The development of video game music
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how video game music developed from film music, and can create a simple video game theme.
Key learning points
- Video game music has transformed as computer technology has developed over the last 50 years.
- Modern video game music fulfils similar roles to film music - creating mood, energy and helping to ‘tell the story’.
- Video game music is based on repeating linear loops that need to be able to repeat indefinitely.
- It is also adaptive, changing in response to the player’s actions.
- Video game theme songs should capture the overall mood and atmosphere of the game.
Keywords
Theme song - a piece of music that introduces a film or game and captures its overall atmosphere
Linear loop - a repeating musical idea in a video game that can be looped indefinitely
Adaptive music - music that can change by reacting to a stimulus; video game music does this when it reacts to the player's actions
Common misconception
Video games composers just have to compose different music for different scenes, like a film composer.
To be really effective, it is more complex than this. The music they compose must be able to repeat indefinitely, while sounding musically interesting. It also has to seamlessly transition into different moods, reacting to changes in the action.
Teacher tip
Many pupils will find this an engaging area of learning. Where possible, encourage deeper engagement by exploring examples of video game music as a class, or asking pupilss to analyse the music of their favourite video games - how do the musical features suit this game and enhance the experience?
Equipment
DAW, notation software, keyboard or other suitable instrument as a composition tool
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a main purpose of film music?
Q2.What is a leitmotif?
Q3.__________ are specific actions on screen that film composers plan their music around.
Q4.Which genre of stage music influenced the way film music developed?
Q5.Which family of instruments is often associated with important and powerful characters?
Q6.What texture would best suit a busy, chaotic fight scene in a film?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these features of early video game music were the result of the limitations of computers at the time?
Q2.Which of these is not a difference between modern and early video game music?
Q3.Linear __________ are repeating sections of music used in video games.
Q4.Video game music must be so it can keep playing during gameplay.
Q5.Which of these would be an effective feature in racing game music?
Q6.Match the video game type to a suitable musical feature.
driving, energetic rhythms
music with calm, repetitive patterns
music with eerie, unsettling sounds
Synthesised electronic sounds
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: The development of video game music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: The development of video game music, 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 4 music lessons from the Extending understanding in film music: video game music unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.