Master of Music - Composing for Film and Television

This course explores how music creates atmosphere, conveys mood and depicts setting, character and action. Students will examine the relationships between composer and producer, directors and music editors. Students will study the technology used to produce high-quality soundtracks as well as business and copyright issues. Through optional modules, they will be able to tailor the course to their interests.

For the major project, students will create a portfolio of music to picture and work with filmmakers. Students will learn techniques for composing and producing music for different media, be taught by professional composers, and collaborate with filmmakers and animators. There is the opportunity to have their compositions performed by an ensemble, conducted to picture in a professional recording environment. Students will use recording studios, rehearsal rooms, a synthesis/sampling lab, and will the analogue/digital hybrid Visconti Studio, which has a 300m² octagonal live room plus rare and vintage recording equipment.

Students will analyse film and TV scores, exploring how music is used to create atmosphere, convey mood and depict setting, character and action. Students will also explore the relationships between composer and producer, directors and music editors.

Many of the graduates from this Composing for Film and Television course have progressed on to roles either in the music industry itself or in related areas – or have enrolled for further study (e.g. MPhil/PhD).