Materials

 

* A one minute video clip.  I use the first minute of the opening scene (i.e., Tour de France) from Pee Wee's Big   Adventure. 

 

* A copy of the handout for each student (click here).  This is an exact copy of what is listed below.

 

 

 

Directions

 

1. Watch the video clip with with your group.  Make sure the audio is off!

 

2. Watch the video clip again and time it.  Minutes ______________  Seconds ______________

 

3. Watch the video clip again and decide as a group the mood of the video clip.  Write adjectives below that describe the

    mood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Choose a time signature of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, or 6/8.  List the chosen time signature ______________

 

5. Choose a tempo of slow, medium, or fast that fits the mood of the clip.  List the chosen tempo ________________

 

6. Create a 2 measure ostinato for an unpitched percussion instrument that fits the mood of the video clip.  Make sure the     ostinato is in the chosen time signature.  

 

How many beats are in 2 measures of the chosen time signature _______________

 

Write the ostinato below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Choose an unpitched percussion instrument to play the ostinato above.  Chosen instrument _______________________

 

8. Go find this instrument and bring it back to your group.  

 

9. Choose 1 person from your group to play the ostinato on the instrument.  Person's name ___________________________

 

10. Let the assigned student play the ostinato while the group times it.  Make sure the ostinato is played in the chosen  

      tempo.  Seconds ______________

 

11. Calculate how many times this ostinato must be played in order for it to be played during the entire video clip.  How many times _________________

 

12. Create a 4 measure ostinato for an unpitched percussion instrument that fits the mood of the video clip.  Make sure

      the ostinato is in the chosen time signature.  

 

How many beats are in 4 measures of the chosen time signature _______________

 

Write the ostinato below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Choose an unpitched percussion instrument to play the ostinato above.  Chosen instrument _______________________

 

14. Go find this instrument and bring it back to your group.  

 

15. Choose 1 person from your group to play the ostinato on the instrument.  Person's name __________________________

 

16. Let the assigned student play the ostinato while the group times it.  Make sure the ostinato is played in the chosen  

      tempo.  Seconds ______________

 

17. Calculate how many times this ostinato must be played in order for it to be played during the entire video clip.  How

      many times _________________

 

18. Create a 2 or 4 measure ostinato for an unpitched percussion instrument that fits the mood of the video clip.  Make

      sure the ostinato is in the chosen time signature.  

 

How many beats are in 4 measures of the chosen time signature _______________

 

Write the ostinato below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19. Choose an unpitched percussion instrument to play the ostinato above.  Chosen instrument _______________________

 

20. Go find this instrument and bring it back to your group.  

 

21. Choose 1 person from your group to play the ostinato on the instrument.  Person's name __________________________

 

22. Let the assigned student play the ostinato while the group times it.  Make sure the ostinato is played in the chosen  

      tempo.  Seconds ______________

 

23. Calculate how many times this ostinato must be played in order for it to be played during the entire video clip.  How 

      many times _________________

 

24. Choose 1 person from your group to be the conductor.  Person's name ________________________

 

25. Practice playing all the ostinati together with the conductor setting the tempo.  Do this without the video clip playing.

      Make sure you play and conduct the correct amount of music needed for the video clip.

 

26. Practice playing all the ostinati together with the conductor setting the tempo.  Do this with the video clip playing. 

      Make sure you play and conduct the correct amount of music needed for the video clip.  You may need to repeat this

      step in order to make this work with the movie.

 

27. Choose dynamics of soft, medium, loud, and extra loud.  Watch the video clip without playing the instruments and

      decide where dynamic changes should go.  List visual cues within the video that will help you remember where the

      different dynamics will go.  List these visual cues below with the specific dynamics that were chosen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28. Practice your composition including the chosen tempo and dynamics with the video clip.  You may need to repeat this

      step in order to practice.

 

29. Play your composition for the class while they watch the video clip.