This document provides an overview of key concepts relating to music and sound in film. It discusses different types of music scores and how they can create atmosphere and tension. Different categories of sound are defined, including diegetic sounds that exist within the world of the film and non-diegetic sounds that come from outside it. Synchronous sounds match the visuals while asynchronous sounds do not. Contrapuntal sound uses juxtaposition. Music can be used to suggest things about characters, genres, settings and narratives. Students are assigned to analyze sample film scenes focusing on use of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds and how music creates tension and atmosphere.

1. G.C.S.E
Music and Sound

2. Todays Objectives
• WALT
• What is a film score?
• How can music impact a film or scene?
• What is the difference between music and sound?
• WILF
• Describe a range of different types of music scores
• Describe how a music score can create atmosphere and heighten
tension.
• Discuss and use terminology to differentiate between music and
sound.

3. Starter
• What is the most memorable piece of music you can
remember from film?
• What is it about the music that is memorable?
• Mine is Indiana Jones and the
Raiders of the Lost Ark.

4. Music scores
• Can you identify the genres of the films from the pieces of
music being played?
• Can you name the films?

5. Sound in Film
• This is divided into two forms for film:
• Diegetic
• Non Diegetic

6. DIEGETIC SOUND
Sounds that can be heard in the diegesis (the world) of the film.
Dialogue, explosions, music on a car radio etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH-r4HXHcCk&feature=relmfu
Ten minutes describe the various diegetic sounds used within the
scene
Sound within this category can not be added, it is worth noting
however that eve if the sound was created in post production
like a gun shot if it belongs in the world of the movie then it
remains diegetic sound.

7. NON-DIEGETIC SOUND
Sounds that are outside the diegesis (the world) of the film.
Soundtrack, External voiceover
• Many films will use narrators like Stand By Me or the
Shawshank Redemption
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Lic4ueSmY&feature=rel
mfu
• Ten minutes identify the use of non-diegetic sound.

8. SYNCHRONOUS SOUND
Sounds that reflect what can be seen on screen.
e.g. A shot of a door closing and the sound of the slam.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdBO3uQcHgI
• Name the synchronous sounds within this scene

9. ASYNCHRONOUS SOUND
Sounds that don’t reflect the images on screen.
e.g. a police siren in the distance
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW4tjKzDEDU
• Identify the sounds.

10. CONTRAPUNTAL SOUND
Sounds that are juxtaposed with images that are displayed on
screen.
e.g. violence on screen supported by happy music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-zRtT5jPLA
What do you think the impact is of using classical music with
the violence in the scene.

11. Music and Sound
• Four main areas of meaning that can be created through sound
either diegetic or non-diegetic:
• Character – use of a musical motif can help suggest the type of
character either good or bad.
• Genre – the type of music can help to identify the genre of the film,
can you give an example.
• Setting – The style of music or ambiance can suggest the place.
Westerns the use of emptiness wind for the tumbleweeds etc.
• Narrative – the story and event being shown, it can often create
atmosphere and tension.

12. Impact of Musical Scores
• Watch the scenes and identify the diegetic and non diegetic
sounds
• Analyse how tension and atmosphere is created in the scene?
• How does the music change as the scene progresses?
• What does the use of music suggest about the character?
• Discuss any points of interest of the music relating to setting,
or genre where relevant?
• Scene 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovzthD9fFg
• Scene 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4
• Scene 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPeHFDxKUP4

13. Homework
• Complete the analysis of the three extracts on this
powerpoints, it can be found on the blog:
• Hpgcsefilmstudies.wordpress.com
• This blog will contain all resources and information for the
course.