The Role of Music in Film and TV: A Beginner's Guide

When you watch your favorite movie or series, chances are you remember its sound just as vividly as its story. Think of the eerie strings in Psycho, the nostalgic synth in Stranger Things, or the swelling orchestral theme of The Lord of the Rings. These iconic sounds aren’t just background—they’re a vital part of how stories are told onscreen.

Music in film and television serves far more than aesthetic value — it guides your emotions, reveals subtext, foreshadows action, and often tells the story better than dialogue alone. This guide explores how music works behind the scenes in visual storytelling, and how you can begin creating music for the screen.

Why Music Matters in Storytelling

At its core, music in film and TV is a storytelling device. It shapes how audiences interpret what they see. Without a musical score, a romantic moment might fall flat. Without tense underscoring, a horror scene may feel bland. Music acts as an emotional compass for the viewer.

For example:

• In Jaws, the repetitive two-note motif builds anticipation and dread, long before the shark appears.
• In Titanic, James Horner’s emotional score deepens the tragedy even when dialogue is minimal.

This emotional layering is why understanding rhythm — not just melody — is so essential for composers. Rhythmic tension, release, and variation drive the pacing of a scene, much like in traditional music.

Score vs. Soundtrack: Two Key Musical Layers

Music in visual media generally falls into two categories:

1. Score – The Original Composition

• The score is music written specifically for the production. Often instrumental and orchestral, it adapts in real time to match scene dynamics. Composers like John Williams (Harry Potter, Star Wars) and Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker) use themes, motifs, and textures to enhance story arcs.
• Creating a score requires mastery of tools like digital audio workstations (DAWs) and an understanding of how to orchestrate emotion through harmony and instrumentation.

2. Soundtrack – The Curated Playlist

• The soundtrack features pre-existing songs, original singles, or tracks licensed for use. Think of The Breakfast Club, Euphoria, or Guardians of the Galaxy, where carefully selected tracks define an entire mood or cultural moment.
• In many modern productions, music supervisors handle both score and soundtrack decisions — selecting and syncing tracks that resonate with story beats, time period, or target audience.

How Music Shapes Emotion and Narrative

Music doesn't just enhance visuals — it manipulates your perception of them. The same clip can feel triumphant or tragic depending on the score.

Some ways this works:

• Tension: Dissonant strings, slow builds, and rhythmic pulses create suspense (Sicario, Black Swan).
• Joy or nostalgia: Bright harmonies and major chord progressions transport us emotionally (La La Land, The Office).
• Grief or introspection: Minimal piano or ambient pads add stillness and space (Chernobyl, Manchester by the Sea).

These emotional cues are enhanced with subtle production techniques. For example, compression helps control intensity, while reverb adds space — creating the sense of a cathedral, a cave, or an intimate room, depending on the scene.

What Does a Music Supervisor Actually Do?

The music supervisor is the bridge between music and production. Their responsibilities include:

• Selecting tracks for emotional and narrative alignment
• Securing licenses and negotiating rights (a complex process!)
• Collaborating with directors, editors, and sometimes composers
• Budgeting for original compositions or popular music placements

If you want to work in this field or use music in your own film projects, you need to understand music licensing — especially to avoid copyright violations on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, or streaming services.

The Psychology of Music in Media

The brain responds powerfully to music. Scientific studies show that film music:

• Activates the amygdala (emotion)
• Influences memory retention
• Alters viewers’ interpretation of ambiguous scenes

That’s why a horror film can still frighten you even if you mute the picture and only listen to the score. This emotional hijacking is carefully crafted by skilled composers using techniques drawn from both classical theory and modern sound design.

Iconic Examples That Changed the Game

Some moments in film and TV became legendary because of their music:

• The Dark Knight: Hans Zimmer used razor-thin drones and distorted cello to portray the Joker’s unpredictability.
• Inception: Time-warped versions of Édith Piaf’s song integrated directly into the score’s pacing — blurring music and plot.
• Stranger Things: Synths not only establish the retro vibe but underscore themes of isolation and wonder.
• Get Out: The unsettling use of Swahili chants and minimalism deepened the sense of dread.

Even silence — the absence of music — can be deeply emotional. Directors like Stanley Kubrick and the Coen Brothers use silence as a tool to emphasize discomfort or realism.

How to Start Composing Music for Film and TV

If you’re new to composing for visual media, don’t wait for a big-budget film. Start practicing with what you have.

Beginner steps:

1. Choose a scene from a film (mute the original score).
2. Open your DAW and create your own music over it.
3. Focus on matching emotional tone rather than just timing beats.
4. Use what you know about chord progressions to guide the narrative flow.
5. Share your work online — platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or SoundCloud are perfect for practice and exposure.

As you improve, incorporate sound libraries, virtual instruments, and more advanced production techniques.

Where Music and Storytelling Intersect

• Film and TV are visual, but they’re also deeply musical art forms. The way a theme returns in different emotional keys (think Harry Potter or The Mandalorian) helps the audience track character development or narrative twists.
• By recognizing how music works in visual storytelling, you’ll not only watch differently — you’ll listen differently.

Final Thoughts: From Background Noise to Narrative Power

Music in film and television is never just "background." It’s:

• A character
• A mood-setter
• A narrator
• And sometimes, the emotional glue that holds an entire scene together

Whether you’re an aspiring composer, a filmmaker, or just a fan, understanding the role of music helps you appreciate how much intention and artistry goes into your favorite media moments.