Module overview
Composing music for films has a rich, 100+ year history, and technological advances and inspired and innovative teams continue to evolve this dynamic sector of the creative industries.
You will be introduced to this history and a series of contemporary techniques and processes central to the practice of synchronising original music to film, creating your own scores to a selection of film cues provided on the module.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- research and implement solutions to problems that arise in meeting the requirements of a film score
- identify creative and technical problems that arise in meeting the requirements of a film score
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- music production techniques for scoring films
- compositional techniques for scoring films
- industry-standard processes for making and scoring films
- the requirements of a film score
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- analyse a narrative
- manage a project
- use a computer running Mac OS
- understand, interpret and execute a professional brief
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- synchronise music to image (planning and executing 'sync points')
- work in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to compose film music
- use notational strategies for scoring film music
- produce film scores (realising musical ideas as sound)
Syllabus
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
Learning and Teaching
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
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 126 |
| Teaching | 24 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
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.
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.
Assessment
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.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assignment | 50% |
| Assignment | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assignment | 50% |
| Assignment | 50% |
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.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assignment | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External