Music and Media Scheme of Work
(ages 12-13)
Overview
This short unit explores how music and media shape dramatic meaning. Across six practical lessons pupils develop non-verbal communication, physicality and musical interpretation through class games, visualisation, mime and group devising. Video clips and musical pieces are used as stimuli and lessons build towards a performance assessment in which students devise an original scene set to music.
What Students Will Learn
Pupils will learn to read and respond to musical cues, to use exaggerated body language and tension to create character and atmosphere, and to devise short ensemble pieces timed to music. Activities include mirror and movement games, the seven levels of tension, visualisation tasks and applying music to mime and improvised scenes. The unit culminates in a performance task set to a cartoon or musical clip.
Week 1: Exaggerating Body Language
Focuses on non-verbal communication and exaggerated movement. Class activities include Mirror Exercise, The Orchestra Game and Mime to develop awareness of body language and ensemble reactions.
Resources IncludeMusicNetherworld ShantyWeek 2: The 7 Levels of Tension
Explores using music as a performance script and the concept of tension. Students learn the seven levels of tension, devise short scenes in groups and perform with 'Dragon and Toast' used as musical underscoring.
Resources IncludeMusicDragon and ToastResources7 Levels of TensionWeek 3: Developing Awareness of Physical Movement
Develops physical acting skills through focused movement games. Activities named include The Opposites Game and Invisible String, supported by additional group work to build physical awareness.
Week 4: Interpreting Music
Uses visualisation to deepen understanding of musical mood and atmosphere. Pupils visualise a piece of music and then perform mime pieces to different musical styles to explore tone and feeling.
Resources IncludeMusicFaceoffSunshineExciting TrailerDivertissementWeek 5: Interpreting the Mood of Music
Focuses on observing classic TV commercials to understand musical mood. Pupils use those observations to develop a new improvised piece intended for later assessment.
Resources IncludeVideoA Car Toon PortraitWeek 6: Assessment
Assessment lesson using a classic cartoon clip to analyse rhythm, pace, mood and comic character. Students watch and interpret the clip, then devise and perform an original scene set to music.
Resources IncludeMusicFaceoffExciting TrailerSunshineDivertissementVideoAdvert 1 - CornflakesAdvert 2 - BeerAdvert 3 - Shaving Foam
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