Write stronger musical ideas
Develop melody, harmony, accompaniment and counterpoint before applying them to your own scoring projects.
Pillars of Composition →Build the musical craft behind a film score. Explore courses in composition, orchestration and cinematic production, and choose the skill you want to develop for your next film, TV or game project.
These courses develop complementary parts of the scoring craft: composition, orchestration, virtual performance and mixing. Choose the skill you want to work on, and check each curriculum for the specific techniques it covers.
Develop your orchestral writing with Mattia Chiappa. Study theme development, harmony, piano sketching, voicing and changing orchestral textures through cinematic examples. A useful choice for intermediate and advanced composers who want to strengthen their musical writing.
View the course →Build a foundation in melody, harmony, accompaniment and counterpoint with Ryan Leach. The spiral approach revisits these skills at increasing depth, with writing assignments to help you apply them. Basic music theory and notation reading are recommended.
View the course →The sequel goes into sonata form and larger structures — how to sustain one idea across several minutes instead of writing eight bars and stalling. Directly useful for long cues, suites and concert works.
View the course →Develop piano technique, harmony, voicings and composition with David McCaulley. Work through exercises and writing assignments as you build an original piece at the keyboard. A piano or MIDI keyboard is required.
View the course →Fantasy scoring as a genre study: ethereal harmony, celesta and string colour, and the full process from a first theme to a finished, orchestrated track. Written for anyone scoring fantasy film, games or animation.
View the course →Ryan Leach develops a Viking theme, a dragon theme and a flying theme from blank page to full orchestra, then combines them into a suite. Explore melodic character, harmony, rhythm and instrumentation; basic orchestration knowledge is recommended.
View the course →Learn orchestral programming with Rico Derks. Explore each orchestral section, the virtual soundstage and practical MIDI exercises to make your sample-based performances more expressive. Basic DAW knowledge is recommended.
View the course →The last step before a cue is delivered. Joël Dollié covers EQ, reverb, compression and balance for orchestral music, so a full tutti stays clear and powerful instead of turning to mud.
View the course →Find your next step
Choose the next step in your scoring craft Match your learning goal with the course below.
Develop melody, harmony, accompaniment and counterpoint before applying them to your own scoring projects.
Pillars of Composition →Study thematic development, harmony and orchestral textures with Mattia Chiappa. For intermediate and advanced composers.
20th Century Orchestral Writing →See how Adam Lukas connects the brief, musical choices, production and mix in five released tracks.
Cinematic Music Production →Improve the virtual performances and soundstage that bring your orchestral writing to life.
The Virtual Orchestra →Exclusive discounts for our students
All our students are eligible for discounts on libraries and plugins by renowned developers. This exclusive benefit alone can result in substantial savings, amounting to hundreds of dollars on composing software and libraries!









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This selection develops the composition, orchestration and production skills used in screen music. Course formats differ, and not every course includes synchronising music to a film scene. Check the individual curriculum for the specific scoring-to-picture technique you want to learn.
If you need a stronger musical foundation, consider Pillars of Composition. If you already write music and want to develop orchestral textures, explore 20th Century Orchestral Writing. For sound and workflow, compare The Virtual Orchestra and Cinematic Music Production.
Choose orchestration when you want to improve the notes, voicings and instrumental combinations. Choose production when you want to improve sample programming, sound design, balance or the finished mix. Both contribute to a convincing cinematic cue.
Try a free resource
Read the free cinematic music guide →