PIANO -- Ben Model accompanies silent films live on either piano or organ.  The piano is the sound most associated with silent films and most venues have an instrument, either upright or grand or keyboard.  In some cases where a theater or auditorium does not have an instrument, a digital keyboard can be arranged for, either locally or through Ben.

THEATRE ORGAN -- A much fuller, richer sound, one more typically heard in movie theaters during the silent era, is that of the theatre organ.  This is the sound heard today in restored movie palaces in certain areas of the country (such as the Egyptian, in Boise, Idaho, shown on this site's home page).  Church organs are suitable as well; many churches have hosted showings of DeMille's King of Kings ('27) or Halloween programs like Phantom of the Opera ('25) or Nosferatu ('22).

If you'd like to have theatre organ accompaniment for your show, there are two options to bring the real Wurlitzer sound to your venue.  One is to use a digital theatre organ, which may be rented for a show and delivered to your theater or auditorium, but these can prove very costly.  The next best thing is...

MIDITZER™ -- a virtual theatre organ called the Miditzer.  The Miditzer computer program runs on a laptop connected to a portable keyboard+pedals set-up.  The audio is run from the laptop through your house sound system.  It's a quick and simple set-up...in about 15 minutes it's like someone installed a Wurlitzer in your theater!  E-mail for more info.

ENSEMBLES -- Ben has composed scores for four short comedies which are suitable for either an adult professional or a good high school concert band or orchestra.  During the silent film era many theatres had orchestral accompaniment to their films, and these scores composed and arranged by Ben Model are true to the style of the silent film era.  Concert band accompaniment to films was not part of the silent era, but most schools and universities have wind ensembles and so Ben has arranged his scores for band as well.