There are a couple of things we’re pretty much guaranteed when it comes to Hollywood film scores; the soaring strings through an emotional love scene, and the blasting of the horns through an epic action scene. For some composers, the use of horns in modern scores is used so much, it’s almost overdone. Today we’ll…
There are numerous books and articles about composition and composing for the orchestra. While most are well written, it is such a huge and complex subject that it’s hard to know where to begin and how to put it all together. Here we’ll go over the basics of how to put it all together without…
One thing that modern film composers have to master is the MIDI mockup. This is where the composer will create a mockup of the orchestral arrangement before going into the studio. In some cases, this is all the film will use depending on the budget. These have become more and more important because some directors…
It’s pretty obvious that music has incredible power to invoke many different moods. It’s for this reason that it’s such a big part of film. Part of the composer’s job is to create the music that helps impart the mood that the director is trying to convey. It usually comes down to the composer’s ability…
There has never been a worst time to become a film composer. There has never been a better time to become a film composer. How many times have you heard these coming from the different camps? It’s right up there with the reality of surviving in today’s music industry. It’s either all bad or all…
Ever since movies have been around, even before there was sound, there was music. In fact, the first moving pictures were meant to enhance a musical production and not the other way around. The first films started out with traditional and classical music played live, usually by a single piano player (in some elaborate productions…
People often ask me about scoring music for film. It seems like a complete mystery to most people; even other musicians. If you’re a musician and you want to get into film scoring, the first thing you should do is score a film. But I Just Told You… Ya I know, you’re a complete beginner and…
Let’s face it, you can’t go very far into film soundtracks without hearing strings. Strings are one of the most effective tools in a composers arsenal. They’re great for everything from lyrical, emotional lines, to huge Hollywood blockbuster action sequences. Writing for strings is an art in itself and there are many things to consider.
The question often arises ‘do I need a musical education to become a film composer’. Most composers would say that getting an education in writing for film is essential to your success yet there are others that say you don’t need one at all. Looking at the top composers doesn’t seem to give us a…
There are a number of things that composers must do to keep updated about industry issues, learn about the business and ensure that their works are protected. Here is a list of essential sites to help composers and music producers keep on top of it all. Organizations and Associations: As a composer, you must register…
There are tons of sites out there that help aspiring composers learn some of the tricks of the trade. Most offer bite sized nuggets of info but there are some stand out site that really go all out. Here is a list of some free sites all about learning the craft of music. General –…
The Score 