Andrew Raiher breaks down the often-overlooked jargon of film scoring. He explains the role of music cues — bespoke compositions tied to moments in a production — and reference tracks, which guide and inspire composers as they craft new music. This candid explanation reveals the hidden processes that shape how film and TV music comes to life.

Key Topics

• What a music cue is in film scoring
• How ref tracks guide composers
• The hidden jargon of film music production
• Why audiences rarely notice these processes
• Behind-the-scenes look at how music shapes film storytelling

Quotes

• “A cue is each separate piece of bespoke, custom-made music.”
• “When you’re working on something, you’ll often be given a ref track — a reference track to inspire what you’re tasked to write.”
• “It’s inside baseball. No one else in the world would know that process occurs.”