Film Music Composition: Beginners

Ages 18+

Course Dates & Times

Tuesday evenings on 22, 29 April, 6, 13, 20, 27 May 2025
7.15pm–9.15pm, BST (UTC+1)

The course also includes a one-to-one session with the course tutor (approx. 15 minutes) - dates and timings of the session will be confirmed during the course. The one-to-one session will take place online.

About Film Music Composition: Beginners

This six-week online evening course will equip you with an understanding of how to write music for film. You can expect to analyse scenes from different films and explore how a particular genre of music complements a film visual.

The topics addressed will include orchestration, composing with instrument sample libraries in Logic Pro and the composition of original music to a given clip.

Who is the course for?

• Anyone aged 18 and over who has a passion for cinema and film music
• No prior experience of film music composition is necessary but a basic understanding of Logic Pro is needed
• Grade 5 theory is advisable but not required
• Participants need to be able to read music in order to take part in the course

What can I expect?

In this course you can expect to learn: 

• How to spot a scene
• What kind of music complements a particular scene
• How to use instrumental sample libraries in Logic Pro 
• How to write music for a given clip

You will also have a one-to-one session with the course tutor (approx. 15 minutes) outside of the course times, more information will be sent during the course.

Do I need anything for the course?

• A Mac computer/laptop
• A copy of Logic Pro software 
• A MIDI-keyboard
• A pair of headphones

Alternative composition software to Logic Pro can be used, but only if you are experienced at using it as the tutor will not be able to provide technical support.

Course Fee

£310

Eligibility

• We welcome participants from all ages 18 and over
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course  

Online Short Courses Requirements

All sessions will take place online using Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you in advance of the course start date with further instructions.

To participate in online classes you will need the following:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A laptop/tablet/desktop computer with a microphone and camera (most have these included)
• Speakers/headphones (the speakers in your laptop/tablet/computer should be sufficient)
• A fully updated web browser able to use the most up to date version of Zoom, or a fully updated Zoom client

If you have any questions regarding joining one of our online courses please contact us.

About the Course Tutor

The course is taught by Laura Rossi, professor of film music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and London Film Academy.

Laura Rossi is a composer for film, television and concert music. Credits include London to Brighton, The Cottage, The Eichmann Show, Song for Marion, Redemption, Hurricane and Battle of the Somme.

The British Film Institute has commissioned Laura to score silent films including Silent Shakespeare, Twilight of a Woman’s Soul, Tusalava and Jane Shore which she toured performing live with film at The Globe, Barbican, British Silent Film Festival, National Film Theatre & London, Madeira, Belfast and Sao Paulo film festivals.  

The Imperial War Museum commissioned Laura to score the UNESCO listed Battle of the Somme. The music was recorded and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and released on CD and DVD to worldwide critical acclaim. For the centenary, one hundred orchestras worldwide performed the score live with film including at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Concerts were watched live by over 37,000, performed by 4,200 musicians, and televised live on BBC1 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. 

Concert works include Voices of Remembrance, a choral/ orchestral work featuring poetry readings by Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave performed multiple times to critical acclaim, including at Jersey Opera House & Manchester Cathedral. 

Her music has been performed by the Philharmonia, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra, at the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.  

She has recently written a two-hour ballet score ‘Atonement’ based on Ian McEwan’s novel by choreographer Cathy Marston for Zurich Ballet and Joffrey Ballet, Chicago.

Laura regularly gives masterclasses about film composition.