MOS1002 - Music for Movies 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MOS1002
Module Title: Music for Movies
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Music
Module Leader: Andrew Gwilliam
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2023 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100695 - music composition
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2029

Module Aims

Introduce the history and developments of music and its relationship to the moving image through, discussions, debate, viewing, listening, sharing and researching.

The learners will develop composition and arranging techniques ‘in the box’, using appropriate recording software.

Content Summary

This module will explore the relationship between sound and music in supporting screen and other areas of the media. This will include:

A history of music’s relationship with the moving image.

Examining Music for Movies

Musical techniques developed in classical music, and theatre later adopted by film composers.

The unit will introduce technical, analytic and creative skills to combine sound and music for Film in a creative and effective way.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 16
Practical classes and workshops 24
Independent Study 68
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Identify and explain the history of music’s relationship to the moving image, and contemporary scoring techniques
LO2 Discuss and apply appropriate technical knowledge and skills in relation to film scoring to produce work of a professional standard whilst taking into account the visual rhetoric and genre.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Research Project 0 2000 40 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Production (Onsite) 1 Music for Movies 0 N/A 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1
Production (Onsite) 1

Reading List

Cooke, M. (2017) A history of film music. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press.

Hill, A.W. (2017) Scoring the screen: The secret language of film music. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Books.

Schifrin, L. and Feist, J. (2011) Music composition for film and television. Boston, MA: Berklee Press.

Variego, J. (2021) Composing with constraints: 100 practical exercises in Music Composition. New York: Oxford University Press.

Rogers, H & Barnam, J (2017) The Music and Sound of Experimental Film,

Oxford University Press

MacDonald, L. E. (2013) The Invisible art of film music: a comprehensive

history. 2 nd . Edn. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.

Prendergast, R. M. (1991) Film Music: A Neglected art: a critical study of

music in films. Norton.

Peirolo, A. (2007) Acoustic and MIDI Orchestration for the Contemporary

Composer. Focal Press.

Rick Altman, Sound Theory/Sound Practice, Routledge, (ISBN 0415904579)

Robert Mott, Sound Effects: Radio, T.V. and Film, Robert Mott, Focal Press, (ISBN 024080029X)

Weis & Belton, Film Sound: Theory and Practice, Columbia University Press, (ISBN 0231056370)

David Sonnenschein, Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema, , Michael Weise Productions Pub, 2001