The film scoring major teaches the skills to compose film scores and write scores for choral groups, orchestras, bands, instrumentalists and vocalists. Students learn how to edit music, produce MIDI tracks and create arrangements for film or TV. Students will also learn music-supervisor skills to search for licensed music to use in films, and contractors who hire musicians to write music for films. As of 2010, alumni of the program had won 192 Grammy awards. Students earn either a degree or diploma to become composers, orchestrators, supervisors and editors.
NYU's Steinhardt School offers Master's of Music (MM) degrees through their film-scoring program. Master's degree specializations include music theory and composition, with concentration in scoring for film and multimedia, scoring for film and multimedia sequence and performance and composition with concentration in music composition. The programs consist of both academic and artistic training, exploring music composition, technology, scoring for film and multimedia, electives and a final written project about film, multimedia or live multimedia performance.
The USC Thornton School of Music offers a program in scoring for motion pictures and television, which works in conjunction with USC's School for Cinematic Arts, allowing interaction between musicians and student filmmakers. Students earn a graduate certificate after completing the one-year program. Courses include composition for films, television and video games, history of film music scoring, conducting and animation writing, advanced application of film music technology, and film score analysis and preparation. Graduates are prepared to work in recording studios, orchestras, ensembles and music industry firms.
The 40-week film-scoring program uses both theory and method training in writing music for television, motion pictures, video games and video productions. Students explore diverse genres, from orchestral overtures to bluegrass themes. Students create a professional portfolio, and earn a certificate upon completion of the program. Graduates are prepared to write music for television shows, documentaries, public service announcements, commercials and mini-series. Students get individual attention, with a student-to-teacher ratio as low a 5-to-1.