Music Makes Movies Come To Life

We often take for granted how soundtracks (the music in movies) affect how much we enjoy our movie watching experience. Can you think of the movie “Frozen” without the song “Let It Go” slipping into your mind. I’m sure there are others you can name, as well.

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Silent Films Started It All

In the early days of movies they didn’t have a way to connect video with sound. When you watch those movies you have to really use your imagination. It's kind of hard to wrap our brains around the idea because many of us can watch a movie on our phone if we want to but things weren't always like they are now.

Can you imagine watching a movie with no sound and nothing more than this racket going on? Ugh! Totally annoying, right?! The filmmakers created music to be played on a piano or organ at the theater while the movie was shown to make it a more pleasant experience.

Check out one of the most famous stars of early movies, Charlie Chaplin, in this short comedy film clip. Music is added to the film so you can perhaps imagine yourself sitting in one of those old theaters.

While you watch notice how music affects your experience. Watch part of the film with the sound muted and see if it makes any difference in your enjoyment of it. Drop me a note in the comments and tell me what you think!

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Music Sets the Scene In Movies

Music helps set the right mood for what’s going on in the story. Listen to the mysterious sound of "Hedwig’s Theme" from the Harry Potter movies. How does the sound of the music affect your idea of what Harry Potter's world looks like?

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It Takes You To a Time or Place

Music from other parts of the world often sound different from where you live, especially traditional or folk music. Music from earlier times in our own country also sounds different from the music of today. In movies music can help the viewer to feel like they are in a particular time or place. For instance, we can imagine traveling to Africa in "The Lion King."

We can travel to Mexico with "Coco."

Where do you want the music to take you?

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Music Affects How We Feel

When we watch a movie we want to be entertained. Experiencing all kinds of emotions is very entertaining. Music helps show the emotions the characters are feeling and influences our own emotions.

Here are some emotions that music influences in movies. . .

Happy

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Sad

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Hopeful

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Thoughtful or Reflective

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Music Creates Suspense and Opposites

You know that feeling you get with a flutter of excitement in your belly, your body all tensed up and waiting but you're not sure what's going to happen. That's the feeling of suspense. The intensity of the music can really make your feelings rocket off the charts in times of suspense and excitement.

Sometimes filmmakers will do this weird thing of using the music that is the opposite of what is going on in the film. This will often make the movie funnier by flipping things around.

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Music Emphasizes the Important Moments

Often we find the best music at the end of a movie. It helps us build to closure after watching the story. Below are two clips of the same scene from the movie "E.T." The first clip has all of the sounds from the actors and everything else in the scene. Watch at least a minute or so of this clip and then watch the second clip. In the second clip you can truly compare how music changes the experience of watching the movie.

No music (soundtrack)

With music

What do you think? Was there a difference for you? Tell me in the comments about your experience.