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Students in the Division of Music have been collaborating with the ÃÛÌÒ½´Guildhall, one of the first game degree programs in the world, since it was formed 20 years ago. And though early collaborative projects were done on a more informal basis, the increase of student interest in recent years led the Division to form a new degree track: a B.M. in Film and Game Scoring.

This new degree track has the same core courses as a standard B.M. in Composition, but also includes specialized coursework for the specific technical and aesthetic needs of a score for films or games. Courses like “Analysis of Film and Game Music” and “Virtual and Hybrid Orchestration” focus on the specificities of composing for film and games by analyzing great soundtracks and techniques of the past and examining how to make computer-based instruments sound more lifelike.

Understanding the differences between composing for film and game music versus concert music is also something students are able to learn firsthand. In a concert hall, the music is the only focus, but when scoring films and games, the music is always a supporting aspect and should not overshadow what is happening onscreen. Thanks to the collaboration with Meadows Division of Film & Media Arts and the ÃÛÌÒ½´Guildhall, students can find that balance by working on actual films and games.

“While other programs can have projects that use stock or sample film and game segments for students to write music for, our students work on real films and games being created by the film division and ÃÛÌÒ½´Guildhall,” explains Rob Frank, Associate Professor of Composition and Theory and Director of Electronic Music at Meadows. “Working with these production teams in a fully professional environment gives students an experience that merely working with a sample simply doesn’t afford.”

The hands-on experience provided by the new degree track is invaluable for students looking to work in the field of composition for film and gaming. While the majority of composition jobs used to fall under the orchestral umbrella, the film and game scoring industry has largely exploded in recent years, providing countless job opportunities for composers. Learning the entire composition process for this kind of work while still in school is a unique advantage.

“Of SMU’s academic competitors in game design, we are the only school that can produce, in house, a video game from design to coding to composition and recording to mixing and mastering to audio implementation to distribution,” explains Lane Harder, senior lecturer and co-chair of the Music Theory and Composition program, of the work created by students in this track. “These are not just academic exercises; our students are literally contributing to the landscape of available games in the industry.”

The courses in this degree track have students following the workflow, production schedules, and team structure that one would find in the game and film industries. Due to the intensive nature of their work in the program, the students enter the real world armed with a portfolio of professional-level work. Gaining this professional experience and training before even entering the industry provides students a serious leg-up.

With the demand for film and game scoring continuing to grow, this dual-track composition degree and the experience it provides will prove to be a valuable asset for students interested in breaking into the industry post-graduation.