Filmscore and Soundtrack

DESCRIPTION:
Students will engage in the study of the aesthetic and technical practices of film music and sound through theoretical and practical approaches. The focus will be on the interaction between soundtrack and image track, on the level of form, rhythm, style and emotion, as well as on the creative processes of film scoring. The study of selected film scores illustrating the development of film scoring art will be combined with original practical work in the environment of a lab.

RATIONALE: 
This course provides students with an understanding of the ideas and techniques behind film music as it emerged parallel to the development of the film art. It enables them to appreciate the vital role of music in the film and its growing critical respectability in the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries, while providing the basic tools to practice key concepts in the context of a creative project.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After successfully completing this course students should be able to:
1. identify and demonstrate understanding of aesthetic, technical and structural concepts of film music through listening and viewing.
2. analyze a given film segment by listing and ranking its sound elements, functions of music, scoring techniques and interaction between soundtrack and image track, relating it to particular stylistic tendencies, practices and film genres.
3. compare and contrast different scoring approaches in film scenes with common themes and of different periods and/or genres.
4. apply key aesthetic and technical principles of film scoring in a creative project and document the creative process involved.

METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING:
In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college, the following tools are used:
- Class lectures combined with demonstration of musical examples at the piano and by use of supportive audio-visual material (including class discussions and group work)
- In-class listening, screening, score reading and music writing activities, which are further practiced as homework
- Practical film music work aide by computer technology available on camps labs through guided group and individual practice.
- Office hours: students are encouraged to make full use of their instructor’s office hours, where they can ask questions, see their assigned work results and/or go over lecture material
- Use of a learning management system (Blackboard) where instructors post lecture notes, assignment instructions, announcements and additional resources
- Support from the Student Academic Support Services (SASS), who offer one-to-one and group workshop sessions to support the development of academic and study skills.