Learning experience: Music for Film
What is 'Music for Film'?
This research activity provides a guide for you to find out more about Film Music, how it is defined and used today, including a case study. Download and print this form to fill in your answers. You will use this as a basis for an in-class presentation.
This research activity provides a guide for you to find out more about Film Music, how it is defined and used today, including a case study. Download and print this form to fill in your answers. You will use this as a basis for an in-class presentation.
Part A: A Definition
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (who award Oscars) have their own detailed definitions of original music and its relationship to multimedia. Here is their site: http://www.oscars.org/index.html
Look at their site and answer the following two questions which will give their definition of Music for Film:
1. Which three categories do the Academy Awards allow for music nominations?
2. What is the Academy's definition of a soundtrack?
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (who award Oscars) have their own detailed definitions of original music and its relationship to multimedia. Here is their site: http://www.oscars.org/index.html
Look at their site and answer the following two questions which will give their definition of Music for Film:
1. Which three categories do the Academy Awards allow for music nominations?
2. What is the Academy's definition of a soundtrack?
Part B: Choosing a Case Study
The Academy has been giving awards for soundtracks since the 1930s. Search online for a soundtrack that won an Academy Award. This soundtrack will become your case study. Answer the following questions to provide a context for your chosen soundtrack.
1. What was the name of the film and which year was it released?
2. What was the film about?
3. Who composed the soundtrack?
4. Who directed the film?
The Academy has been giving awards for soundtracks since the 1930s. Search online for a soundtrack that won an Academy Award. This soundtrack will become your case study. Answer the following questions to provide a context for your chosen soundtrack.
1. What was the name of the film and which year was it released?
2. What was the film about?
3. Who composed the soundtrack?
4. Who directed the film?
Part C: Getting to know the Case Study
Search online for primary sources that you can use in your research. Use the following guides to help you and write down the links:
1. Find a YouTube clip of a scene from the film.
2. Find an original online recording (via YouTube, iTunes, or similar)
3. If possible, find a copy of the original sheet music, even if it's just the first page (sometimes searching via 'images' can help)
4. If possible, find an original review of the music to gauge audience response at the time.
Search online for primary sources that you can use in your research. Use the following guides to help you and write down the links:
1. Find a YouTube clip of a scene from the film.
2. Find an original online recording (via YouTube, iTunes, or similar)
3. If possible, find a copy of the original sheet music, even if it's just the first page (sometimes searching via 'images' can help)
4. If possible, find an original review of the music to gauge audience response at the time.
Part D: Music Analysis
Listen to the music used in the film scene that you found online. Use your knowledge of the musical concepts and make a short analysis of the music. For example:
Tone Colour - what type of ensemble is used? Name the instruments.
Listen to the music used in the film scene that you found online. Use your knowledge of the musical concepts and make a short analysis of the music. For example:
Tone Colour - what type of ensemble is used? Name the instruments.
Part E: Synthesis
Start to think about the style of the music (as analysed through the musical concepts) and how this relates to the film. Here's some questions to guide you:
1. What is the mood/character of the scene and how is this reflected in the music?
2. Does the music anticipate or mimic the dramatic action?
3. Is there use of silence?
4. What is the purpose of the music?
5. How do you think the composer has matched or enhanced the on-screen dramatic context?
Start to think about the style of the music (as analysed through the musical concepts) and how this relates to the film. Here's some questions to guide you:
1. What is the mood/character of the scene and how is this reflected in the music?
2. Does the music anticipate or mimic the dramatic action?
3. Is there use of silence?
4. What is the purpose of the music?
5. How do you think the composer has matched or enhanced the on-screen dramatic context?
Part F: Presentation
Read over the information you have collected and evaluate it to see what is relevant, and what may need further support. Go back to the original question 'What is Film Music?' and add any further information necessary to your answer/individual case study. Prepare an in-class presentation that will answer the question, backed up by evidence and analysis.
Read over the information you have collected and evaluate it to see what is relevant, and what may need further support. Go back to the original question 'What is Film Music?' and add any further information necessary to your answer/individual case study. Prepare an in-class presentation that will answer the question, backed up by evidence and analysis.
