Learn the fundamentals of film music composition and its historical evolution through a comprehensive course that progresses from silent film accompaniment to modern scoring techniques. Explore the relationship between music and cinema, starting with the role of live music in silent films and cue sheets, before diving into detailed studies of musical elements including timbre across various instrument families, rhythm and tempo, melodic construction, and harmonic textures. Master the distinction between source music and underscore while examining the multiple functions of music in storytelling through film. Develop practical understanding of how different musical components - from brass and electronic instruments to scales and triads - contribute to creating effective film scores. Through optional assignments and unit tests, gain hands-on experience applying these concepts to enhance visual narratives through music.
Overview
Syllabus
- Lesson 1: Film and Music
- Introduction
- 1-1 Silent Film and Live Music
- 1-2 Cue Sheet
- 1-3 The Important Moment â…
- 1-4 The Important Moment â…¡
- 1-5 The Important Moment â…¢
- 1-6 Elements of Music
- Optional Assignment
- Lesson 2 The Impression - The Timbre
- Introduction
- 2-1 Brass Instruments
- 2-2 Woodwind Instruments
- 2-3 Bow Instruments
- 2-4 Plucked Instruments
- 2-5 Keyboard Instruments
- 2-6 Percussion Instruments
- 2-7 Electronic Instruments
- Optional Assignment
- Lesson 3- The Rhythm the Process
- Introduction
- 3-1 Tempo and Beat
- 3-2 Bar and Beat
- 3-3 The Accent
- 3-4 Movement and Rhythm
- Optional Assignment
- Lesson 4- The Haunting Melody
- Introduction
- 4-1 Scale and Octave
- 4-2 Interval
- 4-3 Mode and Arrangement of Notes
- 4-4 The Theme Music of Film
- Optional Assignment
- Lesson 5- Harmony and Texture
- Introduction
- 5-1 Consonant and Dissonant
- 5-2 Triad Basics
- 5-3 Harmonic Color
- 5-4 Texture
- 5-5 Music Element and Theme
- Optional Assignment
- Lesson 6- The Music in the Story
- Introduction
- 6-1 Source Music and Underscore
- 6-2 The function of Music in Film 1
- 6-3 The function of Music in Film 2
- 6-4 The function of Music in Film 3
- 6-5 The function of Music in Film 4
- Unit Test 6
- Final Test
- 2 Tests
Taught by
Fu Long and Zhang ximei
