"Making music for video games" - what kind of degree is that?

College Majors Music Major
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Hello, I’m a parent of a sophomore in HS, doing some preliminary research on potential colleges. S’s primary instrument is bassoon, but wants to purse a career in video game music - “make music for video games”. I’m new to this whole college search (S is my first), so I need some advice/help.

Question 1):
What kind of degree does S need to pursue a career in video game music creation? Is it music technology? Music production? Composition (but not classical - is there such a thing)?

Question 2):
What are some good music schools that offer that degree/program/training? Does S even need a degree?

Please advise! Thank you!

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Hi, I don’t know about music for videogames, but sound amazing.
I recommend you reach in google, for example, I found College for video games design, like, Academy of Art in San Francisco, CA, You can ask in those College if they can recommend you a good plase for music for video games.
Good Look.

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These are good questions. Your son is still a sophomore, so first, I would say, see how things evolve for him. Is he making music at home, with computer, or with other equipment? What software program is he using? Is he posting on YouTube?

Some students who do this kind of work do end up at conservatory, getting a foundation in composition. If that were a possible route, he could start working with a teacher (who has some interest in electronics etc.) and try to go to summer programs, such as Oberlin’s Sonic Arts. He could consider many conservatories for a traditional music education and then branch out. Some are part of a university or college, where aid might be more available.

There are also conservatories like Berklee, Miami Frost, Belmont that focus on contemporary music.

And programs in electronic or computer music, studio production, music technology, audio engineering, music production…so many terms that it can be quite confusing. Berklee, Northeastern, UMass Lowell are schools near me that I know about.UMichigan has the PAT program. Ithaca, Hartt, there are many others. Possibly CalArts. Also any school that has film scoring perhaps, so might add SUNY Purchase, North Carolina School of the Arts, a few others. USC has a grad program in film scoring to which undergrads are assured admission, I believe, after “getting a foundation.”

Some go to college. You are right it is not necessary to get a degree in this specifically, necessarily, but I would recommend looking at resources and courses regardless of major. I also would look at schools like Bennington, where students do electronic music in a liberal arts context, and at that school, like some others, there is a lot of independent work.

A music school or conservatory will offer a BM degree, which will involve 2/3-3/4 courses in music. A BA will be more like 1/4-1/3 music, often with required distribution requirements. If you think he would prefer the BM, the discussion could be narrowed.

I would say that almost any school will have a studio where he can do this work. So the question is, how narrow does he want his focus to be at the undergrad level? The broadest way to go is a BA, perhaps, or a BM with a classical foundation. The most focused way to go is a specific program for video game composing, which, I am sure, is available somewhere. If that is what he wants, this forum can most likely find some programs. But he is young and may change his mind in the next two years!

Of course, he can always continue doing this on his own. And major in something else. Or not go to college at all for that matter!!

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I think if my S mentioned such a goal, I would encourage him to start writing video game scores (or maybe transcribing existing scores, too) starting right away and over the year or so, keep the scores maybe on a YouTube or other channel so that you could later send a link to people, such as college professors. Then after that year or so, I would try to find professors at schools that you have possibly identified during that year who could advise what to do as far as a major goes.

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Philip Glass has written a great deal of music for video games along with the rest of his vast portfolio including movie soundtracks. He majored in math and philosophy at the University of Chicago before Juilliard. So there is no magic path. I really like compmom’s suggestion of Cal Arts, and the rest of her useful discussion.

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The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has a program with this focus called Technology and Applied Composition: https://sfcm.edu/departments/technology-and-applied-composition “This highly exclusive course of study gives students a direct path into the worlds of film scoring, video game sound design, and other rewarding musical avenues. Featuring instruction from some of the most visible composers in the industry today, the TAC program readies you for a cutting-edge compositional life, bridging art and technology in the most dynamic ways imaginable.”

To give you an idea of what is studied in such a program and whether that would interest your son - here is the list of courses:
Composer at the Keyboard
Composition Workshop*
Introduction to Sound Recording*
Production Techniques in Logic Pro*
Production Techniques in Ableton Live
Private Composition Lessons*
Game Audio*
Counterpoint
Tools, Techniques and Analysis*
Introduction to Sound Design
Portfolio Review
Minimalism
Orchestration
Film Music
Building Applications for Music in Max/Msp*
Theory of Musical Synthesis*
Business for the Media Composer
Experimental Instruments and their Repertoire
Conducting
Modern and Contemporary Composition Techniques
Mixing Workshop*
Technical Ear Training
Improvisation
History of Avant Rock
The Soundscape

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Just want to add that many of these programs are quite competitive and require a portfolio. While working in the bedroom or garage can be inspiring, he might want to think about gaining some experience through a teacher or a summer program (Spirit Manager, is Berklee still offering one? Again, Oberlin or Berklee would be a good summer program.) He could look into Walden School in Dublin NH, which I believe may still be taking applications for this summer. The others would probably be for next year.

Some kids really do produce amazing work on their own so not discounting it entirely. Just want to get across that these majors do require some skill and experience. Some programs even have auditions. Just look closely at websites.

Good luck! I love it when a young person is clearly enjoying music. As we have been saying, he can continue that in many ways and at different levels of seriousness.

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Thank you so much for all your helpful info!! I will look into the above mentioned schools. When I look at composition degrees from colleges (Belmont, U of Miami, for example), they all appear to be classical. I wasn’t sure if he would need a base of classical composition degree and get a masters in film scoring or go to some place like Full Sail or Berklee.

@compmom I did look into composition camps and I was getting discouraged because THEY ALL require applicants to submit a few pieces, which of course he doesn’t have since he hasn’t even taken a music theory class yet. (Will do it his junior year). He has had 10 years of piano experience though.

Now just yesterday I did stumble upon one comp camp at Illinois Wesleyan that doesn’t appear to require submission of prior work. https://www.iwu.edu/music/k12/summer-music-composition-institute.html Anyone know how good this program is? Or at this stage of the game, is this a “something is better than nothing” situation

Does anyone know of any other composition camps that do not require submission of prior work?

How important will his bassoon ability be for the college applications, considering that what he really wants to do is composition and not performance?

Thanks again for all your help! This is a whole new world for me!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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@SpiritManager Thanks for the link! That school didn’t come up in any of my research (google). I couldn’t tell though if that was a 4-year BM Degree or a 1 year Professional Diploma Cert.

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One other question: some schools have “electronic music composition”, “electroacoustic composition”, or “computer music composition” - this is not the right track for what he wants to do, right? What about “music technology”? It’s all so confusing!

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One of the testimonials about the Illinois Wesleyan camp is by a colleague and good friend of my son’s, now a composer and conductor in NYC. I would say that’s a great recommendation.

As for the TAC degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music- yes they offer a BM undergrad degree. It is a very reputable program with connections to the industry and serious professors.

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Video game music is a big deal, given the size of the game market out there (I think it is around 20 billion a year or so). I suspect there are people coming to it from all angles, Michael Giaccino, the film score composer, got his start doing video game music, and I believe he took some night classes at Juilliard and maybe SVA at NYC (I don’t recall).

I believe there are some programs specifically in video game music, but I think it is one of those things you don’t necessarily have to major it in to be successful, among other things given the fact it is a very new major and there aren’t going to be many programs, this is something where someone likely could have many paths to get to it:)

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Berklee, Belmont, USC and Frost (Miami) at often cited as the best schools for “contemporary music.” NYU, Hartt, Ithaca, Cal Arts, N. Texas, McGill, Northeastern, maybe U. of Colorado, several others…It would seem that schools that have film scoring would be a good choice, but that can wait for grad work if HE wants a foundation.

Columbia College Chicago might have something. I haven’t looked lately…

Every school may call their programs something different!!

Electroacoustic work might be useful. But is it more in the realm of contemporary classical. Even within academic, classical electronics work there are different types. It IS very confusing.

Does he want to work on the composition end, or the production end? Does he picture himself mainly doing studio work? There are programs geared to the technical/vocational field of studio production too.

You can’t really know yet. Once he takes theory things may change.

Walden has kids who have never composed. They also have some electronic work, and theory of a unique sort. It is pricey, but long and kids get a lot done, make a lot of progress. They might still be taking students. He must have some work to share, somehow…

He is a sophomore. I think he should have some more experiences, take theory, get a teacher, write some pieces and then decide on what he wants to do. Again, he can pursue this at BA programs as well, on the side or through the school’s studio.

If he decides to do composition, some schools do not require an instrumental audition, some do.

Things will become clear!!

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Thank you @compmom. I am trying very hard not to feel like he’s already way behind and must now play quick catchup. It’s all so overwhelming!

I just found this (link below) also, and it looks like not much prior experience is required. It’s 3 weeks long and seems to have more digital component to it. Anyone heard anything about this program? I wonder how this would compare to the Illinois Wesleyan camp?

https://www.uncsa.edu/summer/music-summer-intensives/programs.aspx

Thoughts?

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@musicprnt Yes it is very new, therefore the confusion - does he need a music degree (BM)? Does he just need a certificate where he is trained in the computer side of it? I saw that UT Austin has a new degree being offered - the new Center for Arts And Entertainment Technology, so maybe that’s a good route?

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@compmom S can’t do Walden because it runs through mandatory school marching band camp.

Do composition majors generally need to go on to a Masters degree before getting a first job? (Like in Psychology). If that’s the case then perhaps S should just stay local (Florida) and get a traditional composition degree from anyschoolhere and then get a Master’s that specializes in interactive entertainment (is there such a thing?) or film or digital media (again, is there such a thing?)? Is that the most reasonable route, especially considering OoS tuition would be through the roof AND he’d need a Master’s anyway?

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@dblreedmama

There are lots of pieces to this and too much to really go into here, but as noted above, he should be scoring/composing/studying tracks already. Spending some time on the internet with professional’s blogs will help get a feel too.

Music these days is crazy competitive on all fronts. It’s a hustler/obsessive/passion game.

But if he really wants to get into music vid scoring/composing/recording etc. I’d steer him toward schools that do Digital Arts/Media production/animation really, really well and also have composition/music depts. USC, Cal Arts, CMU, NYU, etc. He should go someplace where crazy obsessive game-nerds are making games non-stop and need someone to score/mix/produce music and sound for them.

The reality is most media composers/scoring producers are freelance types who have to “kill to eat” (go gig to gig) or they are sausage-factory “hurdy-gurdy” monkeys cranking out fairly similar tracks/scores for low-end games/apps (Casino games, simple apps etc.) for not a lot of money. Often a group of composers/producers will form small collectives to spread the work.

It will be important that he is passionate, talented, does not understand “no”, ready to work long, long hours under high pressure in a dark room (with stinky music-obsessed interns that he works to the bone,) is a perfectionist and is a super-talented composer and/or player. Being able to play keyboard by ear is really helpful as most folks just synth out many of the parts on scores in video games (or anything).

Most of the job of a game or other media composer/music producer basically involves getting a game or some video and being told to score to it… Car races down street. Ok, here it should be like “you know, kinda Nirvana/Alice in Chains-ish…” this should be “Just like Gangham style - but not so Korean!” “Let’s do like a P-funk meets Lumineers, but like with kind of an electro/house thing… and strings!” Need it tomorrow! Thanks.

If there is any way for him to intern/hang out/help out in an actual music-production facility for a while, he’ll figure out if it’s the kind of thing for him pretty quickly.

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I have heard good things about Illinois Wesleyan and of course UNCSA (which I think I mentioned earlier, since it has film students). IF UNCSA has components to their program that suit him, he should by all means consider it.

What we are saying, and what you are understanding yourself, is that there are many possible paths. And programs come in all kinds of flavors, with different terminology. Mainly, he can decide practical versus theoretical work. BM and BA.

Keep looking at websites and try to look at the specific courses, similar to the list that Spirit Manager posted.

He is still only a sophomore. I don’t think my daughter was even composing yet and she is doing a doctorate. Find the right resources for him, especially a teacher (a piano teacher who includes theory can help too). Summer program. And so on. The situation will evolve, believe me. I think it’s too early to do anything concrete but the exploration you are doing is useful.

Even within one school, things can be confusing. Look at these two majors at Columbia College for instance.

http://www.colum.edu/academics/fine-and-performing-arts/music/program-detail/contemporary-urban-popular-music-bmus.html
http://www.colum.edu/academics/interdisciplinary-programs/music-technology.html

Here’s CalArts in general (look at all the majors) https://calarts.edu/academics/all-programs and music tech specifically https://music.calarts.edu/programs/music-technology

Northeastern combines composition and technology (as does Brown, in one strand of their major), and also offers “music industry.” https://camd.northeastern.edu/music/academic-programs/bs-in-music-composition-and-technology/

You could go on for hours and hours like this!!

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I don’t mean to offer advice, but I chuckled a little bit from fond memories when I read one of the posts - I remember when S did the brow-raising move of quitting school band in order to focus more on music.

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Aha yay Calidad 2020 knows this field and is the best resource!

Meant to add that a master’s may not be needed. Hard to tell at this stage.

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