T
travis16vp
New member
I was just wondering. Do you need to get a masters degree to write songs for movies? Where do I start?
jake-owa
Banned
Try the songwriters forum.
C
christiaan
Active member
A friend of mine, the keyboard player of the band that I played in until half a year a go, wrote music for a movie that was shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival, a couple of weeks ago.
I haven't heard the music myself (yet) but it must have been good enough while he has had no musical education that I know of. So... Just start where any musician/composer would start. By picking up an instrument.
I haven't heard the music myself (yet) but it must have been good enough while he has had no musical education that I know of. So... Just start where any musician/composer would start. By picking up an instrument.
G
gascap
New member
Hey Travis,
I had a few minutes of backgound music (source music cue) that made it into a Robert Altman film (Cookie's Fortune). A life-long friend landed the job as editor and when the small piece was needed, I got a call.
My friend is also a film maker and I scored his first feature length film which is currently still doing well at film festivals and some cable channels. It's called Roads and Bridges (not that you asked, but my contributions can be previewed at www.cdbaby.com/athey)
Anyway, these two experiences were fantastic - especially the Altman one because I get a royalty check every three months, which will continue forever (although they'll soon become very very small...HA!) Still, it's a thrill and I definietely want more - and hope the same for everyone else on the board.
I do have a Masters degree in music, BUT it had absolutely NOTHING to do with LANDING the gigs. Nothing!...other than possibly drawing from such an education during the creative time... Getting the job had everything to do with me having a friend in the biz.
If there is a local college or film school near by, you can knock on their doors and see if a student film needs your talents. You can also check the web for contacts. I subscribe to http://www.filmmusic.net - which sends out film music job leads from indies. I pay @ $9 a month (tax write-off) and have had moderate success establishing some contacts through them(although admittedly, the 'friend' angle is the easiest way to go...
)
But NO, you certainly don't need a Masters degree - or ANY degree really - to write songs. Just practice your craft, pay attention, and keep after it.
Good luck!
I had a few minutes of backgound music (source music cue) that made it into a Robert Altman film (Cookie's Fortune). A life-long friend landed the job as editor and when the small piece was needed, I got a call.
My friend is also a film maker and I scored his first feature length film which is currently still doing well at film festivals and some cable channels. It's called Roads and Bridges (not that you asked, but my contributions can be previewed at www.cdbaby.com/athey)
Anyway, these two experiences were fantastic - especially the Altman one because I get a royalty check every three months, which will continue forever (although they'll soon become very very small...HA!) Still, it's a thrill and I definietely want more - and hope the same for everyone else on the board.
I do have a Masters degree in music, BUT it had absolutely NOTHING to do with LANDING the gigs. Nothing!...other than possibly drawing from such an education during the creative time... Getting the job had everything to do with me having a friend in the biz.
If there is a local college or film school near by, you can knock on their doors and see if a student film needs your talents. You can also check the web for contacts. I subscribe to http://www.filmmusic.net - which sends out film music job leads from indies. I pay @ $9 a month (tax write-off) and have had moderate success establishing some contacts through them(although admittedly, the 'friend' angle is the easiest way to go...
)But NO, you certainly don't need a Masters degree - or ANY degree really - to write songs. Just practice your craft, pay attention, and keep after it.
Good luck!