About
aBOUT
THE INSTRUCTOR
Grammy-winning composer and studio orchestrator Penka Kouneva has composed on iconic video games (League of Legends, Prince of Persia), the Netflix Animated Series Dragon Age: Absolution, a NASA theme park at the Kennedy Space Center, and numerous feature films (the Oscar contender Aga, Sony Pictures releases – Encounter and Devil’s Whisper, and Cannes and Berlinale favorites). In 2019 she was invited by composer Joe Kraemer to co-compose The CW primetime TV Series, Pandora. Penka holds a Ph.D. in composition from Duke University and is known as a great mentor who has helped over 70 young composers cultivate remarkable careers in Hollywood. She is excited to share her deep knowledge and passion for score analysis with early- and mid-career composers. Questions: [email protected]
WHAT IS IT?
12 weeks of intensive study that includes:
- Nine guided scoring assignments
Weekly demos – 1:15-1:45 minutes scoring to picture.
- Ten 30-minute private mentoring sessions
Review & written feedback on your scoring assignments, answering all of your questions (regarding scoring, collaborations, career), identifying goals for artistic growth and blind spots, cultivating a professional community. (Weekly scheduled private mentoring on Zoom).
- Ten 75-minute Lectures
Score analyses presented by the instructor in a small group on Zoom. Each week we analyze selected cues from 5 original soundtracks. Then, we listen to them.
- Weekly curated independent study
“Homework”: soundtrack listening, score study, reading of articles, interviews, blogs, watching “behind-the-scenes” videos and relevant content: ~3 hours weekly at your convenience.
- Two weeks “off” for catching up
On reading, demo revisions and soundtrack study.
- The Masterclass focuses on compositional mastery, techniques and skills via analysis of great soundtrack cues and weekly feedback on your original compositions. All scoring assignments are tailored for the film & game industry using actual film, TV & game videos.
- The ideal Masterclass taker would be:
- a recent graduate seeking to create industry-level demos to pitch for scoring jobs
- an emerging or mid-career composer striving to ‘level-up’
- Anyone who wishes to compose demos for scoring jobs and to analyze great scores.
- The Masterclass will take 12 weeks (3 months). Two “off” weeks are built in to give you time to complete your scoring assignments & revisions, and catch up on all score study & soundtrack listening.
- Almost all people who have taken the Masterclass have had full-time jobs and/or real scoring assignments. It’s possible to combine this Masterclass with a full schedule of being a working professional.
- Intensive weekly composing (to picture and not to picture) and weekly feedback on your cues gives you a competitive edge and a fresh reel polished at the industry standard that you can submit & adapt for future scoring opportunities.
- You will craft nine original compositions by the end of the course, from your original idea to a fully produced & mixed demo. You can use these for future demos for actual jobs and on your reel.
- Weekly score analysis of cues, reading and study materials are presented by the instructor. All scores are current, masterful scores by Hollywood composers. Score analysis is a core component of the curriculum. All score PDFs, soundtracks, charts, presentations & reading materials will be provided by the instructor.
- The learning is industry-oriented and personalized.
- OK to reschedule the lecture and/or the private mentoring, if a conflict occurs. (I keep the Saturdays open for rescheduled sessions, as needed.)
- Cost $1,000 USD (tax-deductible in the US as a vocational expense / educational expense via the Instructor’s corporation Penka Kouneva Studios, Inc.)
Prerequisites
- Music program bachelor’s degree or similar
- Basic ability to read orchestral scores
- A few film, game, additional-music, or concert music credits (entry-level is OK; student projects are OK)
- Working proficiency with music production and mixing a graduate-level sounding demo with virtual instruments. This skill will be expected, commented on, but not covered in detail. (There are many other classes that focus on Music Production.)
- You will receive feedback on your production skills. “Graduate-level sounding demo” is defined as a realistically sounding emulation of the ensemble you are composing for, with well-balanced instrumental lines, dynamics and expression – the skills you’ve learned in your bachelor’s program.
- Commitment to a composer career, or actively exploring opportunities.
- Commitment to completing the class (contract will be signed).
COST: $1000