The Composer Guide.
Embark on your musical journey with the ultimate starting point for composers.Discover a wealth of resources, including free libraries, training footage, tutorials, and a treasure trove of other valuable goodies. Your path to creating beautiful compositions begins here.
Score the universe
Scoring competition ft. Melodysheep
Something huge is happening...
After months in the making, I’m launching my very first scoring competition! This is a big milestone for The Composer’s Guide—a full circle moment, since scoring competitions played a major role in shaping my journey.What’s a scoring competition?
You’ll get the chance to compose music for a beautiful, high-quality piece of footage—graciously provided by Melodysheep. It’s emotional, cinematic, and full of storytelling potential.The best part?
There are over €3,000 in prizes up for grabs.The brief is completely open. We want to see bold, creative, and unique entries—no matter your experience level. Whether you’re just starting out or already scoring for big projects, you’re welcome here.Interested?
All details will be announced on June 15th over at @rubenofficialmusic. Mark your calendar.Massive thanks to our partners for making this possible:
Melodysheep, Rhodes, Triumph Audio, Novation, Algam Benelux, Beep Boop Audio, FSN Berklee, and many more incredible people.Let’s make something unforgettable. I can’t wait to hear what you create.
Click here to learn more...
The creators.
The Composer Guide was started by Ruben Camacho, a composer from Costa Rica who now moves between Europe and Central America. He created it to solve a real problem—too many young composers spend hours digging through scattered resources, lost in a world that often feels gatekept and overwhelming.The Composer Guide changes that. It’s here to make things easier, clearer, and more accessible—so you can focus on making music, not endlessly searching for where to begin.In 2025, Carson Zuck joined the team to help grow the vision and take the project to the next level. Exciting things are on the way.
Reviews
Berlin free orchestra
The best free orchestra out there, hands down.
First thing that caught my eye? Separate string sections—super rare to find, and when you do, they’re usually trash. So big thumbs up for that.Yeah, I could nitpick and say I’d love a piano, or maybe two mic signals (close + far), but honestly? It’s free—and it wipes the floor with the rest.Well done, OT.Date of review: 23/04/2025
Review by: Ruben Camacho
Piano
Strings
Woodwinds
Atonal Percussion
Tonal Percussion
Drums
Guitars
Orchestra
Choir
Harp
Brass
Organ
knowledge of the month
An amazing youtuber by the name of Camus goes nuts with Serum 2
Tutorials
Orchestral programming
How To Write Music When You've Got Writer's BlockWriter's Block Sucks (But You Can Fix It Pretty Easy)Never suffer WRITER'S BLOCK again!How to END writers block for music composersBeat Writer's Block and Write Fast (Easiest Method)HOLLYWOOD Composer explains how he destroyed WRITER'S BLOCKCREATIVITY: How to Deal with Writer's Block
How to make money as a composer
Ways To Make Money As A ComposerComposer Chat: Can You Make a Living as a Composer?How To Earn Money Making Music57 ways to earn money in the music industryHow Much to Charge as a Media Composer3 Steps to Get Your First Job as a Video Game Music ComposerHow to Make Money as a Composer (Easy Ways to Start)How To Find Custom Scoring Gigs As A Freelance Composer
Composers composing
Creating inspiring cue's within minutes - Spitfire AudioAvin a look at Hammers by Spitfire Audio - Daniel JamesThe Crystal Castle - Pacific Strings DAWcast - BlakusWriting Film Music in 20 Minutes - Dan Keen
Orchestral programming
Orchestration Basics: The Instrument FamiliesThe Key to Realistic-Sounding Performances: ArticulationsIMPORTANT Orchestral Programming TipsOrchestration Hacks (5 Quick Tips)MORE Orchestration Hacks (5 Quick Tips)EVEN MORE Orchestration Hacks (5 Quick Tips)
Music production
The Complete Guide To Master SerumTutorials about film musicScoring To Picture: Day OneLearn music theory in half an hour
Communities
The Society of Composers
and Lyricists (SCL)
The Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) is the premier community for professionals in film, TV, video games, and musical theatre, with a distinguished 76-year history. As a hub for industry collaboration, SCL offers valuable insights into the creative, financial, and technical aspects of music composition. Committed to improving working conditions, SCL actively engages with global leaders in the field. Whether you're an industry veteran or emerging talent, join SCL to connect, grow, and contribute to the evolving landscape of music composition for visual media.
Composers Diversity Collective
The Composers Diversity Collective is a community that has formed with the goal of addressing the industry's challenges in locating culturally diverse music creators, music supervisors, sound engineers, and musicians.
Their primary objectives include increasing the collective awareness among its members, fostering connections between professionals, and working towards dispelling misconceptions surrounding the stylistic range of minority composers.
Cascadia Composers
Based in Oregon, Cascadia Composers is the largest local chapter of the National Association of Composers USA, uniting over 100 members across genres—from chamber and jazz to film, game, and world music. Known for its inclusive, vibrant community, the organization champions diversity and supports new music through high-quality concerts, collaborations, and resources for professionals, educators, and students alike.
The Ivors Academy
The Ivors Academy stands as the professional association for songwriters and composers in the UK.
It represents a diverse community of highly skilled songwriters and composers across various musical styles. Their collective efforts play a crucial role in shaping the musical landscape around them.
Opia Community
A travelling festival series, a record label and a community hub made up of creators, thinkers, art lovers and everything in-between.
Built around an idea by artist Ólafur Arnalds, creating platforms and spaces that bring people together, inspiring curious people through creativity and collaboration.
Alliance for Women Film
Composers (AWFC)
The Association of Women Film Composers (AWFC): a dedicated community supporting and celebrating the work of women composers in film, TV, video games, and multimedia projects. Their commitment to advocacy and education aims to increase visibility and equality within the industry.
Proudly hosting the industry's inaugural directory of women film composers, the AWFC provides filmmakers and decision-makers a unique platform to discover and collaborate with fresh talent. Join this movement that champions diversity, amplifies voices, and contributes to a more inclusive landscape in the world of composition. The AWFC is an ally in advancing the collective impact of women in the realm of film and media.
American Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum (ACF) envisions a world where living music creators are celebrated and essential to human culture.
As catalysts in a vibrant ecosystem, ACF connects composers, artists, advocates, and audiences to support and promote contemporary music.
They actively foster equitable opportunities, providing direct funding, mentorship, and emphasizing inclusivity across various identities and perspectives, guided by core values such as Leadership, Anti-Racism, Courage, Support, and Curiosity.
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