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School of Music for Visual Media

About Our BFA Program

The Music for Visual Media BFA is designed to teach students the language of music, and how to apply that language to visual media, including film, television, web, video games, and animation. Coursework will provide a strong foundation in music fundamentals, as well as tools to help you capture the right emotional tone with music to fit the visual image. Our approach is dedicated to practical, hands-on training in a collaborative framework, utilizing the latest computer-based production tools which provide a thorough training in all the latest technology applications of the music-for-picture industry.

First Four Freshman Classes

MUS 110: Harmony 1 | Units: 3.00

This course provides the foundation of the language of music and basic harmony theory. Students will begin to build a skill set for music composition. Note identification, scale and mode construction, key signatures and chord construction will be explained. Principles of diatonic chord progressions and rhythmic meter principles will be introduced.

MUS 120: Modern Techniques in Music Production 1 | Units: 3.00

Students will learn traditional music composition principles and apply them to 21st century production tools to create original musical sketches. Students will use digital audio workstations (DAW), virtual instruments and loops to sync music to video with SMPTE time code.

MUS 130: Ear Training 1 | Units: 3.00

Students will develop heightened listening skills through exercises which will help them identify and recognize basic musical components. This skill is essential to understanding the language of music. Students will identify musical intervals, harmonic structures and melodic frameworks. Sight singing will reinforce recognition of musical concepts.

MUS 140: Music Notation and Score Preparation | Units: 3.00

Students will learn to read, write and represent music using both traditional and 21st century musical notation techniques. Recognition of pitches and rhythms, score reading techniques and creating effective lead sheets will be covered. Exercises including rhythmic and melodic dictation will reinforce course material.

BFA Program Learning Outcomes

School of Music for Visual Media

Graduates of the School of Music for Visual Media will meet the following student performance criteria:

  1. Fundamentals of Music Composition

    • Thorough understanding of the language of music: melody, harmony, and rhythm.
    • Demonstrate heightened listening skills and identify key musical components.
    • Orchestrate and arrange music.

  2. Music Scoring for Visual Media

    • Create music which supports the emotional content of the visual image.
    • Write or edit music for different visual environments such as film, television, animation, games, and commercials.
    • Analyze dramatic scoring and compose film music in the style of selected historical periods and genres.

  3. Production Skills and Technical Knowledge

    • Demonstrate proficiency with software related to contemporary music production techniques.
    • Demonstrate proficiency with basic audio recording techniques.

  4. Professional Readiness

    • Create a compelling demo reel that demonstrates professional level competency.
    • Produce work in a modeled professional environment, with a broad understanding of the music post production workflow.
    • Think critically and demonstrate flexibility in creating or editing music for client needs.

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
  2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
  3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
  4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
  5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
  6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
  7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design. 
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