“Music Composition for Film and TV 1” was the second Berklee Online class that I took during my eighth term. As with other courses authored by Ben Newhouse, this was a fantastic class that went over everything in a clear, logical and methodical progression. Our instructor, Vicente Avella, was excellent in providing thoughtful & meaningful feedback, guidance and advice.
Here’s what we went over during the twelve week term.
Week 1 – “Creative Considerations of Film Music Composition”, Jun 28 – Jul 2nd
Introduction, Meet and Greet, Course Structure, The Role of Music in Film, The Green Mile, Troy, Exercise 1.1: Identifying a Scene’s Underlying Emotions, The Complete Audio Landscape, Dialogue Considerations, Sound Effects Considerations, Sound Effects Considerations, Exercise 1.2: Balancing Music with Dialogue and Sound Effects, Highlighting Visual Events, Musical Entrances and Exits, Matching the Internal Contour of a Scene, Matching the Pacing of Picture and Music, When to Have No Music, List of Musical Characteristics, Exercise 1.3: Matching the Contour of Visual Events in a Scene, Other Roles of Music in Film, Setting Location and Time, Source Music, A Framework for Analyzing Scenes, Quiz 1.1: Creative Considerations, Assignment 1: Writing Music to Picture, Recap
Week 2 – “Creative Considerations Specific to Television and Music Libraries”, Jul 3rd – Jul 9th
Introduction, The Television Main Title, The Television Main Title: Friends, The Television Main: Arrested Development, The Television Main: Lost, The Television Main: Summary, Discussion 2.1: Analysis of the Main Title from Heroes, Commercial Bumpers, Commercial Bumpers: Lost, Commercial Bumpers: Arrested Development, Commercial Bumpers: Summary, Discussion 2.2: Analysis of the End Credits from Arrested Development and Lost, The Role of Music Libraries, Discussion 2.3: A Hypothetical Project – To Compose or to License?, Strategies for Maximizing Licensing Usage, Underscores and Submixes, Shortened Edits, Clean Entrances and Exits, Exercise 2.1: Underscore Mix from a Full Mix, Similarities and Differences—Music in Film and Television, Quiz 2.1: Music for Television, Assignment 2: Theme and Bumper Package, Recap
Week 3 – “Ballads of Love and Positive Emotions”, Jul 10th – Jul 16th
Introduction, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 1, Intimate Ballad 1: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 1: Melody, Intimate Ballad 1: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 1: Orchestration, Exercise 3.1: Indiana Jones Intimate Ballad, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 2, Intimate Ballad 2: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 2: Melody, Intimate Ballad 2: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 2: Orchestration, Exercise 3.2: Write a Chord Progression for an Intimate Ballad, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 3, Intimate Ballad 3: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 3: Melody, Intimate Ballad 3: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 3: Orchestration, Score Analysis: “The Triceratops” from Jurassic Park, Quiz 3.1: “The Triceratops” , Analysis: Intimate Ballad 4, Intimate Ballad 4: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 4: Melody, Intimate Ballad 4: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 4: Orchestration, Exercise 3.3: Write a Melody for an Intimate Ballad, Summary of Observations – Intimate Ballads, Assignment 3: Score an Intimate Love Scene , Recap
Week 4 – “Ballads of Love and Positive Emotions” – Part 2, Jul 17th – Jul 23rd
Introduction, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 1, Intimate Ballad 1: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 1: Melody, Intimate Ballad 1: Rhythm and Tempo, Intimate Ballad 1: Orchestration, Discussion 4.1: Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 2, Intimate Ballad 2: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 2: Melody, Intimate Ballad 2: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 2: Orchestration, Exercise 4.1: Orchestrating a Love Scene for a Small Setting, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 3, Intimate Ballad 3: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 3: Melody, Intimate Ballad 3: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 3: Orchestration, Score Analysis The Lightkeepers, Quiz 4.1: The Lightkeepers , Analysis: Intimate Ballad 4, Intimate Ballad 4: Harmony, Intimate Ballad 4: Melody, Intimate Ballad 4: Tempo and Rhythm, Intimate Ballad 4: Orchestration, Exercise 4.2: Orchestrating a Large Statement Love Scene, The Positive Ballad Template, Quiz 4.2: Love and Positive Emotions , Assignment 4: Score a Positive Ballad Scene , Recap
Week 5 – “Ballads of Sadness and Sorrow”, Jul 24th – Jul 30th
Introduction, BPRD Suite, Harmony in the BPRD Suite, Melody in the BPRD Suite, Tempo and Rhythm in the BPRD Suite, Orchestration in the BPRD Suite, Discussion 5.1: The King Dies, “The Face of Pan” from Hook, Harmony in “The Face of Pan”, Melody in “The Face of Pan”, Tempo and Rhythm in “The Face of Pan”, Orchestration in “The Face of Pan”, Orchestration in “The Face of Pan”, Exercise 5.1: Write a Chord Progression for a Sad Ballad, “Lente” from Schindler’s List, Harmony in “Lente”, Melody in “Lente”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Lente”, Orchestration in “Lente”, Score Analysis Rememberances, Quiz 5.1: Score Analysis Rememberances , “Braveheart” from Braveheart, Harmony in “Braveheart”, Avoiding Dominant to Tonic, Long-Term Harmonic Movement, Melody in “Braveheart”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Braveheart”, Orchestration in “Braveheart”, Exercise 5.2: Write a Melody for a Sad Ballad, Assignment 5: Score a Sad Ballad, Recap
Week 6 – “Ballads of Sadness and Sorrow – Part 2”, Jul 31st – Aug 6th
Introduction, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 1—”Across the Stars”, Harmony in “Across the Stars”, Melody in “Across the Stars”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Across the Stars”, Orchestration in “Across the Stars”, Orchestration Key Points, Discussion 6.1: Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 2—”Window to the Past”, Harmony in “Window Into the Past”, Melody in “Window Into the Past”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Window Into the Past”, Orchestration in “Window Into the Past”, Exercise 6.1: Orchestrate a Sad Ballad—Small Instrumentation, Analysis: Intimate Ballad 3—”Stay Out of My Life”, Melody in “Stay Out of My Life”, Harmony in “Stay Out of My Life”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Stay Out of My Life”, Orchestration in “Stay Out of My Life”, Quiz 6.1: Score Analysis of The Lightkeepers , Analysis: Intimate Ballad 4—”I Never Stopped Caring”, Harmony in “I Never Stopped Caring”, Melody in “I Never Stopped Caring”, Tempo and Meter in “I Never Stopped Caring”, Orchestration in “I Never Stopped Caring”, Exercise 6.2: Orchestrate a Sad Ballad—Large Orchestration, The Sad Ballad Template, Quiz 6.2: Theory and Music Terms , Assignment 6: Score a Sad Scene, Recap
Week 7 – “Horror and Scary Music”, Aug 7th – Aug 13th
Introduction, Strategies for Creating Dissonance, Minor Second Chords, Octave Changes, Combining Consonant Chords, Diminished and Augmented Triads, 12-pitch chords, 12 Pitches and Augmented Triads, Exercise 7.1: Write a Chord Progression for a Horror Sequence, Analysis: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta from The Shining, Melody in Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Harmony in Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Tempo and Rhythm in Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Orchestration in Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Score Analysis of Silly Sally, Quiz 7.1: Score Analysis Silly Sally, Analysis: “Main Title” from The Omen, Melody in “Main Title”, Harmony in “Main Title”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Main Title”, Orchestration in “Main Title”, Score Analysis: “George to the Rescue”, “Meating of the Minds” from The Thing, Harmony in “Meating of the Minds”, Melody in “Meating of the Minds”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Meating of the Minds”, Orchestration in “Meating of the Minds”, Quiz 7.2: Harmony, Assignment 7: Score a Scary Horror Cue, Recap
Week 8 – “Horror and Scary Music” – Part 2, Aug 14th – Aug 20th
Introduction, Analysis: “Discoveries” from The Mummy, Melody in “Discoveries”, Melody in “Discoveries”, Harmony in “Discoveries”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Discoveries”, Orchestration in “Discoveries”, Exercise 8.1: Octatonic Counterpoint, Analysis: Aleatoric Music in 20th Century Concert Music, “Trombone Concerto” by Christopher Rouse, Exercise 8.2: Write and Sequence an Aleatoric Idea for Pizz Strings, Analysis: “House of Paincakes” from Blade II, Harmony in “House of Paincakes”, “House of Paincakes” Low Intervals, 20th Century Orchestration in “House of Paincakes”, 20th Century Orchestration in “House of Paincakes”, Aleatoric Textures in “House of Paincakes”, Discussion 8.1: “Meating of the Minds”, Analysis: “The F-35” from Live Free, Die Hard, Harmony in “The F-35”, Aleatoric Music in “The F-35”, 20th Century Orchestration in “The F-35”, Template for Horror and Scary Music, Quiz 8.1: Techinques and Technical terms, Assignment 8: Score a Suspenseful Horror Scene, Recap
Week 9 – “High Intensity Action Music”, Aug 21st – Aug 27th
Introduction, Action Cue: “The F-35” from Live Free or Die Hard, Reduction of “The F-35”, Rhythm in “The F-35”, Compound Meters, Odd Meters, Harmony in “The F-35”, Melody in “The F-35”, Orchestration in the “F-35”, Exercise 9.1: Write a Rhythm Appropriate for an Action Cue, Action Cue: “Just Do It” from Atlantis, Action Cue: “Just Do It” from Atlantis, Rhythm in “Just Do It”, Harmony in “Just Do It”, Melody in “Just Do It”, Orchestration in “Just Do It”, Discussion 9.1: “The F35”, “The Battle” from Bridge to Terabithia, Harmony in “The Battle”, Rhythm in “The Battle”, Melody in “The Battle”, Orchestration in “The Battle”, Score Analysis: “Jurassic Park”, Quiz 9.1: Score Analysis “Jurassic Park”, Assignment 9: Score an Action/Chase Cue, Recap
Week 10 – “High Intensity Action Music” – Part 2, Aug 28th – Sep 3rd
Introduction, Action Cue: “The Leviathan” from Atlantis, Harmony in “The Leviathan”, Tempo and Rhythm in “The Leviathan”, Melody in “The Leviathan”, Orchestration in “The Leviathan”, Exercise: Orchestrate Material for Rhythmic Strings, Action Cue: “Forest Battle” from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Harmony in “Forest Battle”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Forest Battle”, Melody in “Forest Battle”, Orchestration in “Forest Battle”, Listening and Discussion: Tchaikovsky, Action Cue: “Incident at Isla Nubar” from Jurassic Park, Tempo and rhythm in “Incident at Isla Nubar”, Melody in “Incident at Isla Nubar”, Harmony in “Incident at Isla Nubar”, Orchestration in “Incident at Isla Nubar”, Score Analysis: Battle, Quiz 10.1: Score Analysis “Battle”, High-intensity Action Template, Quiz 10.2: High Intensity Action, Assignment 10: High-Intensity Action Video, Recap
Week 11 – “Magic and Fantasy Music”, Sep 4th – Sep 10th
Introduction, Magic and Fantasy: “Mahoney’s Debut” from Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Harmony in “Mahoney’s Debut”, Melody in “Mahoney’s Debut”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Mahoney’s Debut”, Orchestration in “Mahoney’s Debut”, Exercise 11.1: Magical Tone Colors, Magic and Fantasy Cue: “Fairy Dance” from Peter Pan, Harmony in “Fairy Dance”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Fairy Dance”, Melody in “Fairy Dance”, Orchestration in “Fairy Dance”, Discussion 11.1: “Sugar Plum Fairy”, Magic and Fantasy: “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter, Melody in “Hedwig’s Theme”, Melodic Treatment, Hedwig’s Melody, Harmony in “Hedwig’s Theme”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Hedwig’s Theme”, Orchestration in “Hedwig’s Theme”, Score Analysis: “Remembering Petticoat Lane”, Quiz 11.1: Score Analysis “Rememberign Petticoat Lane”, Magic and Fantasy Cue: Disney DVD Logo, Harmony in Disney DVD Logo, Melody in Disney DVD Logo, Tempo and Rhythm in Disney DVD Logo, Orchestration in Disney DVD Logo, Magic and Fantasy Template, Assignment 11: Magic and Fantasy Video, Recap
Week 12 – “Supernatural Grandeur”, Sep 11th – Sep 17th
Introduction, Supernatural Grandeur Cue: “Atlantis” from Atlantis, Harmony in “Atlantis”, Melody in “Atlantis”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Atlantis”, Orchestration in “Atlantis”, Score Analysis: “Duel of the Fates”, Supernatural Grandeur Cue: “Finale” from The Abyss, Harmony in “Finale”, Melody in “Finale”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Finale”, Orchestration in “Finale”, Exercise 12.1: Orchestrate a Progression, Supernatural Grandeur Cue: “Rebirth” from The Mummy, Harmony in “Rebirth”, Melody in “Rebirth”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Rebirth”, Orchestration in “Rebirth”, Discussion 12.1: Listening, “O Fortuna”, Supernatural Grandeur Cue: “Mermaids” from Hook, Harmony in “Mermaids”, Melody in “Mermaids”, Tempo and Rhythm in “Mermaids”, Orchestration in “Mermaids”, Supernatural Grandeur Template, Exercise 12.2: Supernatural Grandeur Library Cue, Assignment 12: Create an Audio Film Scoring Demo, Recap
Here’s the Film Score Demo that I put together from assignments and exercises that I did for this class.
Thanks for another great class, Berklee!