what type of characters they have developed one of these generic problem scenarios should work. They may explore some of these types with a little detail but do not attach it to a specific character, even if they do . . . write it down without those specifics.
7- Vote on the problem for the opera!
8- Write the first sentence as a class introducing the Characters that are involved in the action at the beginning of the opera, what it is they are doing to show how they are interacting and proceeding normally UNTIL the problem happens or is discovered.
9-Write the second sentence as a class! What is done to overcome the problem? Why doesn’t it work? [BUT]
10-Write the third sentence as a class! What is done to overcome the problem? Why doesn’t it work? [BUT]
11-Write the fourth sentence as a class! What is done to overcome the problem? Why does it work? [AND]
****A different micro bite approach for the second, third and fourth sentence creation: divide the class into three groups (may want parent volunteers to help) and have each group write the details for one of the sentences and then share with the class. Many mentors have incorporated this technique for the sake of time and greater individual involvement. I like Dr. Dave’s term for these groups “Think Tanks”. I have called them “Buzz Banks”. “Becauzzz”. . . there’s lots of noise attached to these groups which usually means they are on task. If they are quiet and disjointed they need a bit of guidance to direct their thinking with those ever important questions!!! All adults working on the process should be informed on OBC philosophy and facilitation techniques before they begin to work with the students.
12- The whole class creates the fifth sentence (together): making note of the lesson they would like to ensure the audience understands that the characters in the opera learned and to establish a new normal way of living.
13-review all five sentences and edit for flow and understandability!
Micro notes about the story creation process micro bites: WOW!!! It only takes a maximum of 13 micro bites to write the story! You can weave this throughout the first month of school. You can weave it through a week.
Make this step easier . . . Don’t try to write the story in one day. Don’t try to write the story with your class in one hour. You are tied to doing that more when you have a drama mentor’s help, but that is not the ideal way to explore the story to build community with your class and encourage individual involvement with each student. Use tools such as your name sticks, small groups, throw a bean bag or other ‘cool’ object to indicate who the speaker is so all voices are heard. Use the opera journal as a tool to record thoughts as the process progresses. Use it as a reference as details are added. Don’t drag the process of story creation on too long or the enthusiasm for the project will wane. Keep sessions close enough together that interest and consistency remain intact.
Three Plums: Discovering the Libretto Micro bites:
1-Micro Bite: Play the “Slap, Slap, Clap, Snap” game in the Theatre Games Section (page 21) to recognize rhythms.
2- Micro Bite: Sing Action songs.
2- First libretto creation micro bite: share the tools and terms of Opera:
Opera: “Great Work”
Libretto: Little Book= “words that the actors are to act or sing”!
Three ways to use words to create a libretto:
1) Action= the words to Act write in parentheses/
2) Song: song has structure, rhythm, beat, can rhyme, melody, chorus, repeating melodies and/or words. Songs STOP action and communicate: NEEDS, EMOTIONS, WANTS and Underlying Beliefs (what we think but do not usually share aloud to others) =NEWUBS
3) Recitative (Recit): “conversation that the performers sing as if they were spoken.” Not as much structure as songs and they only move the opera to the next action or song.
Review importance of each tool:
The opera always begins with ACTION! It is desirable to have lots of Action in opera.
Songs are memorable and communicate more in fewer words! It is desirable to have lots of songs in opera. It is desirable to repeat whole songs. They usually do stop action.
Only need a few lines of recitative. Recit JUMP STARTS action again!
This is the Libretto Cycle:
3- Next micro bite: Have each student tap out the beat to a familiar song that has repeats in word and repeats in melody. Sing something as familiar as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. Have them tap the beat with only two fingers from one hand onto the upturned palm of their other hand while singing the song. Have the students evaluate the song for repeats, rhythm as well as beat and if there was rhyme. Ask about the communication in the song of emotion or any of the other NEWUBs. Try other songs.
4- Next Micro Bite: Cover the “S” evaluative questions of creating songs and recitative for opera:
Is it? . . . .
1- Sing-able (Is it easy to sing in a meter)
Does it? . . . .
2- Show don’t Sing (Action is shown—you don’t have to sing about it! Show as much as possible in the opera)
Are we using? . . .
3- Short Simple Sentences (AKA KISS: Keep it Simple Sweeties)
Write the action that the class has included for the first sentence on the board in parenthesis. Ask the class which character group will sing first about their situation? Ask how the characters feel.
List several feelings and responses together in four short sentences.
Format it in “poem form” with the sentences stacked on top of each other. It helps students put it in a meter.
Example: We have a problem.
It makes my stomach churn
We just aren’t getting along
Maybe there is a key in a way to be.
Have the class tap test while speaking it aloud (the same as singing the song in the “tool” discussion micro bite). As they do this they may find words that are difficult to sing and may simplify until the rhythm of the words fit easily within the beats.
Write a couple of lines of recit with the group as needed and have them identify the next action.
Repeat the cycle until you wish to save the project for the next micro bite opportunity!
5- Next Micro bite: complete the libretto process for the first sentence. Stop working on the libretto at any point where the class loses focus or gets off track. Pick it up again in a new micro bite later that day or on a different day.
6- Later—or on another day the next micro bite is: As a class, write the libretto for the second sentence! The students may choose to repeat a song and change the words or keep it the same for each attempt to fix the problem. Keep recitative to only a few lines. Include lots of action!
7- Later—or on another day—the next micro bite is : As a class, write the libretto for the third sentence! The students may choose to repeat a song and change the words or keep it the same for each attempt to fix the problem. Keep recitative to only a few lines. Include lots of action!
8- Later—or on antother day—the micro bite is: As a class, write the libretto for the fourth sentence! The students may choose to repeat a song and change the words or keep it the same for each attempt to fix the problem. Keep recitative to only a few lines. Include lots of action!
****A different micro bite approach for the second, third and fourth sentence libretto creation: divide the class into three groups (may want parent volunteers to help) and have each group write the songs for one of the sentences, the action and any necessary recitative and then share with the class.
9-Have the whole class create the New Normal Libretto portion for the last sentence. Have them create the necessary action songs and recitative. A finale song where the moral of the opera is communicated which identifies what the characters learned is a wonderful way to end the opera.
10-REVIEW: This is a necessary separate micro bite: read through the entire libretto as a class and create any portion that seems lacking or edit out parts that overlap with everyone’s input. Be sure to facilitate, through questions, the opprotunity to edit long sentences; smooth the words for flow. You may choose to break this up into several micro bite editing sessions.
Notes on libretto Micro bite sessions: It is very important to do micro bites of editing separate from micro bites of brain storming and creating. These must be separate activities. As with the story creation process editing inhibits the creative flow. Let the creativity flow and then clean it up later! Do not skip the editing process. It is necessary and needful. Send the libretto for a final mentor feedback review before it moves to the music mentor. This step is to ensure that time has been given to the editing process, the structure of opera is understood and for tips and suggestions for the class to continue their fine work.
Watch for more Micro Bites,
Pamela Gee
Opera by Children Supervisor
Opera by Children 