College that offers Film Scoring Degree?

Well I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to choose a college. The question is, Which one? I thought I'd ask my good friends here for some suggestions on Music Colleges. I'd really like to get into film scoring.

I know that Berklee offers an actual degree in film scoring, and countless others in general composition, but are there any others worth looking into that offer a specific "Film scoring" degree?

Also, am I making a bad decision going straight for the scoring degree? I will (obviously) need some general composition classes in the process, but should I just get a degree in composition and call it good?

The only thing I really ask is for no one to bash me for wanting this. I'd prefer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism if anyone is against me looking for a career in film scoring.

If you want to be a composer of anything, you'll still want at least a BM in Composition. Whether or not you want to write for films is up to you. People who want to write string quartets should obviously be familiar with all the great string quartets, and study them on their own time and in classes. This is the same thing - study plenty of film music and you'll get where you want to be. Wherever you end up, I'm sure there will be film scoring classes in addition to your standard composition degree. But for a streamlined program for just film scoring?? I'm sure it's just a composition degree with a couple of required classes that you could take anywhere as electives.

Oh, and Peabody's not a bad choice for composers! ;)

So far all I know that offers just a film scoring degree is Berklee. As far as teach film composing, I know my school, Stephen F. Austin State University, not only teaches film scoring as close to the real world, but actually requires all second year comp students to participate in scoring the feature length summer film that is shot by our film students

Thanks much. This will help me TONS.

For what it's worth, I'll offer my two cents.

Having spoken to several composers in the industry, in a much more advanced stage than I, some of whom were holders of degrees from Berklee and similar schools, the consensus seems to be that the actual musical education part is something that anyone who is properly motivated can learn independently without paying the ridiculous course fees of some of the schools. The advantage, according to them, is in the networking and in the actual experience of scoring a film (in your case) as part of the course curriculum — an experience that you may otherwise have difficulty getting on your own.

In my own experience thus far, having scored a couple of films and various animations and video game projects, I can tell you that I don't have a degree in music of any kind — in fact I specifically chose not to pursue such a narrow degree, opting for a broader post-secondary education instead. That being said, I have never in my entire history of being paid to write music been asked if I hold a degree. No one's asked, no one's cared. They were all purely concerned with the music I wrote: if the sound was right, then how I got the ability to produce it is totally irrelevant to them. I imagine the reason is simply that one can go through an entire program at Berklee (or wherever), and still come out writing uninspiring or unremarkable music. It may be more technically proficient, and you may have a shiny framed diploma to display, but if it comes down to a decision between someone with a degree who writes subpar music and someone without one that writes spectacular music....guess who's getting the job?

Anyway, that's just what I've come across thus far in my pursuit of this career. Make of it what you will. :)

I've heard of so many horror stories associated with berklee and the likes, i say just go to a regular university that has a good music program, that way if you do decide to do something different, you'll have some outs.

My conservatory has a film/theater/media composition degree (but seeing that it's in Switzerland that's likely no option :P) and to my experience with my fellow students who study in that program, I agree with what Marius said. The program is not much different than the normal composition one; the main difference is that you regularly score for films (generally diploma films of film students etc.), so you get used to the practice and come in contact with other people in this area. Sure, they have some extra courses like dramaturgy which other composition students normally don't have, but the actual difference in musical education is very small.

As Marius said, in the end it's your work that's going to decide whether the directors want you to compose the music for their movies or not and not your degree. (As it's pretty much always when it comes to composition in the first place.) The networking and experiences you can get during a course of study are certainly very helpful, but not absolute necessities if you know how to get them otherwise.

For what it's worth, I'll offer my two cents.

Having spoken to several composers in the industry, in a much more advanced stage than I, some of whom were holders of degrees from Berklee and similar schools, the consensus seems to be that the actual musical education part is something that anyone who is properly motivated can learn independently without paying the ridiculous course fees of some of the schools. The advantage, according to them, is in the networking and in the actual experience of scoring a film (in your case) as part of the course curriculum

I am interested in film scoring too.

Right now, I would save money, go to a large university, and do a B.M. in composition first (which I am doing currently). That way you have a real degree to build anything else off of (such as business or law. It's good to know the business end). Then go to either USC, UCLA, or Berklee as a graduate to make connections and learn the specifics of film scoring. But first, learn the craft.

Hi Guys,

http://www.bris.ac.uk/music/prospective/prospg/maftv.html