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Connect over live video with
Tony Franklin
  • $15.00
    for 30 minutes
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Video Game Music Composition Lessons

About this Helpout

Composing music for video games is challenging, fun, and rewarding. It is so much fun collaborating with people all over the world while making a game. I can help you gain the skills required to write successful music for video games, and I can also help train you on how to market yourself to video game makers too (don't worry, that last bit isn't as awkward as it might sound). 

Here are some examples of video game musical skills that we can work on:
  • Writing video game music to fit a certain mood (as determined by a the developer, and/or art style)
  • Writing music for the background of a level in a game 
  • Writing music for title screens, and other situations where the music is more important
  • Writing music that loops (repeats) seamlessly
  • Knowing when music needs to loop and when it can end in a more traditional matter
  • Editing your piece once you get feedback from developers
  • Establishing a theme for use throughout the game
  • Recording/producing your piece without live performers
  • Learning how to work efficiently to write good music in a timely manner
  • (While not the main focus of this helpout, general composition technique will be discussed as appropriate. I can also give lessons focusing on general music composition.)


Of course, all these skills are useless if you can't find any video game work, so here's an example of some of the promotional skills we can work on:
  • Having a professional portfolio to show game developers
  • Searching for work through online forums
  • Communicating with game developers (who often have no musical background or vocabulary at all)
  • General communication guidelines when communicating with a team
  • Knowing when it is appropriate to start writing music
  • Learning general file size constraints of different genres of video games (apps, flash games, mobile games, etc.)
  • Negotiating a contract

Pre-Requisites: Ability to play one instrument and read both treble and bass clef music. Also will need a computer capable of running basic audio editing programs (like audacity).

About Tony

I've been writing music consistently (and constantly) for the past 7 years, and I've been writing music for video games for about 6 years. In this time, I have been trained in many different styles of music from classical music to music that borders on the edge of being called pop music, to everything in between. 
  • Bachelor of Music degree from Butler University in music composition
  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors
  • Written over 5 hours of video game music (and counting!)
  • Winner of Fifteen Minutes of Fame with Bruce Curlette
  • Commissioned by the Seymour High School Symphonic Band
  • Resident composer for Eyesteam, Unexpected Games, and Fire Snout Games.

View examples of my work here

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