Frequently Asked Questions Hub

This is both an asynchronous and synchronous program. Composers do not need to sign on at a certain time each day for classes. Composers watch our training series, which we have filmed and edited at the Academy, at times convenient to them. The 9 recording sessions are scheduled and distributed throughout the 8 month course.

Module content, lectures and exercises are delivered via our exclusive online platform, which we have coded and created specifically for this program. Students login with their unique login details for access to the program content.

Each student will have weekly 30-minute one-on-one sessions with our Online Programme Leader on course content, as well as a 30-minute one-on-one session with Dr. Norman Ludwin, our orchestration lecturer and one of Michael Giacchino's orchestrators, on their orchestrations prior to each recording session. Each student will also participate in group sessions hosted throughout the programme where their music is reviewed by FSAE faculty.

All recording sessions will be held in Doli Media Studio and Sofia Session Studio, conducted and produced by the faculty at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe, and recorded by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO). Students do not need to attend the recording sessions in person. Instead, students will be able to login to the HD video and audio streams to produce their recording sessions alongside our team of orchestrators and score supervisors.

The online Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring includes lectures from our core faculty, but not our celebrity guest artists, who are reserved for our full-time MFA programme.

Click here to view the schedule of the upcoming class.

Total Graduate Diploma Tuition: €9,500

We accept payment plans: spread your tuition over the 8-month duration of the course and pay monthly.

Included in Tuition:

• 120+ hours of comprehensive training in Scoring the Screen, MIDI Mockups, Sound Design, Orchestration, Mixing & Production, and more -- an essential training for film and game composers

• A substantial professional portfolio: 9 recording sessions of your music with the European Recording Orchestra (ERO)

• Multi-cam HD video footage of the European Recording Orchestra (ERO) playing your music in the recording studio

• 1-on-1 tutorials with our Online Programme Leader on all course content (every week)

• 1-on-1 tutorials on your orchestrations with Norman Ludwin, orchestrator for Michael Giacchino (prior to every recording session)

• Music review sessions with our faculty on developing your creative voice as a film composer

• A Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring upon successful completion of the program. A Graduate Diploma is a Graduate-level degree worth 30 credits (60 ECTS Credits in Europe)

All payments are subject to the following terms and conditions:

The €500 deposit is non-refundable. The €500 deposit to enroll is subtracted from the total tuition amount of the enrolling composer.

Tuition fees paid (less the deposit) are fully refundable if the composer cancels prior to May 1, 2024.

If a composer cancels for any reason on or after May 1, 2024 (GMT+3), the tuition is non-refundable.

Remaining tuition amounts from enrolled composers are due before May 1, 2024. The Film Scoring Summer Program reserves the right to cancel any composer's participation if the tuition is not paid in full prior to this date. In this event, tuition paid up until this date will be refunded, less the non-refundable deposit.

The composer must decide which hotel arrangement they want: a shared room with another participant, or a single room. The corresponding prices are listed on the enrollment form on our homepage. A single room can be shared with the composer's spouse at a small extra cost per night on top of the single room price. Consult the Admissions Director if you would like to avail of this option.

Tuition covers the composer's hotel stay for a check-in on June 28, 2024 and a check-out on July 23, 2024. If the composer needs additional nights in the hotel before or after the program, they will note this upon submission of the "Landing Form" prior to their arrival at the Film Scoring Summer Program, and will pay for these extra nights separately at the hotel desk. Composers will receive our discounted rate in the Cherno More Hotel if they need additional nights outside of the included dates.

All payments are subject to the following Participation Terms and Conditions:

The Film Scoring Summer Program reserves the right to cancel any composer's participation if it is decided that the composer does not meet any of the following participation requirements:

Composers must possess the ability to read and notate music. If you can't read music, unfortunately you'll not be successful on the Film Scoring Summer Program, as this is a foundation all composers must possess in order to orchestrate their music for the ERO's live ensembles.

Enrollment Procedures

• The composer's score and music will be adjudicated upon enrollment via the Enrollment Form.

• If a composer's skillset is deemed unready for participation in the Film Scoring Summer Program, they will be notified within 72 hours and their deposit refunded.

• If a composer's skillset is deemed acceptable for participation in the Film Scoring Summer Program, they will be notified within 72 hours and their spot on the program will be confirmed.

• In some borderline cases, the composer may be given a "to-do list" which they must agree to in order to be ready for participation in the program.

Composers must also possess some basic orchestration or arranging skills.

Composers must possess some basic skills in notation software (Sibelius, Finale, or Dorico) and a DAW (Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, Ableton, etc.)

Composers must use Sibelius, Finale or Dorico during the Film Scoring Summer Program. Scores rendered in MuseScore or any other notation software will not be permitted.

Composers must own and bring the following technological requirements:

• A laptop OR portable desktop with display

• A small MIDI Keyboard with a Mod Wheel

• Notation Software (Sibelius, Finale, or Dorico)

• DAW (Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, Ableton, etc.)

• Sound libraries (New to this? Try the East West Composer Cloud and/or Musio.com!)

All composers are required to provide proof of health insurance that covers them in the event of emergency during their participation in the course.

Your tuition covers:

• 4-star hotel accommodation (including breakfast and wifi) for the duration of your stay

• all 4 recording sessions (including HD video footage)

• the entire lecture series at the Film Scoring Summer Program

• the 6 university credits offered upon completion.

What your tuition does not cover:

• Any Visa expenses, if applicable

• Travel arrangements to/from Varna

• Travel arrangements to/from the airport and Cherno More Hotel

• Food expenses (lunch and dinner) during your stay

• Social expenses (drinks at the beach!)
  
  
  

The Film Scoring Summer Program is a 3.5 week / 6 credit summer course offered through the European Academy of Fine Arts / Irish American University, an accredited institution of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in the United States.

All composers who successfully complete the Film Scoring Summer Program will automatically be conferred 6 transferrable university credits from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in the United States.

6 Middle States credits transfer to approximately 12 ECTS credits. The receiving institution ultimately decides how many ECTS credits are transferrable.

No, spots are awarded on a first-come first-served basis, as long as the enrolling composer meets the requirements laid out in FAQ's #1 and #2 above.

Most of the time, no - composers can come to Bulgaria for the duration of the course on a travel Visa with no problem.

However, there are some countries that Bulgaria requires travelers have a Visa prior to entrance, so you will need to determine if you are from one of those countries.

Need help? Let us know!

Getting from the Airport to the Cherno More Hotel is a quick and easy taxi ride, costing somewhere around €6-€7 one way.

We have developed this program to welcome composers of all ages and levels of skill or experience. Some of our students are musicians who have never composed for film, and others have some experience in composing for shorts or features. Some have music degrees, and some don't!

If you already have some experience in composing music for film, this program will give you the opportunity to add 4 live-recorded original compositions to your portfolio, and refine your skills in Scoring the Screen, MIDI Mockups, Orchestration and the art of live recording.

And if you've never composed music for film, we'll be starting from scratch to introduce you to the process!

Yes, the minimum age to participate in the Film Scoring Summer Program is 18 years.

Friday, June 28, 2024 - Arrival day and Hotel Check-in (9:00pm Introductory Meeting)

Saturday, June 29 - Day 1 -- Program Begins

Tuesday, July 2 - Recording Session #1 (Solo Piano)

Sunday, July 7 - Recording Session #2 (7-piece: String Quintet + 2 Clarinets)

Saturday, July 13 - Recording Session #3 (21-piece: Strings, Piano, Harp)

Saturday, July 20 - Recording Session #4 (38-piece Symphony Orchestra)

Monday, July 22 - Review Day, Closing Dinner and Beach Party

Tuesday, July 23 - Departure Day and Hotel Check-out

Composers can choose to check-in earlier or check-out later than the above dates. This will be at their expense, and they will be able to arrange this upon submission of the "Landing Form" closer to the commencement of the program.

The Film Scoring Academy of Europe is the host of the Film Scoring Summer Program, and offers three unique programs for film and game composers:

1. Film Scoring Summer Program

2. Online Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring

3. Master of FIne Arts in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media

Special note: Alumni of the Film Scoring Summer Program are eligible for tuition discounts if they elect to participate in another program at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe.

The answer to this question is determined on an individual basis with the Film Scoring Summer Program faculty.

If you would like to have the opportunity to conduct your own music, you should inquire about this option. You may be asked to provide examples of your conducting work in the past.

Keep in mind - many composers who are also conductors in the film music industry still opt to stay in the booth for their session and let someone else conduct their music. It is not possible to hear all of the details you need to hear while you're in the live room, and you may rather stay in the booth with the recording engineer and score supervisor to ensure you get everything out of the performance that you need.