Introduction to Video Game Music 2026
Want the essentials for Making Music for Games?
Introduction to Video Game Music 2026
Place
Location
Online / Remote Sessions
Get ready for the second opportunity to join on this course about how to design and make music for games: Registration now open: You have time to register until 1.12.2026.
Are you a game designer, wanting to learn secrets to powerful sound design and music in games? Or are you a composer, interested to find out how to apply your skills in the vast realms of games? This course offers real life stories, experiences and tips from successful professionals, as well as basic skills needed to design and write music for games along to free access to all materials in Open Learn.
This pilot program is brought to you by the national KLUSTERI -project, which aims to boost the music industry in Finland, as well as furthering networking and skills to operate across the digital content industries, especially with the gaming industry. You can find more information about KLUSTER-project from here (Rytmi-instituutti) and this link (Xamk), and there’s also another link at the bottom section of this event site.
Requirements for the participant:
There are no specific skill requirements, your interest on the topic is enough and hopefully a background for either video games, music or both!
Participating on this online pilot course is free to participants. But as a ESF co-funded action, requires registration through the ESF:s EURA 2021 information system before official acceptance to the course. You will get instructions to after registering via e-mail. After successful registration to the course and EURA 2021 system, we will grant you access to the pilot course materials with provided links for the remote sessions.
About the Video Game Music Pilot Course
The pilot course consists of two 2h remote sessions online on the following days:
Wednesday 2 Dec at 9:00 – 12:30 (2026) : Samuel Helineva
Composition and Music Production
Wednesday 9 Dec at 9:00 – 12:30 (2026) : Salla Hakkola
Motifs & Leitmotifs
Other information regarding the Pilot Course:
Each session consists of 60 minute key note and discussion and 45-60 min basic lesson on theoretical approaches, practical and technical tips and exercises based on new material in the Open Learn -platform.
The course is hosted by Samuel Helineva with Open Learn materials prepared by Samuel Helineva.
Meet the Video Game Music Experts:
Samuel Helineva
Samuel Helineva is a specialist video game music composer and producer with 20 years of music experience and is the author of the Introduction to Video Game Music -course. Helineva has composed hundreds of songs across a wide pool of genres from Rock, Jazz, EDM, Neo-Classical, Drum & Bass and Ambient music. Helineva specializes in melodic and motif-based approaches along with the fusion of various influences from both older and newer games such as Mega Man, Plok, Ape Escape and Persona series, culminating in a debut soundtrack for upcoming indie game Starlock Arcana.
Salla Hakkola
Harpist Salla Hakkola is an internationally recognized game music composer and producer, whose works reach millions of players worldwide. She has created music for top titles such as Angry Birds, Clash of Clans, and Merge Mansion, earning multiple industry awards for her work. Hakkola combines strong musical expertise with a deep understanding of the gaming industry, crafting compositions that enhance game atmosphere and player experience. She brings extensive experience from projects with Rovio and Supercell, and runs her own studio, Tonally, which produces innovative game music.
More information
Do you need more information about the course or registration beforehand? Send email to us! Information below. (We reserve the right to make changes.)
