In great haste, I need ideas for a lesson plan on cartoon music to
give to 13 yr olds. After this they will have a go at writing their
own pieces-I need to explain the characteristics ets.
Please dont pass my little question over-any of your ideas will be so
gratefully accepted.

Very many thanks,

Mark

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Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 02 Nov 2003 07:50 PST

Hi Mark,

What do you mean by "characteristics" of cartoon music?  If you can
give us a better idea of what you need, it will be easier to help you.
 What are you trying to get across to the kids, with respect to
cartoon music?

Some of the best cartoon music ever wasn't written for the cartoons at
all - consider the terrific Tom & Jerry cartoon, in which Tom plays
the Hungarian Rhapsody, or the infamous Bugs Bunny episode, titled
"What's Opera, Doc?", in which Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries",
"Tannhauser", and "Siegfried's Horn Call" are all used to wonderful
effect.

If you're able to lay hands on this book:

The Cartoon Music Book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1556524730/102-1611161-2916134

...from your local library, bookstore or music shop, you may very well
be able to write the perfect lesson plan:

"The popularity of cartoon music, from Carl Stalling's work for Warner
Bros. to Disney sound tracks and The Simpsons' song parodies, has
never been greater. This lively and fascinating look at cartoon
music's past and present collects contributions from well-known music
critics and cartoonists, and interviews with the principal cartoon
composers. Here Mark Mothersbaugh talks about his music for Rugrats,
Alf Clausen about composing for The Simpsons, Carl Stalling about his
work for Walt Disney and Warner Bros., Irwin Chusid about Raymond
Scott's work, Will Friedwald about Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richard
Stone about his music for Animaniacs, Joseph Lanza about Ren and
Stimpy, and much, much more."

Book Description - The Cartoon Music Book

Good luck!

--Missy

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Clarification of Question by markyboy-ga on 02 Nov 2003 08:45 PST

Hi Missy

I'm trying to prepare them to write a piece of cartoon music. What do
you think would help them produce a better piece?
I'm really at a loss here-i'm a music student but for my course I have
to teach a little bit! Any help would be wonderful!!

Thanks so much,

Mark!

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Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 02 Nov 2003 09:39 PST

Hi Mark,

Not being a composer, and not being familiar with your class, I'm
afraid I couldn't even begin to tell you what specifically would help
them produce a better piece.  In general, I should think it important
that whatever piece they write captures the timing and mood of the
cartoon (or cartoon segment) that they are writing it for.  A funeral
dirge, for instance, is not going to be appropriate for a chase scene.

I would suggest that you try to get hold of the book I noted above,
which is comprised of essays and articles written by and about cartoon
composers.  Many of the contributors discuss their work in detail,
which should give you a solid base for planning your lesson.

--Missy

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Clarification of Question by markyboy-ga on 02 Nov 2003 10:29 PST

Thanks Missy

Your advice helps. If all else fails i'll set the fire alarm off!!

Many thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by shananigans-ga on 03 Nov 2003 16:51 PST

Hi Mark,

I'm a teacher, but I know nothing about music, so maybe between the
two of us we can get you a lesson plan?

If students are to produce a piece of cartoon music, it helps if you
have examples prepared for them - such as the the introduction to The
Simpsons, Flintstones, etc etc.

Ask students what *they* think all the pieces have in common - fast
pace, cheerful and energetic, repetetive of the same refrain ... be
wary, though, that kids always come up with something out of left
field!

Students at that age need a lot of direction. Instead of asking them
to create music that might be used for an imaginary cartoon, either
show students an existing cartoon and ask them to create a new theme
song, OR get them to create a synopsis of their own cartoon
(characters, setting, plot) and *then* do the music.

Be aware that this sounds like it might take a while - more than one
lesson, probably. Also, I'd try as much as possible to skip over the
academic stuff - reading isn't fun for 13 year olds, and they'll want
to get in to the music making.

Let us know if you need more help :)

shananigans-ga

How about this for a lesson plan (I arbitrarily used an outline
format)?  Some of my terms may not be age appropriate—-may need to
tone the vocabulary down.

I.	Introduction to Cartoon Music

A.	Origins
1.	E.g., “Steamboat Willy”
2.	E.g., “Silly Symphony”
3.	E.g., “I Love to Singa” (see description and hear mp3 at
http://www.vaiden.net/favorite_cartoons.html)

B.	Characteristics:  Simple, unadorned melodies appropriate to the
zeitgeist.  Pennywhistles, triangles, horns, basic percussion. 
References made to music of the era, but it was stylized and juvenile
in many cases.

C.	Seem very dated and anachronistic by today’s standards.

D.	Exception: Bugs Bunny cartoons, relying heavily on classical
themes, remain sophisticated and wry despite their age.

II.	Evolution

A.	Later cartoons influenced heavily by the burgeoning relevance of
rock and roll.
1.	E.g. “Josie and the Pussycats”
2.	E.g., “Scooby Doo”

B.	Characteristics: heavy reliance on social themes and growing
popularity of rock and roll.  Rock n’ roll melodies and “girl meets
boy” lyrics predominate.  Cartoons were scored like movies, i.e., the
music you heard “fit” the plot appearing on the screen.

C.	Exceptions:  Cartoons that aspired to be sitcoms or adult dramas
had a more sophisticated musical quality, e.g., “The Jetsons,” “The
Flintstones” and “Jonny Quest.”

III.	Now: Anything goes.  Current cartoons are scored much like
movies, using instrumentation and melodies that are both plot- and
age-appropriate.  To write carton music today, consider: to whom is
the cartoon directed?  Adults (“Simpsons,” “Futurama,” “King of the
Hill”) or kids (“Powerpuff Girls,” “Rolie Polie Olie”)?  What is the
theme (scary: “Courage the Cowardly Dog;” wry and subtle: “Jimmy
Neutron;” juvenile and fun: “Rolie Polie Olie;” contemporary and
adventurous: any of the various examples of anime)?  What is the
setting (futuristic, current, historical, fantasy)?  What are the
choices for instrumentation (electronica, classical, country, rock)? 
Who are the major characters (a talking dog, a fairy godparent, or a
superhero)?  By answering these questions in advance, your students
will have a fairly good idea of how to score a particular cartoon. 
For example, if you know it is a sci-fi piece set in a fantasy kingdom
directed toward teen-age boys, you can sense moody, somber, riff- and
bass-heavy rhythms and melodies.  The answers will guide you on the
characteristics the music should possess.

Great!

Feel free to post it as an answer.

Very many thanks,

Mark!

markyboy,

Can't do that as I am not an official Researcher, although I would
like to be.  So I post Comments when I can, drawing upon a broad range
of personal experiences and hope that my free input is of value to
folks like you.  I get a kick out of researching and writing, so I
don't mind doing it for free.  Hope the 13-year olds like the class!

ipfan

How about recording on audio tape from a variety of cartoons and get
the kids to guess which cartoons they come from - then you can go
about analysing them between you and see what you come up with. You
could devote the whole of the first part of your lesson plan to the
'quiz' - I'm sure the kids'll have plenty to say. Get the students to
write down the points you all agree on as important things to remember
- but allow them to disagree - and see what the non-conformists come
up with in their own compositions. It would have been quite nice to
have combined this with an art class. It goes without saying that
you'll have to listen to quite a few yourself BEFORE you go into the
fray! And a bit of academic research would do no harm - just to keep
one step ahead so to speak.

Look for these two CDs: "The Carl Stalling Project" and "The Carl
Stalling Project, Volume 2," both available from Warner Brothers. 
They feature music from WB cartoons between 1938 and 1957, inclusive,
and the liner notes are very extensive.  Even if it's not exactly what
you're looking for, they're highly entertaining and, in my opinion, a
great addition to any film music collection.

HTH,
~CKL