The module allows the student to develop further understanding of a range of professional roles undertaken by media composers /composers for F&TV within a more industrialised context. The teaching and learning experience of the module introduces the opportunity to work with live musicians, composing and arranging for a small instrumental ensemble and conducting their performance to the moving images, in a state-of-the-art modern recording studio environment. The student will also be required to engage in post-production mastering and mixing, to achieve a fully professional result. A degree of recording theory and practice is included, which will present information from professional sound engineers, composers and producers. Module content also includes in-depth study of real-world aspects of composition, production and exploitation of music in the media. The assignments set reflect these areas of study - for example, dealing with project management, copyright and budget issues.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
This module will be taught through lectures, seminars and workshops as well as through a series of wholly practical sessions conducted within a professional recording studio. These involve the auditioning of demos and the proof-reading of scores by the group, as well as demonstrations of contemporary recording practices.
Lectures introduce the subject matter (e.g., copyright law). Workshops provide practical demonstrations of techniques. Seminars provide the opportunity for follow-up discussion, for analysis and critical evaluation of music listened to and for the provision of formative feedback on independent work.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures, seminars and workshops | 33 |
Guided independent study | 267 | |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
The assessment for this module is designed to test the students' understanding of the requirements of being a film and TV composer in a commercial environment, of project management, copyright and legal issues, and of creating music to picture to be performed at sight and recorded by a live ensemble. The module will be assessed through two assignments, consisting of compositions to picture of approximately 8 minutes duration in total. A 1500 word written commentary will accompany each assignment. A budget and project plan will also be submitted with the first assignment.
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
1) Compose and professionally produce a variety of pieces of music to picture, to emphasise the creative versatility of the media composer | Assessed summatively through the compositions |
2) Construct a comprehensive and accurate budget to enable the production of a film score | Assessed summatively through the budget submitted within the written documentation |
3) Demonstrate a professional understanding of the business and legal issues involved in writing music for broadcast | Assessed summatively through the written commentary. |
4) Write imaginatively for the given instrumental group | Assessed summatively through the score. |
5) Demonstrate knowledge of orchestration techniques for working to picture in the context of the given ensemble | Assessed formatively in feed-forward seminars and summatively through the score |
6) Create an accurate score and parts for others to perform at sight | Assessed summatively through the score |
7) Self-critically analyse the composer's role from beginning to end of the process | Assessed summatively through the written commentary |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Coursework | Composition to Picture and Commentary on Budget | 50 |
Coursework | Composition for Live Ensemble and Commentary | 50 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
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