Kingston University London - Composing for Film and Television MMus

Kingston University London

Composing for Film and Television MMus

This course explores how music creates atmosphere, conveys mood, and depicts setting, character, and action.

You will examine the relationships between composer and producer, directors, and music editors. You will study the technology used to produce high-quality soundtracks as well as business and copyright issues. Through optional modules, you will be able to tailor the course to your interests.

For your major project, you will create a portfolio of music to picture and work with filmmakers. There are opportunities to collaborate with film-making and animation students.

Reasons to choose Kingston

  • You will learn techniques for composing and producing music for different media, be taught by professional composers, and collaborate with filmmakers and animators.
  • There is the opportunity to have your compositions performed by an ensemble, conducted to picture in a professional recording environment.
  • You will use recording studios, rehearsal rooms, a synthesis/sampling lab, and will the analog/digital hybrid Visconti Studio, which has a 300m² octagonal live room plus rare and vintage recording equipment.

Entry Requirements

  • A 2:2 or above honours degree in music from either the UK or abroad (this may be in a specialist field such as popular music, performance or music technology).

  • IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no element below 5.5.

Career Prospects

Many of the graduates from this Composing for Film and Television course have progressed on to roles either in the music industry itself or related areas – or enroll for further study (eg MPhil/Ph.D.). For those students who are already in employment and undertake the course part-time, the award may accelerate promotion and open up new opportunities.

The nature of the Composing for Film and TV MMus course at Kingston – combining compositional and practical skills, alongside theoretical knowledge – equips graduates for a broad range of careers, including:

  • composing for theatre;
  • studio-based technical and creative work; and
  • a portfolio career as a composer, producer, and performer.

Recent graduate destinations for this and similar courses include:

  • broadcast media coordinator at the BBC, London;
  • composer for Jonathan Brooks Music, Cheshire;
  • interactive editorial assistant for the BBC, London; and

Course Details

You will analyse film and TV scores, exploring how music is used to create atmosphere, convey mood and depict setting, character and action. You'll also explore the relationships between composer and producer, directors and music editors.

As well as studying and practising the use of main themes, underscoring and the harmonic languages of soundtracks, you will also learn about the technology used to produce high-quality soundtracks for the music industry, as well as business and copyright issues.

Core modules

Major Project
Score and Screen
Researching Music
Techniques and Technology for Composing for Film and Television

Optional modules (not all optional modules will run every year)

Advanced Production of Popular Music
Commercial Music
Composing and Marketing Popular Music
Constructing Music Education in the UK
Critical Reflection on Musical Performance
Performance Studies
Special Study: Arranging and Scoring
Special Study: Broadcasting

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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