LIVE Class: OCTOBER 7, 8 and 9, 2026 2-4pm PT / 5-7pm ET / 9-11pm GMT

Cue the Music: Making Music for Podcasts with Breakmaster Cylinder

Whether you're a musician or not, if you're curious about making music for projects, this is for you! In this class with the famed Breakmaster Cylinder, you'll write music that is immediately usable, but also serves as a structure you can obsess over and polish later. Don't worry if you're feeling blocked or frozen, this class will help you experiment and get out of your own way so you can start writing scores.

NOTE: This class will be limited to 15 students.

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About this class

  • Wednesday October 7, Thursday October 8 and Friday October 9, 2026
  • 2 - 4pm PT / 5-7pm ET /  9-11pm GMT
  • $250 Early Bird Tickets (Members) / $300 Member Price / $400 (Non-member price)
  • Live Instruction
  • Payment plans available at checkout. 

 In this class we'll write music that's suitable for scoring things, by discussing mood conventions and rules so you can be confident as you observe or break them. This includes instrument selection, tempo, balance of textures, and some basic fx usage in service of hitting the tone you want. We’ll encourage experimentation and touch on just a little useful music theory like modes and chord progressions.

We'll also work through creative blocks too in a fun, non-stuffy environment - whatever you think you’re unable to do music-wise you’re probably almost there.

Key Takeaways



  • A minimum of 5 self-written musical cues in different moods for use in your projects.
  • Methods of quickly getting down a piece of music.
  • Constructive criticism
  • An ability to better analyze music in other work and continue learning from them 
  • Some increased understanding of scoring conventions and rules you can now choose to observe or break.


Who is this class for? 

This composition class is for podcast producers and/or musicians who have some experience with basic audio editing and manipulation who are interested in learning to write music quickly and hit required moods / tones. Ideally you will already have and understand how to use a music software at a basic - intermediate level. This class is also for people who feel stuck or blocked when they sit down to compose. 

Meet the PRESENTER

Breakmaster Cylinder

Is a musician, composer and producer who has written over 200 theme songs on some of your favorite podcasts like Reply All, Song Exploder, Today Explained, On the Media and many many others. He also developed a library of 850+ songs that are frequently used by companies like Gimlet, Vox, The Atlantic, POLITICO, CBC among others. 

In addition to making music for podcasts, BMC also scores video games and films, and creates audio beats and remixes for live installations. He also writes experimental albums and teaches music. 

He lives in space like you.