Momentum - a Total Emersion Experience The Momentum program from Cinematic Composing is a well-organized deep dive into all the facets of composing music for the entertainment industry and beyond. It is a program like few others, designed for the individual who is serious about learning how to compose music for cinema, television, video games and other formats where music plays an important role. Every detail of the art is covered in depth during the 7 to 8 month course, the most valuable feature of which is frequent one-on-one detailed feedback from accomplished individuals who have made their mark in the industry. The latter would be nearly impossible to receive under normal circumstances, but it is offered in Momentum in an organized, constructive format that is quite enjoyable. Momentum is not a course to be taken in one's spare time. Most participants remained completely immersed in the lessons, homework and evaluations for many hours each day, often spending additional hours in the late evening to complete a composition assignment. The curriculum extends well beyond the essentials of cinematic composing to more advanced concepts and includes very practical aspects such as the use of hardware and software, interacting with directors and producers and how to make yourself known to those who might hire you for a project. The methodology includes videos, frequent live chats with all members of the class (limited to about 20 individuals) and evaluation sessions. Near the end of the course, the class assembled in Los Angeles for a weekend of study, live recording of individual compositions and general comradery. The course of study compares to a graduate level college offering and is well worth the expense. I was a member of the very first Momentum group and I am happy to learn that some of the content and procedures have been altered to make the experience even better. Pre-existing knowledge of music theory varied considerably among my classmates but there was ample opportunity and resources to supplement skills, where lacking. For example, some facility with the piano is necessary, and although my abilities were markedly limited (I am a woodwind player), I was able to acquire enough skill to be very comfortable and productive. Although the course was designed to serve the younger individual who wishes to begin a career in cinematic composing, I accepted the challenge in my mid-70's solely for the pleasure of learning a new subject. However, I now find myself writing music for my own enjoyment and variety of small projects.

Momentum Momentum is an exceptional program that I highly recommend. As a film composer with hands-on experience, I've participated in Momentum by teaching a series of Masterclasses. Additionally, in 2022 I had the privilege of overseeing some recording sessions at the Bridge Studios in Los Angeles. One aspect that stands out about Momentum is its effort to include students from various backgrounds across the globe, making Momentum a standout choice for those passionate about writing and producing music for media.

Exactly What I Expected and More! I was a member of the initial group of Momentum "The Guinea Pigs". The program was intense but a fantastic experience. The instructors and support team were terrific and the other members of the group were supportive and inspiring. I cannot recommend the Momentum program strongly enough, and would do it all over again!

Momentum Gave Me Hope Prior to joining Momentum, I'd gone to traditional conservatory and while it was a great experience to have, it was very much rooted in a different culture when it came to the music I wanted to create as a composer and the music they were trying to push me in the direction of. The Momentum program, and Cinematic Composing as a whole, allowed me to score music to film in a way that spoke to me and not to how the instructors wanted my finished product to sound. My creative voice was respected and Momentum allowed me to challenge myself by pushing my creative boundaries without losing my creative voice in the process. Before Momentum, I felt like I wouldn't be able to write music others would/could appreciate due to my experience in conservatory, but Momentum helped me prove to myself that my creative voice is valuable and gave me hope for my creative career.

Skills, community and an insider's view of media composing Let's face it, you can spend years learning how to compose, mix, record, use plug-ins... but you're still on the outside, looking in. With Momentum's expert instruction and opportunities to directly meet with industry insiders, you suddenly walk through the doors and begin learning to become a professional composer. Warning though; if you come into this with a fantasy view of what it is to be a media composer, you will come away either humbled or disappointed. We all want to be the next John Williams or Johann Johannsson, but the core of our craft is to become the best version of ourselves that we can become and find a way to make that work in the real world. In the few months since the class, I've signed on with an indy film (that may or may not ever get made, but living with that is also part of the training), have begun work on an orchestral piece and am continuing to build my skills, community and demo reel. This might have happened without Momentum, but I guarantee that it would have taken a whole lot longer!