A collage shows the different stages of film development, and roles of people who make films, including producer, director, writer, actor, film crew, composer, and sound mixer.

A Film Composer’s Guide to the Movie Set: Directors, Producers, Writers, and More!

In this excerpt from Berklee Online’s Film Scoring 101 you’ll get a sense of who does what on a movie set, whether it’s a director, producer, writer, or composer.

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A white music staff over a black background with two lightsabers making an X through it.

John Williams and the Music of ‘Star Wars’

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the career of John Williams in the history and evolution of film music. In honor of Star Wars Day on May 4 (may the fourth be with you), we’ll explore how John Williams and his music became such an essential aspect of the beloved franchise.

A VU meter on a stereo console shows the levels of a song when audio mastering techniques have been executed.

Music Mastering Techniques from the Pros

In music mastering, our ears, loudspeakers, and room acoustics play pivotal roles in shaping what we perceive as quality sound. In this excerpt from the Berklee Online course Audio Mastering Techniques, professors Marc-Dieter Einstmann and Jonathan Wyner discuss the importance of these three components.

A woman plays piano, hypothetically working out major and minor modal scales.

Music Modes: Major and Minor Modal Scales in Music Theory

As we remember Paul Schmeling, the author of the first Berklee Online course, we share this insightful lesson on mastering the major and minor music modes with this excerpt from his course, Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm.

Matt Rollings at a piano

Pianist Matt Rollings: How to Be a Session Musician People Want to Hire

Grammy-winning producer, pianist, and songwriter Matt Rollings shares what it takes to be a successful session musician, including what to charge and when to say yes or no to a project. He also shares how his recording career took off after he said yes to a young Lyle Lovett. 

Music producer sitting at their home studio setup

Home Studio: Recording Equipment Basics

There is an extraordinary range of affordable tools that make it possible for most musicians to produce their own music from a home studio. The goal of this article—and the Berklee Online course it comes from—is to familiarize you with the basic equipment and techniques used in electronic music production.

A colorful illustration shows modulation through the concept of changing keys.

Modulation 101: Berklee Online Instructors on How to Leap into a Key Change

Modulation can inject a song with a jolt of interest, but it takes skill to make a key change work. Be advised, songwriters: Use modulation in moderation. And learn from these Berklee Online instructors, sharing their favorite songs to feature key changes.

A musician sits in his apartment, working on a budget for an upcoming musical project.

Budgeting Tips for Musicians

In this course excerpt from Project Management for Musicians, you’ll learn how to balance your books and make sure that your projects come in under budget, so that you can come out on top!

A person with tattoos biting their fingernails and looking nervous against a yellow backdrop. 

Stage Fright: How to Get Over Performance Anxiety

Musicians have many fears: Fear that they’ll mess up onstage, that they’re not good enough, that people won’t like their music. Fortunately Ashlee Varner has strategies to reduce your anxiety, in this excerpt from her Music Career Essentials for the Professional Singer course.

25 Influential Female Rockers Through the Decades

During Women’s History Month, learn about 25 of the most influential female rockers with the help of Berklee Online’s Rock History course.