Schedule

Tuesdays, July 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
6pm - 8pm EDT

Description

“We gestate in Sound, and are born into Sight
Cinema gestated in Sight, and was born into Sound.”
Walter Murch

This 4-week course offers an overview of music composition for moving images, including films, virtual worlds, and commercials.

Led by audio engineer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kate Siefker, we will explore the history of music in audiovisual media. Using Ableton Live, the course demonstrates how to approach composing for the moving image, covering techniques on how to build sonic palettes, develop motifs, and design soundscapes for each medium.

Through weekly assignments in Ableton Live, we'll deepen our understanding of the interplay between sound and visuals. At the end of the course, participants will present their final audiovisual works for constructive feedback.

This course, acknowledging professional opportunities for artists, progresses from creative composition to commercially-oriented applications. Kate will also guide discussions on industry standards, including contract negotiation, fee structuring, and client relations.

Ideal for musicians and artists seeking to expand into audiovisual realms. Prerequisites include prior experience with Ableton Live, ranging from advanced beginner to intermediate levels.

This course will take place virtually via Zoom. All sessions will be recorded and made available to participants.

Please note: ticket registration closes 30 minutes prior to event start time.
Syllabus

Week 1: Film Scoring
• Group introductions
• Brief history of film scoring: essential theories from Michel Chion, Walter Murch, Max Steiner, Erich Korngold, and Rachel Portman
• Understanding diegetic and non-diegetic sound in film; Chion's "added value" and "synchresis" concepts; Exploration of leitmotifs and thematic scoring
• Analysis of effective film compositions:
• Howard Shore, "Lord of the Rings"
• Bobby Krlic, "Midsommar"
• Son Lux, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, John Batiste, "Soul"
• Wendy Carlos, "The Shining"
• Practical session: Using Ableton Live to build a sonic palette, develop motifs, and score a provided video clip

Week 2: Soundtrack Scoring for Virtual Worlds
• Evolution of video game soundtracks
• Overview of influential figures and games:
• Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy series)
• Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy)
• Winifred Phillips (Assassin’s Creed, God of War)
• Koji Kondo (Nintendo)
• Role of music in video games: adaptive scoring and challenges in open-world environments
• The Future: VR and 3D spaces
• Practical session: Drafting a video game soundtrack in Ableton Live, focusing on melodic motifs and building atmospheric soundscapes

Week 3: Commercial Music Composition
• Overview of Industry
• Jingle Houses, oldschool (Studio time, Composers, Conductors, Orchestra, Tape Ops, etc.)
• Modern structure, Newschool (Agencies, Prod. Houses, Freelancers, MIDI)
• Breakdown approach for composing commercial material
• Timing out a spot; i.e, must be exactly 30 seconds, etc.
• Building a sonic moodboard
• Going from nothing to something
• Being flexible, going with the flow of revisions
• Practical exercises: Using Ableton Live to create commercial music

Week 4: Presentations
• Practical aspects of navigating the industry:
• Signing contracts, negotiating fees, managing client relationships
• Final presentations: Provide and receive constructive feedback

Hardware & Software Requirements

• Ableton Live 11 (Standards) or 12 (Standard, Suite, or Trial)
• Computer with the latest Zoom update
• Headphones or studio monitors
• A second screen (optional but recommended)

Please email us at hi@soundial.org with any questions about the equipment list.

Instructor Bio

Kate Siefker is an audio engineer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. They create music and sound design for a variety of mediums including documentaries, podcasts, video games, music production, commercials, and more through their sound studio, Future Babe. Their love of electronic dance music is at the center of their production practice.
Kate is a Resident Teaching Artist at Soundial, leading programming for the Supporter Sessions.

https://futurebabe.studio/
@codec.kate
https://codeckate.bandcamp.com/
Contact
hi(at)soundial.org
Website: soundial.org
Instagram: @sound.ial
Cancellation Policy

Ticket holders have the option to cancel their reservations and receive a full refund if they do so at least 48 hours before the event starts. However, please note that any cancellation requests made within 48 hours of the event start time or after the event has already begun will not be honored.

If you're unable to attend but have a friend who'd love to take your spot, you can transfer your reservation to them before the class begins.

To request a cancellation, please send an email to hi(at)soundial.org with the subject line "Cancellation Request." In the email, include the following info:

• Your full name
• Date and time of the scheduled event

For eligible cancellation requests, we will initiate a refund to the original payment method used during registration. Please allow a processing time of 5-10 days for the refund to be processed.

Soundial reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events if necessary. Despite our best efforts, unforeseen circumstances such as technical issues or unavailability of instructors may arise, requiring adjustments to the event schedule. We will make every effort to notify you promptly and provide alternative options or refunds as needed.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in these situations!