The 2006 NYU/ASCAP Foundation Film Scoring Workshop



The 2006 NYU/ASCAP Foundation Film Scoring Workshop, under the artistic direction of Steinhardt Associate Professor and composer Ron Sadoff (The Moon and the Son), and in tandem with ASCAP's Senior Director of Film/TV Sue Devine, featured a faculty of world-renowned film composers. The intense eight-day workshop was held in the Frederick Loewe Theatre. Students worked intensively under NYU Steinhardt faculty members Ira Newborn (Naked Gun), Deniz Hughes (S.W.A.T.), and Michael Patterson (Tiny Toons) as well as USC faculty member David Spear (Airplane). Presentations featured Bill Lee (Do the Right Thing) and director/music supervisor Alex Steyermark (Prey for Rock and Roll). Participants underwent rigorous daily sessions that covered the nuts-and-bolts of film scoring: timings, spotting, composing, MIDI-mockups, orchestration, conducting and recording.

The workshop, in memory of Disney Legend Buddy Baker (The Fox and the Hound) continues to train young composers in the mold of classical Hollywood film scoring. Stephanie Baer, Director of the string performance program, organized the recording sessions which featured players from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and NYU Steinhardt's instrumental faculty. In collaboration with Dan Foliart, President of The Society for Composers and Lyricists, a presentation featuring Mason Daring (Music of the Heart) was received by a capacity audience.

A final critique session included Ira Newborn, David Spear, Michael Patterson and Ron Sadoff. The workshop closed with a festive wrap party, presented in the lobby of NYU's Pless Hall. Ron Sadoff reflected on the workshop, "It is marvelous to find such a sizeable gathering of world-class practitioners dedicated to 'passing the baton' onto the next generation of film composers. The workshop, now in its eighth year, continues to attract gifted young composers from around the world. Sue Devine and ASCAP remain wonderful partners in providing an invigorating training environment."