Students will explore how original music can bring a film to life, shaping mood, building tension, and helping an audience connect with a story. Through guided listening and hands-on projects, they’ll discover how composers use melody, rhythm, harmony, and instrumental sounds to support what happens on screen.

Students will experiment with writing music for film scenes, learning how timing and musical choices can change the feeling of an image or sequence. They’ll explore how to develop themes for characters and ideas, respond to shifts in action, and decide when music or silence will best serve a scene.

Through feedback and revision, students will develop their musical ideas and practice matching them to moving images. Along the way, they’ll strengthen their composition skills and learn to explain how their creative choices support a film’s story.

What Students Will Create

Students will develop original musical cues for short film scenes, bringing their music and the moving image together. Their finished work will demonstrate their growing ability to use music to shape emotion, pacing, and storytelling, providing material for their creative portfolio.

What Registration Will Include

This registration will cover one afternoon elective only. A morning intensive, a second afternoon elective, and housing will require separate registration.

Students will be able to take this elective on its own or combine it with other Summer@Cornish courses. No morning intensive will be required.

How Students Will Build Their Schedules

Full-Time Program
Students will register for a morning intensive and two afternoon electives, one from each schedule. Morning intensives will meet Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon, with a lunch break from noon–1 p.m.

One Afternoon Elective
Students will register for this course and attend on the days listed in its schedule. Afternoon electives will run from 1–4 p.m.

Afternoon Electives Only
Students who wish to attend every afternoon will choose two electives: one that will meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday and one that will meet Tuesday/Thursday.

Students will be able to pair this elective with the morning Music Intensive or Film Intensive, or combine it with another morning intensive to explore interests across disciplines.

Students will need to add each course to their cart separately.

Explore film electives →

Browse all Summer@Cornish courses →

Housing Options

A residential option will be available to full-day students and will include supervised housing, evening and weekend activities, and extra studio time.

Students who plan to stay in housing will need to begin with the residential application before registering for courses. They’ll receive instructions for selecting a morning intensive and two afternoon electives as part of the residential package.

Learn about the residential program and how to apply →

Questions?

Students and families will be able to get help choosing courses and building a schedule by emailing cornishplus@seattleu.edu.