Comments from the Community
Teacher Comments on the Value of Opera by Children, Utah Festival Opera's POPS Outreach Program
On February 7, 2007, teachers and mentors who participated in Opera by Children
for more than one year were asked why they continue Here are a few responses:
February 12, 2007
There are many programs that build self-esteem and help children bond with each
other but the opera is the best way I've found to do that and to keep the arts alive in
school.
Mary Jo Alexander
I am not a singing, dancing, acting kind of person. I do the opera because it ensures
that I keep the arts in my curriculum. The kids need it and I love watching them work
through the process. I have taught for 21 years. I can honestly say the opera is one
of my favorite things I do each year. Thanks for making it available!!
Ginny Etheridge
February 8, 2007
Yes! I will tell you why I continue to work with the Opera by Children program, what
is the single, outstanding value? Ask me what is the worth of a soul? The answer is
". . . its capacity to be as God", Thomas S. Monson.
The answer is an individual's or a class's present capacity to activate and
demonstrate their greatness, their gifts; their ideas, the innovation of those ideas---to
see the lights "go on" when they have trusted and risked. The lights go on when
his/her or their idea is affirmed, it becomes a part of the opera. I love to see the
lights go on when the class first hears their libretto's setting for the first time. The
joy is overwhelming; everyone experiences it, the children, the music mentor, the
teacher! Everyone is affirmed in a mighty microcosm of the whole process.
Kathleen Nelson
February 8, 2007
Doing an opera with my class makes me feel good about myself and better about my
work as a teacher. Both years, at about this time, I swear I'm not doing this again
next year. But, as I watch the children perform, see light in their eyes, hear their
sweet voices, I know that as long as I'm teaching I will be doing opera.
Opera makes a child feel important, like they've accomplished something major. It
does this in a way that few other things can.
Cathy Merket
February 8, 2007
I can't think of another project that helps each child see the results of their ideas in
such a grand scale. Beyond knowing their ideas were incorporated into the opera
they hear them, see them, and act them out. Their success is felt in such a grand
scale beyond, I got 100 on my paper or I did a good job. It is something so public
that everyone
recognizes the value of their ideas.
I know that doing Opera for Children involves them in a big activity that teaches and
applies most of the skills from the art curriculum. I know from the beginning the
students will be successful. It will be worth the time involved (which is minimal.) It
is a project that gets the positive support of parents when they recognize their child's
success.
G. Veloy Richards
February 9, 2007
I enjoy the theatre. I enjoy singing. When I incorporate these things in my job, my
job becomes more fun. I see my students become a team. They have the opera in
common with each other. We become a community and behavior issues dwindle.
Doing performances is an experience that bonds all of us. Also, I enjoy discovering
students
talents for the stage. Every year when I do plays, or the opera, I am surprised that
certain kids shine like they do.
Oh, and it integrates the core curriculum, too. Best of all, parents get to see their
children shine on stage. Who doesn't love that?!
Shellie Healy
February 9, 2007
I want to answer this in two ways. First, as a teacher my curriculum is huge. I feel
very inadequate in trying to teach everything. It is impossible in my opinion. To
survive I have dropped things I used to teach because I just don't have time. Some
of them are areas I know are repeated in other grades, some are fun activities that
didn't really fit my curriculum. I think I ended up cutting too much fun to have time
to cover what was necessary (for testing). By doing Opera I am forced to add some
fun back into my schedule. Opera can be tailored to fit my grade and curriculum but
it still provides music, art, drama and cooperation.
Second, the reason I still do opera is for the one or two children who really need it.
Not that the whole class doesn't benefit, they do. But I always have a few who
really blossom. Opera touches them, helps them and gives them something special
that they don't get anyplace else.
That is why I always want Opera to be a part of my year.
Ruth Ann Miller
February 12, 2007
My best memories of school had to do with performing arts but I never had the
chance to create. It wasn't until I was at BYU that I composed a song and I'd played
the piano for years.
There are many programs that build self-esteem and help children bond with each
other but the opera is the best way I've found to do that and to keep the arts alive in
school.
Mary Jo Alexander
February 12, 2007
When the entire school year is over and I reflect on the accomplishments of the year,
the single most conclusive memory is my class opera. I don't remember a lot about
the lessons taught and the concepts learned. What I do remember is our opera. I love
to see how excited the children become when they use their imaginations to develop
the story, libretto, scenery and performance. So our opera is like the frosting on the
cake. It gives the children something extraordinary to participate in and allows their
confidence to grow. What is the value of teaching if it is not for the betterment of
kids. Opera by Children does that for kids and for me as I try to lead them.
Marolyn Mehr
February 9, 2007
I do Opera in my class because it is a valuable tool to help teach oral language. It
incorporates literacy and writing in a way that only music can do. It provides another way for
children to express themselves in oral language that some children can feel comfortable doing
in a musical setting.
Lanette Sharp
February 8, 2007
The single most important reason is that the Arts have been eliminated from schools and this
is one way to bring them back.
Sharla Beverly
February 10, 2007
It is the one thing I do all year, that is what I imagined teaching to be like before I started
teaching. I do a little guiding, but the imagination of the kids runs wild!
I feel real accomplishment every time I see them on stage performing. It is never routine!
Never boring! Frustrating and demanding maybe, but never boring.
Becky Putnam
