What You'll Learn

Improvisation for Dramatic Silent Movies

Ever wanted to create the music for a silent movie? Or… Improvise so well that you can create a range of styles instantly on piano or organ or as a composer? In this second improvisation and composition course you learn about special advanced harmonies, undermining tonality, bell sounds and much more . We have the masterclass for you, with interactive technology to enhance your learning. Great for players Grade 6 upwards, for higher level GCSE, A Level and University keyboard harmony and composition. For school/university subscriptions, please contact us directly.

Silent Movie Improvisation 2: Drama, Contents

This course will cover the following areas:

An introduction to drama in movies
The idee fixe
Creating Contrasting Characters
Polonaise and what to do after credits roll
Building Tension: Superimposed Diminished 7ths
Undermining Tonatlity
Sinisters bells and ostinato
Unusual sounds and special effects
Chase scenes and toccatas
Real world toccatas as templates
Darius in action

This course builds on from the first and provides you with harmonic progressions that you can adapt as well as patterns that you can use to develop your own high quality pieces. These don’t have to be for silent movies and can be used in any setting.

Your Maestro Teacher

Darius Battiwalla was raised in Islington and later studied music at Leeds University before studying for his Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music.

He directs the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and has even had them performing from memory. They have appeared at the Proms and on recordings for Chandos with the BBC Philharmonic, including the newly reconstructed score of Elgar’s Crown of India with the BBCPO and Sir Andrew Davis for Chandos Records. Darius has led the choir’s collaboration with Black Dyke Band in a series of recordings in the band’s Black Dyke Gold series, and in a CD of Christmas music including a number of his own arrangements.

He has worked regularly as guest chorus master or conductor with many other choirs including the Northern Sinfonia Chorus, Lucerne Festival Academy, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Huddersfield Choral Society, CBSO chorus and Netherlands Radio Choir, with whom he has specialised in contemporary music, having prepared them for works by Berio, Boulez, Ligeti, and the premiere of Stockhausen’s EngelProzessionen. In 2014 he worked with the Lucerne Festival Academy in preparation for a performance of Berio’s Coro to be conducted by Simon Rattle, and in 2018 was guest chorusmaster for the Northern Sinfonia for Paul McCreesh. In 2019 he conducted the BBC Philharmonic in a CD of music for the BBC Young Choristers of the Year.

Darius was recently appointed Leeds City Organist, performing regularly in the highly successful recital series in Leeds Town Hall, and has given organ recitals at cathedrals and concert halls throughout the country, as well as recordings and broadcasts on radio 3. He has given the recitals for the Royal College of Organists’ and Incorporated Association of Organists’ annual congress, appeared as soloist and orchestral organist and pianist for the BBC Philharmonic and Halle orchestras. 2019 saw the premiere of a new work for organ and brass band with the Black Dyke Band, a performance of Karl Jenkins’ organ concerto at the Bridgewater Hall, solo recitals in Leeds, York and London, and a live broadcast on radio 3 of Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass.

Darius also improvises for silent films on both organ and piano, including a regular silent film series at the National Media Museum. Over the past ten years he has improvised scores to more than fifty silent films on both organ and piano, not only in cinemas but in churches and cathedrals throughout the country, as well as a regular series for the National Media Museum. His improvised score for Phantom of the Opera at the RNCM in 2017 was described by theartsdesk.com as a ‘magnificent example of musical creativity…..a real multi-media achievement.’

What are Our Music Masterclasses Like?

Our music masterclass courses are self-study digital courses embedded with information, interactive music software (scores), exercises, objectives, tasks, teaching pedagogy and videos of celebrities and international level musicians explaining and demonstrating key skills. Certificates are awarded at the end of each course.

Our Platform: How do we teach and you learn?

🎵 Why Choose Our Music Learning Platform?

Unlock a rich, flexible, and inspiring music education experience designed for musicians of all levels. Whichever area of musical learning inspires you, our world-class performers offer it all.

A Quick Look at a Typical Masterclass Course

Sample Interactive Score

Course Dashboard with Progress and Points

Thorough Musicianship
Creativity, improvisation, and ear training are seamlessly integrated with popular, gospel, classical and jazz melodies to help you achieve true musical freedom.

Unique Learning Journey
Our tailored methodology emphasises improvisation and aural skills first, with notation used to support—not restrict—your creativity.

Certification
Courses include clear objectives, tasks, and fun quizzes that lead to downloadable certificates—perfect for motivation and recognition.

Gamification
Track your progress and climb the league tables by earning certificate points and logging in regularly.

️ Interactive Software
Our custom music software links visual notation with sound to enhance your creativity and understanding.

Celebrity Masterclasses
Learn from internationally acclaimed musicians and award-winning performers through high-quality video lessons and real-world demonstrations.

Expert Pedagogy
Each self-study course is structured with professional teaching principles, goal-setting, progress tracking, and step-by-step tasks.

Flexible Learning
Study from home, at your own pace. Affordable monthly fees and no need to travel—music learning that fits your lifestyle.

Human Touch
Get personalised support from our expert team and request custom courses tailored to your goals.

Personalised Experience
Receive bespoke course recommendations and guided learning plans based on your interests and skill level.

For All Levels
A wide range of self-study courses, celebrity masterclasses, and optional 1-1 lessons designed for adult and teenage musicians, university/conservatoire students, home schoolers, and music therapists.