Film music: habitats
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compose a motif and use this to begin scoring a nature inspired film score, considering firstly the habitat in my narrative.
Key learning points
- A film score is an effective tool for adding emotion, tension and drama to a visual story.
- The Planet Earth series is an award winning documentary that highlights the impactfulness of powerful film scores.
- Creating a motif that represents something in the narrative helps us associate the sound with the visuals.
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
Soundtrack - an recording of all the songs and music used in a film or television series
Habitat - an environment or place where an animal or plant normally lives
Scoring - creating original music for film or television that enhances the narrative
Motif - a short recurring musical idea in a film score that represents a place, character, emotion or idea
Common misconception
Film scores and programme music are the same thing.
A film score is synchronised to the film. It supports the visual, enhancing the story as it happens. Programme music tells a narrative, but is a standalone piece of music and is not bound to the storytelling.
Teacher tip
If you have time across your week, you may like to explore some of the soundtrack music from Planet Earth and compare this to the film scores. Examples include Mother Nature by RAYE and Hans Zimmer and Pompeii MMXXIII by Bastille and Hans Zimmer.
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.Which of the following are elements of music?
Q2.The violin belongs to which family of instruments?
Q3.When we combine notes to make a memorable tune, we call this a ...
Q4.A creates new music.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A is an original piece of music composed to accompany a film or television programme that contributes to the narrative by adding emotion, tension or drama.
Q2.A successful motif should be:
Q3.The music for the three Planet Earth series are examples of:
Q4.Match the type of music to its definition.
an original piece of music that contributes to the narrative
the selection of music used in a film or television series
music that aims to represent something non-musical, such as a story
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Film music: habitats, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Film music: habitats, 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.