Film Scoring Masterclass with James Borchers

Composing music for film, animation, and video games calls for a unique mix of art and science. Come explore the creative principles and software techniques used to support a story with music in this masterclass taught by industry veteran and award-winning composer, James Borchers. James' body of work spans a range of media including orchestral and chamber music, electroacoustic and computer music, sound installations, opera, film scores, and music for theater. With his guidance and mentorship, you will compose an original score synchronized to picture, then participate in a live studio recording session with a chamber ensemble to produce your finished soundtrack.  

You will learn:

• How to use professional digital audio workstation software and hardware
• Techniques for composing music synchronized to picture
• How to prepare musical score and parts
• Hands-on experience recording-to-picture with trained musicians

Schedule:

• Students will have structured class between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Pacific time. There is an added lab that runs between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Pacific time when teaching assistants will be available to assist students on their project work.

Tuition includes:

• MIDI Controller

Prerequisites:

• To get the most from this master class, it is beneficial for you to have basic musical knowledge and performance experience.

Technical Requirements:

Students must have access to a computer as well as additional hardware and software. Some programs or courses may indicate additional technology requirements, and not all programs are Mac compatible.

• Windows PC or Mac computer
• Display with minimum resolution of 1024 x 768. While it is not mandatory, it is recommended to have a second monitor connected to the computer to extend the desktop. This allows the student to more easily follow what the instructor is demonstrating while concurrently being able to see the software environment that the student is working within.
• Headset with microphone
• Three-button mouse
• Broadband internet connection
• Current, major internet browser (Chrome, Firefox)
• Latest version of Adobe Reader
• Printer

Orientation Session:

Please note that in order to ensure that students have their home computers set up correctly for the class, and to orientate students to learning in an online environment, there will be a 30-minute scheduled orientation session that will run the week before the workshop is scheduled to start. Information about this will be sent to students by the instructor the week before the start of the workshop.