a repeating musical idea in a video game that can be looped indefinitely

music that can change by reacting to a stimulus; video game music reacts to the player's actions

where layers of music are 'stacked' on top of each other and change in response to the player’s actions

notes of a chord played separately, ascending or descending

adding notes to a melody to create harmony with the main melodic notes (also called harmonising)

We could add fast rhythmic parts

British English CC

We could double the melody in octaves 

Adding fast arpeggios in a chord track

Task A feedback

Compare the melodies in these two clips: clip 1

Compare the melodies in these two clips: clip 2

Melody

Harmonised with added notes above the main melody

Harmonised with added notes below the main melody

Original melody

2nd 

3rd higher

3rd lower

6th above

6th below

Adding a harmony line

Check: harmonised melody audio

Task B feedback

Vertical layering

Music

The development of video game music

Developing a video game theme

Horizontal resequencing

Arranging and analysing video game music

Extending understanding in film music: video game music

__________ layering is where layers of music are 'stacked' on top of each other and change in response to the player’s actions.

A series of notes from a chord played one after another.

Two notes played together at the same time.

Removing instruments to thin the texture.

Which of these is not an example of vertical layering?

Adding extra notes to create chords under a melody.

The two intervals most effective for harmonising a melody are {{}} and sixth.

Layers must play completely different tempos.

For vertical layering to work, which of these must be true?

To respond to the player’s actions in real time.

What are the repeating sections of music called in video game music?

Which of these was a result of limited memory in early video games?

A __________ rhythm is a fast, repeating rhythm.

Video game music changes as the player interacts.

Film music has unlimited playback length.

Film music repeats endlessly during a scene.

Which of these is a difference between film and video game music?

slow, chromatic melodies with soft dynamics

Which of these would be a suitable feature in a tense, mysterious spy game?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Vertical layering

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.