New Music Film Scoring major opens a window of opportunity
By Peg Krollpfeiffer
Madonna University’s Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee has approved to offer a new bachelor’s degree and two new courses in the music department.
Starting January 2010, Madonna’s academic program will include the 4-year degree in Music Film Scoring.
Besides serving the demands of the growing film industry in Michigan, a degree in Music Film Scoring will prepare students to work as film composers, music editors, or sound designers on commercials, trailers, video games and many more areas.
The plan of study includes the same core courses as all of Madonna’s music degrees plus a course in applied composition, a piano proficiency class, and three film-scoring courses. The film scoring courses align with the Broadcast and Cinema Art’s senior seminar project, so the students will be composing the music score for the film students’ film project.
Jeffrey Arwady, Adjunct Instructor, who has a master’s degree in composition from Central Michigan University, teaching experience in composition, music technology and theory, has written numerous film scores and won awards will teach the major specific classes. Arwady currently teaches the film scoring courses for the certificate program.
“I am very pleased to have Jeffrey Arwady on our staff to teach the film scoring and music technology classes,” said Linette Popoff-Parks, Professor and Chair of the Music Department.
Even though the program hasn’t started, yet, some current students are already showing interest in this program.
“There are four students taking, or planning to take the courses; they will be receiving the certificate in film scoring that began last year,” said Popoff-Parks. “Current majors could also add this new concentration with just a few additional courses.”
The two new courses to compliment the music program will also begin in January 2010; a course in applied composition and a music appreciation class. Arwardy will teach the applied composition class that is part of the new degree in film scoring, but can be added to all music majors and other students who have the prerequisites in theory, analysis and piano.
“The goal is to offer a one-to-one lesson in music composition, with the emphasis on developing the student’s individual style and voice. It will include writing, arranging and orchestrating music, using music technology,” said Popoff-Parks.
The class in music appreciation is open to all non-majors who want to take music as part of the goal 3B general education requirements for their bachelor’s degree.
According to Popoff-Parks, the course will include music of the 20th century American genres as compared and contrasted to the major musical pieces from the art or classical music genre.
“The goal of this course is to present the content, composition and performance aspects of music for the non-major,” she said.
Starting in January, the course will be provided by Helene Rottenberg, Adjunct Professor of Music.
”I think that having a class in music appreciation enables a student to learn about the music that he or she hears every day. It teaches the student/listener how to pay attention to the music that they listen to, as well as to hear music that they know nothing about -- to broaden their life a little,” she said.
According to Rottenberg, the class addresses questions such as: How did the music that began in the Medieval Period in Western History become the pop music on the radio? What does music do to the emotional state of the listener, especially in film? What function does music have in our culture and how has that changed from the Middle Ages to the present day?
“Many of the students who have taken music appreciation have come back to tell me that the class has enriched and broadened their lives,” said Rottenberg.
According to Popoff-Parks, it was one of her goals to create a new type of music appreciation for general education that would focus on the compositional and performance group ideals of music, rather than the biographical and historical approach.
“MUS 2020 has been the only music choice for goal 3B for at least 30 years at Madonna – I thought it was time for something new and unique,” Popoff-Parks said.
“It’s fun for me to research and create new curricular ideas and plans for our music department; my hope is to help our students to grow in the love and knowledge of music – for their own personal experience and / or career plans in the field.”
