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Favorite Lessons: Movie Music


This morning, we started talking about movie music in 5th grade. This becomes a unit in my class and it turns out differently each time I do it. That's probably the best part of it really: seeing what interests a particular class and what they want to do with it. Sometimes, kids get really into Foley. Other classes want to compose. One time, I had a class do a puppet show with their own music and sound and we learned about editing.

On the third time through the first video I share with students, I was thinking about how great it would be as a writing prompt. Or for creating art. (When you do lessons 3-5 times in a row, and then again on another day 3-5 times in a row, you can get pretty creative with what else to do with a resource.) So here it is:

(Insert all the educational disclaimers here about rights etc. This is just my favorite one that I searched up on the YouTubes.)

It's so great to hear the kids talk about how the mood changes. I'd love to read the stories they'd write inspired by them! Or if I taught Art, I'd take an image and we'd use different media/styles/techniques to change the mood. (And probably write about it then, too - I'd do a lot more writing if I had all the time.) I'm sure you have a billionty other cool ideas. You should do them.

We also talk about John Williams. Because obviously. I mean, we talk about other important movie composers and we compare and contrast and all that HOTS stuff we teacher-types do. But it's John Williams. It's the music from Star Wars. The kids lose their minds.

I show this clip because it has a great view of the inside of a recording studio for an orchestra and choir, shows different conducting techniques, and shows George Lucas showing a rough cut to Williams and talking about what he envisions. (CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THAT IS LIKE? I holler that at the children too, don't worry.)

(Again, disclaimers. We talk in class in this unit about copyright and they get my massive "piracy bad, don't steal, cite all the things " lecture. Then we go back and look at the videos we use and go, "well, shucks.")

These plus all the excited talking we have to do takes up the first class. I make a few notes about what each class really dug to customize next week, and then...

I give them homework.

They all groan.

Until they listen to what it is: you MUST watch a TV show or movie between now and next week. Make sure you do your homework. You can even do extra. You can do this homework every day if you want.

I love this unit.



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