MOS2002 - Sound For Movies 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MOS2002
Module Title: Sound 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: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100223 - music production
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

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

Module Aims

Build upon the skills developed in Music for Movies. To equip learners with an overview of music’s development in tandem with screen-based narratives and provide the technical and musical knowledge to begin composing music in response.

Further develop composition and arranging techniques ‘in the box’ using appropriate recording software.

Introduce how music underpins film narrative, orchestration and scoring techniques to all media.

Learners will develop collaboration skills with and/or internal external clients.

Content Summary

This module will complement and build on Music For Movies and will further develop their skills through collaboration and experimentation. Learners will experience and develop music skills through a series of workshops, seminars and screenings in a more in-depth musical approach.

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

Music in different visual media: Film, Television, Animation, Games.

Orchestration, scoring how music underpins visual narrative in different contexts

Develop collaboration skills with internal and/or external clients.

The unit will introduce core technical, analytic and creative skills to combine sound and music for media in an effective way. Learners will gain knowledge about specific media output and how music and sound work to support, or in some cases, even drive communication to specific audiences.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 10
Practical classes and workshops 20
Supervised time in studio/workshop 10
Independent Study 68
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply appropriate technical knowledge and skills in relation to film scoring DAW’s and scoring software to produce work of an appropriate standard taking into account the visual rhetoric and genre.
LO2 Analyse the roles involved in the soundtrack production and deploy those skills effectively

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Production (Onsite) 2 Collaboration Project 0 N/A 50 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Production (Onsite) 1 Independent Project 0 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Production (Onsite) 2
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.

Harrison, T. (2022) Sound design for film. The Crowood Press.

Scott-James, K. (2018) Sound design for moving image: From concept to realization. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Viers, R. (2008) The sound effects bible: How to create and record Hollywood style sound effects. Studio City, CA: Published by Michael Wiese Productions.

Viers, R. (2013) The location sound bible: How to record professional dialogue for film and TV. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions.

Rogers, H; Barnam, J.(2017) The Music and Sound of Experimental Film, Oxford University Press

Monaco, J. (2009) How to Read a Film – Movies, Media and Beyond, Oxford University Press USA.

Thomson, David, (2013) The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies and what They Did to Us. Penguin.

Hill, Andy Dr. (2017) Scoring The Screen: The Secret Language of Film Music (Music Pro Guides). Applause Theatre Book Publishers.

MacDonald, L. E. (2013) The Invisible art of film music: a comprehensive history. 2 nd . Edn. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.

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

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

Harrison, T. (2022) Sound design for film. The Crowood Press.

Hillman, N. (2021) Sound for moving pictures: The four sound areas. New York: Routledge.