Musical Storytelling in Film
Music • Year 10th Grade • 50 • 20 students • Created with AI following Aligned with Common Core State Standards
Teaching Instructions
Lesson briefing on how to use certain musical techniques to write leitmotif for film music, students should be composing a 30-45 minute music for the project later. Can work in duos.
First we must go through these ideas to make sure they understand them, help me draft a rundown on how to present these and test their knowledge on :
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- Musical Elements First you need to understand what the elements of music are. The elements are shown below with their meaning also. Dynamics Rhythm Structure Melody Instrumentation Texture Tempo Harmony Means ‘volume’. How ‘loud’ or ‘soft’ something is Means the ‘beat’. The part that you would tap to keep in time Means the layout of the music. E.g. music usually starts with an introduction Means the main tune of the music. You usually ‘hum’ or sing this part Means the instruments that you hear and HOW they are played Means how ‘sounds’ are combined in layers Means the ‘speed’ of the music Means how ‘notes’ are combined together to make chords (not sounds like texture)
Go through these ideas, how to present them interactively Almost all film music themes make use of a ‘leitmotif’ (pronounced ‘light motif’) • A leitmotif is a very short motif that can represent a: • Character – for example ‘The Darth Vader theme’ or ‘Superman’ theme • Scene – for example ‘Jaws’ when an attack is about to happen • Concept or idea – the Harry Potter theme, ‘Hedwig’s Theme’ which represents magic and adventure • Emotion or feeling – for example the ‘Jaws’ theme which represents fear • A leitmotif is usually very short, just a few seconds long. Composers will then turn the leitmotif into a complete piece of music by recycling the motif.
- Leitmotif variation • A leitmotif will be recycled constantly and changed to fit the mood. This is called ‘variation’ • These varied leitmotifs can create completely new themes (piece of film music) • You can vary a motif in lots of ways but here are some examples: • Change the pitch – higher or lower • Change the tempo – faster or slower • Change the instrumentation – different instruments, more or less instruments, played differently on the same instrument • Using only part of the moti
Musical Storytelling in Film
Curriculum Area:
National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) – Music Composition (High School: Accomplished Level)
- MU:Cr1.1.HSII – Generate melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic musical ideas for a specific purpose.
- MU:Cr2.1.HSII – Organize musical ideas using conventions of musical structure.
- MU:Cr3.2.HSII – Demonstrate creative intent by refining and evaluating compositions.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will:
- Identify and explain key musical elements.
- Analyze the function of leitmotifs in film music.
- Demonstrate understanding of leitmotif variations by creating a short motif.
Lesson Duration: 50 Minutes
Class Size: 20 students
Grouping: Pairs (duos)
Lesson Breakdown
1. Warm-up Activity: “Name That Element” (10 minutes)
Objective: Activate prior knowledge about musical elements.
- Write each key musical element (dynamics, rhythm, structure, melody, instrumentation, texture, tempo, harmony) on the board, spacing them apart.
- Play a 1-minute clip from a well-known movie soundtrack (e.g., Star Wars, Jaws, Harry Potter).
- Ask students to identify and describe one element they hear in the music.
- Have pairs discuss and write down one sentence explaining how that element enhances the mood.
- Randomly call on pairs to share.
Engaging twist: Award points for detailed audio observations—turn it into a lighthearted competition!
2. Introduction to Leitmotifs (15 minutes)
Objective: Understand what a leitmotif is and its role in film composition.
Explanation (5 minutes)
- Write "Leitmotif" on the board and define it.
- Explain how leitmotifs represent characters, emotions, or concepts in film.
Interactive Listening (10 minutes)
- Play short leitmotif examples (Darth Vader’s “Imperial March,” Jaws theme, Hedwig’s Theme).
- Ask:
- "Which character or idea do you think this music represents?"
- "What musical elements make this memorable?"
- "How could you vary this theme?"
- Students discuss in pairs, then share findings.
3. Leitmotif Variation Workshop (15 minutes)
Objective: Apply knowledge by modifying a leitmotif.
Step 1: Demonstration (5 minutes)
- Play a simple four-note motif on the keyboard (or use an audio sample).
- Show how the motif changes when played:
- at a higher pitch
- in a slower tempo
- with different instrumentation (e.g., strings vs. brass)
- using only part of the motif
Step 2: Creative Duo Work (10 minutes)
- Each duo creates and records a short leitmotif variation using classroom instruments or software (e.g., GarageBand).
- Encourage creativity—challenge pairs to change their motif in at least two ways.
- Pairs present their variations to the class (optional quick-play session).
4. Wrap-up & Reflection (5 minutes)
Objective: Reinforce understanding and prepare for project work.
- Class discussion:
- “What was the hardest part of creating a leitmotif?”
- “How does changing just one element affect how it sounds?”
- Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, students write 1 sentence answering:
- "What makes a leitmotif effective in film music?"
- Collect and review student responses as formative assessment.
Assessment & Differentiation
Assessment Criteria:
✔ Successfully identified and explained musical elements.
✔ Demonstrated understanding of leitmotifs through discussion.
✔ Created a varied leitmotif with at least two changes.
Differentiation:
- Support: Provide a basic motif structure for struggling students to modify rather than inventing one.
- Challenge: Encourage advanced students to experiment with counter-melodies or harmonic variations.
Teacher’s Notes & Materials Needed
✔ Whiteboard & markers
✔ Audio clips from film soundtracks
✔ Digital or acoustic instruments (piano, MIDI controllers, software if applicable)
✔ Sticky notes for exit tickets
This lesson provides a practical, engaging, and structured approach to teaching music composition through film scoring techniques. By the end, students will have composed an original leitmotif variation—laying the foundation for their later project.
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