I have some fun facts about the Phantom of the Opera and a styles of music unit study. Also, grab more ideas on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies page and Homeschool Music Curriculum.
Music is defined as vocal or instrumental sounds, or a combination of both, combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
Some of the things that make different genres of music are the instruments used, tempo, song structure, timbre, rhythm, song structure, cultural influence, and phrasing.
Your child probably already has music preferences but listening to different genres has a lot of benefits beyond musical appreciation.
First, look at some of these facts about some of our favorite music which comes from the Phantom of the Opera.
More Homeschool Music Curriculum Resources
7 Facts About Phantom of The Opera
- The Phantom of the Opera is based on a 1910 novel of the same name, the songs were written for the stage adaptation by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
- This opera has won over 70 major theater awards, including 3 Olivier Awards, 7 Tony Awards- including Best Musical, 7 Drama Desk Awards, and 5 Outer Critic Circle Awards.
- The Phantom’s make-up takes 2 hours to put on and 30 minutes to take off. First, the face is moisturized and shaved, prosthetics are attached, and then wigs, microphones, and contact lenses are added.
- Each performance requires- 130 cast, crew, and orchestra members, 230 costumes, 120 automated cues, 22 scene changes, 281 candles, 551 pounds of dry ice, 10 fog and smoke machines.
- It has been played in 15 different languages- English, French, German, Japanese, Danish, Polish, Swedish, Castilian, Hungarian, Dutch, Korean, Portuguese, Mexican Spanish, Estonian and Russian.
- It first opened in London’s West End in 1986 and then on Broadway in New York in 1988.
- It is the longest-running Broadway show of all time (In the US), 35 years, the curtain closed on this beautiful work for the last time on April 16, 2023.
Also, look at some more facts that can be used to turn the Phantom of the Opera into a music unit study.
Phantom of the Opera Unit Study Ideas
Begin with understanding some background information about the book.
The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux, was first published in 1911.
And the book was brought to life by a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Learn About the Main Characters
Next. introduce some of the characters.
- Christine, a beautiful young singer from Norway
- Raoul, a rich, handsome young Frenchman
- La Carlotta, a famous Spanish opera singer
- Madame Giry, a woman who looks after the boxes in the Opera House
- The Persian, a strange man who watches the phantom
- Monsieur Firmin, a director of the Opera House
Also, learn about the famous Opera House in Paris in 1880. The Phantom of the Opera occurs within the Le Relais Paris Opéra or the Paris Opera House.
Understand the History of the Le Relais Paris Opera
Because the novel features mystery and horror, learn about why the Opera House was chosen.
Look at the Paris Opera House history and this site even has a virtual tour.
Explore the Places of Entertainment in 19th Century Paris
This site offers images of the building and shows examples how the Paris Opera House has appeared in French art.
Opera v Operetta
Next, learn about the basics of a Opera.
Do you know the difference between an opera and an operetta?
Use these free guidebooks on the site Opera Colorado’s Opera for Beginners to understand.
Listening to Different Music Styles
Just listening to music has so many benefits.
Music is known to reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.
These are all great benefits for a homeschooler.
But they also gain appreciation for and learn to identify different genres of music through listening to different styles of music.
This is not a comprehensive list but covers the most popular music styles.
One of the simplest ways to study each is to create a playlist using your favorite music streaming service like iTunes and add a few songs for each of the categories you wish to cover.
Then, as your child is listening, have them rate each style of music, encourage them to pay attention to the instruments, speed, and lyrics, and then make observations. They can also rate each on a scale of 1-10.
Music Styles
- Classical- This refers to Western art music composed during the Classical period (1750-1820) and beyond that. It is known for its complexity and orchestration.
- Opera- A form of Western Classical music. Originally, operas were entirely sung, but nowadays they also include spoken dialogue. It tells a story through music and singing.
- Country- Has its roots in the folk traditions of the southern United States. It features acoustic guitars, fiddles, and storytelling lyrics about rural lifestyles, love, and heartbreak. Artists: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Dwight Yokum
- Jazz- Jazz includes styles such as swing, bebop, and fusion. It has harmonies, improvisations, and syncopated rhythms. Artists: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane.
- Rock-Known for its use of electric guitars, drums, and strong vocal performances. It also includes sub-genres like classic rock, alternative rock, and heavy metal.
- Pop- Generally tends to be catchy and melodic. It has simple song structures, and electronic elements, and focuses on themes of love and relationships. Artists: Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber
- Reggae– Originated in Jamaica and is characterized by its off-beat rhythms, syncopation, and lyrics are often social and politically based. Artists: Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff
- Dance/Electronic – Produced using electronic instruments, such as synthesizers and drum machines. It includes sub-genres like techno, house, and trance, known for their repetitive beats and electronic soundscapes.
- Hip Hop/rap – This style emerged out of African-American communities and incorporates elements of rap, beats, and sampling. It often addresses political as well as social issues.
- R&B-R&B (Rhythm and Blues): R&B combines elements of jazz, gospel, and blues. The emphasis is on soulful singing and smooth melodies, it can often focus on romantic relationships and personal experiences.
Finally, look at some of these resources to help you build a study of music.
8 Books and Resources for a Music Unit Study
There are many concepts to cover for a music unit study and one of them is to learn about styles of music.
The Phantom of the Opera was first published as a serialization in Le Gaulois in 1909. The novel is partly inspired by historical events at the Paris Opera during the nineteenth century and an apocryphal tale concerning the use of a former ballet pupil's skeleton in Carl Maria von Weber's 1841 production of Der Freischütz. The setting of The Phantom of the Opera came from an actual Paris opera house, Palais Garnier, that Leroux had heard the rumors about from the time the opera house was finished. Act one of the opera Helle had just finished when a fire in the roof of the opera house had melted through a wire holding a counterweight for the chandelier, causing a crash that injured several and killed one. Using this accident paired with rumors of a ghost in that same opera house, Leroux wrote Le Fantôme de l'Opéra and published it in 1910
A beautiful keepsake if you have serious lovers of the music like I do. Plays the Tune: "Music of the Night", 18 note movement
Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades: Book 1 will introduce children to seven different composers, dating from 1685 to 1828 (Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Paganini and Schubert). Each composer's childhood and adult life are vividly described in individual biographies. Every important incident is mentioned and every detail of the stories is true. Each book contains written music and delightful pictures throughout. It is more than the human side of these books that will make them live, for in the music the great masters breathe. This book includes a variety of hands-on activities such as: geography lessons, history lessons, recipes, instrument studies, music vocabulary, hand writing, musical facts of the Classical period, timelines, character trait studies, and so much more. Geared for a variety of learners-auditory, kinesthetic, visual, and just plain "active"-the Student Activity Book is an excellent companion to your reading experience. * Exceeds all of the national standards required for music appreciation (kindergarten - sixth grade.) * User- friendly for multi-age groups * Geared for a variety of learners- visual, auditory and kinesthetic * Incorporates activities from across the curriculum.
The Music Appreciation: Middle Ages Thru Classical Era course consists of 36 lessons about the music, genres, styles, and composers of Western Music from 450-1800. You'll learn about Gregorian Chant, the beginnings of musical notation, organum, Medieval church modes, Hildegard von Bingen, Guido d'Arezzo, Josquin des Prez, madrigals, motets, the beginnings of opera, music of the Reformation, Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, hymn writers, Beethoven, and many more!
Style — the distinctive manner of presentation, construction, and execution in any art — is a topic of primary importance in music history. This highly regarded text by noted musicologist Richard Crocker (University of California, Berkeley) takes a much-needed fresh look at the subject and attempts to reshape some basic ideas in the light of modern research. Seeking the reasons for stylistic change within the history of style itself (rather than in the history of men or of ideas), this enlightening account shows how music, growing out of its own past, has shaped its own development.Professor Crocker's exceptionally clear and systematic presentation enables students to easily follow the evolution of Western musical style from Gregorian Chant (ca. 750) to the atonal music of the mid-20th century. The book stresses the continuity of basic musical principles over long periods of history, while it explores in detail moments of high stylistic achievement and the composers who exemplified them.
Rock and roll sprang from a combination of African-American genres, Western swing, and country music that exploded in post World War II America. Jim O'Connor explains what constitutes rock music, follows its history and sub-genres through famous musicians and groups, and shows how rock became so much more than just a style of music influencing fashion, language, and lifestyle.
Self-paced online music appreciation courses especially suited for homeschoolers either at home or at a homeschool co-op.
