Video Game Composer

Where do I even Start?

      That 8-bit chip tune from a simple platformer from your youth sure had a catchy melody to it. The Mellow jazz in that indie game was pretty calming, too. How about that epic orchestral that played during the final boss fight of that grand fantasy RPG?

     Video games sure wouldn't be the same without their music. The music serves to set the tone for the scene/level, and can make the player experience a myriad of emotions.

Education

   According to Music School Central, there are 10 noteworthy colleges one can attend to obtain professional training in music composition.

• Northwestern University Bienen School of Music – Evanston, IL
• Bard College Conservatory of Music – Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
• Curtis Institute of Music – Philadelphia, PA
• Indiana University Jacobs School of Music – Bloomington, IN
• University of Southern California Thornton School of Music – Los Angeles, CA
• Cornell University (Graduate Only) – Ithaca, NY
• The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance – Ann Arbor, MI
• The Juilliard School – New York, NY
• Princeton University (Graduate Only) – Princeton, New Jersey
• Yale School of Music (Graduate Only) – New Haven, Connecticut

     Among these schools, Yale School of Music is rated the highest. However, a college degree is not a requirement for the resume of a video game composer.

Tools

Video game composers should have strong knowledge of professional recording software such as Logic and Protools. 

Salaries
Careers in Music states that, "In general, a Composer who writes 30 minutes of music for an interactive game can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $75,000+."