Writing music for the moving image has become an increasingly attractive career option. Refine your composition, arranging and production skills and develop an entrepreneurial approach to working in the film music industry.
Film composers garner world-wide recognition for their work, and writing music for the moving image has fast become an attractive career option for composers seeking creative flexibility and a high rate of royalty-based income. Developed to meet the growing demand for fresh talent, our degree in Film Music builds on our established expertise in music production as well as our impressive roster of alumni who have gone on to compose work for independent films, Hollywood blockbusters and studios run by high profile practitioners such as Hans Zimmer.
This is the first course of its kind in a UK conservatoire to focus solely on the composition, production and context of Film Music. It combines one-to-one composition tuition, production sessions in Mac Labs, and a wide variety of supporting topics such as harmony, orchestration and historical, cultural and professional studies.
We have seven mixing rooms, including a studio with a 5.1 surround sound setup and HD projector, making it perfect for cueing up music with film footage.
Our six Apple Mac Labs are equipped with over 100
high-specification iMacs, MIDI keyboards and audio
interfaces, as well as industry standard software
such as Logic Pro X, Pro Tools and Ableton Live.
You’ll also have access to our unique and vast library of notated soundtrack scores and cues, most of which are transcribed by course leader Brian Morrell.
Each term students benefit from our links with the film music industry through our ‘Film Nights’, where they showcase their work to a live audience and a panel of industry professionals. Previous panel members have included Nicholas Dodd, Composer
and Orchestrator (Avatar, Casino Royale and Independence Day); Harry Escott – Composer (Shame, River Deep State, A Mighty Heart), David Julyan (Memento, The Prestige) and Olga Fitzroy (award-winning recording engineer with Foo Fighters and Coldplay).
Graduates from Leeds Conservatoire have gone on to a wide variety of careers including Film Composers, Recording, Sound Designers and Producers. Find out more in our Alumni section.
“The one-to-one tuition is great. You get an hour every week of feedback on your work and expert knowledge that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
– James Jarvis, Film Music graduate
The BA (Hons) Music (Film Music) modules focus on developing you as a professional film composer through one-to-one tuition, small group work and creative projects. The professional studies strand will develop your core business skills, and other optional modules will introduce additional cross-genre capabilities. See our module specifications page for detailed module specification documents.
In small groups and one-to-one tuition, you will explore various compositional possibilities as a means of establishing a solid technical grounding. You will also learn to implement a growing understanding of narrative functions in film and how these can be interpreted by music.
Working in computer labs, you will explore the functionality and operation of principal DAW software. Topics may include; audio editing and manipulation including Flex time/Elastic Audio, Editing, Beat Detective, Dynamic and FX processing utilising software, plug-ins, MIDI sequencing and Editing, MIDI controllers, Software Instruments, Mixing in the DAW environment.
Students will attend a series of sessions delivered by guests and tutors who will discuss their own practice by taking a reflective stance on their creative output, project management, artistic expression and creative risk. Students will assimilate approaches in how to critically reflect on their own practice.
You will develop your composition, musicology and aural skills through the examination of repertoire and its style and effects on film and society, ranging from the advent of popular film music through to the present day. You will also assess how music communicates with film from the perspective of composers and directors.
Working in the Creative Industries
You will be introduced to the professional framework and mechanisms of the creative industries, focusing on developing your project management skills and understanding the legal and commercial issues likely to impact on your future employability. You will also develop your core information, digital and media literacies.
You will learn how to operate and manage sequencing, sampling and synthesis software/applications intended for use in music production for film. These may include applications such as Pro Tools, EastWest and other sample libraries and music editing software. You will explore the advanced functionality, operation and processes of principal DAW software.
You will also choose one of the below options to study:
You will choose one of the below options to study:
Working with industry professionals, e.g. film directors, you will develop a final project that demonstrates a highly developed awareness of your compositional identity and how this relates and applied to existing styles and contexts within the industry.
This module is designed to offer students flexibility in their final year by providing opportunity to delve deeper into a specialism specific to their course and interests.
You will study one of the below options:
You will study one of the below options:
These module specifications are for applicants choosing to start their course in the 2020/21 academic year. In compliance with University of Hull regulations, the conservatoire retains the right to make minor amendments and improvements to course, programme and module content year on year. This may result in minor changes to these specifications by September 2020.
Course Studied: BA (Hons) Music (Production)
Year of Graduation: 2013
One of Dan Suett’s many achievements since leaving Leeds Conservatoire was winning composer Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers competition, which let to him gaining a position as Staff Composer at the Bleeding Fingers studios in Santa Monica, USA.
Meet our alumni
Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Production), BA (Hons) Music (Film Music)
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Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Film Music)
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Course Type: Undergraduate, Single Honours
Duration: 3 years
Study Mode: Full Time
Start date: September 2022
Validated by: University of Hull*
*Note for applicants for 2022/23 entry onwards:
Leeds Conservatoire plans to apply to the Office for Students for Degree Awarding Powers. If we are granted Degree Awarding Powers, your degree may be awarded by Leeds Conservatoire rather than validated by the University of Hull.
Academic entry requirements:
96 UCAS tariff points from level 3 studies or equivalent, which normally include A Level Music or a BTEC Extended Diploma in a Music-related subject.
A minimum of three GCSEs including English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent international qualification, eg IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component).
Other entry requirements:
Musical theory standard (assessed at interview)
Applicants’ understanding of applied music theory will be assessed at interview where they will be asked questions about the theoretical elements of the pieces they have included in their portfolio to ensure they are suitable for the course and to identify those applicants who need to take a Theory module at Level 3.
UK applicants to certain courses at Leeds Conservatoire will need to audition, interview or submit a portfolio of work.
Find more information and course-specific audition guides for UK applicants and International Applicants.
Apply via: UCAS Undergraduate (not Conservatoires)
UCAS Code: W3W3
UCAS Institution Code: L30
Read our step-by-step application guide
Visit our Fees and Funding section to find out more about Tuition Fees, Scholarships and Fees & Funding for International Students.
If you are an international applicant, visit our dedicated International section of the website for information on:
“The feedback from Film Night has helped so much. Nicholas Dodd came in to do a masterclass and orchestrated students’ work in front of us. It was such an eye-opening experience.”
– Olivia Crawford, Film Music graduate
Our Film Music students can audition to join any of the conservatoire’s ensembles, as well as getting the chance to showcase their work to a panel of film music composers, such as Harry Escott, Nicholas Dodd and David Julyan, each term.
Find out moreOur six Apple Mac Labs are equipped with over 100 high-specification iMacs, MIDI keyboards and audio interfaces, as well as industry standard software such as Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Ableton. They can be booked at any time outside of lessons until late.
Find out moreFind out what it's like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to one of our Open Days.
As well as talks and tours specific to the courses you're interested in, you can also chat to our staff and students.
Plus, get immediate access to our On-Demand Open Day.
Open Days
Students Imogen Berry, Roisin Hodgins and CK Smith talk about their new podcast FEMIGY.
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Professor Rob Bentall has been commissioned to write the score to the new adaptation of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' by Northern Broadsides Theatre, which will have a national tour next year.
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The Libby Raper Elevate Award in Music Production 2021: Interview with Megan Brown and Holly Dale.
Find out moreWe’re thrilled to be partnering with @LeedsPlayhouse to deliver a new MA in Dramaturgy, starting September 2022! R… https://t.co/SZ57t0L3dp
