From Monday 25 January, we released three weeks of online music lessons for free for children aged 7 to 14 years. All episodes are still available to watch on demand.
Opera singers Sarah Parkin, Peter Martin, Maud Millar, John Lofthouse and Lara Rebekah Harvey, together with director Genevieve Raghu, have devised dynamic lessons for different age groups with fun singing exercises for the younger age groups and introductions to operatic music, terminology, stories and characters for older age groups.
Catch up with all the sessions here:
Monday 25 January
Magic Travel Machine with Peter Martin, for ages 7–11
The first in our series of music lessons includes a vocal warm up, a ride in a Magic Travel Machine, and a visit to the fish and chip shop.
Tuesday 26 January
Women in Love Part 1 with Maud Millar, for ages 11–14
Obsession, confession and a kiss. Explore the theme of first love in Schubert’s song, ‘Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel’.
Wednesday 27 January
Shake Off Your Shy with Sarah Parkin, for ages 7–11
Our third music lesson includes a vocal warm up and a tongue-twisting rewrite of Rossini’s ‘William Tell Overture’.
Thursday 28 January
An Introduction to Opera with John Lofthouse, for ages 7–14
John Lofthouse’s Introduction to Opera tells the story of a 400 year old multimedia art form, and introduces some of the people who bring it to the stage.
Friday 29 January
Flying Into a Musical: Inventing a Magical Car with Genevieve Raghu and Lara Rebekah Harvey, for ages 7–11
Discover Ian Fleming’s classic story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and explore the songs from Richard and Robert Sherman’s 1968 musical.
Monday 1 February
Women in Love Part 2 with Maud Millar, for ages 11–14
Heads turn whenever Musetta walks by, but what does she really think about love? Maud Millar explores the music and text of one of Puccini’s most fascinating characters.
Tuesday 2 February
Mango Morning with Peter Martin, for ages 7–11
Kick start your musical week with a bracing vocal warm up, a bottle of pop, a wheelie bin and some juicy exotic fruit.
Wednesday 3 February
Manage your Mischief with Sarah Parkin, for ages 7–11
Taken from a live session with a KS2 group, Sarah Parkin’s second lesson includes a vocal warm up, memory games and an introduction to one of opera’s greatest melodies.
Thursday 4 February
An Introduction to Carmen with John Lofthouse, for ages 11–14
The second episode of John Lofthouse’s Introduction to Opera series takes us to sun-baked Seville, the setting of one of the most dynamic dramas in opera, Carmen.
Friday 5 February
Flying into a Musical: It’s All About Sweets with Genevieve Raghu and Lara Rebekah Harvey, for ages 7–11
Genevieve and Lara continue their journey through Ian Fleming’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This week they’re focusing on one of the sweetest songs in theatre.
Monday 8 February
Women in Love with Maud Millar, for ages 11–14
Countess Almaviva’s husband is a cheat. Humiliated and angry, she resolves to teach him a lesson. The trouble is that she still loves him. Maud Millar concludes her survey of female characters with a focus on the words and music of Mozart’s complex heroine.
Tuesday 9 February
Boost your Bravado with Sarah Parkin, for ages 7–11
What do you do when you’re feeling shy or nervous? Sarah Parkin’s final lesson includes a vocal warm up, a famous operatic melody, and an introduction to one of the most underrated super powers: singing.
Wednesday 10 February
An Introduction to La bohème with John Lofthouse, for ages 11–14
There’s a change of scene in part three of John Lofthouse’s Introduction to Opera series, as we move from Seville to Paris and Puccini’s La bohème. It is Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter. Snow is falling outside and two strangers are about to fall in love…
Thursday 11 February
All aboard with Peter Martin, for ages 7–11
Start the day with a silly warm up and learn a new song, as Peter Martin fires up Engine Number 9 and speeds down the railway track. Will he get his money back? Wait and see…
Friday 12 February
Flying into a Musical: Truly Scrumptious with Genevieve Raghu and Lara Rebekah Harvey, for ages 7–11
Genevieve Raghu and Lara Rebekah Harvey wrap up their journey through Ian Fleming’s classic story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, with an introduction to one of the sweetest characters, Truly Scrumptious.
All sessions will be available free on demand from 10am via Opera Holland Park’s Facebook page.
Live-streamed lessons can also be arranged with school groups by contacting the Inspire team at inspire@operahollandpark.com.