Explore part-time, self-paced online courses designed by the industry professionals at Metalworks Institute—Canada’s premiere school for music and entertainment. Whether you’re diving into audio production, recording, music business, or songwriting, earn a recognized certificate and gain real-world skills from the comfort of your own home.
This course covers the evolution and techniques of film scoring across five modules, starting with the history of film scoring and progressing through various scoring methods and technologies. It includes music theory and composition, as well as specialized applications like scoring for film, television, animation, and video games.
This course covers the evolution and techniques of film scoring across five modules, starting with the history of film scoring and progressing through various
scoring methods and technologies. It includes music theory and composition, as
well as specialized applications like scoring for film, television, animation,
and video games.
In this module, we will explore the evolution of film music, beginning with its roots in silent films where live accompaniment by pianists and orchestras was crucial, and tracing its transformation through the introduction of synchronized sound in talkies, highlighted by Max Steiner’s groundbreaking work. We will examine how composers like Bernard Herrmann and John Williams advanced the art with innovative techniques and leitmotifs, alongside the impact of technological advancements and cultural shifts that diversified scoring across cinema, animation, and video games, adapting to new storytelling demands and audience tastes
In this module, key concepts in scoring such as emotional resonance, narrative support, and dynamic adaptability are explored, demonstrating how composers use music to enhance storytelling across media like film, TV, and video games by aligning it with visuals and audience emotions. Techniques like leitmotifs, underscoring, and the distinction between diegetic and non-diegetic music are highlighted, showing how they integrate with tools like DAWs, orchestration, and adaptive design to create cohesive and impactful scores.
In this module, the fundamentals of music theory for scoring are explored, demonstrating how scales, intervals, chord progressions, and rhythm shape emotional narratives in film, TV, and games, with examples like John Williams’ triumphant C major in Star Wars and Bernard Herrmann’s dissonant tritone in Psycho. It further delves into advanced techniques such as the circle of fifths, leitmotifs, modal composition, counterpoint, harmonic tension, polyrhythms, minimalism, and chromaticism, illustrating their application across genres to enhance storytelling, from the heroic fifths in The Lord of the Rings to the atonal dread of The Shining.
This module explores the practical application of scoring across film, television, animation, and video games, detailing the collaborative workflows, creative processes, and technical strategies composers use to craft music that enhances storytelling.
This module explores the foundational principles of music mixing for scoring, providing composers with the skills to shape raw musical elements such as melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and effects into cohesive, polished soundtracks that enhance storytelling across various media. It delves into essential tools such as EQ, compression, reverb, panning, and automation, alongside techniques for achieving clarity, depth, dynamic range, and balance. Designed for integration with dialogue and sound design, these processes ensure that scores support narratives effectively, adapting to the unique demands of linear, episodic, or interactive formats.
Required Hardware (minimum):
Laptop Computer (PC or Mac)
Specifications:
Minimum 3.0 GHz Processor
16GB RAM (64 Bit)
256GB SSD
Shareable Certificate
Taught in English
Self-paced Learning
Course Evaluations:
5 Quizzes & 1 Final Exam
Estimated Time to Complete:
13-18 Hours
Course Availability:
On-Demand
This course provides a comprehensive overview of sound in film,...
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Sound Effects (SFX)...
This course offers a comprehensive study of Foley art in...
In this course on audio post-production with a focus on...
