Supplies Needed:

1. Computer with speakers

 

Give an Example of the Mood Created by a Song

The example I chose to use was Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite – the Mars movement.  Play the piece, then talk about how the different components reflect the scene created by the piece.  In my example, I talked about how the drum created the image of troops marching into battle, and the trumpet’s sudden entrance reflected a bugle call before the battle. 

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You may choose to do another song, but here is the link to the one I used:

Gustav Holst, “The Planets – Mars, Bringer of War”

 

Use Other Songs to Understand the Mood Evoked

Here are some examples.  Ask them what part of the music creates the mood (is it the notes, the instruments, the chords, the rhythms/tempo, etc.?)  If they come up with certain songs they would like to hear to look at the mood, play those instead, but these are some starting suggestions.  Click the song titles for the links:

 

I’ll Never Smile Again

Mood: Sad, hopeless, talking about how he won’t be happy ever again since he broke up with someone

How it is created: Slow tune, the bells in the background, the repeated words “I’ll never smile again” and talking about tears.  Main focus here: bells, the words and their sad meaning

 

La Bamba

Mood: Happy, upbeat

How it is created: Fast pace (guitar being strummed fast), major key (explain how that’s a pattern of notes that sounds “happy”).  Main focus here: speed, guitar harmony line sounds upbeat

Billie Holiday -- Gloomy Sunday

Mood: Sad, depressed

How it is created: The tune itself sounds sad (goes up, then down repeatedly), the harmony is slow and haunting – only moving when her voice moves, slow tune – sounds sleepy and gloomy, words – repeating how she wants something she can’t have.  Main focus here: the relationship between notes in the tune and harmony line

 

Mozart -- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik -- only play the first couple of minutes

Mood: Happy, what I like to call “a reindeer prancing through the Austrian Alps” even though there are no reindeer in Austria

How it is created: Entire orchestra in unison playing fast at the beginning, light music afterwards – not intimidating (trills, quickly goes up and comes down, one section has the melody, everyone else just has a moving line).  Main focus here: the notes and speed, and how the different instruments trade the line between themselves

 

Soundtrack from Alfred Hitchcock -- Vertigo -- Start at 39:06, play for 2 minutes

Mood: Scary, it’s about a nightmare

How it is created: Running scales going up repeatedly – sounds like someone running away.  Starts slow, then gets faster.  The low sounds alternating with the really high pitched violin sound create a chilling sound.  Prolonged “bad” chords

 

Wrapping Up

This is the last lesson I planned.  In order to close out the program, I went back for one more session and just performed a couple of pieces (one piano, one violin, and one dance) for them.  You may wish to do so as well, but if not, this is the last lesson in the program.