Directions:

The following videos and PowerPoint are the sequential steps I use to introduce opera to students.  These steps include:

 

1.  A TV commercial with Ride of the Valkyries as the background music

2.  An 'infomercial' about Ride of the Valkyries, Richard Wagner, and motive created by Dr. VW

3.  A video of the Berlin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra playing Ride of the Valkyries

4.  A video of the Metropolitan Opera's staging of Ride of the Valyries

 

To help 'ease' students into opera, present the four steps in order (not necessarily on the same day - or even week).  Furthermore, the reason this piece was chosen is that the character Brünnhilde (seen above) is usually the 'stereotypical' embodiment of an opera singer - and not just for this opera - to most non-musicians.  I would not present the whole opera, Die Walkyre - from which Ride of the Valkyries is a part, as the storyline is not age appropriate (and the opera is roughly 4 hours long).  However, it is a great piece to start with!

 

  TV Commercial                                                                                              Dr. VW's Infomercial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Symphony Orchestra                                                                                        The Metropolitan Opera