Postgraduate Course: Composition for Screen B (MUSI11043)

Course Outline
School	Edinburgh College of Art	College	College of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	The course is structured around practical projects and research presentations. During weeks 1-2, students will be involved in a virtual collaboration project with several different institutions entitled 10x10, in which each student must compose music for 10 (or more) short films within 10 days and collaborate online. Students are required to participate and submit as many works as possible for online presentation (and later for a live event), but will only need to submit the best selection as part of their course portfolio. Sometime during weeks 6-8, students will be involved in a scoring project, in which they are to conduct a film music orchestra in a scoring session simulation. Students will be allocated a film (or cues) to work on and given tutorials on conducting and session management. This normally takes place in the Reid Concert Hall. Toward the end of the semester, students will research and analyze a particular media composer and/or composition for screen element in greater detail, and present this to a group. Students will meet as a group and decide mutually, with the course leaderżs supervision, which element the course group will research and present this analysis. In addition, other resources will be presented, such as through guest speakers from the professional media music industry, interviews and group visits to the Reid Studio, the ECA film and TV department, etc. Students are offered tutorials with the course organiser on a roughly bi-weekly basis, which are scheduled when the student requests.
Course description	Not entered

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Semester 2
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 13, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 6, Revision Session Hours 2, Other Study Hours 8, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 145 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Students will be assessed by submission of a portfolio of three works completed during the semester allocated at 85% and comprised of the following: 1. A selection of short works composed and produced as part of the 10x10 collaboration with the animation department in weeks 1 - 2. 2. A work scored for orchestra, conducted and produced during the scoring session in week 6. 3. A free project composed during the semester, either from an in class workshop or externally. The portfolio will be marked based on individual creativity, thoroughness and originality of thought. The works should demonstrate a full exploration of the student's creative horizons as well as clear competence in relevant technical areas. The portfolio will be submitted at the end of the course. The student must submit two copies of each portfolio, individually bound and/or in a closed document wallet. Any digital media should be submitted in H.264 video format and/or uncompressed WAV/AIFF audio format within a clearly labeled USB stick or comparable medium, and should have an organized and clear file structure. A cover page should be included which (briefly) explains the submissions included. Additionally, each student will be allocated a research element and/or work-in-progress analysis and given a date for their short presentation during weeks 8 - 11. The analysis will be allocated 15% and be graded equally on thoroughness of the entire assigned work, originality of thought and/or research methods and depth of analysis of a main subject in the work. Students will receive feedback both from the course leader and students in a group feedback session after each presentation, as well as during the semester through tutorials.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
This course is designed to improve the technical and creative abilities of the active screen composer student through practical applications and collaboratory projects. Additionally, there is opportunity to display their scoring work and research in front of a group. Further aims and objectives include: ż To improve awareness and knowledge of sophisticated practices in production of music for screen, including working within a scoring session environment ż To orient students with the challenges of working on a sophisticated media studio environment project ż To improve student ability to perceive and analyze music in film, TV and media genres ż To gain experience in presenting works-in-progress and/or research in front of a group and receive constructive feedback ż To learn to work together in disseminating factors of necessary analysis for analysis as a group ż To gain experience in presenting works-in-progress and/or research in front of a group and receive constructive feedback ż To learn to work together in disseminating factors of necessary analysis for analysis as a group Learning outcomes: ż Gathering of research materials for public presentation in music for screen ż Establishment of first contacts in local media music industry ż Reception of feedback of works-in-progress and perceived music for screen analysis and techniques