Leitmotif Music Composition Lesson Plan

Students will compose a leading motif (leitmotif) that illustrates a feature of the character to be represented.
Within 2-3 lessons, students will compose a leading motif inspired by a character from a story, poem or movie. In the process the student will:
• Analyze a character for specific features
• Identify and define descriptive elements of the character
• Make connections between character and music
• Analyze how visual image and sound image are similar and different
• Explore new writing and playing techniques to accommodate musical characterization
• Explore leitmotif as compositional device
Includes: Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia leitmotif graphic organizer example, and a template to generate musical features ideas for the leitmotif.
Adaptable for all grade levels.
Particularly popular for generating leitmotifs for Disney movie characters or superhero movie characters.