Minds On
Today’s vocabulary
Press the following tabs to access today’s vocabulary.
Let’s get started
Notice and wonder
Explore the following video trailer entitled “Tripping the Rideau Canal” to learn more about this TVO documentary.
What kind of story is being told?
How do you feel after experiencing the trailer?
Record your responses using a method of your choice.
What is a documentary?
A documentary is a non-fiction movie, television series or radio program that provides the audience with facts and information about the topic or subject.
Action
Get ready, get set…
Film trailers
In the Minds On, you explored a film trailer.
A film trailer is a short video advertisement. It often contains a group of scenes from the film itself that are carefully selected to persuade people to go and enjoy the whole film. Some trailers include dialogue from a film while others include sound effects and music.
The way music is used can increase interest so that the audience is drawn in and wants to keep exploring the film trailer. Depending on what the trailer is about, a music composer will be asked to create a piece of music to enhance the main theme or topic of the film.
A composer combines different elements of music that will help engage the audience. The music and/or sound effects used to accompany a film can help the audience create an idea in their mind of the setting, characters and the parts of the story being shared.
Elements of music
You may have noticed that the TVO documentary trailer in the Minds On included a music accompaniment. Before we return to the trailer, let’s review some of the elements of music.
These elements will be our focus when analyzing the trailer.
Press the following tabs to explore the elements of music.
Duration: The element of music that connects to time. Fundamental concepts connected to it are beat, rhythm, metre, and tempo.
Duration refers to how quick or slow is the pace or tempo of the music is.
Tempo: Connected to the element of duration. The speed of a piece. Some common tempo indications are: allegro (quickly and in a lively way), moderato (at a moderate speed), andante (somewhat slowly, at a walking pace), largo (slowly), adagio (slowly and gracefully), and vivace (briskly, quickly, brightly).
If the tempo of a piece is slow, it might make the audience feel calm and relaxed, while a quick tempo might make an audience feel excited and happy.
Dynamics: The level of softness or loudness, or intensity. Some fundamental concepts related to this element are: crescendo, decrescendo; forte (f – loud), fortissimo (ff – very loud), mezzo forte (mf – moderately loud); piano (p – soft), pianissimo (pp – very soft), mezzo piano (mp – moderately soft).
What is the range of dynamics being used?
The dynamic range from very loud to very soft can be described with six words. Each word also has a musical notation of one to three letters that are dynamic markings. A dynamic marking are a short and efficient way to share instructions for dynamic range in a music piece. The following six words and dynamic markings are:
- fortissimo (ff) means very loud
- forte (f) means loud
- mezzo forte (mf) means moderately loud
- piano (p) means soft
- mezzo piano (mp) means moderately soft
- pianissimo (pp) means very soft
A change in the dynamic range can be described as becoming louder and becoming softer.
Crescendo is becoming increasingly louder.
Decrescendo is becoming increasingly softer.
For example, the music might be forte throughout the piece, or it may decrescendo from beginning to end and change from forte, to mezzo-forte, to piano. Composers might choose to adjust dynamics to create a specific mood.
Timbre: The element of music that relates to the unique sound of an instrument or voice (e.g., the characteristic sound of a trumpet versus a clarinet, or a knock on the door versus a bell ringing).
Two teachers talking. The first teacher asks: ‘ Did you notice that the terms used for dynamics are in Italian?’ The second teacher responds: ‘That’s right! Italian terms are found in a lot of music/scores. This is because around the year 1025, an Italian monk named Guido of Arrezzo helped create the rules for the way music is written. Composers use Italian terms to provide the performer with directions related to dynamics, tempo, mood, directions and so much more!’ The first teacher responds: ‘I guess I better learn how to speak Italian!’
Does the piece include one type of instrument? Or does it include many diverse instruments playing multiple parts?
When one type of instrument is being played in unison, for example violinists playing the same part, it creates a single sound or tone.
When diverse instruments each play their own part in a piece, for example, string instruments, wind instruments and percussion instruments, all of the different sounds or tones are layered to create a unique experience for the audience.
There is an amazing diversity of instruments! For example, string instruments include violins, cellos, guitars, and sitaars. Wind instruments include flutes, clarinets, bassoons, tubas, and French horns. Percussive instruments include drums, tambourines and xylophones. This is only a few of the many instruments that exist!
How are the elements of music used in creating an experience for the audience?
Press ‘Answer’ to consider possible ideas.
For example, a composer might choose to use a fast tempo and start the piece at pianissimo to slowly build to fortissimo by the end. This might create an exciting experience for the audience.
Perhaps the composer wants the audience to imagine they are in a forest or busy city. They might include a variety of diverse instruments each with their own specific part. When all of the parts are played together, it helps create a unique atmosphere.
Let’s explore the video trailer entitled “Tripping the Rideau Canal” again and explore the elements of music used to create the musical accompaniment.
Consider why the composer chose to include diverse elements of music. How might these affect the audience’s experience?
Complete the Rideau Canal Music Analysis in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
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How might the tempo of the music affect the audience’s experience of the trailer? |
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How might the dynamics of the music influence the audience’s understanding of what is happening in the trailer? |
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Is there a single type of instrument or multiple instruments included in the piece? |
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How might you describe the mood of the piece? Why? |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Rideau Canal Music Analysis.
Press ‘Hint’ button to explore possible responses.
Check out the following Rideau Canal Music Answer Key to compare possible answers.
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How might the tempo of the music affect the audience’s experience of the trailer? |
The fast tempo music might make the experience exciting and engage the audience to keep enjoying the trailer. |
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How might the dynamics of the music influence the audience’s understanding of what is happening in the trailer? |
The dynamics start soft and grow to become louder throughout the piece (pianissimo – mezzo-forte) This helps to set the mood and might make the audience feel that something unexpected and/or interesting might happen in the film. |
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Is there a single type of instrument or multiple instruments included in the piece? |
The piece begins with chords played on a piano. The audience has the opportunity to experience that particular sound. Then, the music builds by including other instruments playing different parts (i.e strings, vocals and percussion). This adds excitement and movement in the piece. |
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How might you describe the mood of the piece? Why? |
The tempo, changes in dynamics and variety of instruments working together to create an exciting mood. The repetition of the melody made it feel like the audience was moving forward and going on an adventure. |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Rideau Canal Music Answer Key.
Go!
Explore the following video clip from the documentary trailer “National Parks Project.”
Consider the visuals along with the music to determine what kind of story the trailer is sharing with the audience.
The trailer also has a narrator. A narrator is someone who shares the story and/or provides information to the audience. As you explore the trailer, consider:
What does the narrator add to the audience’s experience?
Access the following video entitled “National Parks Project” to learn more the documentary trailer.
Complete the National Parks Project Music Analysis in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Press ‘Tempo and Dynamics’ to access these definitions again, if needed.
Tempo: Connected to the element of duration. The speed of a piece. Some common tempo indications are: allegro (quickly and in a lively way), moderato (at a moderate speed), andante (somewhat slowly, at a walking pace), largo (slowly), adagio (slowly and gracefully), and vivace (briskly, quickly, brightly).
Dynamics: The level of softness or loudness, or intensity. Some fundamental concepts related to this element are: crescendo, decrescendo, forte (f – loud), fortissimo (ff – very loud), mezzo forte (mf – moderately loud), piano (p – soft), pianissimo (pp – very soft), mezzo piano (mp – moderately soft).
Duration: The element of music that connects to time. Fundamental concepts connected to it are beat, rhythm, metre, and tempo.
Duration refers to how quick or slow is the pace or tempo of the music is.
Tempo: Connected to the element of duration. The speed of a piece. Some common tempo indications are: allegro (quickly and in a lively way), moderato (at a moderate speed), andante (somewhat slowly, at a walking pace), largo (slowly), adagio (slowly and gracefully), and vivace (briskly, quickly, brightly).
If the tempo of a piece is slow, it might make the audience feel calm and relaxed, while a quick tempo might make an audience feel excited and happy.
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How might the tempo of the music affect the audience’s experience of the trailer? |
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How might the dynamics of the music influence the audience’s understanding of what is happening in the trailer? |
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Is there a single type of instrument or multiple instruments included in this piece? |
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How might you describe the mood of the piece? Why? |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access National Parks Project Music Analysis.
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Use the following questions to reflect on your learning. Record your answers using a method of your choice.
- How do the elements of music help tell a message in the piece of music?
- What was similar and/or different about the two trailers you explored in this learning activity?
- How might music impact the effectiveness of a trailer?
- If you could alter one of the trailers and change the use of one of the elements of music used, what would you choose to change? (i.e. increasing or decreasing tempo, changing the dynamics, adding or removing instrument parts, etc.)
If needed, access the following video “Tripping the Rideau Canal” to check out the documentary trailer again.
If needed, access the following video entitled “National Parks Project” to explore the documentary trailer again.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.