Non-Traditional Film Music

This course is an introductory survey to film
music history and analysis. We will primarily
focus on international and experimental cinema,
but will likely draw on certain Hollywood or
independent American filmmakers who don't quite
fit the mold and whose use of music is
particularly singular (e.g., David Lynch and
Angelo Badalamenti). In this course you will learn
how to hear how music operates within film, how
sound design can operate on a similar level to
score, how to hear "emotion" and "affect" within
film score, as well as basic music theory concepts
related to film score composition. I am passionate
about this subject as cinema is an important
medium that can define generations of viewers - no
surprise given its potential to veer into the
territory of propaganda. As creators we have a
responsibility to be aware of the past and to
understand how we can be trained by the media that
we consume. Part of the power of film lies
squarely in the music and sound - the emotion and
atmosphere they instill are undeniably powerful
tools!