“DOITNOW” Activities

(Exploring Global Computer

and Video Game Music)

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 What can you hear?
You will hear three extracts of music from computer and video
games. Match each extract to the most appropriate game
character giving one explanation to suggest how the music
matches the character.

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What do you think?
How might we design
a CHARACTER
THEME or
CHARACTER MOTIF
for this computer
and video game
character?
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 Odd One Out
You will hear three short extracts of computer and
video game music.
Which one is the Odd One Out?
Prepare to justify your answers.

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What do you see?

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What do think it is?
Look at the picture on the
left.
What do you think it is?
How do you think the
music sounded on this?
Jot down your ideas on
your whiteboards.

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What do think it is?
Look at the picture
on the left.
What do you think
it is?
How do you think
the music sounded
on this?
Jot down your ideas
on your
whiteboards.
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What do think it is?
Look at the picture on the
left.
What do you think it is?
What sort of sounds do
you think were used?
Jot down your ideas on
your whiteboards.

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 Create It!
“Simon” is a game from the 1970’s where you have to copy and
repeat patterns using four different tones/sounds that
correspond to the four different colours.

You have FIVE MINUTES to create

an appropriate sound for each of
the four different colours on the
“Simon” game.

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 What can you hear?
What musical features can you use to describe
this music?
What is the TEXTURE like?
What is the TIMBRE or SONORITY like?
WHY is this music memorable?

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 What can you hear?
Listen to the GROUND THEME from the Super
Mario Bros. series of computer and video
games. The TONALITY has been changed from
the original MAJOR KEY to a MINOR KEY.

What effect does this have on the music?

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What can you hear?

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 What’s your opinion?
Write/speak in pairs a short explanation of your own
opinion about the topic you are starting to study:

COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME MUSIC

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 Brainstorm!
Listen to Lara Croft’s CHARACTER THEME
from the Tomb Raider series of computer and
video games. As you listen, brainstorm ways
in which you could change, adapt, alter and
vary Lara’s CHARACTER THEME to show her in
the following situations within different levels
in a Tomb Raider game.
Up in the Clouds
In an Underground Dungeon
Fighting in an ‘end of level’ Boss Fight
In a dessert in the Wild West
In an Underwater Cave

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 Key Word Definitions
Define/draw these key words on your whiteboards

JUMPING BASS LINE GROUND THEME

STACCATO SOUND EFFECT

CHROMATIC MOVEMENT SYNCOPATION

CUES CHARACTER THEME

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 Silent Debate
Listen to this piece of music – the main theme from the
computer and video game series “Call of Duty”.
How important is the TIMBRE and SONORITY to this
music?

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 Musical Anagrams
Unscramble the key words below:

ACTACOTS ETHICPUN

COOPSITYNAN GLAMSPIN

ENTRYHISSES ROUNDTACKS

UESC DOGNUR EHTEM

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 Key Pad Conundrums
Using the keypad, work out the following musical words
relating to the Elements of Music on your whiteboards:
A. S68N3 E333CT
B. 4RO8ND T43M3
C. S9N2O7A8I6N
D. D47JU6C8
E. CH766AT42
F. 7T222ATO

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 Musical Dingbats
Write down what you see!
A. B.

C. D.

E. F.

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 Thunks
Write down your thoughts on your whiteboard
to the following question:

Silence is as important as music

and sounds within a video or
computer game.

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 Draw This
Listen to this piece of music and draw/sketch a
picture on your whiteboards.
Be prepared to justify your drawing with reasons
why you were inspired to draw this from the
music.

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 List-o-mania
List as many
“CUES” (points within a computer or
video game where music or a sound
effect is heard)
as you can!
Stretch & Challenge: Can you describe typically
what sort of music or sounds you’d expect to
hear at each point?
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 Key Word Bingo
Draw a 3x3 table on your whiteboard.
Fill it in with these words in any order. You may not
need to use all the words, but you may only use each
word once.
Sound Effect Chiptune/8-Bit Music Synthesiser Sampling Soundtrack Music
Technology Orchestra Cues
Ground Theme Decision Motif Jumping Bass Line Disjunct
Staccato Articulation Chromatic Movement Pitch Syncopation
Character Theme/Motif Orchestration Timbre/Sonority Texture
Dynamics Tempo
Cross off your words once you hear me read
the definition.
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