Using rhythm and texture in film music
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use rhythm and texture to develop an ostinato for a film scene.
Key learning points
- Rhythm and texture are crucial elements to develop when creating music for action scenes.
- Repeating ostinati, driving rhythms and accents can create a sense of energy and excitement.
- Thickening the texture also builds energy and excitement.
- Using these strategies, a simple melodic idea can be developed into exciting music for an action scene.
Keywords
Driving rhythm - a rhythm based on fast, repeating notes, often quavers or semiquavers
Ostinato - a repeating pattern that forms the basis of a piece of music
Accent - an emphasis placed on a note
Texture - how many different layers of sound play at once, and how they interact
Doubling - when two parts play the same melody
Common misconception
Repetitive film music is not very interesting and can't build excitement.
Music that repeats ideas can build excitement if the composer develops aspects of it. By adding layers, changing rhythms and developing the texture, a simple repeated idea can be developed into an exciting musical soundworld.
Teacher tip
Analysing music in action films is a logical extension of and application of the content in this lesson. Watch scenes from the Bourne trilogy, modern James Bond action sequences or other thrillers and challenge pupils to analyse how the music supports the excitement and energy of the scenes.
Equipment
DAW, notation software, keyboard or other suitable instrument as a composition tool
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.__________ harmony consists of notes that sound pleasant together (e.g. a C minor chord).
Q2.__________ harmony consists of notes that clash, creating tension.
Q3.What is a pedal?
Q4.Place these steps in the correct order for creating a pedal in film music.
Q5.Playing adjacent notes in a chord creates .
Q6.Which of these is a harmonic device?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.__________ rhythms are rhythms that repeat fast notes, creating energy.
Q2.__________ are a type of articulation that emphasises certain notes.
Q3.A repeating musical idea that forms the basis of a composition is called an .
Q4.Match each musical texture term to its correct description.
playing the same melody in two parts or instruments
many instruments or parts playing together
few instruments or parts playing at once
adding more parts or instruments to increase texture
Q5.Arrange these steps in the correct order to double a melody.
Q6.Thickening the texture can affect the mood of film music in which ways?
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: Using rhythm and texture in film music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: Using rhythm and texture in film 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 Film music: developing ideas and understanding unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.