by Veena Gupta, Grade 1/2 Teacher at Huron Street Junior Public School

For the past eight weeks, the COC Education and Outreach department has been working with grade 1 and 2 students at Huron Street Junior Public School to create their own opera, from scratch! In this post, teacher Veena Gupta describes the beginning of the opera, from writing the story to composing with COC artist educator Cathy Nosaty. The class performs their opera next week for an audience of friends and family.

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We had been involved in an in-depth, fantastic study of fairy tales for five months. The COC needed us to create a libretto (a script) to perform. I decided we would create our own fairy tale. As we worked, I could see how much the children had learned about story sequencing, the necessity of tension, the need for an interesting, complex antagonist (“evil character”), and the importance of setting. Most importantly, they knew how to weave it all together. They were committed. Their learning was more evident than with other assessment methods I have used.

When putting together the libretto, the students learned about reading and writing in script format. Working in groups, they revised and revised, using large sheets of chart paper which we then strung across the room. The children were compelled to read it! I was surprised and thrilled with how invested they were in doing so. We continued to revise the libretto with our COC librettist, adding large sticky notes and large chunks of paper, literally cutting and pasting. Later, they could see the need for editing.

 

The libretto hanging in Ms. Gupta’s classroom 

 

Throughout this process, the children were creating their own evil characters, complete with back stories. I used the libretto to show them that what we had done is referred to as “revising.” They got it. They applied the lessons to their own work and it was the most successful unit on revision I’ve given in my 20-plus year career. The children didn’t see it as a chore, rather they were motivated to get their character “just right”. Editing lessons followed neatly thereafter. 

When it was time for casting, we discussed choosing a role that would be a challenge: swapping out gender roles, moving out of comfort zones, that sort of thing. Kids who are particularly lovely and sweet were directed toward the evil characters, dominant personalities were steered toward quieter roles with an ensemble feature, ELL kids (English Language Learners) would sing in tandem with another, and anxious kids were encouraged to take on solo roles. The children took this very seriously. Casting went very well and all have a big challenge ahead.

 

The Evil Queen and Wolfie practice their music with composer Cathy Nosaty 

 

I posted the final copy of the libretto in the room. The moment it went up, the children read it non-stop for more than 30 minutes. The buzz in the room was terrific. Those just on the cusp of reading were highly motivated to find their character and learn their lines. The stronger readers were already adding personality to their lines. Some were singing the parts we had worked on with the COC composer. The children were helping each other out, intrinsically understanding that we were all working on this together.

We have just finished composing the music for the score. The composer worked one-on-one with the actors and asked them how they would sing their lines. She played back their voice on her keyboard, recorded it, then she and I worked with the actor to get it just right. I can’t sing a note to save my life but I know, for instance, when we need to add tension or a lighter tone. The composer, actor, and teacher worked together until we nailed it.

 

The singing spinning wheel practices her role 

 

Our COC designer comes in tomorrow. We have been e-mailing back and forth about ideas. I look forward to seeing how it comes together.

The children are nervous about singing. They are excited, too. And mostly proud. They have been required to take a lot of risks so far, and have felt safe doing so. A teacher who knows them, the skill level of the COC staff, and the children’s investment in the process combine to give them the confidence they need. 

Next step: How to get to Carnegie Hall?

 

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Stay tuned for part two of this blog post in early July to learn about how the performance went! 

All photos: COC