Section 1: Identify the movie/show/video game that you will be presenting. In your own words, give a brief synopsis of the plot. Finally, give an introductory summary of how music is used within the movie/show/video game. As you write your summary, think about: Does the music provide the audience with information? Do themes follow certain characters or places? Highlight the drama of a scene? Entertain the audience during sequences without dialogue?
Section 2: Choose two musical excerpts from the movie/show/game that accompany contrasting scenes or have contrasting moods. For example, Scene 1 is happy, peppy, optimistic, victorious—and Scene 2 is intense, scary, suspenseful, angry, violent, etc… Identify the titles of the two pieces you will be comparing.
Section 3: Discuss Scene 1. If you can find a video or audio clip of the music, that would be helpful (I have used screen recording on my laptop to capture excerpts from streaming media). Identify the composer and/or performers of the piece. Identify the specific title, if you can. Describe the action that accompanies the scene, and describe the musical themes that contribute or intensify the emotion/mood/drama of the scene. Use words like: melody, harmony, ostinato, motive, repetition, contrast, texture, timbre, instrumentation, tempo, dynamics, variation, etc…
Section 4: Discuss Scene 2. Repeat the prompt for Section 3.
Section 5: Briefly (6-8 sentences) compare and contrast the two scenes and the music that accompanies each. Are the same themes or motives present in both scenes, but with different attitudes? Think about the concept of leitmotif you read about in Chapter 41 and 54. Does the composer for this movie/show/game use leifmotif? If so, how is the instrumentation, texture, and timbre varied from scene to scene?
Section 6: Finally, briefly (6-8 sentences) conclude your presentation by discussing this question: In your perspective, what elements cause the score for this movie/show/video game to be so impactful? Would the music be just as powerful out of context of the visuals?
Section 7: Include a References List, formatted in APA style.
