Musicals

Musicals are movies that mainly concentrate on music considering everyone sings for their dialogue. They can be sad or they can be happy depending on what type of mood they create through their song. For example, Les Miserables is a musical about the French Revolution that has a tone to it that makes it dreary and sad. When the characters sing, it’s about their emotions that they are feeling and about what has happened to them in the past. The reason why that musical has such a powerful effect on the audience is because of the songs that are sung by the characters. A lot of the actors had to practice for many of months to learn how to sing and cry at the same time so that they can get the message of their song out to the audience. So if you want to cry or you are just feeling sad, I would recommend seeing Les Miserables and listening to the music. Another example is Mama Mia, a musical about a mom and daughter living in Greece and having the daughter inviting her potential fathers to her wedding. This musical has a silly but still entertaining soundtrack that can make anyone laugh and happy. The songs really add to this silly plot and the characters. They are also catchy and can really bring joy to anyone listening to the soundtrack. Lastly, Bollywood is genre of Indian film that has crazy plot lines and musical numbers. If you have never seen a Bollywood film, I highly recommend it. Their music that they play can bring a smile on anyone’s face. Their musical numbers always come out of nowhere without you expecting it which adds to the mystery that is Bollywood.

If you are looking for music that makes you want to cry or dance, I would suggest watching a few musicals. They can be beneficial to your emotions and can always bring some type of joy to anyone watching. Trust me!

Video Games vs Movies

I created a visual explaining different aspects on how video games and movies use music different ways.

Movies vs Music Part 2!

This is the second part of movies vs music because it’s such a big topic to talk about and I would like to dig deeper of music and how it’s a big aspect of movies.

Sometimes the movie’s choice of music isn't to create emotion through the audience but to make the movie something to be remembered by the viewers. If someone were to hear the iconic dum dum dum to build suspense, they would remember that score is from the popular movie Jaws. That score won an Academy award and became a classic piece of suspense music. John Williams, who composed the film’s score, made such an iconic piece of music that became a hit for other thriller movies. Even though it was just a few notes, it was a genius way of writing for the audience to really remember the movie even if they were watching a different movie with that music playing in the background. Another example would be the song Time Warp, a score from the iconic musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even if someone hasn't seen this movie, they could look up the popular song Time Warp and it would show that it’s from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Time Warp was made popular by this musical and made it one of the most memorable movies of all time. Lastly, the new popular song Let It Go from the Academy award winning movie Frozen became memorable as soon as the movie hit the top charts. Most of the population would recognize this score and know that it’s from Frozen as soon as they heard the beginning notes.

Iconic scores have made many movies popular because of their meaningful notes and catchy tones. Without their genius scores, movies wouldn't be so memorable. 

Movies vs Music

Guest Blogger!

 Cameron Kalmbach will be guest blogging for me today. You can find his blog, about player choice within role-playing games here: http://rpgplayerchoice.blogspot.com/

 I would like to talk today about how music in video games elicits emotions in the player. Playing a video game is (or should be) an immersive experience; it is different from watching a movie or a play, both of which normally include a musical score, because you the player have direct control over the proceedings in front of you. In this way, games which use music successfully use it in a way that contributes to the player's overall level of immersion and maintaining of “flow” which according to Whalen  in his essay is described as “self-consciousness dissapear[ing], perceptions of time becom[ing] distorted, and concentration becom[ing] so intense that the game...completely absorbs us” (Whalen, 2004). This is what a great musical score can do for the player.  Another big way in which music is being used in games to elicit emotion and response if through the use of “diagetic music”, that is, music that originates from the game world itself instead of pre-recorded orchestral tracks. One game which comes to my mind that does this incredibly well is Bioshock. In the game, you are trapped in a dying underwater metropolis during the late 1950s, and once in awhile you will walk into a room and hear a scratchy old record playing a classic croon; it sets the mood effectively and leads the player to explore the expansive levels, using the diagetic music to guide them. Using this type of music can also greatly improve player immersion. In Bioshock, you may hear music playing distantly around a corner, or muffled through a doorway, and especially using surround sound headphones, you can hear the direction in which things are coming from; effectively putting you in the shoes of the on-screen character. Music is a strong way to cause emotional response in an audience, especially in a video game, where the player has invested their time into their character and the setting.

Resources: 

Whalen, Z. (2004, November). Play along - an approach to video game music. Game Studies, 4(1). 

               Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/

Zdanowicz, G. (2012, October 31). Game design aspect of the month: Video game music: Player 

               immersion. In IGDA. Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://newsletter.igda.org/2012/10/31/game-

               design-aspect-of-the-month-video-game-music-player-immersion/

Some Interviews!

 Mrs. Paula, a music specialist:

1. Do you think music can create emotions? And if so what types of music can create what type of emotion? 

I think music has the ability to create just about any emotion that exists.  All music brings emotion of some kind to the listener and I believe people can hear the same music and experience different emotions.  Preference of music can determine a response, a memory of an experience went he music was heard, the sound of a certain singer's voice and or instrument, etc.  All of these can be related to the emotion a person experiences when hearing the music.

2. Can playing an instrument help with memory? If so, why?

Possibly, though I don't think it can be guaranteed.  I'm sure other factors are important to memory development.

3. Do you think music can effect someone's life? If so, why?

Yes.  As a professional career, music can open doors of possibility for someone who works hard at improving his/her skills/talent.  It also takes some lucky breaks to be successful.  More importantly, I believe music changes lives in smaller, private ways.  Music ensembles provide groups to which people can belong.  Music itself often helps express emotions and thoughts that are often difficult or impossible to articulate.  

4. Can you tell what type of music someone listens to just by their appearance or their personality?

No.  There are definitely stereotypes, but then there are always people whose appearance would lead you to think one thing and another would be true.

5. Do you think music can help with someone who has anxiety? If so, why?

Yes, if the right music is chosen.  It would need to be music that allows the person to relax and isn't connected to bad memories for the person.  Music can help the mind go to another place and time (through memory) and so listening to music can be a way to relax a person and help relieve anxiety.

6. Is performing arts a good tool to help people with their confidence? If so, why?

In my opinion, yes, if it is a positive experience.  That doesn't mean the person has to be the "star," but an experience that allows the person to perform at the best of their potential and they are recognized and supported for their work.  I think the person has to feel that the art is worthy of their time and work.  

The performing arts allow a person to give something from within to an audience and be applauded for the work.  Receiving that applause for doing something you love brings pride and confidence to the person.

7. Can music help with stress? If so, why?

Yes, but again, the right music must be chosen.  It would need to be music that allows the person to relax and isn't connected to bad memories for the person.  Music can help the mind go to another place and time (through memory) and so listening to music can be a way to relax a person and help relieve anxiety.

Music also is great for dancing and that is a great stress reliever!

8. What do you think the world would be like if music were just to disappear? 

I think many people would find other outlets to express their feelings and experiences (art, words, etc.) BUT I do feel there would be a big void.

Mrs. Tammy, National board member and educator:

1. Do you think music can help with a students education? If so, why?

Yes, because it helps with their memory and their brain fire (keeps their brains active)

2. Can it help with their memory? If so, why?

Yes, because kids remember music and lyrics to songs then with me talking to them.

3. Do you play educational music for your students? If so, why?

Yes, because it helps calm them and with their memory

4. Would you recommend students to incorporate music in their studying?

Yes, because it improves their memory and they remember more when they listen to music

5. If you do play music for your students, what made you want to start?

They started remembering more and enjoyed doing their work more because it they saw it as fun instead of doing hard work.

6. Have you seen music improve a student's grade? If so, why do you think that is?

Yes, because it helped keep their memory in place and they enjoyed it more.

Music = Happiness

Like the emotions anger and sadness, music can also create happiness. It can deal with memories and what music deals with a happy memory. For example, a wedding, a party, or just sitting with your best friends listening to some music. Music that plays up beat notes can make you want to dance and be joyful. The tempo and tone of the music really plays a huge part in emotions, it can create that sense of happiness. You can also have happy lyrics that tell a cheerful story that can create joy. They create this feel good emotion that can bring a smile on your face.

Happy music usually features a fast tempo and written in a major key which can cause a person to breath faster which is a sign of happiness.

Live music may be the most cause of happiness because it provides social bonds. You are surrounded by people who enjoy the same music as you which can create strong friendships.

Music has been found to boost immune systems, lower stress in pregnant women, and decrease the heart rate of cardiac patients which can increase their happiness and reduce stress. Happy music isn't the only music that can be beneficial; the value of a good cry or a cathartic release can find sad or angry music bringing happiness indirectly.

However, listening to too much music can be addictive and can be impossible to feed. Having music around us consonantly can numb us to its affects. Unplugging from music every now and then can make your favorite song sound much better and be more beneficial to you (Edmonds, M).

Resources:

Edmonds, M. (2009). Is there a link between music and happiness?. Retrieved from


          http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/music-and-happiness2.htm