Forte Composer Academy

Meet Your Instructor

I (Benjamin Botkin) grew up in a home saturated with orchestral music. I lived and breathed that stuff. My interest in music and composition specifically exploded in my teens via piano lessons, and after a brief foray into piano performance found myself neck deep in the world of DAWs/MIDI/Virtual Instruments and media composing.

That was 2005. Since then I've had the opportunity to compose for several films and documentaries (co-winning a HMMA for "The Modern Man"), videogames (Tomb Raider Reloaded, Throne and Liberty, Lineage W, The Sandbox), Animated TV (The Wingfeather Saga) and work for a handful of sample library developers as a demo composer (ORCHESTRAL TOOLS, EMBERTONE, MUSICAL SAMPLING).

$297

Bringing Virtual Orchestra Music to Life Vol 3: Lush Strings

Course
44 Lessons

An advanced course from Benjamin Botkin on how to write and mockup gorgeous, expressive string ensemble music with virtual instruments.

Buy now for $297 Learn more

$227

Bringing Virtual Orchestra Music to Life Vol 1: Expression, Dynamics, and Performance

A course on advanced techniques for applying timeless principles of musical expression to virtual instrument-created music in a DAW/MIDI environment.

$227

Bringing Virtual Orchestra Music to Life Vol 2: Sample Library and Articulation Wizardry

An advanced course on how to use common (and uncommon) sample library patches and articulations like a pro.

$397

Advanced Virtual Orchestra Realism

Expert-level mockup, virtual orchestration, performance, and production techniques from Benjamin Botkin to make your sample-library-created music more believable and emotionally compelling than ever.

$297 or 4 monthly payments of $77

Film Scoring for Beginners

An In-depth introductory course that covers the basics of the art, craft, philosophy, business, relationships, process, practice, and problem-solving of film scoring.

$297 or 4 monthly payments of $77

How To Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments

Learn how to set up a composing workstation, control Virtual Instruments like a pro, and create realistic and compelling music on your computer.

$497 or 4 monthly payments of $127

The Media Composer (Bundle)

A complete online music school (it's 2021--"school" is a loose term) designed to take the aspiring media composer through all the steps from mostly-clueless beginner to realistic-mockup-making, project-enhancing, deadline-crushing pro.

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Everything You Need to Know to Set up a Music Workstation (FREE 10-DAY EMAIL COURSE)

Learn the basics of setting up a MIDI/DAW workstation and receive hardware and software setup recommendations for low, mid, and high budgets. (Module Content taken from "How to Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments)

$127

Virtual Instrument and DAW Control 101 (Roadmaps Vol. 2)

Learn how to set use your DAW, create and manage templates, and control virtual instruments. (Module Content taken from "How to Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments)

$177

Composing a Piece from Beginning to End (Roadmaps Vol. 3)

Learn the entire process of creating a piece of compelling orchestral music as Benjamin Botkin reveals the step-by-step process behind the creation of the track "The Heart of a Hero." (Content taken from "How to Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments)

$127

MIDI Study Pack Alpha Bundle (Packs 1-7)

The first seven MIDI Study packs in one big, happy bundle.

$127

MIDI Study Pack Beta Bundle (Packs 8-14)

The second set of seven MIDI Study packs (8-14) in one big, happy bundle.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #1 - Commanding the Fleet

In this educational pack I break down and teach from the track "Commanding the Fleet", which I composed as an official demo for the sample library Soaring Strings.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #2 - Hillsdale

In this educational pack I use my lively period-drama style track "Hillsdale", as an orchestration case study for using woodwinds and strings to carry the rhythm and propel an energetic track forwards.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #3 Seraphim + Taiga (Using Tallinn)

In this educational pack I explore 2 tracks, "Seraphim" and "Taiga", which I composed as official demos for the sample library Tallinn by Orchestral Tools.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #4 - Approaching Darkness

In this educational pack I break down my fantasy adventure track "Approaching Darkness", which I composed in a John Williams-y style for a Star Wars fan film about the construction of the Death Star.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #5 - Race to the Ocean

In this educational pack I break down my orchestral fantasy adventure track "Race to the Ocean", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Berlin Percussion library.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #6 Into the Nebula (ft. Metropolis Ark 1)

In this educational pack I break down my orchestral fantasy adventure track "Into the Nebula", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Metropolis Ark1.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #7 The Upward Call (ft. Metropolis Ark 2)

In this educational pack I break down my choral/orchestral track "The Upward Call", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Metropolis Ark 2.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #8 Elementary Perceivers (ft. Igudesman Solo Violin)

In this educational pack I break down my lively solo Violin piece "Elementary Perceivers", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Igudesman Solo Violin.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #9 On Top of the World (ft. Metropolis Ark 5)

In this educational pack I break down my inspiring orchestral piece "On Top of the World", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Metropolis Ark 5.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #10 One Big Family Adventure (ft. Adventure Strings)

In this educational pack I break down my optimistic orchestral piece "One Big Family Adventure", which I composed as a demo for Adventure Strings.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #11 As The Years Pass (ft. Joshua Bell Violin)

In this educational pack I break down my orchestral piece "As The Years Pass", which I composed as a demo for Embertone's Joshua Bell Violin.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #12 Shreya's Theme

In this educational pack I break down my lyrical full orchestral piece "Shreya's Theme".

$27

MIDI Study Pack #13 Inexpressible (ft. Berlin Con Sordino Strings)

In this educational pack I break down my lush string piece "Inexpressible", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Belin Con Sordino Strings.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #14 Doors and Windows (ft. Benjamin Wallfisch Strings)

In this educational pack I break down my strings and piano piece "Doors and Windows", which I composed as a demo for Orchestral Tools' Benjamin Wallfisch Strings and Stringscapes.

$27

MIDI Study Pack #15 Maiden Voyage of the Intrepid (ft. Beaufort Brass)

In this educational pack I break down "Maiden Voyage of the Intrepid", an official demo I created for Orchestral Tools' Beaufort Brass library.

Free

FREE PDF: 21 Tips for Bringing MIDI to Life

In this 5-page PDF composer Benjamin Botkin offers 21 tips for improving the realism and vitality of your sampled instruments-based compositions.

Free

Adventurer (Instrumental Cinematic Album)

Navigate the far reaches of space or explore the depths of the oceans in this 20-track cinematic instrumental album by composer Benjamin Botkin.

$47

Everything You Need to Know to Set up a Music Workstation (INSTANT ACCESS)

Learn the basics of setting up a MIDI/DAW workstation and receive hardware and software setup recommendations for low, mid, and high budgets. (Module Content taken from "How to Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments)

$297

Bringing Virtual Orchestra Music to Life Vol 3: Lush Strings

An advanced course from Benjamin Botkin on how to write and mockup gorgeous, expressive string ensemble music with virtual instruments.

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Here you can find courses and products designed to help composers overcome real-life challenges and make steps of positive progress in their craft.

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