Creating Original Opera
The Creating Original Opera Teacher Training Program provides classroom, music and arts teachers with the necessary skills, information and methodologies to guide their students through the Creating Original Opera process. As a result of this program, participating teachers develop an in-school opera with their students and incorporate the COO program into their school curriculum.

Program Content and Structure
Training is comprised of participatory sessions on the individual art forms that combine to produce opera. Instructional content includes: auditions, writing, music composition, vocal production, blocking, acting, costume and make-up design, lighting and set design, public relations, documentation and company management. The sessions focus on: integrating the conceptual processes and skills involved in each of the arts, participating in the processes of creating an original work and identifying methodologies for teaching the process. A Curriculum Resource Notebook is provided to each participant.

Each participating school is advised by a member of the COO Participant Advisory Council—an experienced teacher in the COO process—in a private session on elements of communication with school administration, faculty and parents, implementation, achieving curriculum and state standards through the program and online communication with a COO Council member.

As a result of participation in the program, a partnership is formed between the Metropolitan Opera Guild and the school. This training program is available to schools and teachers throughout the country and internationally. There is an application process for school principals and participating teachers.

The training program is seven and a half days in length (during the summer), and is led by MOG teaching artists and COO Council members at university sites around the United States.

Program Goals
The Creating Original Opera Teacher Training Program seeks to engage teachers and students in an in-depth multi-arts program; to emphasize the effectiveness and value of creating original opera works by and for young people; to incorporate core curriculum education course work into the classroom by way of arts programming; and to provide a network of support for participating teachers that includes The Metropolitan Opera Guild, members of the COO Council and other experienced COO teachers.

A secondary goal in this program is for MOG to continue to develop strategies and relationships that help to address school needs and school change, and to focus on the importance of the arts in the fields of teaching and education.

Application Process
The school principal is asked to nominate at least two teachers, including a classroom and music teacher. The school principal and the nominated teachers must complete an application process (see below).

Application Review Process
The Application Review Committee is comprised of educators, school administrators and artists associated with the Creating Original Opera Program. Equal preference is given to those schools with an established tradition in arts education as well as those beginning to broaden their arts education curriculum. The Metropolitan Opera Guild seeks to provide equality of opportunity in all its programs, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.

Printable Application Forms (Adobe Acrobat format):
COO Brochure
For additional information, please call 212-769-7026 or email coo@operaed.org.

Application Deadlines
Applications should be postmarked by the date indicated for each region and mailed to:

Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department
Creating Original Opera Application Review Committee
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023-6593

Applications may also be faxed to: (212) 769-8519.

Creating Original Opera Resource Links
COO Rubrics
COO Connections Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2005
COO Connections Newsletter, Fall/Winter 04
COO Research Studies
COO Connections Newsletter, Spring 2005
COO Connections Newsletter, Spring 2004
COO Connections Newsletter, Fall 2003
COO Connections Newsletter, Spring 2003

COO Lesson Plans
The "Zip, Zap" Game
Make-Up Artists Lesson Plan
Costume Designer Lesson Plan
Public Relations Lesson Plan
Set Design and Carpentry Lesson Plan
Setting Up Opera Time Lesson Plan
Electrician Job Book Lesson Plan
Make-Up Artist Job Book Lesson Plan
Performer Job Book Lesson Plan
Public Relations Job Book Lesson Plan
Set Designer Job Book Lesson Plan
Persuasive Writing Lesson Plan
Company Theme Lesson Plan-Composers
Company Theme Lesson Plan-Designers
Company Theme Lesson Plan-Writers
Creating A Character Lesson Plan-Performers
Leadership Skills Lesson Plan-Managers
Measuring Lesson Plan-Carpenters