Film music: atmosphere
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create atmosphere in my film score, considering effective ways to build on my motif to create feelings of tension and danger.
Key learning points
- Music can effectively create a sense of atmosphere, for example, creating feelings of tension, danger or drama.
- Repeating and adapting a motif throughout a film score can help us to follow a narrative.
- We need to think about the structure of the music when scoring so that the music clearly enhances the visual narrative.
Keywords
Film score - on original piece of music composed to accompany a film or television programme that contributes to the narrative by adding emotion, tension or drama
Scoring - creating original music for film or television that enhances the narrative
Atmosphere - using music to create the emotional mood or tone of the narrative
Motif - a short recurring musical idea in a film score that represents a place, character, emotion or idea
Common misconception
We all respond in the same way to a piece of music.
Our response to music is personal. We may agree or disagree with others on the feelings and atmosphere we sense in a piece of music. We can have interesting discussions around our personal responses to music.
Teacher tip
The compositional element of this lesson and unit can be completed on classroom percussion instruments, keyboards or using a digital audio workspace such as Chrome Music Lab, Garageband or Bandlab. This is a great unit for exploring music technology in your classroom.
Equipment
If creating using a DAW (digital audio workstation), pupils will need access to tablets or laptops. Otherwise, a selection of pitched and unpitched classroom percussion.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.How might you describe the elements of music?
Q2.How is a percussion instrument played?
Q3.The violin, viola, cello and double bass belong to the family.
Q4.The musical element means 'the way the music is organised', thinking about what comes first and then what comes next.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A short recurring musical idea in a film score that represents a place, character, emotion or idea is called a ...
Q2.Why are film scores used in films and television series?
Q3.True or false? A motif in a film score can change and adapt.
Q4.When considering how to order a film score to fit the narrative, which element of music are you thinking about?
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Film music: atmosphere, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Film music: atmosphere, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Compose and create: nature documentary inspired film scores unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.