Video Game & Film Music Appreciation
Group Classes (ages 9-12 and 13+)
Take a behind-the-scenes look at how video game and film music immerse audiences in fictional worlds and the musical techniques that composers use to depict different types of characters and locations with this fun class!
Each week, students will learn about the general features of music used for different character and/or area types (e.g. heroes, creepy locations) and look at how these features are used/modified in a variety of movie and video game scores, including well-known series like Star Wars and Final Fantasy. Selected pieces will be examined in class, and students will also watch short movie/video game clips as appropriate.
Each class includes guided analysis and open-ended discussions where students are invited to analyze the music and/or films/video games being studied and are welcome to share their opinions on the effects created by the music being discussed.
Students also complete a class project for the last session where they get to either analyze or compose pieces of music and share their analyses or compositions with their classmates.
Classes for 2019-2020:
September to December (12 weeks)
- Topic: Characters' Themes
January to April (12 weeks)
- Topic: Setting the Scene - Music for Different Types of Landscapes
Prerequisite:
- Some prior music/music theory experience (Level 5 RCM Theory preferable but not required)
Composer's Toolbox
Group Classes (8-week terms)
Does your child like writing his/her own music? Do you or your child want to learn more about the styles of past composers?
In this class, students have the opportunity to compose short pieces in the styles of famous composers from the Middle Ages to the 20th century!
Each week, students learn about a composer's life, work, and musical style and listen to a selection of pieces by that composer. They then receive step-by-step instruction on how to create music in the composer's style through the use of fun worksheets and activities. At home, they finish the composition that they started in class, then return to class the next week to perform their piece (or have it be performed, if they'd prefer) and learn about another composer's music.
Sessions begin in September, January, and April.
Prerequisite:
- Level 2B Piano Adventures/Level 1 RCM or higher
- Some music theory experience