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MUS 401
FILM SCORING I
11:00 A.M., TR
3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Prof. Christopher Kozak
Moody Music Building, Room 201
205-348-6333, 205-348-1473 (fax)
ckozak@music.ua.edu
Prerequisite: MUS 312 or permission of instructor
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A study of the art of scoring music for films. The course
will examine the evolution and the aestetics of film scoring
as developed by the pioneers of this art form (Max Steiner,
David Raksin, Hanns Eisler, etc.). Emphasis will also be given
to the comprehension and application of the click track, i.e.:
devising hits, spotting, timings, footage conversions, etc.
Synchronization principles will also be discussed in great
detail. Musically, the student will focus on the 30 and 60
second jingle format for both radio and TV. Emphasis will be
placed on developing the hooks and writing a flexible jingle
for different needs, for example: doughnut, full sing, vocal
in/out, tag, etc. Once the projects are written they will be
recorded in the Jazz Studio and produced for the student's
portfolio.
COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of the course is to develop the student's
skills to quickly ascertain and comprehend the needs of the
specific music as dictated by the film and director, then creatively
compose, arrange, and orchestrate the project under the guise
of a strict deadline. The student will also develop skills
to conduct a recording session successfully, learn to find
and correct mistakes by aural recognition and/or score analysis
in a time effective fashion, and learn the basics of sonically
producing a project for final presentation to a client.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
The Reel World: Scoring for Pictures, Jeff Rona. Miller Freeman
Books, San Francisco: 2000.
ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS:
Weekly readings will be given as new material is introduced
in class. There will be three projects due in the course. Project
#1 is in two parts. The first half is an analysis of existing
jingles. The students are responsible for video taping 10 different
TV jingles, including both regional and national, transcribe
all themes and analyze each jingle for class presentation.
Each student will be expected to evaluate the successfulness
of the jingles and present criteria why it is or is not successful.
The second half will be due in the latter half of the semester.
The student is responsible for an analysis of a film, i.e.:
main themes, thematic development, amount of music in film,
evaluation of effectiveness of the score, etc. Project #2 will
be musical cues composed, arranged, and orchestrated by the
students to depict story lines of their own choosing. Instrumentation
is limited to 8 musicians of any instrument. Project #3 is
another musical cue assignment. The students will be responsible
for 4-5 minutes of music scoring for film clips reserved in
the Jazz Studies area. The primary emphasis of the cues is
to creatively and musically use click tracks for precise hits
with the action of the scenes. The instrumentation is limited
to a maximum of 8 musicians of any instrumentation. All cues
will be mixed, produced, and dubbed to video for the student's
portfolio.
EXAMINATIONS:
There will be a final examination for this course and will
cover all material discussed in the course.
GRADING PROCEDURES & POLICIES:
Assessment of the student's work is based on the following
criteria:
- Comprehension and command of material covered in the course.
- Completion of projects by the deadline. Late projects will
result in lowering of the final grade.
- Leadership qualities and abilities to the conduct the recording
session.
- Effectiveness of the musical cue.
- Examination/quizzes.
GRADING SYSTEM:
The student's final grade will be drawn from grades received for each component
of the course:
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Grades: |
| Quizzes |
15% |
95%-100% = A |
| Project #1 |
20% |
90%-94% = A- |
| Project #2 |
20% |
86%-89% = B+ |
| Project #3 |
25% |
82%-85% = B |
| Final Examination |
20% |
79%-81% = B- |
| |
|
75%-78% = C+ |
| |
|
71%-74% = C |
| |
|
68%-70% = C- |
| |
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64%-67% = D+ |
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60%-63% = D |
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57%-59% = D- |
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0%-56% = F |
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance of all classes is expected. Because the course only
meets once a week, more than 2 absences will lower the final
grade by one letter and may also result in expulsion from the
class. Any extenuating curcumstances must be immediately discussed
with Tom Wolfe.
COURSE OUTLINE:
This is subject to change, dependent on the needs and progress
of the class.
| Classes |
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| Week 1/2: |
Music for
the Movies: The Hollywood
Sound |
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| Week 2/1: |
Finish Music for the
Movies: The Hollywood Sound. Review syllabus & assignments. View previous
student projects. Assign 1st reading assignment. |
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| Week 2/2: |
Introduction to evolution of film scoring:
silent films and music.
Movies and scores, 1935-1950.
Film Music, Prendergast, pp. 3-97. |
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| Week 3/1: |
Film Scores, 1950-present.
Aesthetics of film scoring.
Film Music, Prendergast, pp. 98-200. |
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| Week 3/2: |
Music for Film.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 1-13. |
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| Week 4/1: |
Project #1 - Part 1 due.
Analysis of jingles. |
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| Week 4/2: |
Project #1 - Part 1 continued. |
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| Week 5/1: |
Music for Television.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 21-39. |
|
| Week 5/2: |
Developing a Style.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 40-59. |
|
| Week 6/1: |
Beginning a Career.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 170-186. |
|
| Week 6/2: |
Career Challenges.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 187-218. |
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| Week 7/1: |
Making a Living.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 219-261. |
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| Week 7/2: |
Project #2 due.
Record projects. Time TBA. |
|
| Week 8/1: |
Project #2 continued. |
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| Week 8/2: |
Project #2 Mixdown. |
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| Week 9/1: |
Project #2 Mixdown continued |
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| Week 9/2: |
Setting Up a Studio.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 83-97. |
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| Week 10/1: |
Technology: click tracks, sequencing, etc.
On the Track, Wright/Karlin, pp.
Click Assignments for next class. |
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| Week 10/2: |
Review of assignments. Continued synchronization/hits
review in class. |
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| Week 11/1: |
Project #1 - Part 2 due.
Film Analysis. |
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| Week 11/2 |
Project #1 - Part 2 continued.
Film Analysi |
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| Week 12/1 |
Project #1 - Part 2 continued.
Film Analysis. |
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| Week 12/2 |
Writing the Score.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 98-122. |
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| Week 13/1 |
Recording the Score.
The Reel World, Rona, pp. 123-169. |
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| Week 13/2: |
Student mock presentations of Project
#3 cues. |
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| Week 14/1: |
Project #3 due.
Record projects. Time TBA |
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| Week 14/2: |
Project #3 continued. |
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| Week 15/1: |
Project #3 Mixdown and Video Dub. |
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| Week 16/1: |
Project #3 Mixdown and Video Dub continued. |
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| Week 16/2: |
Review of projects and materials for Final
Examination. |
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