1. Display a picture of Rossini. Play an excerpt from any of his music, such as an overture.
2. Introduce Rossini as the composer of the music. Elicit student responses to the music. Record responses.

• Born February 29, 1792 in Pesaro, Italy off the Adriatic coast.
• Father was a trumpet player; mother was an opera singer
• As a child, he showed early music talent; he sang in a church choir and played the harpsichord, violin and piano
• Started composing at a young age and wrote thirty-nine operas in nineteen years. This allowed him to take a very early retirement
• Died on November 13, 1868

3. Listen to overtures from operas by Rossini. Some of these may include La Cenerentola, The Barber of Seville, The Italian Girl in Algiers, and William Tell.

Compare and contrast the works.

• Ask: What musical clues tell you that these overtures may have been composed by the same composer? (Sample answers: tempos, melody, humor in the music, use of crescendo) Record all answers.
• Cite the fact that Rossini frequently recycled his own music and used it over again in his other compositions.

1. Discuss other composers who lived at the same time as Rossini (e.g. Bellini, Beethoven, Verdi, Donizetti and Mendelssohn). Construct a "Composers Timeline" by placing a cutout figure on the timeline complete with dates.
2. Many of Rossini's operas were set in different geographic places, e.g. The Turk in Italy, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Moses in Egypt, William Tell, and The Journey to Reims. Distribute a map and introduce the activity "Rossini's Geography." Have students locate these places on the map and create a music-relevant symbol to identify them.
3. Encourage students to keep a music journal in which they are able to record their responses to Rossini's music. Include written and illustrated reactions.