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Music Theory and Composition

Leitmotif in Music: Meaning, Examples, and How to Write One

A leitmotif is a short musical idea that stands for a character, a place, or an idea. What makes one memorable, how film composers use them, and how to write your own.

Music Theory and Composition

The Circle of Fifths: How It Works and How Composers Actually Use It

How the circle of fifths is built and read, and how film, game and anime composers actually use it: descending-fifths chains, key planning and modulation.

Music Theory and Composition

What Is a Tritone? Why It Sounds So Tense and How Composers Use It

What is a tritone, why does it sound so tense, and how do composers use it? From dominant chords and tritone substitution to the Blackadder chord and horror scoring.

Music Theory and Composition

The Royal Road Progression: Japan's Signature Chord Progression

What is the Royal Road progression (IV–V–iii–vi)? Why it defines anime and J-pop harmony, how Japanese composers modify it, and how to use it in your own music.

Music Theory and Composition

Chord Progressions: The Complete Guide for Composers

What chord progressions are, the ones composers reach for in major and minor, borrowed-chord colors, Japanese progressions like the Royal Road — and how to write your own.

Music Theory and Composition

Sentence Form in Music: How This Phrase Structure Works

Sentence form explained — presentation, repetition and continuation — how the phrase structure works in classical, jazz and pop, with a score example.

Music Theory and Composition

How to Write a Catchy Melody: 10 Tips for Film & Game Music

Ten practical melody tips with examples from Zelda, Mario and Jaws — simplicity, rhythm, repetition, contrast and the hook.

Music Production

Virtual Instruments

Want to know more about what virtual instruments are and how to use them? This article breaks down the basics of one of the most important ‘instruments’ for a modern composer and how to use, choose, and implement them in your music.

Music Theory and Composition

How to Write Anime Music

Discover the secrets to writing music for animes: ranging from learning how to write melodies, harmonies, which instruments to use, the different styles you can try, and even how to highlight the storytelling itself.

Music Theory and Composition

How to Write Cinematic Music: Instruments, Themes & Contrast

The building blocks of cinematic music — instrument roles, dynamic contrast, memorable themes and the composers to study. A quick-start guide.

Music Production

5 Easy Steps: How to Mix

Ready to turn your raw tracks into polished, professional-sounding music? Discover the five essential steps to mastering the art of mixing!

Sound Design

How to Learn Sound Design

This article is the perfect beginner guide for starting sound design, from key concepts like frequency, amplitude, and timbre to essential tools like DAWs and plugins.

Music Production

What Is EQ in Music? Equalization Explained for Composers and Producers

What does EQ mean in music? How equalization shapes frequency, gain and Q, the four EQ types, and how to EQ a mix, from the Master The Score mixing curriculum.

Trailer Music

How to Write Trailer Music: A Step-by-Step Guide

The complete trailer music guide: three-act structure, cinematic sounds, tension and release, focused motifs, and mixing tips for maximum impact.

Music Production

What is Reverb?

This article breaks down the basics of reverb in music production, covering key settings like decay time, pre-delay, and wet/dry mix. It’s got practical tips and creative ideas for using reverb plus some great plugin and best mixing course recommendations!

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The Legend Of Otoe: Composing Music For Anime and JRPGs

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The Legend Of Otoe: Composing Music For Anime and JRPGs - Levels 2&3

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Composing Worlds: Vikings and Dragons

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Craft, explained.

Leitmotif in Music: Meaning, Examples, and How to Write One

The Circle of Fifths: How It Works and How Composers Actually Use It

What Is a Tritone? Why It Sounds So Tense and How Composers Use It

The Royal Road Progression: Japan's Signature Chord Progression

Chord Progressions: The Complete Guide for Composers

Sentence Form in Music: How This Phrase Structure Works

How to Write a Catchy Melody: 10 Tips for Film & Game Music

Virtual Instruments

How to Write Anime Music

How to Write Cinematic Music: Instruments, Themes & Contrast

5 Easy Steps: How to Mix

How to Learn Sound Design

What Is EQ in Music? Equalization Explained for Composers and Producers

How to Write Trailer Music: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is Reverb?

Discover Our Courses

Cinematic Music Production

Orchestral Template Creation

The Piano Composer

Pillars Of Composition II

Mixing Cinematic Music

The Virtual Orchestra – Orchestral Programming Course

The Virtual Orchestra

20th Century Orchestral Writing

Pillars of Composition

The Legend Of Otoe: Composing Music For Anime and JRPGs

The Legend Of Otoe

Hybrid Orchestral Composition and Sound

The Legend Of Otoe: Composing Music For Anime and JRPGs - Levels 2&3

The Legend Of Otoe: Levels 2 & 3

Composing Worlds: Wizards and Witches

Composing Worlds: Vikings and Dragons

Sound Design Course for Media Composers

Trailer Music: Modern Styles

Trailer Music: Elevation

Get yourfree E-books

Subscribe to our newsletterand receive free copies of our E-books"Orchestral Clarity" & "DNA of Music"

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