About the Program

Learn how to tell a story and evoke emotions through your music at the Film, TV, and Video Game Scoring Program in Los Angeles. In this five-day program, you’ll discover easy-to-learn, but powerful compositional tools to write cinematic music. Interact with high-profile composers in a close setting, study the basics of composing for orchestra, and develop production techniques to produce polished recordings using your laptop. Students will study in Los Angeles, the heart of the Hollywood film industry, on the campus of the Colburn School.

Dates: Coming soon
Check-in / Move-in: Coming soon
Move-out: Coming soon
Tuition: $2,245
Housing: $1,500
Registration fee: $50 (nonrefundable)

How to Enroll

Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Step 1Submit your registration
Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
Step 2Make your tuition payment
All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
Step 3Request housing
If you will be age 15 or older by the start of your Boston-based program and require on-campus accommodations, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in the Next Steps tab of your registration portal.
Step 4Complete your next steps
Visit the Next Steps section of your program to view and complete any additional requirements. Review the checklist to make sure you are on track.

Curriculum

You’ll participate in core writing classes, visiting artist lectures from high-profile Hollywood composers, and hands-on technology sessions. By the end of the program, you will have a greater understanding of:

how to identify the emotions of a scene
how to compose cinematic music that dramatically supports a scene
how to create realistic-sounding demos using your laptop
the basics of composing for orchestra
how to record with a professional ensemble
how to find work as a film composer

Schedule

Check out a typical day in the program.

Each Day

9 AM–10:20 AMFilm Score Analysis
10:30 AM–11:50 AMComposition and Orchestration
Noon–12:50 PMLunch
1 PM–2:20 PMGuest Artist
2:30 PM–4:50 PMMusic Production
5 PM–6 PMLab Time or Recording Mentoring

Performance Opportunities

The program will culminate in our big finale on Friday, with a screening of the clips scored by students. This will be an opportunity to share with friends and family what you have been working on over the course of your time with us.

Requirements

All students who meet the minimum age requirement and older, with six months of playing experience on electric or acoustic bass are welcome to attend.
Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.
- A laptop with a digital audio workstation (DAW), such as GarageBand (free), Logic, Cubase, or Reaper (free), and notation software, such as MuseScore (free), Dorico, or Sibelius already installed
- Sample libraries on your laptop or external hard drive. This can include Berlin Orchestra Created with Berklee, EastWest, Kontakt, built-in Logic or GarageBand samples, Garriton Personal Orchestra, and many others
- A pair of professional headphones (that completely cover the ears), if possible, such as the Sony MDR-7506 or AKG K24
- Any 25-key (or more) MIDI keyboard with a cable that connects to your laptop

Program-Specific Details

Stay on Campus at Colburn

Participants will study on the campus of the Colburn School. This program is conveniently located in LA’s downtown arts corridor.

Students enrolled in Film Scoring in Los Angeles or Songwriting Sessions in Los Angeles have the option to live on campus at the Colburn School. Enjoy the convenience of on-campus housing, access to practice rooms, furnished suites, and a supportive residential staff. To reserve your spot, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in your Berklee application portal after registering for your program. Visit our help center to learn more about housing at Colburn.

Residential students must remain on the Colburn School campus for the entirety of the program.

Commuter students must remain on the Colburn School campus from the start to end of classes each day.

Program Director

Class of 2000
Sean McMahon
"An original score is one of the most effective ways filmmakers can achieve their creative vision. In many ways, I feel film composing is less about creating a product (the music itself) and more about providing a service (the collaborative process)."
Read Full Bio

Once You’ve Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you’ve taken the first step! Now that you’re enrolled, here’s what you need to know to be prepared before check-in, and what to expect afterward.

Please regularly check the email you used to enroll in your program for important updates. A detailed check-in email, containing information about your assigned arrival location, housing assignment (if applicable), and program schedule, will be sent one to two weeks before your program's start date.
On-campus housing is limited, and spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on the completion of the following steps:
1. Read, sign, and submit the residence hall agreement on the registration portal.
2. The Summer Programs team will review your signed residence hall agreement within 3-5 business days. After review, we will send you an email inviting you to return to the registration portal to view your on-campus housing decision letter.
3. If your request has been approved, secure your spot by accepting your offer and paying the housing fee in full.
Important Considerations
- For students enrolled in multiple programs, please complete a separate residence hall agreement (along with the accompanying housing fee payment) for each program.
- To be eligible to request on-campus housing, a student must be 15 years of age before the start of their program.
- If a student is under the age of 18, the request for on-campus housing must be filled out by a parent/guardian, and both the student and parent/guardian must agree to all the terms and conditions.
- Applicants for Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) must first be offered admission and accept their offer before their residence hall agreement submission will be considered.
- Since space in our residence halls is limited, a spot in our residence halls will only be guaranteed once a student has fully registered for their chosen program and paid the program tuition in full. Any housing requests or payments made before the completion of both these steps do not ensure a guaranteed place in on-campus housing.
Learn more about housing and campus life by exploring the Help Center.
Accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs, offering services such as academic accommodations, academic coaching, special housing arrangements, dietary adjustments, and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring.
Accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, faculty, the Office of Housing and Residential Education, a dietitian, and Accessibility Resources for Students staff. Requests for academic, housing, and dietary accommodations can be made by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article.

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Film, TV, and Game Scoring Program in Los Angeles