Danny Elfman Teaches Composing and Storytelling Through Music
With his first soundtrack for Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Oingo Boingo founder Danny Elfman went from playing rock and new wave to trying out his own new adventure: creating film scores. Since then, he’s crafted soundtracks for more than 100 films.
Danny’s composer-director collaborations with Tim Burton continued, and he is now recognized as one of the most versatile and accomplished composers in the entertainment business. He’s landed four Oscar nominations so far, and he wrote the iconic theme music for the television series The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives. Now he’s teaching you how he conjures up music to match and elevate a story.
From The Simpsons theme to the soundtracks of Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Danny Elfman’s compositions are original, memorable, and exuberantly weird. Now the Oingo Boingo founder and four-time Oscar nominee share his unconventional (and uncensored) creative process. Step into Danny’s studio and learn his techniques for evoking emotion and elevating a story through music.
Danny Elfman MasterClass
In Danny’s MasterClass, learn his unconventional approach to the art and craft of film composition. Danny will walk you through his eclectic creative process, from starting a new project and staying on track to finding sound inspiration and working through creative insecurity. Learn his techniques for building out a soundtrack, finding your theme and melody, interpreting a director’s vision, and making templates. Join Danny in his music studio, and discover how to work through the chaos of ideas to create sounds that are truly unique.
MasterClass Covers
- Writing feature film scores
- Dealing with insecurity and following your instinct
- Organizing creative projects
- Storytelling through sound
- Capturing the tone of a story
- Spotting sessions
- Creating themes and melodies
- Building templates
- Instrumentation
- Working with directors
About MasterClass
MasterClass was founded on the idea that everyone should have “access to genius.” The premier online education platform provides affordable, engaging, and inspirational online classes taught by world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best.
