Master of Music Composition for Film Games and Media

The program Master of Music Composition for Film Games, and Media is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time compositional performance-based degree with a research thesis element that focuses on practices for composing music for screen. It is designed to support a composer’s individual artistic development and to build proficiency in the technical, artistic and intellectual demands of composing music for use in film, television, radio, games and other media and internet-based environments.

Students are encouraged to refine their musical language while developing collaborative skills within the context of media music production. The flexible and interdisciplinary structure of the programme fosters self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, enabling students to engage in professional-level screen music projects.

A unique feature of the programme is the opportunity for students to develop and pursue an individual artistic focus throughout their studies. This personal area of interest is introduced as part of the entrance examination and becomes a recurring subject in principal study lessons and project modules. Students who choose this pathway are supported with a dedicated budget, allowing them to invite external professionals to offer tailored workshops. These workshops contribute both to the student’s own development and to the learning of their peers. The chosen topic will also form the basis of the Master’s Thesis, which is developed with academic guidance during the course.

Students who do not begin with a specific artistic vision are fully supported through a clearly structured curriculum, including established collaborative projects such as scoring for LMU student films and large-scale recording sessions. This provides a solid and inspiring foundation from which individual priorities can be explored and refined over time.

The programme combines principal subject lessons, elective workshops, and ongoing feedback from external experts. It culminates in a final exam project that includes a written reflection, a colloquium, and a concert or practice-based presentation. The Master’s Thesis further encourages students to engage with research-based thinking and to critically examine compositional processes in media music through analytical writing.

By balancing fixed frameworks with individualized study, the programme offers an ideal environment for students at different stages of their artistic journey — those with a clear vision, as well as those who seek to discover and develop their focus along the way. In the broader landscape of Master’s programmes in Germany, this dual approach represents a distinct and progressive model.