Hi, I am wondering if anyone can recommend to me some colleges (and programs, if possible) that would be good for game music composition... or just are good in general. I received my BA from a local college that doesn't offer a masters program... I've looked at a few schools (UCLA, UCSD, U of Oregon, etc.)... and I'm not sure what's the next step. Most "computer music" degrees seem geared more towards 20th century experimental stuff, which may or may not be helpful? ... Composition may be a good degree to get, I suppose... but I could easily see leaving with a comp. degree and still not knowing a whole lot about computer music creation (beyond midi w/ samplers)... Anyway, any info would be helpful.. even if it's another thread or a website or whatever. Thanks!

Do you really need a masters for game music? I know a couple guys that do game music and not one has a masters and they are pretty successful.

Yeah, if you're interested in game music, go for a general music education (or just a general education). No really successful composer I know (and I do know a few personally) had any specialized education like that.

Good points.. however, I've already kind of gave up on "making it" as it were... for those very reasons... there is some secret to success that just seems to elude me.

...mostly I just want to go further with my knowledge and own skill, if that makes sense.

"making it" is a broad term, because in some cases you'll never make it, because there is no final destination.
Cant help you much with your degree, just go for a straight degree in whatever..
Best advice for improving with composition is to look at other peoples work, lots of music can be downloaded in midi format, just crank it into your editor and absorb!
I recommend looking up Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy music etc..)

Best way to succeed is to be versatile and aggressive. Hell, I'm only 17 and I'm already on my third contracted job writing video game music. And I didn't know the first thing about composition less than two years ago. Plus, I've had absolutely NO formal training or lessons in composition, arrangement, or theory. If I can do it, you sure as hell should be able to - I'm not prodigy.

My musical talent has nothing to do with it... many FF fans have called my music just as good as Nobuo's, Yasunori Mitsuda's, etc. .. I don't think that's true, but I am quite good according to most people, nevertheless...

The problem is my first 10 projects all crashed and burned in some way or another, so I just gave up... that and I am too emotionally attached to my music (I'm not a blue collar composer, unfortunately)... but, I did try a few years ago (notice I've been a member since 2000)... now I'm mostly just interested in composing for myself, and studying music...

either way, how can I lock a topic? .. it appears no one has any useful information concerning colleges, which is what the original intent of this post was... thanks anyway, though... but I guess I'll look elsewhere for answers.

I have been researching this a lot since I am in my last year of composition for my undergrad. I have long been interested in game music and have searched for schools dedicated to teaching that. Unfortunately, it is considered an immature art by many and from what I've gathered, there is no one program that has a specialized focus. If you would like to email me, I can give you some suggestions to look through. GR-Hufnagl@wiu.edu Believe me, I would love to get a focus in video game composition! Hope to hear from ya.

George

The University of North Texas has a highly respected music department (www.music.unt.edu). I know that there is some interest in computer music by the dean, Jon Nelson. The school is about 40 miles north of Dallas, and it is well-known for its jazz studies. Norah Jones attended as an undergraduate. It's a public school, and I guess that a full-time non-Texas resident graduate student could expect to pay something around $4000 per semester for tuition, maybe more.