Film Scoring and Production is a two-semester preparatory course for the musicube academy’s Film Scoring and Production degree.
The goal of this program is to teach the fundamentals of composition and audio engineering to enable musical ideas to be created and applied in films using a digital studio environment.
The content of Film Scoring and Production courses is based on the Bachelor of Music Composition for Film Games and Media program, and is the ideal preparation for the bachelor program’s prerequisite aptitude test. Students may also continue their preparatory studies with the next successive musicube academy course, Advanced Film Scoring and Production.
Classes are conducted once a week as day-long workshops in small groups. Each group will be accompanied by two instructors. Between workshops, students work on the topics addressed in each week by completing assigned tasks. To complete the assignments, every musicube academy student needs to have a digital audio workstation (DAW). Regular work on the DAW teaches students to become comfortable with their most important ‘instrument:’ the digital production environment.
In addition to the option of using the preparatory year for the musicube academy Bachelor program, there is also the possibility of applying to other universities. In this case, the skills enhanced through the course contribute to increasing the likelihood of being accepted into state-funded universities and passing the entrance examination. Over the past 15 years, more than 150 course participants from the musicube academy’s preparatory courses have been successfully admitted to external state-funded universities for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the fields of film and media composition. This is a number we are proud of.
The course content is divided into musical and production/technical aspects, but no preference is given to either.
At the conclusion of the each semester, students who pass an interim exam move forward into the next semester.
Course content
1. Music theory and composition studies
2. Music composition in film
3. Acoustics and applied audio engineering / sampling techniques
4. Film scoring project
1. Music theory and composition studies
Harmony
Functional harmony
Scale theory
Modulation
Atonality
Tonal composition
Choral Setting
Orchestration
Ear training
Intervals
Music dictation
Chord progressions
Rhythm
Rhythm training
Polyrhythm
Polymeter
Composing in copied styles
Neoclassicism
Romantic
Serial composition
Modal composition
Orchestration
Woodwind instruments
Brass instruments
Percussion instruments
Strings
2. Music composition in film
Concepts of film scoring composition
Open Score
Close Score
Source Music
Dramaturgy
Emotion
Rhythm / Matching
Film music analysis
Practical film scoring composition
Horror film
Animal film I
Animal film II
Animal film III
Animated film
Action film
3. Acoustics and applied audio engineering / sampling techniques
Spatial acoustics
Oscillations
Interference
Temporal aspects of the sound field
Frequency-dependent reverberation time
Pre-delay
Direct sound and initial reflections
Reverberation duration
Sound perception
Sound event and auditory event
Volume and loudness
Auditory adaptation and masking
Pitch perception
Distortion
Harshness and abrasiveness
Subjective pitch duration
Audibility and phase changes
Spatial hearing of real sound sources
Horizontal plane
Median plane
Distance perception
Interaural time difference
Interaural level difference
Sound localization
Spatial hearing of electro-acoustical reproduction
Stereo auditory sensation area
Phantom sound sources due to duration differences
Phantom sound sources due to level differences
Phantom sound sources due to combined level and duration differences
Musical instruments
Acoustic properties
Overtone composition
Formants
Transients
Note releases
Microphone practice
Microphone construction
Microphone forms
Condenser microphones
Dynamic microphones
Sensitivity
Decibel scale
Frequency response
Proximity effect
Directional response
Polar pattern
Recording techniques
Stereo recording
Room-based stereophonic sound
XY miking technique
MS miking technique
AB miking technique
ORTF miking technique
EBS miking technique
DIN miking technique
Practical use of stereo mics
Pickup pattern
Reducing equivalent noise
Using multiple stereo mics
Spot microphones
Sampling Techniques
Sound source localization in virtual spaces
Midi processing and production with orchestra libraries
Virtual orchestra
Virtual scoring stage
Virtual orchestra sound library market overview
Orchestra template
4. Film Scoring: Practical project
Create a musical composition for a narrative short film with a student of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, USA (emphasis on the process)
Create a musical composition for a short documentary film with a student of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, USA (emphasis on end result)
Create a show reel with three different, fully-produced film score compositions as final project
Film Scoring and Production 2025 / 2026
Program start:
- Jan. 31, 2025
- Jun. 18, 2025
- Sep. 26, 2025
Program End:
- Jan. 30, 2026
- Jun. 17, 2026
- Sep. 25, 2026
Program duration:
2 semester
Lesson type:
Workshops in groups of 4-6 with 1-2 instructors
Self-guided individual studies
Weekly Study Load :
20 hours individual studies + one day
Prerequisites:
see also: Admissions Film Scoring and Production
Entrance exam:
On an individual basis (arrangements made in advance)
Registration for entrance exam:
Email to register
Maximum number of participants:
Six per course
Lectures:
- Alexander Gromeier
- Patrick Schmitz
Course fees:
€ 512,- per month
Graduation certificate:
musicube academy certificate: Film Scoring and Production
Prior to being admitted to the musicube academy, an application and a screening test are required. Admission to a particular program is dependent on the applicant’s prior knowledge and experience.
To properly determine an applicant’s qualifications, an application that includes a CV, musical development and portfolio samples is necessary. The portfolio samples can be audio tracks, sheet music, or film samples.
After the portfolio samples have been evaluated, applicants will be notified by the musicube academy.
If the initial documents and samples are satisfactory, a screening test can then be arranged. During the screening test, an applicant’s abilities in the subjects of general music, harmony, ear training, and rhythm will be examined.
Admission requirements:
Successful completion of the entrance exam
The following subjects will be reviewed:
General music doctrine
Rhythm
Harmony
Ear training (intervals, chords, simple melodies)
Basic technical ability with computers
Submission and presentation of original work:
Music pieces of your choice (Format: Audio / AIF / WAV or score)
Application materials can be submitted to: admissions@musicube-academy.com
