STEPS TO SUCCESS WITH YOUR OPERA STORIES

Many years ago I brainstormed with my sixth graders about what makes a great opera plot.  I would like to share these ideas with you now, so you can see for yourselves what makes a good story that can easily be turned into a performance of music, dance, singing, orchestra, lyrics, poetry, architecture and costumes on stage.

1.  Twists and turns with surprises
2.  Good and evil, and the shading of those two
3.  Problem to be wrestled with
4.  Characters that progress and that have exciting personalities
5.  A story that has obvious emotions and is well-thought out
6.  Catches the attention of the readers/listeners
7.  Rising Action or several
8.  Ending: A Resolution of the conflicts which must be exciting and emotional
9.  Humor and sadness/grief
10.  Must create an image in your mind
11.  Unique setting and characters
12.  Hero or main character and villain and friends of both
13.  Interesting story
14.  Story has a personality
15.  Love/Romance/ Friendship
16.  Dialogue
17.  Must be well-thought out
18.  Danger and excitement
19.  Tension between characters
20.  Creation/set-up
21.  Problem/ Rising Action
22.  Suspense/Resolution

In the next few weeks, you will see some new opera stories from the sixth graders.  Enjoy!! 

From this we created Steps to Success with your Opera Plots:

Create a story that has the elements of a great opera plot:
A.) Strong Characters
B.) An interesting Setting
C.) Conflict
D.) Rising Action 
E.) Climax
F.) Resolution 

In other words, a Great Beginning, a Great Middle AND A GREAT ENDING!!