Third graders at Walter Miller Elementary School in Middletown’s Levittown section got a taste of some different music this week thanks to visits from Opera Philly.
The program, Opera in a Trunk, sends educators out to different schools in and around the Philadelphia region in order to let kids be exposed to an art form that they might not normally see.
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Liz Folger, a music teacher at Walter Miller, reached out to Opera Philly to see what kind of program the organizations could work together on. The result was a three-day visit to the school, where a different class of third graders learned about opera each day.
The program for the Walter Miller students is less of a deep dive and more of a way to expose kids to the art form. The program took kids through what makes opera an opera, including the importance of costumes, acting and set design. In 45 minutes, Garrett Obrycki, from Opera Philadelphia, explained the basics of opera to the kids and even demonstrated a few of the principles by singing and acting.
“This is really more about showing the kids opera as an experience,” Obrycki said.
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When you ask a third grader what their favorite music is, many often say something having to do with popular music. A few kids mentioned Taylor Swift or Katy Perry before Obrycki showed them what opera singing sounded like. Some clapped, some giggled but it seemed like all of the students were intrigued.
By the end of the 45 minute session, Obrycki had set the kids up and directed them through a mini opera performance in the classroom.
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“I think anything that makes opera more accessible is a good thing,” Folger explained after the lesson concluded.
In the three days of lessons, Folger said that each class embraced and appreciated the change of pace.
“My goal is never to make kids think that they need to listen to opera because it is the absolute best type of music ever,” Obrycki explained.
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Through these lessons, the teachers at Opera Philadelphia are teaching kids that different types of artwork can tell and express stories, Obrycki said..
