In this course, we will learn the essential techniques used in writing music for film. Through a series of analysis' of well-known film scenes from your favorite movies we will learn what makes a great cue, and then apply those techniques by writing our own. I'll be showing you some of my own projects for film and television throughout the class, and walk you through my process when composing music for a film project.
By the end of this course, students will understand the tools, lingo, and techniques used in the film composing world and will be ready to dive into their own projects. I'll walk you through how to get started on your first project by using freely available movies that need a score.
Throughout my career, I've worked with major American orchestras, film studios, and video game designers. I'm also a PhD in music composition and a university professor (of music composition).
Recently I was named as a semi-finalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students, and give them the joy of Music Theory.

What will I learn in this Course?

  • Tools of the trade
  • Creating atmosphere
  • Using "Pad" sounds with orchestra
  • Finding Atmopshere in film
  • Harmonizing string melodies
  • Polyrhythmic accompaniment
  • Homorhythmic accompaniment
  • Working with string orchestra
  • The chase scene
  • Working with drum loops in chase scenes
  • Using the brass section
  • Building tension
  • Writing tension cues
  • Ponticello
  • Tremelo
  • Glissando
  • Writing comedy and animation cues
  • "Mickey Mousing"
  • Getting gigs as a film composer
  • Techniques for building a portfolio
  • Finding film makers
  • Any much, much, more!

Course Outline

  • Welcome & Overview
    • Welcome!
    • Tools We Will Use
    • One of My Professional Projects
    • A Note About the Examples in this Class
  • Atmosphere
    • Example: District 9
    • Example: Finding Nemo
    • The “Pad” Sound and the Orchestra
    • Using Modes for Atmosphere
    • Finding an Atmospheric Cue in our Film
    • Composing with Atmosphere
    • Analysis of our Cue
  • Working with String Harmonies
    • Polyrhythmic, Monorhythmic, and Accompanimental
    • Example: The Village
    • Example: Monorhythmic
    • Example: Polyrhythmic
    • A Piece Worth Noting: Barber’s Adagio
    • Finding a Good Cue for our Film
    • Composing with String Harmonies
    • Analysis of this Cue
  • The Chase Scene
    • Example: The Matrix
    • Example: Jason Borne
    • Rhythm in Chase Scenes
    • Brass Swells!
    • Example: C’était une rendevous
    • C’était une rendevous Playthrough
    • Scoring C’était une rendevous
    • Analysis of this Cue
  • Building Tension – Suspense and Horror Cues
    • Example: The Ring
    • Dissection of one of my Tension Cues
    • Techniques: Ponticello, Tremelo, and Gliss
    • Analysis: Dissonance
    • Braaams!
    • Dissection of Another Tension Cue
    • Cue Analysis
  • “Mickey Mousing” – Comedy and Animation Cues
    • What is Mickey Mousing?
    • Examples of Mickey Mousing
  • How to Get Your Career Started
    • Getting Gigs
    • Building a Portfolio
    • Finding Film Makers
    • Working for Cheap (or… free?)
  • Wrap Up
    • More You Can Do
    • Thats it for now!

Course Information

Estimated Time: 4.25 Hours

Course Instructor

Jay Allen Author

J. Anthony Allen is an Ableton Certified Trainer, and a PhD in Music Composition and master of Electronic Sounds. His music has been heard internationally in film, radio, video games, and industrial sound, as well as the concert hall and theater. He currently is an adjunct professor of composition at the University of St. Thomas, and is the CEO and co-founder of Slam Academy in Minneapolis.

REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE

FREE
MEMBER PRICING

Members – Claim your seat now!
(Non-members redirected to purchase membership)

Welcome & Overview

Atmosphere

Working with String Harmonies

The Chase Scene

Building Tension – Suspense and Horror Cues

“Mickey Mousing” – Comedy and Animation Cues

How to Get Your Career Started

Wrap Up

Comments are closed.