Creating a Soundtrack

Lesson 1: Explore and Combine Cinematic Sounds

Modern film trailers often share similar musical and sonic elements. In Lesson 1, students examine and dissect the sounds and music of film trailers. They explore and layer the supplied cinematic samples and share musical ideas with their peers.

Learning Intentions

  • Critical listening – Identify and describe musical and non-musical sounds

  • Technology literacy – Effectively use MIDI devices

  • Critical thinking – Consider how combinations of sounds create music

Introduction

Sound and music in film trailers

This collection of film trailers can introduce the topic of the sounds and music in film trailers with your students and provide them with insights into the type of music they will be creating in this project.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer

The trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens fuses John Williams’ musical score with sound effects and dialogue.

Q. What types of sounds can be heard?

Inception trailer

The Inception trailer provides a quintessential Hans Zimmer soundscape. It differs from the Williams score in that the focus is not only musical but also sonically driven, using the instruments as a sound effect.

Q. How could you describe the tonal quality of the sounds in this trailer?

Stranger Things – Season 2 trailer

The Stranger Things – Season 2 trailer blends Hollywood blockbuster with retro synthesizer sounds.

Q. What sounds and instruments can you identify in this trailer?

Focus Questions

  • What sounds do you hear when you listen to film trailers?

  • Apart from the talking/dialogue, what else can you hear?

  • What is the difference between the foley sound and musical score?

  • Which musical instruments can you hear?

  • What non-musical sounds can you hear that are neither dialogue nor foley?

  • How could you describe these sounds to someone who has never heard them before?

  • Why do you think the composers have used those types of non-musical sounds?