
For aspiring film and TV composers, the key phrase today is “technology.” Notably, esteemed institutions like Juilliard, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Yale have incorporated tech-focused programs, demonstrating that combining traditional composition with modern skills has become crucial. As Keith Mason, Belmont University’s coordinator for music technology, explains, “COVID has significantly shifted what it means to be a desktop digital musician, to the point where you can sit at your computer and essentially function as a one-person orchestra.” Veteran composer and orchestrator Conrad Pope, who has collaborated with numerous schools on THR‘s list of top music schools, emphasizes that mastering advanced technology can serve as a strong foundation for a composer’s talent: “Schools cannot give you an original voice. Creativity cannot be taught. However, they can teach the craft.