Professional Development for Educators
We offer an exciting array of half, full and multi-day professional development workshops. From an in-depth look at each mainstage opera to music skills development for classroom teachers, we’re happy to offer a variety of ways to incorporate opera into the classroom and beyond. Our workshops aim to serve every type of educator from classroom teachers to teaching artists to parents.
Professional Development Workshops
Fairy Tales and Frivolity: Creative Writing Techniques
January 9, 2013, 4:30-7:00 PM + Dress Rehearsal at McCaw Hall Cost: $35
In this interactive workshop for Educators, we will investigate some of the differences in writing a story, a
script, and – ultimately – a libretto. All of these forms require various, and valuable, skills. Led by a
published author and librettist, this workshop will offer tools, tips, and strategies to engage your students in
these different facets of creative writing. The session price includes dinner and attendance to the dress
rehearsal of Rossini's Cinderella story, La cenerentola. Cost is $35; contact us to inquire about clock hours.
Discovering the Student's Voice
January 10, 2013, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
In this workshop for Teaching Artists, we will create our own collective libretto with the guidance of a
published writer and librettist, and then we'll set it to music. We will reflect on our own process, discuss
strategies for composing musical stories with elementary and middle school children, and establish
guidelines for helping young musicians structure their compositions without interfering in their creative
process. Cost $35; contact us to inquire about clock hours.
Discovering the Song Within: Connnections for Integrated Learning
February 20, 2012, 4:30 – 7:00 PM + Dress Rehearsal at McCaw Hall
Do you use song and movement to teach young children their A-B-Cs and their 1-2-3s? According to
research, it takes more than mere participation to make these deep connections in the brain. Using our
singing voices to match pitch accurately and moving with precision to a rhythm are crucial steps to
making these cognitive connections. In this fun and interactive workshop, we will engage in joyful singing
and dancing together, while learning ways to use song & movement to deepen student learning in reading,
math, social studies, and science. This workshop will help you unlock your students' vocal potential —
opening their minds to a whole new world of learning. The session includes dinner and attendance to the
dress rehearsal of Puccini's classic story, La bohème. Cost is $35; contact us to inquire about clock hours.
For more information on our 2012/13 workshops and on how to request a customized workshop, please email the Education Department or call 206.389.7630.
Order Form
Mainstage Operas for Classroom Teachers
These 90-minute professional development workshops are designed to guide teachers, arts specialists and teaching artists in the discovery of Seattle Opera’s 2012/13 mainstage productions. We’ll examine the historical context of the opera, explore the music, and build deep connections to a wide range of disciplines and classroom curricula. Educators from around the Puget Sound region can share different approaches and best practices for classroom work and will receive a variety of materials to use in their own class to help further engage students with opera-inspired learning. These workshops are held at the Seattle Opera Offices and are FREE of charge.
Fidelio Workshop
September 15, 2012
10:00 - 11:30 AM
La Cenerentola Workshop
December 8, 2012
10:00 – 11:30 PM
La Bohème Workshop
January 26, 2013
10:00 -11:30 AM
Suor Angelica and La Voix Humaine Workshop
April 13, 2013
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Seattle Opera Teaching Artists
January 2013
This gathering of Seattle Opera Teaching Artists will be an opportunity to share ideas and strategies for implementation of the Our Earth Opera Goes to School program.
More information about becoming a Seattle Opera Teaching Artist
All workshops take place at the Seattle Opera Offices and are by invitation only. Please email Barbara Lynne Jamison or call 206-676-5564.