Master of Music in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games
Berklee College of Music - Campus Valencia
Key Information
Campus location
Valencian Community, Spain
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 44,925 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* Professional Recording Services fee: $1,230
Introduction
In today's world, visual media has become ubiquitous, with feature films, TV shows, web series, and video games being consumed on various devices. Music plays an essential role in enhancing the visual experience, whether it is heard on a smartphone or in a movie theater. Consequently, creating music for visual media has become one of the most desirable careers globally, with composers, orchestrators, and producers being in high demand.
Our one-year intensive Master of Music degree provides students with the latest technological tools and instruction in the art and craft of composing, orchestrating, editing, and producing music for the screen. Students will have the opportunity to lead recording sessions with professional musicians and receive comprehensive training in narrative analysis, orchestration, and the use of dramatic effects to support the story. By the end of the program, graduates will be equipped with the technical and creative skills required to succeed in the competitive music industry and to showcase their talents to potential employers and collaborators. Join us today and take the first step towards a successful and fulfilling career in music for visual media.
- Creation of your own sound libraries
- Live recording sessions with professional musicians
- Live remote recording sessions with the Budapest Art Orchestra
- Live recording of your final project in London with a full orchestra
Program Highlights
Direct and Remote Recording Sessions
Throughout the year, our students have the unique opportunity to work with professional session musicians from the main orchestras in Valencia and participate in remote recording sessions with prestigious orchestras such as the Budapest Art Orchestra, using online platforms that have become increasingly popular in the digital age. At our scoring stage, students can record their compositions and receive invaluable feedback from these experienced musicians, helping them refine their work to achieve the highest level of artistry and technical skill.
The highlight of the year is the final project, which culminates in a recording session at a major studio. Our students have had the privilege of recording at some of the world's most renowned studios, including Air Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London. These experiences provide our students with the opportunity to work in a professional environment and gain exposure to industry standards, preparing them for successful careers in the music industry.
The Latest Technology
Our program emphasizes the importance of advanced technical skills alongside musical and creative abilities. We provide students with the latest hardware and software in our tech labs and studios, featuring multi-computer systems with a Mac Pro, i7 PC, Xbox, Avid artist controller, Akai midi controller, sound card, and two 23-inch monitors. Software includes industry-standard programs such as Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Logic, Finale, and Sibelius (with Note Performer), along with a wide range of sample libraries and plugins. With these cutting-edge tools, our students are well-equipped to meet the demands of the music industry and produce top-quality music.
A Real-World Working Environment
Students leave the program with excellent working knowledge of industry workflows and processes. Projects are assigned in the same way that composers are hired in any real-world situation – including quick turnarounds, demanding producers, and the necessity to compose in a wide range of styles and genres to meet meticulous requirements. The recording sessions, both direct and remote, provide students ample experience in writing for different sized orchestras, including a full 50-piece orchestra.
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Ideal Students
Who We Are Looking For
We seek focused, motivated, innovative, and, above all, passionately creative candidates with excellent academic and/or professional backgrounds. Additional study and/or work experience in the following areas will be helpful but is not required: interactive scoring techniques, conducting to picture, basic music editing skills, and project collaboration. Prospective students do not need to have extensive direct experience working with live orchestras.
Ideal candidates will:
- Demonstrate a strong compositional foundation from their studies and/or professional experience;
- Possess the ability to notate one’s ideas competently, follow an orchestral score, and conceive material in an orchestral context; and
- Exhibit passion for musical storytelling and a demonstrated aptitude for visual music.
Scholarships and Funding
Berklee College of Music, offers merit- and need-based scholarships to prospective graduate students on Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain, so that the most gifted musicians from all over the world have the means to attend.
All applicants who apply for a scholarship will automatically be considered for the awards listed below.
- Berklee General Scholarship: all master's degree applicants are eligible. Amount varies depending on merits.
- Berklee Groove Scholarship: eligible for M.M in Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration) applicants whose principal instruments are drums, bass, general rhythm section, traditional/folk/non-traditional, covering up to 90% of tuition fees
- Berklee Alumni Scholarship: awarded to an outstanding Berklee undergraduate alumnus/a who has demonstrated excellence, exceptional talent, and outstanding achievement throughout their undergraduate studies.
- Berklee Global Partners Scholarship: Awarded to an outstanding student, alumnus/a, or faculty member from a Berklee Global Partners school.
- Berklee Outstanding Women Scholarship and Mentorship: awarded to one gifted individual per graduate program who supports the musicianship and leadership of women in the music industry, covering up to 70% of tuition fees.
Berklee CACSA scholarships: annual scholarship program aimed at Valencian students who have been admitted to any of its master's degree programs.
Curriculum
Our Master of Music degree in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games offers a personalized approach to prepare students for a successful career in the music industry. Through our program, students develop advanced skills in composing, orchestrating, editing, and integrating music for visual media. Working closely with a graduate advisor, students can customize their course of study to fit their unique knowledge, skills, and goals. Upon graduation, our students are equipped with the expertise to work in various areas of the music industry, such as composing, orchestrating, conducting, music editing, music supervising, music copying, music programming, or producing synthesized music mock-ups. With this tailored and comprehensive approach, our graduates are ready to excel in a constantly evolving industry.
Rankings
Berklee Valencia has been included in Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools ranking of 2020 and 2022.
Program Outcome
Upon completion of the program students will be able to:
- Upon completion of the program students will be able to:
- Synthesize styles, languages, and composition techniques, as applied to visual media.
- Apply composition techniques to the creation of original music, appropriate to each genre and its related aesthetics accordingly, in the context of film, television, and video games.
- Apply artistic and musical aesthetics to projects for visual media in a variety of styles.
- Analyze dynamics and emotional content in different formats of visual media to identify the best-suited electronic or orchestral palettes that support the visual content.
- Evaluate, through study and analysis, works by the great masters of film composition, orchestration, and arranging.
- Synthesize copyright law mechanisms in the field of new media, and their intervention in a variety of contexts.
- Design projects in the area of new media emerging models, be it in their planning or studying their distinctive elements, both in genesis and in management.
- Show expertise in the technology applications present in composition for media and sound environments.
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience is the final project that students work on throughout the year and present at the end of the program. Through the culminating experience, students make a creative contribution to, and/or define and solve a problem that exists in, the profession. This is a major part of the master's program and represents the educational journey students take over the course of the program. The final presentation can take the form of a research project, a creative work, or a practical project.
Career Opportunities
Berklee College of Music pushes you towards the next big step in your career, and the International Career Center (ICC) is one of the resources you have to help get you there. The mission of the ICC is to provide expert guidance, cutting-edge resources, and professional development experiences to help our diverse body of students achieve their career goals. Rather than acting as a one-time job link, our overall focus is on career management. We help you access available resources and activities and apply them to your career path.
Possible Career Paths
Getting a master's degree in scoring for film, television, and video games opens you to a world of possibilities in the music industry and beyond. After graduating, many students work in composition, conducting, arranging, sound design and other roles associated with music for media.
Accelerate your career at Berklee Valencia
Berklee Valencia is an unparalleled destination for those seeking a comprehensive education and opportunities in the music industry. As a student at Berklee Valencia, you will become part of a vibrant, international community, where you will receive a top-notch practical education that prepares you for success in the competitive music industry.
You will have the opportunity to engage with renowned industry professionals and guest speakers, attend networking events, and collaborate with fellow musicians from around the world. This creates a unique learning environment that not only expands your musical knowledge but also provides valuable connections and exposure to the industry.