Architecture and Art Program

Music Production in Film and Television: The Art and Technology of Creating Emotional Impact

Faculty Advisor: Emmy Award Winner; New York-based composer and producer

Research Program Introduction

Right from the beginning of a film, music has the power to whisk you away to different lands, planets, and points in time. In film and television, music encourages an audience to imagine they’re part of the on-screen events, which, in turn, allows them to immerse themselves in the story. Music is trustworthy: a viewer can depend on the music of a film to hint at the vibe of a setting, the intentions of a character, and the purpose of a scene. Upon hearing the music, an active audience member will know how the director requires them to read and comprehend a scene. 

Technology plays a major role in composing and producing music for film and television. A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) gives the composer the tools to write and record music in synchrony with the picture, thus allowing them to explore many ideas and soon discover how these ideas work with the visuals (within hours, sometimes minutes).  

During the group sessions, the Faculty Advisor will show students several segments from existing films to analyze and describe their musical content and its characteristics. The Faculty Advisor will also use his DAW to show how different melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and sound textures can be synchronized with several film segments (from films/commercials he has scored and/or from segments of an existing film chosen by each student).

At the end of the program, students will have the chance to write a paper about music in film or add their own music to a movie scene.

Possible Topics For Final Project

  • Music following action  

  • Music describing an existing character  

  • Music as a narrative background element or “wallpaper”  

  • Music suggesting to the audience how to feel

  • Music describing the feelings and emotions of a particular character

  • Music, Geography & Time  

  • Use of musical instruments in film music

  • Other professor-approved topics in this subject area that you are interested in

Program Details

  • Cohort size: 3 to 5 students

  • Duration: 12 weeks

  • Workload: Around 4 to 5 hours per week (including class and homework time)

  • Target students: 9 to 12th graders interested in music, film production, and creative writing.

  • Required materials:

    • A laptop or computer

    • (optional) Digital Audio Workstation (i.e. Garage Band, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, Digital Performer)