To explore timing and sonority in live film music
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- In this lesson, we will practise how to create the sounds for a cartoon using the mickey-mousing technique. We will explore why timing is so crucial to mickey-mousing and how choosing the sonority can affect the action on the screen.
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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.
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6 Questions
Q1.
Why would "Star Wars" or other action films have music with a fast tempo?
Because the actors talked quickly.
So the film would finish quicker.
Q2.
Which one of the films below did Hans Zimmer write music for?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Star Wars
Q3.
What is the purpose of an underscore?
To copy what the actors are saying and doing.
To have something to listen to.
Q4.
What is mickey mousing?
The technique of drawing cartoons.
To create a mood in music.
Q5.
Which of these films also uses mickey mousing?
Fantasia
Inception
Q6.
As cartoons developed in the 1930s, what was added?
Music for talking.
Music using a digital audio workstation.
6 Questions
Q1.
How can a film be affected if the timing of sound is not correct?
The audience won't like the music.
The cartoon dialogue won't make sense.
Q2.
What is an underscore?
A score written out by the composer.
Music that is louder than the dialogue.
Q3.
What is a silent movie?
It is a film that only has sound in the action scenes.
It is a film with no sound at all.
Q4.
What instrument was often played over a silent film?
Harp
Trumpet
Q5.
What is sonority?
A general term for a collection of pitches.
The different sounds a computer can make.
Q6.
What would be an effective sonority to choose for a scary monster walking across a room?
A bright melody on a flute.
Lots of rapid, punchy, loud drum beats.