NYU Steinhardt Launches Video Game Scoring Workshop with ‘Halo’ and ‘Killer Instinct’ Composer Tom Salta.
NYU Steinhardt, in collaboration with the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G), is offering a first-of-its-kind intensive workshop devoted to teaching the complex aesthetic and technical skills needed to write music for videogames.
The workshop is co-created and led by ASCAP-winning and MTV VMA-nominated composer Tom Salta—who has produced world-class video game scores featured in the HALO and Killer Instinct game franchises—in collaboration with Gina Zdanowicz (Serial Lab), Jason Kanter (Avalanche Studios), and NYU Steinhardt screen scoring faculty.
Participants in the workshop—which takes place June 24-29, 2018—will learn a comprehensive A-Z approach for creating original music which will be fully functional in a video game prototype. They will learn to use industry-standard software, approach non-linear and multi-layered compositions, interface with industry professionals, and demonstrate their music in live-demos of gameplay called ‘Angry Bots’.
“Creating music for video games is different to film or TV, which are linear experiences. By their nature, video games give you a different experience each time you play it. I often compare music for games to musical Lego blocks; it requires planning so the music sounds natural and fits together when gameplay takes an unpredictable turn,” Salta said.
“Participants will be encouraged to use different approaches and think outside the box. Everyone will be scoring to the same game level—which features animated robots—but the music could be 70s disco, electronica, acoustic, or orchestral. I’m encouraging individuality and originality.”
Along with the NYU Film Scoring Workshop, NYU/BMI TV Scoring Workshop, and NYU/BMI Scoring for Advertising Workshop, NYU Scoring for Videogames is one of three that together form the Summer Scoring Intensive, a three-week experience tailored to the individual creative processes, skillsets, and demands that are required of the modern media composer. The programs are open to composers at all levels, including high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals. For more information, visit steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/summer/scoringworkshops.
About the NYU Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, established in 1925, instructs over 1,600 students majoring in music and performing arts programs. Music and Performing Arts Professions serves as NYU’s “school” of music and is a major research and practice center in music technology, music business, music composition, film scoring, songwriting, music performance practices, performing arts therapies, and the performing arts-in- education (music, dance, and drama).
About Tom Salta
ASCAP winning and MTV VMA nominated composer Tom Salta is one of the most versatile and prolific music artists/producers working in film, television, advertising and video games. Renowned for crafting emotionally engaging soundtracks for multimedia, Salta has received widespread industry acclaim for his world-class produced scores featured in films and video games such as HALO: The Fall of Reach (The Animated Series), Killer Instinct: Season 3 (ASCAP Video Game Score of the Year), HALO: Spartan Strike, HALO 2 Anniversary, HALO: Spartan Assault (G.A.N.G. Best Original Soundtrack Award), HALO: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, From Dust, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, Red Steel (IGN Award for Best Original Score), Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter and H.A.W.X series, and original songs and adaptations for the world’s #1 dance game series, Just Dance. In addition to these scoring assignments, Salta has created music for numerous national commercials and ad campaigns for companies like Coca-Cola and the U.S. Marines, as well as music for Hollywood film trailers.