Y9

FILM
MUSIC

Name ________________________________________
Class ________________________________________
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Teacher ________________________________________
 Y9 Film Music Knowledge
Word Definition

Leitmotif A short reoccurring melody that is C Major Scale

associated/linked with a
person/object/place/entity.

Theme A short reoccurring melody.

Ostinato A continuous repeated musical

phrase/pattern. C Minor Scale
Composer A person who writes/creates music.

Interval The distance between one note and

another in pitch.

Underscore The background music in a film that is

C Whole-Tone Scale
used to create emotion.

Diegetic Music is that which the characters are

aware of .

Extra-diegetic Music which is not heard by the C Chromatic Scale

characters on screen.

Tonality The overall emotion of a sound.

Major = Happy, Minor = Sad, Whole-
Tone = Weird, Chromatic = Scary

C Major Chord C Minor Chord C Augmented Chord

(Use with Whole-Tone)

THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

C Diminished Chord
(Use with Chromatic)

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 Keyboard Note Guide

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 Powerful Knowledge Audit

PUT A NUMBER IN EACH BOX TO REFLECT WHERE YOU THINK YOUR FOR THE CORRECT WEEK
WHEN TOLD BY YOUR TEACHER
1 2 3 4 5

VERY UNCONFIDENT UNSURE YET CONFIDENT VERY

UNCONFIDENT CONFIDENT
Self Self Summative
Assessment Assessment Assessment
1 2 (Teacher Only)

I know what the difference

between a leitmotif and a
theme is and could define both

I know how to create at least 2

different emotions/mood using
harmony

I could explain multiple ways in

which to start/develop a
composition

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 Powerful Skills Audit

PUT A NUMBER IN EACH BOX TO REFLECT WHERE YOU THINK YOU ARE:

1 2 3 4 5

VERY UNCONFIDENT UNSURE YET CONFIDENT VERY

UNCONFIDENT CONFIDENT
Self Self Summative
Assessment Assessment Assessment
1 2 (Teacher Only)

I know how to create at least 2

different emotions/mood using
harmony

I can compose a leitmotif using

rhythmic and melodic
techniques

I can confidently portray my

compositional ideas to others
using an instrument

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 Lesson 1

6 Prepare For Learning 1

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What is the name of the clef
commonly played using the left
hand on piano?
2. What is the name of the symbol
used to raise the pitch of a note by
one semitone?
3. What are the names of the notes in
the spaces on a treble clef stave?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What element of music is used to
describe the variations in
loudness?
5. What is the name of the smallest
interval in music?

6. What is the musical element that

describes patterns of notes of
different lengths?

Label These Notes

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Lesson 1: Introduction to Film Music
Learning objectives
To learn about how music is used in films and the impact it has on the final
production.
Film themes set the tone for an entire film. They are frequently used on film
trailers, for example.

We will listen to five pieces of film music. Can you tell the genre of the film
from the music alone?

Put your answers below (e.g. comedy, action, adventure, tragedy, western,
horror, cartoon).

1.___________________ 2.___________________
3.___________________ 4.___________________
5.___________________

Film music enhances the scene being portrayed on screen.

We will watch two film clips. How does the music in each example add to the
film? (hint: try imagining each film without the music)

Film scene 1.
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Film scene 2.
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Preparing To Write A Film Score

Now that you have learnt about different types of film music, let’s compose our
own!

A film composer must be able to create the right mood or atmosphere for a scene
(known as the underscore) from the video footage alone (i.e. with no sound!).

We will watch the seal chase scene from ‘Happy Feet’ without the music. What
sort of music would you put with the clip? Write your answers in the table
below:

Elements Of Music Ideas

Dynamics

(Loud or Quiet)

Rhythm

(Simple or Complex)

Structure

(Different sections)

Melody

(Conjunct or Disjunct)

Instrumentation

(What instruments are used)

Tempo

(Fast or Slow)

Harmony

(Major or Minor)
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Composition and Performance
Work in pairs using appropriate sounds on the keyboard to create a percussive
soundtrack to the ‘Happy Feet’ chase scene.

Use the space below to make notes. Prepare to perform to the rest of the class!

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 Lesson 2

6 Prepare For Learning 2

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What is the name of the music that
accompanies a film?

2. What is an underscore?

3. What does structure mean?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What element of music is used to
describe a tune?

5. How many semiquavers make one

beat?

6. What is the musical element that

describes patterns of notes of the
same length?

Label These Notes

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Lesson 2: Learning objectives

To know how repetition is used in film music.

To learn about diegetic and extra-diegetic film music.
To know what leitmotif means and how it is used in films.
Learn to play ‘The Imperial March’ from Star Wars.

We will be looking at the music of John Williams, a famous film

composer.

John Williams facts:

Born: 8th February 1932, Long Island, New York, USA.

Famous films: Jaws, Star Wars, Superman, E.T., Indiana Jones,

Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Harry Potter.

Awards: 23 Grammy Awards, seven British Academy Film

Awards, five Academy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards

Repetition

We will watch two short scenes from ‘Jurassic Park’.

What are the similarities and differences between the music used?
Write your answers below.

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Diegetic and Extra-Diegetic Music

Most film music is extra-diegetic which means it is not heard by the

characters on screen – it is played ‘over the top’.

Diegetic music is that which the characters are aware of (e.g. John
William’s ‘Cantina Band’ from Star Wars).

List some possible uses of diegetic music (e.g. car radio).

1.________________________________________
2.________________________________________
3.________________________________________
4.________________________________________
5.________________________________________
6.________________________________________

Leitmotifs
A leitmotif is a motif (a short, recurring musical phrase) which
represents a specific character, place, object or idea – it’s a way of
telling the story through music.

John Williams uses this to great effect in the Star Wars films. Listen to the
following leitmotifs and, on the table over the page, describe how John
Williams’ music represents each character.

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 Character Leitmotif Description

Luke Skywalker

(Hero)

Princess Leia

(Hero)

Darth Vader

(Villain)

R2-D2 & C3-PO

(Comic relief)

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 The Imperial March

We will learn to play Darth Vader’s theme.

Play the treble and bass part in pairs on keyboards. Prepare to perform for
the class.

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 Lesson 3

6 Prepare For Learning 3

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What is a leitmotif?

2. What is a theme?

3. What does conjunct mean?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What is a word for a fast tempo?

5. What type of notation determines a

period of silence?

6. What is the musical element that

describes what order the music is
played in?

Label These Notes

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Learning objectives

To learn how major and minor tonality can be used to enhance happy or sad
film scenes.

To learn about chromatic and whole-tone scales and how these can be used to
create specific feelings in films.

Listening

We will watch a clip from ‘The Lion King’ twice, with a different piece of
music each time.

Which music worked better? How did each make you feel? Can you explain
why? Write your answer below.

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Composition Techniques Card Sort
Building on what you have learnt so far, sort phrases below into two groups.
Write your answers in the correct column on the table on the next page.

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Happy/Light music often uses: Sad/Dark music often uses:

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The Chromatic Scale in C

The chromatic scale is often used for horror films, like ‘Jaws’, for example.

The Whole-Tone Scale in C

The whole-tone scale creates an ‘other-worldly’ soundscape – perfect for

films with aliens or ghosts

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Composition

In pairs, compose a short piece (1 min approx.) that represents one of

the following pictures.

Suggested scales have been provided. Prepare to perform for the rest of the
class.

Sadness (Minor)

Horror (Chromatic)

Alien Encounter (Whole Tone)

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 Lesson 4

6 Prepare For Learning 4

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What different things could a
leitmotif represent?

2. Name one film composer?

3. Why is there music in films?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What is the duration of a minim?

5. What musical element is used to

define how high or low a note is?

6. What is the name of this symbol?

Label These Notes

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Assessment: Composing For A Film

For the final assessment, you will write a 1-minute composition for a film
clip in pairs on keyboards.

We are going to use a section of a battle scene from Star Wars, leading
up to the arrival of Darth Vader, the main villain.

The music should build in tension, be scary, and energetic.

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Spotting Sheet

Make notes beside each scene with musical ideas you might use.

Remember to think about the features of film music we have discussed and the
elements of music.

Scene 1: _________________________________

Start Time: _______________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________
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Scene 2: _________________________________

Start Time: _______________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________
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Scene 3: _________________________________

Start Time: _______________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________
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Scene 3: _________________________________

Start Time: _______________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________
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 Lesson 5

6 Prepare For Learning 5

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What does disjunct mean?

2. What is an ostinato?

3. What interval evokes a feeling of

power?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What does tempo describe?

5. Define harmony.

6. What is the name of this symbol?

Label These Notes

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 Start Composing!
Use the following pages to make notes and record ideas.

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 Lesson 6

6 Prepare For Learning 6

Prior Learning Retrieval Your Answer

1. What kind of tempo would give a
feeling of excitement?

2. What is articulation in music?

3. Name one chord from the key of D

Major?

The Elements Of Music

Your Answer
Recall
4. What tonality evokes a feeling of
happiness ?

5. Define instrumentation.

6. What is the name of this symbol?

Label These Notes

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 Finish Composing!
Use the following pages write out your composition ready to
perform to the class.
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