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  • best film music school in LA

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    a little off topic but maybe someone...

    which school of film music would you recommend in LA?
    Which is the most respected, prestigious, with best teachers?

    many thanks for any help,
    Abel
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    I'd imagine USC. Apart from UCLA Extension, I don't know where else they teach it in town.
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    Abel,

    As someone who was accepted to USC, Cal Arts, and Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, I have to say that my decision to go with UCLA extension was not taken lightly AT ALL. We had the money to go to any of them, or so my parents told me [[:)]] , but what was AND IS going on at UCLA extension turns out to be the best way to go.

    I actually receommend it staked against my own reputation. When I did it, I doubled up the courses and did the 1 1/2 year in 9 months.

    There are three major reasons I recommend this:
    1) No General Education required (2 years of bullsh** saved there)
    2) You learn from the horse's mouth, not the horse's grandfather
    3) You write for an ensemble nearly EVERY week

    And there are a few minor reasons, less life affecting in the long run, also:
    1) Save loads of money
    2) You're out in such fast time that you can do further studies AND/OR get your career going more rapidly

    ALSO,

    I teach master classes, no less. You may email me if you wish to submit your materials and do a 2 to 8 hour intensive session with me. I guarantee I will knock 1 year's wisdom off your to-do list.

    [[:)]]

    Evan Evans

    P.S. Nick is in the ballpark though. Good recommendations, Nick.
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    Thanks Evan and Nick [:)]

    I think I should explain my background here.

    I made my MD at the Academy of Music in Cracow, Poland,
    studying the cello first, and then composition with K.Penderecki. All ended in 2000.
    Since then I've been composing mostly for film and drama (all instrumental and orchestral music),
    and also had my symphonic piece performed in Berlin.

    What I'm looking for is specificaly "film music writing" not general "music composition".
    I live in Poland, so I'll be trying to get an international scholarship.

    From my first impression of USC and UCLA (searching their websites),
    I wasn't able to find any film music section, neither in music nor in film&TV department.
    Had I missed it?

    Could you shed even more light on it?
    I appreciate your help.


    Abel Korzeniowski

    P.S. Should you wish, my email is available as well.
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    You need to look at the UCLA EXTENSION catalogue not the regular University catalgue. They are totally seperate entities.
    Skip
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    FYI, see:

    http://www.uclaextension.edu/index.cfm?J20040222093921=&OVERRIDE_DEBUG_MODE=DEBUG&PROGRAMNUM=CF329&href=%2FCF329%2Findex%2Ecfm&nocache=1

    This should get you to the page you seek.

    Carlos
    ---
    http://music.altamar.dynalias.org/
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    I read not long ago that Cal State Northridge may have a better film school than either USC or UCLA but I don't know about film music. LA Times article. Also BMI has a very good film/TV course where you write for 22 pieces to picture (at least when I was there.)

    K.Penderecki? Wow! One of the real great's. We haven't talked about him much around here but he is a very important composer. You are very fortunate to have studied with him. I hope you find exactly the right place to further your study of film scoring.

    Dave Connor
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    I read not long ago that Cal State Northridge may have a better film school than either USC or UCLA but I don't know about film music. LA Times article. Also BMI has a very good film/TV course where you write for 22 pieces to picture (at least when I was there.)

    K.Penderecki? Wow! One of the real great's. We haven't talked about him much around here but he is a very important composer. You are very fortunate to have studied with him. I hope you find exactly the right place to further your study of film scoring.

    Dave Connor
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    Abel,

    In this case i recommend you do NOT go to study film scoring. There really is not much that cannot be learned from a book. Instead I recommend you spend a few sessions with me, if even remotely over the internet. I will get you on your proper way.

    I will be able to give you everything you need in all areas needing attention. Business as well.

    Evan Evans
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    Evan (et. al.),

    Do you know if the two courses (listed on the page linked above) cover the college level music study or equivalent experience requirements?

    Also, I cannot seem to find a way to estimate the total costs and time. Do you have a ballpark idea?

    Thanks in advance,

    Carlos
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    Carlos,

    I think it's about $600 on average a class still, and takes about 18 months. I had special permission to double-up based on my talents/skills, so I finished in 9 months.

    As far as the college level of it. I think you are trying to equate these classes to underwater basket weaving at a local junior college. Not a chance. These classes are at the same level, if not exceeding all college classes on Film Scoring. The looseness of it also provides for better peer networking and relations.

    That said, the college classes and the extension classes are DIFFERENT beasts. If you'd prefer to have a notebook full of words on the art and spend 2 to 4 years collecting it, then go to a college. If you'd rather start scoring, and learn how, learn from me, or from UCLA Ext.

    Evan Evans
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    @Abel said:

    Thanks Evan and Nick [:)]

    I think I should explain my background here.

    I made my MD at the Academy of Music in Cracow, Poland,
    studying the cello first, and then composition with K.Penderecki.


    Wow! Penderecki? Lucky you! I actually don't have a whole lot of his music, but recently I got his violin concerto no 2 performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter, and it's an amazing work.

    So how was he as a teacher? Any secrets you'd care to share?
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    @Another User said:

    As far as the college level of it. I think you are trying to equate these classes to underwater basket weaving at a local junior college...


    Mmmm. No.

    i'm actually asking a rather technical (credit) question here, not an equation of class quality and level.

    On the linked page, it says:

    Prerequisite: A background of at least two years' training in music at the college level or the equivalent professional experience. Students must know how to read and write music or they must take the following preparatory courses:

    X430A
    Techniques of Musicianship: Fundamentals of Music

    X483.2
    Techniques of Film Scoring: Instrumentation

    i do not have training in music at the college level nor equivalent experience. i can read and write music with a great deal of rust in such tasks. (I'm a midi guy who works in the matrix editor and hyper draw. Yes, I am spoiled! [:)] )

    So here is the question restated:

    Do you know if the two courses cover the "college level music study or equivalent experience" requirements?

    I.e., can I take those courses and be on the track to take the rest of the certificate courses?

    See? That wasn't so incendiary now, was it? [:D]

    Carlos
    ----
    just posted my music for comment -- 2/2004
    see: http://music.altamar.dynalias.org/
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    @tonylombardi said:


    So how was he as a teacher? Any secrets you'd care to share?


    He's been a true Master for me, you know, like it used to be centuries ago [:)]
    Most of these things is intangible, something you experience not learn.
    ...all right, I'll share something: a golden key is "efficiency" and "counterpoint"

    Abel
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    @Carlos D said:

    Mmmm. No....i'm actually asking a rather technical (credit) question here, not an equation of class quality and level.

    i do not have training in music at the college level nor equivalent experience. i can read and write music with a great deal of rust in such tasks. (I'm a midi guy who works in the matrix editor and hyper draw. Yes, I am spoiled! [:)] )

    Do you know if the two courses cover the "college level music study or equivalent experience" requirements?

    I.e., can I take those courses and be on the track to take the rest of the certificate courses?

    See? That wasn't so incendiary now, was it? [:D]
    Carlos,

    Ah. I had confused you with the fella who studied with Penderecki. OK. Well you need to be able to read and write music quite well without struggle. You would be writing for real players every week. using a notation software and printing parts as well. If you can do that, then you are fine for the whole course no matter what your experience or previous education.

    Evan Evans
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    Thanks, Evan, for your reply. I will consider your words as my wheels are turning.

    And speaking of wheels turning... This question goes out to the forum:

    As I have been considering music education, I am wondering what could be on the other side. If I attended a sufficiently challenging and connected program, what is possible/probable as a career, and to a point, income. I have a family, pets, and mortgage looking at me warily. Are we a dime a dozen? Or six figures for one? [[;)]]

    Currently, I work as a project manager / enterprise app developer for a major (Dow 30 to narrow it down [[;)]] ) entertainment company. I don't want to see your tax returns, or show you mine, but I just wanted to get an idea of what is possible here. Any takers?

    Carlos
    ----
    just posted my music for comment -- 2/2004
    see: http://music.altamar.dynalias.org/
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    Carlos,

    I am very familiar with your situation. I have a plan for you if you are interested in hearing. A wise plan to get to your goal. But waht is your goal?

    Evan Evans
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    Evan (and all you listeners out there),

    I would be happy to hear what ideas you have and am glad someone is familiar with my situation.

    As to the substance of "my goal", that is a multifaceted question, isn't it? And also goals tend to be set with some sense of feasibility in mind. Those caveats aside, let me present a few facets:

    I would like to be getting some of those fine little gold statues they were handing out the other night. Or one of their cousins. [:)]

    I would like to smoothly transfer my income flow from my computing expertise to a musical expertise -- and hopefully increase it along the way.

    I would like to give people that satisfactory tingling that occurs when one hears music that touches the soul.

    I want to know the truly important stuff cold. If I go in this direction, I do so full force.

    Is that enough of a picture? Or would you like more information?

    Thanks,

    Carlos
    ----
    just posted my music for comment -- 2/2004
    see: http://music.altamar.dynalias.org/