Film Music Scoring and Sound Design

Lecture 1

Film Music Scoring is an incredibly rewarding and emotional journey! Do you want to write music for film?

Here's a quick introduction to my course and the Film Scoring Process:

1. Spotting Session: The composer understands the movie’s story, characters, meets with the director to discuss the film's vision, tone, themes, and where music should start and stop (cues).

2. Theme & Concept Development: Composers read scripts, research genres, and develop musical ideas (themes/leitmotifs) for characters or situations.

3. Composition (Mockups): Using software (DAWs) and virtual instruments, composers create digital demos (mockups) of the music, syncing them to the picture and adjusting tempo and phrasing.

4. Feedback & Revisions: Drafts are shared with the director and production team for notes, leading to revisions to ensure the music serves the story.

5. Recording: For larger budgets, live musicians (orchestras, soloists) record the score at a scoring stage, with the composer often present to guide the performance.

6. Mixing & Finalization: The recorded music is mixed with the film's sound effects and dialogue, and final versions of cues are delivered.

Lecture 2

There are three concepts that we need to first explore which determines the feel of every scene in a film: these three concepts are Emotions, Timing and Mood. Every scene in a film has it's own unique characteristics which comes together for one purpose; to tell the story. Film Composers must decide how to bring forth the best musical ideas to deepen the emotional impact for each scene. In this video, you will learn scene by scene how to determine Emotions, Timing and Mood. Let’s get started!

Lecture 3

In this video lesson, you will discover the most common techniques used in film scoring to enhance the emotional elements; themes, motifs, melodies, ostinatos.

Assignment: compose one theme, one motif and one ostinato.

Lecture 4

This video lesson will explore common terms used in film music as well as common uses of music in films. You will also learn how to set up your DAW with the correct bit and frame rate.

Assignment: Set up your correct frame rate based on the film. Try to ‘bounce’ a track. As you bounce a track, set up your DAW with the correct sample rate and bit rate.

Lecture 5
In this video lesson, we will preview the short animation film.

Assignment: Write down your choices for where the film changes in emotional impact, what instrument palette you want to create, tempo changes and where to use a theme, motif or ostinato.

Lecture 6

In this video, we will chart the overall emotional journey and I will give suggestions on types of instruments to consider.

Assignment: You will download the short animation film called SPRING. In your DAW, go to file and import the .mov into your project.

Lecture 7

In this video, you will hear my verbal description of where emotional changes occur in the film along with the score that I composed.

Assignment: Listen and watch for impact hits that accentuate the storyline.

Lecture 8

This video will explain markers, tempos, and setting up an instrument palette. Most DAWS are equipped with some free virtual instrument software and there are many sites where you can download free virtual instruments.

Assignment: Time to set up your virtual instrument palette!

Lecture 9

This video will dissect individual instrument palettes starting with strings then brass accent stabs and last adding the percussion effects to complete the intensity.

Assignment: It is time to compose the chase scene. Remember to create instrument palettes then compose with motifs and ostinatos.

Lecture 10

In the next scene, we will compose a theme or motifs for the emotional transition after the chase scene where the mood changes to positive. Think happy and energetic which usually will be written in a major key signature.

Assignment: After listening, start composing music for the transition after the chase scene until the end. We will wait and compose music for titles.

Lecture 11

This video is additional instruction for composing hits and build up using sound design and layers for the ending.

Assignment: Continue to compose the ending music. Remember you have freedom to create whatever you want. Just make sure to accentuate the musical hits and build!

Lecture 12

This video goes back to the beginning storyline in order to pull ideas from the rest of the film. You will also learn to place an emotional accent on the main character when first seeing the crystal,
place a musical hit on the planting of the staff, then when everything is waking up.

Assignment: Compose the intro starting after the opening title. Our final assignment will be composing music for the opening and ending titles.

Lecture 13

In this video, we will create music for the opening and closing titles. We will also explore ideas that create a mystical or fantasy feeling for the opening crawl words.

Assignment: Its time to complete the film by composing a motif, melody or soundscape for the titles and the opening crawl words.

Lecture 14
Closing comments by Janet Rabin Phillips