Analyze the Role and Importance of Music Used in Film

Artistic Process
Creating
Performing
Responding
Anchor Standard
Cr1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Cr2 - Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Cr3 - Refine and complete artistic work.
Pr4 - Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Pr5 - Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Pr6 - Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Re7 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Re8 - Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Re9 - Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Grade Level
Accomplished
Advanced
Proficient
Process Component
Analyze
Primary Strand
General Music
Additional Strand
Composition/Theory
Harmonizing Instruments
Technology
Traditional/Emerging Ensemble

Procedure

Analyze a Model:
• While viewing various video excerpts from a film or cartoon, students
pay particular attention to the action, setting, characters, and
accompanying music.
• Teacher guides active listening.
• Students respond, orally and in writing, to specific motives and
technical/aural cues that are associated with cinematic tools such as
suspense and foreshadowing. Students comment on tempo,
dynamics, instrumentation, melody, harmony, etc. while watching the
excerpt.
• Students listen and respond (orally and in writing) to the musical
soundtrack without seeing the visual action.
• Students view the videos as a silent picture.
• Students discuss the role, thought process, and artistic choices
inherent in being a film music composer.

Create a Soundtrack:
• Have students do some or all of the following:
– Using a keyboard or sequencer, students represent the various
musical elements they have identified to create their own
soundtrack.

Select and Organize:
– Students choose other music that would “fit” the action.
– Students choose music that would change the feeling of the
video.

Standards Code

MU:Re7.2.C.HSI,HSII, HSIII

Suggested Assessment

Individual and class reflection:

What are the musical conventions that contribute to the change in the feeling of the video?
How might the music composed be edited or extended to create the intended feeling of the video?

Enduring Understanding

Response to music is informed by analyzing content (social, cultural, and historical) and how creators and performer manipulate the elements of music.

Essential Question

How does understanding the structure and content of musical works inform the response?

Additional Instructional Ideas

Write a musical critique demonstrating an understanding of the use of musical elements.
Discuss music used at a special occasion and analyze its function in society.