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Technology and Applied Composition

Technology and Applied Composition

Degrees and Programs

Undergraduate

TAC Bachelor of Music

Graduate

TAC Master of Music

Postgraduate

TAC Professional Studies Certificate

A versatile, hands-on program to compose, design, and engineer.

Forging a new identity for the 21st-century composer â€
— The New York Times

a student in studio A

At TAC, our core mission is to provide unique and transformative opportunities that challenge our students artistically, intellectually, professionally, and individually. SFCM prepares its graduates for a lifetime of achievement and success in any field. The mission of the Technology and Applied Composition program centers on bridging technology and creativity, fostering a space where students can find their voice in both artistic expression and technological innovation. The TAC program is unique, it is a place without boundaries or artistic borders, where theoretical and hands-on information create synergy. Our students excel in using technology in creative ways, and constantly adapt to evolving artistic movements. TAC gives students a direct path into the worlds of film and video game scoring, live performance, emerging new media like augmented and virtual reality, sound design, popular music production, artist development and other rewarding musical avenues, featuring instruction from some of the most visible and innovative composers in the industry. A TAC degree readies students for a cutting-edge compositional life, bridging art and technology in the most dynamic ways imaginable. At TAC we cultivate a dynamic learning environment that prepares graduates for success at the fascinating intersection of technology and composition.

Our intentionally small class sizes enable every student to receive significant faculty attention and participate in projects like our collaborations with Sony and other nearby technology and music institutions. Our signature facility, Studio H, is outfitted with Dolby Atmos spatial audio and Meyer Sound, and has been used by representatives of the GRAMMY Awards for listening sessions.

Graduates of SFCM's Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) program have composed music for Super Bowl commercials, popular video games, and independent films, become successful recording artists, music producers, and are employed by companies like Sony, Spitfire Audio, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft. This program is home to film and video game scoring, audio engineering, sound design, music production, electronic music, and custom instrument building. SFCM's TAC program provides artists a cutting-edge skillset ready to take on the music industry of today.

The Bowes Center is a versatile, state-of-the-art facility that combines the needs for education, music production, and live performance."

—Scott Hanau, Sony Interactive Manager of Music, credited with scoring more than 40 video games

See more media from the TAC department. 

Application now open for Fall and Spring 2025!

How to Applyʉۼ

TAC Studio G

TAC's new studios in the Bowes Center, inaugurated in late 2021, are home to digital Avid S6 and analog API 1608-II consoles, as well as a Meyer Sound 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos monitoring system, making them the perfect place for audio recording, post-production, and spatial audio experimentation.

TAC Michael Abels

Award-winning film composer Michael Abels met one-on-one with TAC students during a campus visit.

TAC Studio H and Sony

Each semester visiting artists from Sony Interactive Entertainment work with SFCM’s TAC students to compose individual scores for a fictional video game.

TAC Dolby Tech Hall

Students work with industry professionals in Studio G, the TAC program's technology hall, to adjust the variable acoustic and truss system in preparation for recording.

TAC Studio A

TAC Executive Director Taurin Barrera works with students in Studio A, a space designed for large-scale and advanced recording projects as well as clinics and master classes with visiting artists and professionals.

TAC Wires on stage

Bay Area's NPR affiliate KQED said, "One could call TAC the perfect marriage of technology, classical musicianship, and experimentation."

TAC Winter Term

Each January, SFCM students participate in Winter Term, a dedicated period of exploration outside one's primary focus area. During Winter Term, TAC students have participated in projects such as building hardware synthesizers, projection mapping in Hume Concert Hall, and performing modular synths in a genre-bending public concert.

TAC Future is Female

TAC plays host to SFCM's "Future is Female" concert in honor of International Women's Day.

TAC Faculty

TAC Faculty

Innovators and industry experts

David Conte headshot

David Conte

Composition Chair

Composition Technology and Applied Composition Music History and Literature Pre-College
Learn more about David Conte
Film and Video Game Scoring SFCM TAC

Film and Video Game Scoring

Visuals may draw you in, but sound completes the picture. Learn the ins and outs of scoring for movies, television, video games, and other media through our state-of-the-art facilities, experienced faculty, and visiting artist masterclasses. Our wide-ranging courses train young composers in the art of storytelling through music and sound effects.

Audio Engineering

Develop an ear for audio excellence through SFCM's audio engineering classes. Learn how to record and mix music, how to use professional audio recording equipment, and state-of-the-art software including the latest versions of Pro Tools, Logic, and Ableton, standards in most professional studios, all working under the close instruction of Grammy-award winning engineers.

Music Production

Complete creative control. Craft the sounds you want from idea inception to finished product. In these courses you will learn to multitrack, record, overdub, edit, and mix music in a variety of styles using sophisticated digital audio systems. This program will give you the analytical and professional experience needed for a variety of music production-focused careers.

Sound Design

Sound design courses include everything from recording, to sampling, editing, scoring, and sound mixing. In sound design courses you will learn how to collect, edit, and create sound effects, ambient effects, for nearly every form of media.
Matt Levine headshot
Faculty Profile
Matt Levine

Quartet º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Francisco was tapped by Technology and Applied Composition faculty Matt Levine to help students realize their scores in the annual project.

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SFCM Opera performance

Industry Alliances to Support Students and Artists

In recent years, SFCM acquired two leading artist management companies and an iconic record label to reimagine how elements of the music industry can better integrate to advance the human experience through music. For students, that means more opportunities to interact with touring artists and industry experts–including professional development workshops, side-by-side performances, and enhanced masterclasses.
SFCM 50 Oak inside

Visiting the Campus

We look forward to your visit! Contact the Office of Admissions to take a tour of our facilities. You can also contact the TAC faculty directly to arrange a consultative lesson.
MaryClare Brztywa and a student at the º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Francisco Conservatory of Music

Audit a Class

We've saved a seat for you. During your visit to SFCM, sit in on a class or two and see what it's like to be a student at the Conservatory.
TAC Soundboard

Studios

SFCM’s TAC studios are the best around. They feature the latest versions of all major digital audio workstations on the market, as well as top-of-the-line hardware to suit your every recording and mixing need.
A photo of faculty member Daria Novo
Student Success
Daria Novoliantceva

Novoliantceva helped orchestrate the music behind "One Piece," released in August 2023 to rave reviews and record viewership. "It was truly a privilege," Novoliantceva said. "I am very proud to have been part of it." 

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Financial Aid and Affordability

At SFCM, we understand that college is a substantial investment. We're here to help, and we're committed to working with you to achieve the education you desire. 99% of our students receive financial aid at an average rate of 57% tuition discount.

Life on Campus

Learn about safe and secure, all-suite on-campus housing, where 24/7 practice rooms are just the beginning.

Performances

We put on more than 500 performances a year, including student recitals, masterclasses, and side-by-sides with exciting guest artists—most of them free to the public. Check out one today.

Newsroom

Get the inside scoop on everything going on at SFCM with stories of SFCM's students, alumni, faculty and leadership.

Alliances

SFCM leads an alliance across the music industry consisting of artist management companies Opus 3 Artists and Askonas Holt and recording label Pentatone. Together, their work creates opportunities for students, artists, presenters, and audiences to develop and experience new ideas.
students hold their instruments and walk along a trail where the tops of the golden gate bridge is visible behind them

Admissions

We can't wait to hear what you have to play. Apply today to start your performance of a lifetime.
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cellist sitting in front of SF skyline

Application and Auditions

It's a big step, we know, and we're here for you. Apply online, request more information, or learn about our audition and application process.
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