Opera Primera is a 12 week early childhood education program that stimulates the intellectual, physical, artistic, and emotional capabilities of very young children through music. It aims at improving learning by expanding the development of multiple intelligences through activities that enhance motor coordination and brain plasticity using creativity, imagination, and language.

OPERA PRIMERA CLASS LEVELS

Overture: Opera 1 (Babies 6-15 months)

This class level mainly focuses on kinesthesia through sound exploration, rhythm awareness, exercises to stimulate neurological connectivity, and family bonding.  With a variety of music from around the world, we will experiment with sound production using different melodies, rhythms, and small percussion instruments.  Ear training, eye tracking, and fine motor control are also fundamental to this class.  We will always include a guest instrument to enjoy all the benefits of making and listening to live music.

Debut: Opera 2 (Toddlers 16-35 months)

At this age little ones are eager to experience movement. This level focuses on imitation of rhythmic patterns, intervallic singing, and introduction to some musical concepts and  symbols.  The children become more aware of classroom behavior, helping the class to do more cooperative playing with basic rhythmic ensembles and echo singing (call and response).  Experimentation with guest instruments is more directed towards making music.

Bravissimo: Opera 3 (Pre-schoolers 2.5-5 years old)

Children's intellectual skills at this age are appropriate to begin studying musical literacy in a fun way, with the use of associative images and symbols for this purpose.  The children are ready to participate in group activities aimed at stimulating their love for music and its incorporation into everyday life, developing habits of attention and order.

The use of guest instruments is also a constant in this class (classification of families of instruments), but the music activities become more sophisticated and challenging.  The children will learn how to perform, produce, and distinguish basic parameters of musical language, experiencing music notation, composition, improvisation, and sound production with their voice, body, small percussion instruments, penny whistles, and little keyboards.

If you have any questions or concerns when applying, please contact Caroline at 415-565-3238 or guildeducation@sfopera.com.