HAVE FUN!
OBSERVE TIME LIMITS
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED/EXCITED, WE WILL BE TOO!
GUIDING QUESTIONS
What do my classmates want/need to know?
How can I best get that information across? (video? pictures? time line? anecdote/story?)
COMPOSER/PERFORMER BIOGRAPHY
5 min. Basic Facts: dates, family background,education,influences
Roles/styles, things to watch/listen for
5 min. Relevant Anecdotes: everyone loves a good story
Pictures, videos, music clips: coordinators will help
Whatever you choose should be things that will help us listen better, understand the piece better.
STORY/LIBRETTO/LIBRETTIST
5-7 min. Basic Plot Line: Summaries available at Met web site
https://www.metopera.org/season/2019-20-season/
5 min Does the libretto have an interesting backstory?
Is it based on a famous piece of literature?
Is there an interesting story associated with it?
Is there an aria whose words you’d like to discuss?
Was the librettist a frequent collaborator of the composer?
Were there personality issues? Feuds?
LEADING A DISCUSSION
Do your research
Pick out 3-5 major themes, issues or examples
Develop discussion questions that address the themes
Manage the discussion:
Whole class?
In pairs or groups, then share?
NO-NOS
NO COPYING DIRECTLY FROM WIKIPEDIA
NO LISTS (degrees earned, works published, awards won, orchestras visited)