Tension in early movies
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how music in silent movies helps to create tension and suspense.
Key learning points
- Mickey-mousing is a common technique in early movies.
- This is where the music copies the movement of a character.
- Many early movies also involve scenes in which music is key to creating suspense.
- Typical suspenseful music uses dissonant chords (such as diminished sevenths) and sudden changes.
Keywords
Mickey-mousing - a technique in which the film music copies movement on screen (e.g. ascending notes in time with a character ascending stairs)
Diminished seventh - a chord containing four notes that is useful for creating a feeling of sudden drama
Dissonance - a combination of notes which create a harsh or tense sound - opposite of consonance
Common misconception
A diminished seventh chord is just like any other extended chord - a triad with added notes.
A diminished seventh chord is quite unique as every interval is the same size (three semitones). It is different from extended chords that add notes to a triad. It has been used for centuries as a tense, dramatic chord, including in silent movies.
Teacher tip
For Task B, focus on creating mood through articulation, dynamics and low pitch. The note choice for the melody is not crucial, so encourage students to be creative with their chromatic melodies. You could extend learning by challenging them to play the staccato melody in 3rds rather than octaves.
Equipment
DAW and MIDI keyboards, or keyboards/pianos
File needed for this lesson
Suspense scene 5.76 MB (MP4)
Download this file to use in the lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Movies without recorded sound are known as __________ movies.
Q2.Silent movies were the most common type of movies between the 1890s and when?
Q3.Which statements are true about music in silent movies? Choose all that apply.
Q4.__________ runs were a common feature of melodies in chase scenes
Q5.When is a title theme typically first heard in a film?
Q6.A leitmotif can represent a __________, place or idea.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is mickey-mousing?
Q2.Which statement is not true about music in silent movies?
Q3.Which of these is an example of mickey-mousing?
Q4.How many notes are in a diminished seventh chord?
Q5.How many semitones are between each note in a diminished seventh chord?
Q6.Which of these is not a typical feature of music in suspense scenes?
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Tension in early movies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Tension in early movies, 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 3 music lessons from the Film Music unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.