Would you like to go behind the velvet curtain and discover the hidden world of opera, find out how it works and debate whether it’s still relevant today? This free 4-week course is for anyone interested in opera and how it works musically and theatrically, whether or not you’ve experienced opera before.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Describe opera and its main musical and dramatic features
• Discuss how opera has changed with the world around the opera house
• Explore the major roles involved in staging an opera, both in the past and today
• Reflect on opera’s changing role in culture and society during its four-century history
• Explore how new technologies have altered the way audiences experience opera
• Discuss what opera has to offer in the 21st century

Who is the course for?
The course is for anyone interested in opera and how it works musically and theatrically, whether or not you’ve experienced opera before.
What do people say about this course?
"I started the course knowing very little about opera, having seen a live feed of La Boheme at a local cinema. I have learned so much from the presenters, and enjoyed reading the comments in the discussions. Thanks to you all I’m looking forward to seeing my next opera." Maralyn Griffiths
"This was my first course on FutureLearn. I picked it because I knew nothing of opera and thought that would be the best way to try out this format. I have to say, this course set the bar for future ones incredibly high." Natalie Torosian

If you’ve never been to an opera, or assumed it’s not for you, you’ll learn the basics in a new and exciting way. And if you already enjoy opera and want to learn more, this course will enrich your future experiences, helping you to develop a toolkit of operatic concepts to draw on long after you have finished the course.
Now is your chance to explore this diverse and spectacular art form.
​Follow the link for more information and a short introductory video. 
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/inside-opera?

Gwinear School pupils enjoyed their Creative Arts Day at the Eden Project in January when they travelled to St Austell to take part in a "musical extravaganza".  The South West Arts Award Conference was held at the Eden Project and pupils were invited to join in a "celebration of the arts".
Creative workshops held by industry professionals saw half the children work with Duchy Opera to reproduce dancing and singing based on the Spanish Toreador Song (music from "Carmen"). The other half worked with dance professional, Sarah Waller, to create group pieces based around the theme of pirates.
Chair of governors, Cathy Woolcock, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the opera workshop and would highly recommend it to anyone. The children were completely absorbed by the task in hand and concentrated for the whole hour, which was most impressive.”      Read more from West Briton here.

Arts head: Mark Tinkler, English Pocket Opera Company
The artistic director sees opera as a learning tool and believes that schools, not hubs, need to be the main deliverer of music education.

In this interesting article in today's Guardian he describes what Pocket Opera is doing in schools and exposes the dearth of music education. He says: "At the very core of our mission is the belief that music has the power to transform lives and communities." English Pocket Opera Company works with up to 50,000 children a year. (2012 figure)