The Sound of Modern Sci-fi
introductory offer
$89 $65
$155 $129 with live webinars
What makes a great modern sci-fi score? In this compact, practical course, you’ll explore some of the techniques and trends that define today’s cutting-edge sci-fi soundtracks – and learn how to make them your own.
You’ll create bold, futuristic textures while shaping a sound that’s uniquely yours. Working to realistic director-style briefs, you’ll experience how this approach helps you finish tracks faster and build a standout portfolio.
This course is for composers who already understand the foundations of cinematic composition and production, but want to expand their sonic palette.
What you'll learn
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Identify the key elements that make modern sci-fi scores distinctive.
- Design and refine your own signature sounds that set your music apart.
- Tell stories with your music, using instrumentation as a primary storytelling device.
- Break down and respond to director-style briefs with confidence – skills you can apply to real-world scoring gigs or your own creative projects.
COURSE BREAKDOWN
module 1
module 2
module 3
A great sci-fi score goes beyond atmosphere – it tells a story. There’s no fixed formula of melodies or harmonies that define the genre, but the key is using musical choices to serve the narrative. In this module, you’ll learn how to shape themes, sound palettes, and harmonic progressions so your music doesn’t just sound futuristic – it actively drives the story forward.
module 4
Taught by an award-winning composer
Course - $89 $65
course + 4 LIVE WEBINARS - $155 $129
Introductory offer. Lifetime course access plus four exclusive two-hour live webinars with professional composers – details below. Get extra insights, inspiration and motivation. You'll also receive full recordings. 30-day money-back guarantee on your course
WEBINAR 1
Tuesday Oct 14 @ 7pm uk • 2pm NY • 11am LA
WEBINAR 2
Finding Work As A Composer With Michael Baugh
Tuesday Oct 21 @ 7pm uk • 2pm NY • 11am LA
WEBINAR 3
Monday Oct 27 @ 7pm uk • 2pm NY • 11am LA
Emmy–winning composer Michael Worth (Rush Hour 3, Law & Order) and Michael will listen to a selection of submitted compositions and provide professional insights to help you take your music to the next level. (Submitting music for review is optional. For time reasons, we’ll select the pieces that will be most helpful for the wider audience to learn from.) See Michael's IMDB
WEBINAR 4
A Deeper Dive Into Scoring Sci-fi With Bafta-winner Jason Graves
Tuesday Oct 28 @ 7pm uk • 2pm NY • 11am LA
You will receive Zoom links for the webinars via email after the introductory offer on this course ends. We will do our best to deliver the live sessions as advertised but sometimes life gets in the way and the content, date and time may need to be changed.
watch the course INtroduction
"Mike’s personality and in-depth knowledge of music make his teaching feel like your best friend giving you an awesome pep talk."
– Zachary Horner, ThinkSpace student
With MinusONE projects, one element is left for you to add yourself, so you can focus on developing one key skill at a time.
PRACTICAL projects
ACTIVE LEARNING
Alongside over 6 hours of engaging video tutorials, you’ll get plenty of hands-on activities – because the best way to learn is by doing.
Work to director-style briefs that keep your writing focused and help you actually finish tracks. Explore interactive widgets to spark new themes and experiment with effects.
You can also dive into MinusONE projects – downloadable stems with step-by-step tutorials – each designed to help you sharpen one important skill at a time, whilst also avoiding the 'fear of the blank page'.
DISCORD SERVER
LEARN WITH FELLOW Composers AROUND THE WORLD
This course includes lifetime access to our ever-growing community of music makers on Discord. You can chat to other people taking the course, pick up and share tips, and grow your network. You can also share your MinusONEs and Projects from the course to gain useful feedback and pointers from your peers.
Don’t worry if you’ve never used Discord before, it’s simple to get set up, and totally free.
Buy today, start and revisit anytime
- A fun, hands-on course with a focus on creating your own unique sounds.
- Downloadable source sounds and synth presets to practice and experiment with.
- Video tutorials and scoring sessions packed with easy-to-apply tips and techniques.
- Lifetime access to our global Discord community of like-minded composers.
course
Lifetime access. Start, finish and revisit anytime.
30-day money-back policy
course + live webinars
Lifetime access. Start, finish and revisit course and webinar recordings anytime.
30-day money-back policy
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions not answered here, please get in touch using the contact details below and we'll get back to you.
Related Courses
HOW TO WRITE CINEMATIC MUSIC
$249
SAMPLED ORCHESTRATION
A ThinkSpace Interactive course. Create MIDI mockups with the realism of a live orchestra.
HOW TO WRITE VIDEO GAME MUSIC
$249
A ThinkSpace Interactive Course. Learn to compose and produce non-linear music for the fast-growing scene.
HOW TO WRITE TRAILER MUSIC
$249
A ThinkSpace Interactive course. Learn from industry pros how to compete in the new era of trailer music.
Related Masters degrees
MA PROFESSIONAL MEDIA COMPOSITION
Offering much more than your average Film Scoring Masters, this course teaches you all you need to know about the challenges of writing for film, TV, and other types of commercial media. Hear from professionals with a long history of working in the industry, as well as from those working on the front-lines today.
MA ORCHESTRATION FOR FILM, GAMES & TELEVISION
If you want to write uplifting, epic orchestral music for film, games or television, this is the course that will give you the technical and creative skills you need – taking you from first sketch through sampled mock-up, then onto the final recording with a live orchestral session.