Film Scoring Programs post-B.A.?

Hi all,

I'm applying this November to grad school and I'm trying to get a list of schools that have a strong program for composing for media (film, tv, games, etc).

So far my list is pretty sparse:

NYU Steinhardt

UCLA

USC - SMPTV

lots of other schools (e.g. Michigan, McGill, SFCM) have strong music MAs but with no real focus on composing for TV and film.

Does anyone have any other names I should look into?

(I remember I chatted with QCcowboy in the shoutbox about this a few months ago and he recommended a particular Canadian program (related to "techniques d'ecriture"?) but I didn't write it down! :()

My school does, if you like somewhat mid size school

Stephen F. Austin State University

We don't separate programs for film scoring but we are all required (Grad school and Undergrad) to help score a full length feature film every year. And we do everything pretty close to what is done in Hollywood on real movies.

That's different from UT@Austin right?

Yes, it's popped up on my list, I haven't researched it in depth yet. Thanks for the recommendation!

That's different from UT@Austin right?

Yes, it's popped up on my list, I haven't researched it in depth yet. Thanks for the recommendation!

yeah way different. Way out in East Texas

If you get into USC, go there. You won't find a better place to network and gain ins throughout the industry than the USC program. Practically everyone I've met this summer as a part of my job went through the USC program. Yes, it is expensive, but you are almost guaranteed a job in part prep, orchestration, assistantship, music editing, etc. after you get out. They have an amazing percentage of job placement after you get out of the 1 year program. Much higher, I would imagine, than any other school.

Another thing I should mention, is that it's not necessary to go through school to get work in the industry (though I'm sure you know this). You can gain contacts outside of school for much cheaper than the cost of many of the programs that you'll find. If you are able to find a job within the film scoring industry that'll pay you enough to cover the bills, there is no point to going hundreds of thousands of dollars further in debt. Keep in mind that once you get out of school, you'll immediately have to drop tens of thousands of dollars on hardware, software, and other assorted items to set up your studio. If you have the skill, personality, and outlook necessary to make it in the film music world, is it really necessary to continue schooling?

USC is extremely hard to get into by the way, but yeah, what Andy said. It's a good school. Ticheli is kind of an donkey, but whatever.