Bachelor of Arts

Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games Degree

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Gain the practical skills to compose, arrange, and orchestrate effective dramatic music for visual media, including film, television, and interactive media. The Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games program begins with a set of core music and technology courses to provide both the conceptual foundation in music theory and the technical foundation in a digital audio workstation to record, sequence, and mix music for visuals. On your way to earning this music composition degree, you’ll work through a series of composition and orchestration courses designed to develop your ability to write (and write often!) for film, television, and interactive media. Upon graduation, you’ll have a portfolio of diverse compositions to prepare you for securing work as a film composer, music editor, film arranger, orchestrator, and more.

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Upon completion of the Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games major, you will be able to:

  • Analyze musical pieces on the basis of harmony, melody, counterpoint, form, rhythm, orchestration, style, genre, performance technique, and other musical qualities
  • Explore the role of music in a dramatic medium
  • Examine the works of master composers and innovators in music for visual media
  • Explain the structure of, and practices in, film, television, and video game industries, including the different stages of development in visual media projects
  • Create a production or design plan for a project that involves defining scope, milestones, and staffing structure
  • Compose, arrange, and orchestrate effective dramatic music
  • Record and mix scores and music stems in a digital audio workstation
  • Mockup realistic-sounding orchestral demos in a digital audio workstation
  • Create and edit temporary and final soundtrack recordings to picture
  • Create a portfolio of compositions for visual media in various styles
  • Develop a career advancement plan to attain freelance work or a staff position as a composer, orchestrator, or technical production worker in the film, television, and interactive media industries

Admission Requirement: Demonstration of Musicianship

For the Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games major, students are required to submit ONE of the following:

  • A portfolio of at least two original compositions. Students should submit musical notation for each composition as PDF files. Though not required, it is also helpful to submit a sound recording (MP3 file) of each piece. Students will not be evaluated on the production quality of the recordings, but rather on the compositional ideas expressed in the recordings.
  • A recorded video audition, in which the student performs a prepared piece (original or cover) in any musical style on his/her principal instrument. The performance should be an unedited take, approximately 3-5 minutes in length, in any style, which demonstrates the student's instrumental proficiency and overall musicianship.The video should be uploaded to a website like YouTube or Vimeo, with a link provided for review by the Board of Admissions.
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Overview Curriculum How to Apply Tuition & Financial Aid Related Music Career Roles Apply Now Apply by Dec 16 for Jan 13, 2025
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Curriculum

(120 Credits)

How should I set up my schedule, based on the above requirements?

Check out this handy planning guide to help you understand which courses you should take during which semester.

View Sample Schedule

How to Apply

Apply by Dec 16 for Jan 13, 2025 semester start and SAVE!
 • Apply in as little time as 15 minutes
• Get a decision within 1 week
• $75 application fee waived
  1. Fill out the online application (15 minutes)
  2. Create a 500-750 word essay, or a 3-5 minute video essay
  3. Prepare a Demonstration of Musicianship
  4. Attach your official transcripts
  5. Ask for two letters of recommendation

Read full undergraduate admissions requirement details .



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Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition

Affordable Tuition

Online undergraduate degree tuition is $62,150 for 120 credits (includes associated fees). To get started, this degree program includes a non-refundable $75 application fee.

Read full tuition and associated program fee details for this, and all other undergraduate programs here.



Available Financial Aid

Ready to Return to Berklee or Transfer in Credits from Another Institution to Complete Your Degree?

Students transferring in from an accredited institution can carry over up to 60 credits, and students with previous Berklee experience may be able to transfer even more.

Learn about our different transfer options:

Related Music Career Roles

Employers look for skills learned in this degree program, when hiring for the following music roles:

Arranger

Assistant to the Composer

Composer (Concert and Stage)

Composer (Film)

Composer (Television)

Composer (Video Games)

Copyist (Film, TV, and Video Games)

Freelance Composer

Orchestrator (Concert and Stage)

Orchestrator (Film and TV)
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