Music in Movies Assignment

Intended Student Population: High School Music Appreciation/General Music Class

Project Purpose:
-To identify what elements of music make it express a particular mood or emotion
-Utilize musical terminology to describe and explain musical purpose
Project Goals:
-Gain a basic understanding of how to use Soundtrap to record and import files
-Be able to use musical terminology to explain musical affect
-Gain an understanding of the importance and purpose of music in movies
Necessary Resources: Access to computers (To be able to access and utilize Soundtrap,
Youtube, Youtube to MP3 File Converter, that can record voice)
Estimated Length of Time: Only about 1-2 weeks should be necessary
Assumed Prior Knowledge:
-Basic understanding of how Soundtrap works
-How to convert Youtube videos and convert to MP3 files
-How to import these files into Soundtrap
-How to shorten imported files on Soundtrap
-How to record self using Soundtrap
-Basic Musical Terminology (Tempo, Dynamics, Timbre, Articulation, Major and Minor,
Consonance vs. Dissonance)
Linear Sequence/Possible options to complete:
1) Select movie and receive Instructor Approval
2) Find three or more songs/pieces from the selected movie through Youtube
3) Convert the Youtube videos into MP3s and import into Soundtrap
4) Shorten the songs/pieces into 30 sec-1 min clips
5) Record an introduction and explanations of the musical purpose of each piece.
-The introduction should precede the first sound clip and provide your name, title
of movie, and a brief synopsis
-Explanations should follow each song clip and should be roughly 45 secs-1 min
6) Share project with Instructor through Soundtrap
7) Present project during class

Questions to consider for your explanations:

1) What emotion or mood is being expressed through the music? What musical
elements express this emotion or mood? (Tempo, dynamics, timbre, articulation,
major vs. minor, consonance vs. dissonance)
2) Is the music foreshadowing any events about to occur?
3) Does the chosen musical bit repeat anywhere in the movie?
 4) Does the music have any significant lyrics that help portray the events/mood?

Rubric:

4 3 2 1 0

Songs/Pieces At least; At least 3; At least 2; At least 1; Not

Chosen Appropriate All clips Unimportant No effort present
; Essential sound same pieces to put into
pieces to or are not movie selecting
movie essential to pieces
movie

Soundtrap Clear Mostly Unclear Unclear Not

Usage recording; clear recording; recording; present
Songs recording; Some songs Songs
clipped Most songs clipped incorrectly
neatly clipped incorrectly clipped
neatly

Structure Followed Followed Missing over Did not Not

provided structure half of follow present
structure mostly, required provided
missing elements structure
some parts

Explanations At least 45 At least 45 Less than 45 Less than 45 Not

sec; Uses sec; Uses sec; Uses sec; Uses no present
musical musical little to no musical
terminology terminology musical terminology
correctly; incorrectly; terminology ; Limited
Clear Unclear Confusing Explanation
explanation Explanation Explanation

Total: