MUSC X 485 - Composing Music for Animation

Course Description

Composing music for animation places special demands on the composer. Musical jokes are more prevalent, there are quicker changes in style and mood, and the music is often "wall-to-wall." This course addresses each of these characteristics in the following broad schools of animation: story-driven, action oriented animation, and hip and quirky. You learn about the traditional and new approaches to composing for animation and how to build tempo maps, which in many cases is half the job. The differences and similarities between scoring an animated movie and scoring an animated TV show also are discussed. You compose, arrange, and orchestrate cues in your home studio for scenes every week. Both peers and instructor critique each cue in class.

Course Outline

Learn the aspects of scoring for animation including musical jokes, quick changes in style, and mood in wall-to-wall score by following broad schools of animation: story driven, action-oriented animation, and hip and quirky.

Notes

Contact:
(310) 825-9064
entertainmentstudies@uclaextension.edu

Prerequisites

One course in or demonstrated competence in harmony, composition, standard orchestration techniques, and proficiency in MIDI/sequencing. Students should have access to sequencing software (e.g., Logic, Cakewalk, Pro Tools) and a project studio to create cues.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

Acting : Elective Courses
Directing : Elective Courses
Entertainment Studies : Elective Courses
Film and TV Development : Elective Courses
Film Scoring : Elective Courses, Suggested Electives
Independent Music Production : Elective Courses
Music Business : Elective Courses
Post-Production : Elective Courses
Study Abroad at UCLA Program : Required