Power To Learn - Creative Expressions

As a result of personal teaching methods and preference of activities, the New York State Learning Standards applied below may change, and are only a suggested approach toward organizing your lessons.

High School: Film Score
Aaron Copland wrote scores specifically for films including The Heiress, The Red Pony and Our Town. For the more modern He Got Game, director Spike Lee used "Hoe Down" from Copland's Rodeo, as well as Lincoln Portrait as background music for young African Americans playing basketball. Lee accounts for this decision stating, "When I listen to Aaron Copland's music, I hear America, and basketball is America."

Screen an "Aaron Copland Film Series" for your students and have them pay particular attention to the scores of the movies and discuss how the director's choice of music affects the viewer's perception of a film.

NYS Learning Standards: Arts
Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art

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