Film Music Composition

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• compositional techniques for scoring films
• the requirements of a film score
• music production techniques for scoring films
• industry-standard processes for making and scoring films

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• identify creative and technical problems that arise in meeting the requirements of a film score
• research and implement solutions to problems that arise in meeting the requirements of a film score

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• work in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to compose film music
• use notational strategies for scoring film music
• synchronise music to image (planning and executing 'sync points')
• produce film scores (realising musical ideas as sound)

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• manage a project
• use a computer running Mac OS
• understand, interpret and execute a professional brief
• analyse a narrative

A series of topics will be presented over the semester, each exploring the relationship between music and film (moving image and narrative), and the compositional approaches critical to realising the potential of that relationship.

Examples of topics that may be explored include:

• Composing a theme
• DAW-based studio composition and production techniques
• Synchronisation of music to image
• Temp tracks
• Understanding narrative structure in film

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Small group tutorials

Learning activities include:

• Individual study
• On-line resources including LinkedIn Learning
• Watching and studying films

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Logic Pro X. This module will use Logic Pro X software in its teaching and assessment. This is installed in the computer cluster in Building 2, so purchase is not necessary.

Sibelius. This module will use Sibelius software in its teaching and assessment. This is available in the computer cluster in Building 2, so purchase is not necessary.

Assessment strategy

This module is taught alongside second-year students (students are enrolled in modules with different codes and meet at the same time). In such modules work is assessed and moderated separately. Following national and University guidelines, Third-year students will be held to a higher standard and set more complex work accordingly. See the relevant Music student handbook for further details.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External