Led by Ronan Breslin, the Music for Picture – Theory and Practice postgraduate elective course is available to students across PGT programmes during Stage 2. It is designed for students with a well-developed interest in music for film, games, television, and other visual media. The course offers a critical and historical overview of music in cinema and broadcasting, stretching from the "silent" era to contemporary global contexts such as Bollywood, Soviet, and Chinese cinema.
A core aim of the course is for students to critically evaluate the use of music in a moving image context. The curriculum deeply investigates the psychological implications of film music, guiding students to analyse its emotional impact, audience expectations, and cultural signifiers. By studying professional exemplars—including classical period film music, popular music in cinema, and experimental film scores—students develop a profound understanding of how to interpret image, narrative, genre, and characterisation.
Students for this course are not disadvantaged if they do not come from a musical background, this atmosphere fosters an atmosphere where students develop their practice in music composition that can enhance their core practice.
Beyond critical theory, the course provides a hands-on, practice-based framework for composing and producing original music for picture. While some basic knowledge of music theory and instrumentation is desirable, it is not essential. Students receive comprehensive tuition in accessible professional software tools, specifically focusing on Logic Studio and Sibelius, empowering them to translate their conceptual intent into both diegetic and non-diegetic musical works.
The practical culmination of the course allows students to build a professional-standard portfolio of work. Summative projects include the bespoke composition of a 30-second TV signature tune in response to a set brief, alongside an expansive 8 to 12-minute music show-reel. These practical submissions are supported by critical essays and written statements, encouraging students to seamlessly evaluate their own creative composition processes against the professional and theoretical concepts explored throughout the term.