Film Scoring Courses Online

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.

Film scoring courses at Master The Score

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.

20th Century Orchestral Writing film scoring course

20th Century Orchestral Writing

Mattia Chiappa · Orchestration

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.

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Pillars of Composition course

Pillars of Composition

Ryan Leach · Composition

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.

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Pillars of Composition II course

Pillars of Composition II

Ryan Leach · Composition

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.

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The Piano Composer course

The Piano Composer

David McCaulley · Piano and composition

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.

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Composing Worlds Wizards and Witches course

Composing Worlds: Wizards and Witches

Ryan Leach · Genre study

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.

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Composing Worlds Vikings and Dragons course

Composing Worlds: Vikings and Dragons

Ryan Leach · Genre study

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.

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The Virtual Orchestra course

The Virtual Orchestra

Rico Derks · Orchestral production

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.

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Mixing Cinematic Music course

Mixing Cinematic Music

Joël Dollié · Orchestral mixing

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.

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Find your next step

Not sure where to start?

Choose the next step in your scoring craft Match your learning goal with the course below.

Write stronger musical ideas

Develop melody, harmony, accompaniment and counterpoint before applying them to your own scoring projects.

Pillars of Composition →

Develop an orchestral language

Study thematic development, harmony and orchestral textures with Mattia Chiappa. For intermediate and advanced composers.

20th Century Orchestral Writing →

Work from a client brief

See how Adam Lukas connects the brief, musical choices, production and mix in five released tracks.

Cinematic Music Production →

Make your mockups more expressive

Improve the virtual performances and soundstage that bring your orchestral writing to life.

The Virtual Orchestra →

Check the curriculum, previews and requirements on each course page.

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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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Learn from Industry Professionals — Anytime, Anywhere

Choose film scoring courses around the craft you want to develop: composition for musical ideas and form, orchestration for instrumental colour, and production for the finished sound. The courses here teach those specific skills through lessons and track walkthroughs. Their focus and assignments differ, so check the curriculum before choosing a course for a particular scoring-to-picture technique.
Are these courses about scoring directly to picture?

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.

Where should an aspiring film composer start?

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.

How do I choose between orchestration and 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.

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