Cendrillon Teaching Guide
Music Key Stage 4
Lesson plan
Perceptions of reality
- Start by playing the class ‘Ah! Douce enfant’as an introduction.
- Ask pupils to write a short description of the character they imagine (describing musical devices used to achieve this, employing specific musical terms).
- Send the class into groups and ask each to take a different character from Cinderella and to compose a short piece of music on their instruments to represent them.
Main activity
Homework
- Ask pupils to listen to ‘Toi qui m’es apparue’ (lovers’ duet) from the opera. Point out that both lovers use female voices, even the Prince. Ask pupils to write a short piece of prose describing how the music represents the lovers and what effect is achieved by having two women sing. Is the composer trying to evoke a specific world or reality? Are they trying to make a point?
- This can be extended to a further project on moments in music when women have played men and vice versa. What is the intention of this is? What impact does it have on the dramatic world created?
Image credits: Cinderella (Cendrillon), Tour 2018, photos by Richard Hubert Smith