Contemporary Scoring Techniques

Immerses the student composer in creating music for a range of visual media including movies, shorts, television, and animation. Topics of inquiry include the visual, aural, narrative, textual and subtextual components of communication with moving images; the aesthetics, techniques and technicalities of spotting and synchronizing music; orchestration, both traditional and digital; production and mixing; and compositional practices unique to the work of scoring for moving images. Weekly scoring assignments and in-class critiques.

Course #

MPATC-GE 2049

Credits

2 - 3

Department

Music and Performing Arts Professions

Methodology

This course utilizes a flipped classroom for learning. Students will work on a set of asynchronous materials, including detailed video guides and exercises during their own time.

There is a synchronous mandatory weekly lab in small groups. During the lab, students will be able to ask any questions, there will be discussion over their assignments, and a set of guided exercises to practice the topics of the week.

Technology/Equipment Requirements

For the course, you will need the following equipment:

An Apple computer that is powerful enough to run the software (16GB Ram or more highly recommended)
Logic Pro X or logic alone (Available from the Apple App Store, either as an education bundle or just logic pro x)
East-West Composer Cloud (monthly subscription, student price available 50% off)
Avid Pro Tools (subscription with student price, or full software)

Although it is not strictly required, you will find that having an SSD for your samples is highly helpful. In addition, a MIDI keyboard will also be helpful. You are free to have and use other software or hardware (Kontakt for instance), but it is not required.

Course Content Overview

Introduction to Logic Pro
Working With MIDI: The Basics
Working with MIDI: Using CCs. Introduction to MIDI and Audio FX. The EQ.
MIDI programming strategies: Writing for Strings. Introduction to Synchronization
MIDI programming strategies: Winds. Using Automation and Audio Manipulation. Creating Hyperinstruments.
MIDI programming strategies: Sampled and Synthetic Percussion. Introduction to Compressors.
MIDI programming strategies: Synthesizers. Creating Sonic Palettes in the Library
Templates: Using Stems with an efficient workflow. Hyperorchestration
Mixing I: Foundations
Introduction to Protools
Editing a Recording Session in ProTools
Mixing II: Panning, Balance, Reverbs, and Delays
Mixing III: Compression, Signal Flow
Mixing IV: Mastering, Stems