Fun with Opera

Fun with opera - golden mask over sheet music.

Fun with opera?

How is that possible?

Let me guess. You don’t like classical music, and you definitely don’t like opera.

I get it.

Many people think of opera as an odd form of singing in a musical genre reserved for the staid and stuffy. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn just a little bit about it, while having a good chuckle or two.

Making Opera Fun

Jeff Spurgeon of WQXR has put together quick synopses of several well-known and regularly performed.

operas.

Mr. Spurgeon uses pop culture references and historical humor to give the listener a condensed version of each opera.

Expanding one’s horizons doesn’t mean embracing what you see or hear; it just gives you a broader2 opera singers - Fun with Opera perspective. It doesn’t hurt to know a little bit about a lot of things. It offers the opportunity to engage in conversations that you would otherwise feel excluded from.

I enjoy a good deal of classical music, but I’m not an opera buff. It is my least favorite aspect of the genre.

You don’t have to sit through a three-hour performance to gain insights into the story or have fun with opera. With Mr. Spurgeon’s opera in 3-minutes, you get the gist.

Enhancing Education

Music programs have been cut from many schools, so today’s students aren’t exposed to a broad range of musical genres.

The 3-minute operas are a way for young people to take a quick tour without being bored. It’s not about embracing – it’s about knowing.

Some parents may deem some of the subject matter unsuitable for young people, so I suggest you listen alone and make your determination.

I have two suggestions for you to sample.

The first is Puccini’s La Bohème. Not only should it give you a few good chuckles, but you might recognize the storyline that served as the basis for a popular Broadway musical and 2005 Hollywood film.

They even kept a main character’s name.

Drop a comment if you make the connection.

The second is Wagner’s Lohengrin.

You should recognize at least one snippet of music, which should cause you to wonder how and why it was ever used for weddings.

I am no opera buff, but I do enjoy Mr. Spurgeon’s skillfully crafted, easily digestible, and fresh take on the often centuries-old storylines – they’re almost irreverent in the most delightful way.

The complete set of 3-Minute Operas | WQXR | New York’s Classical Music Radio Station

Looking for other education supplemental material? Try our K-12 Learning Resources page that’s filled with subject help and multiple museums and points-of-interest tours.

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10 Ways to Overcome Math Anxiety

No More Math Anxiety image with colored pie pieces

Math Anxiety – How to Prevent or Overcome It

A not-surprising report was published earlier this month about parents’ thoughts on the importance of math education. There was no mention of math anxiety.

How many of these parents have expressed negative or confidence-lacking feelings about math to their children?

There’s no way to know for sure, but it’s probably more than a few.

A school is a place of formal, structured learning.

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The Night Sky

A crescent moon in the night sky.

The Night Sky

Observing planetary events in the night sky is a relatively easy, no-cost experience you can share with your children.

Sometimes you’ll need to set an alarm because events happen in the middle of the night or early morning.

Watch the related 3-minute video.

Calendar of 2024 Night Sky Events

Calendar 2024 (Searchable by month.)

What to look for in October 2024

What you can see tonight [maps]

What to look for in August 2024

The big event for the month will be the Perseid meteor showers.

What to Look for July 2024

July 2024 will have lots to see. It ends with a triangle formed by a crescent moon, Jupiter, and Mars.

July 4-5 watch.

What to Look for June 2024

Here’s what’s expected (weather permitting).

Use the links at the bottom of the post for additional details and information about other upcoming events.


UPDATE: Watch the night sky in late January, February & March 2024

Planetary Conjunction | Planet Conjunction 2024 | Conjunction of Planets | Venus Mars Conjunction 2024 | Star Walk

The March 24 Venus and Saturn event will probably be the most convenient to view at 6:06 PM EST


Special Event During the Solar Eclipse

If cloud cover stays away, there is a chance to see a horned comet during the total solar eclipse of 2024.


Have you looked at the night sky lately?

Did you notice anything a little different?

Starting this week and continuing into next week, Jupiter and Venus (the two brightest planets) have been moving toward conjunction.

Night sky - Venus, Jupiter, and crescent moon.The image to the right was taken with an old camera phone, so it’s not that crisp. Despite the technical limitations and much light pollution, you can see the conjunction in its early phase. The object toward the bottom is the crescent moon. Jupiter is on top, slightly to the left, with Venus closer to the moon. Read More

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