Vince Tofanicchio's Lounge Discussions

Hello, Joanna! Welcome!

Thanks!

Welcome!

Thanks!

Welcome!

Thank you Mr. Irwin, Jill Boyd, Mr. Heymann, Mr Savage and Mr. Tofanicchio for all the great feedback!! Fortunately in the small town I live in we have the Kalamazoo Philharmonia, Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, University Symphony Orchestra, and the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, and many choir and band and jazz band groups.

Your welcome, good luck

Welcome Alyssa. Today is my first day on the site, so I can not offer too much for you about that, but I always suggest people go to school. You may not learn a whole lot, but there are two really good reasons why I suggest it. First you get a degree that can be used as a leveraging chip should you decide to go work for a film production company. Without the degree, you may not get the salary you would like. The second reason, which I still use to this day, is that you build a network of composers. This is cool because you can trade techniques and collaborate with others later down the road. I still talk with friends from school today. Some have even referred me for some jobs. Others are just really good friends that I can ask for help on a project if I get stuck. Please understand that I am not saying you must have a degree to be a successful composer, all I am saying is that by going to school you are learning a trade and build friendships that will be beneficial down the line.

Christopher great comments and ideas. If I may, I would like to make two personal 'observations' about them: (1) you can go to school and learn everything (basic theory, ear training, orchestration, composing, etc.) without necessarily going for a degree. I already had degrees (BA Math, MS/part PhD Computer Science) and was on my second career when I went back to school from scratch in Sept., 2003. I am still taking two classes a semester 13 years later. Unless one plans to teach in the music field or perform professionally (so schools like North Texas State / Denton would be invaluable for the performer), a degree is not as 'important' as things like reputation, portfolio, and IMDB credits. Though, I will admit that most 4 year colleges require you pursue a degree and also require you audition to get in. (2) I would agree that developing relationships with other students and staff are a major consideration in going to school. However, we need to keep in mind that unless the school has a strong program geared to film (like USC, UCLA, NYU, etc.), your relationships are mainly with those who are pursuing different areas of music which may or may not be 'close' such as Theater. After 13 years at Houston Community College I have yet to find a single music student who plans to pursue film scoring (other than those who go through the audio engineering program who are by the way great contacts).

Not certain if I'm too late to add my 2 cents here; but, IMO, you can get the best from both school and private lessons if you are focused with what you want to achieve in music. Since your goal is to be a film/tv composer, then I would say, take classes in school that will let you master all of the basics of music you should know: theory, aural training, harmony, counterpoint, voice, piano, etc. That way, you have a better explained understanding of certain things like leading tones, modulations, modes, cadences, chord substitutions, etc. And sure, you don't have to be formally trained to compose for film/tv; there are those that aren't. But formal training allows you to catch on to things a lot easier as a musician and composer, rather than having to rely on just your ear and inspiration from other composers. It's not that you can't learn some of that stuff yourself, which you can, but there is something a little different about being in an academic setting around your peers all hungry for the same goal. Plus, you can build a network of friends for later in life. But now you're in a different day and age, where there isn't much information that you CAN'T find anymore if you want an explanation of how things are done, or were done centuries ago in the arts. In fact, you could go on imslp.org and find Tchaikovsky or Rimsky-Korsakov's original orchestration manuals that they wrote to teach musicians the art of composing as they saw it. There's a lot at your fingertips now if you really want it. Plus, you can always invest in a daw or notation app that will afford you the comfort of composing ideas anytime in your home, while learning more and more about music. No information is really hidden anymore with social media and the worldwide web.

Great to have you here, Vince

Thank you Richard

Welcome to the community, Vince! Great to have you with us.

I always enjoy finding an opportunity to promote another creative. I have posted a link to your YouTube video One Step Away to my FB wall. My friends and followers are always up for some inspiration (it's my middle name). Thank you and best wishes.

My pleasure, Vince!