BBCSO Course

Become a better composer with Guy Michelmore

Over 25 hours of in-depth tutorials and interactive learning to enhance your music with BBCSO Core or Professional.

Join Emmy-nominated composer Guy Michelmore on an enjoyable, creative journey. Learn how to build better templates, achieve greater realism, gain a deeper command of the orchestra, score to picture, mix and master, and more. Whether you’re a new or experienced BBCSO user, this course will give you the skills to take your music to the next level.

£149 / $189 / 179€

This course is a collaboration with Guy’s organisation ThinkSpace Education, and is hosted on their virtual learning environment. Learn more in the FAQs

Buy and access ThinkSpace Education

Watch the trailer

Unlock your full potential with BBCSO Core or Pro

This course isn’t just about learning the features of a sample library, it’s about becoming a better orchestral composer. While you’ll get to know BBC Symphony Orchestra inside and out, the real goal is to help you create more expressive, more emotive music.

Module 1 – Technology & Workflow
Build a clean, creative setup that lets your music shine.

Module 2 – Realistic Mockups
Techniques for expressive performances, human feel, and believable orchestration.

Module 3 – Creative Orchestration
Write orchestral music with colour, clarity, and imagination.

Module 4 – Telling Stories with BBCSO
Craft emotional arcs and cinematic energy, without over-scoring.

Module 5 – Scoring Movies
Learn to score picture with confidence, and dramatic focus.

Module 6 – Mixing, Mastering & Distribution
Take your music across the finish line with clarity and polish.

Watch the Overview

11:22

Course extract — top-down mixing with professional mixing engineer Tim Jonson

Course extract — Blending articulations in BBCSO

Learn from professional composers and orchestrators

Gain real-world techniques and insights from composers, orchestrators, and engineers working across film, TV, and games. Through hands-on tutorials and in-depth interviews, you’ll discover how professionals approach scoring, solve creative challenges, and bring their music to life – so you can do the same.

Guy Michelmore

EMMY and ANNIE nominated composer for Marvel, Disney, Lionsgate and DreamWorks.

Emily Hawkins

Composer and European Talent Award finalist at Soundtrack Cologne 2023.

Peter Bateman

Composer and orchestrator for Avengers: Age Of Ultron, The Grinch, 50 Shades of Grey.

Bradley Jordan

Composer and music editor for DreamWorks, Netflix and BBC projects.

Paul Thomson

Spitfire Audio co-founder and media composer for BBC, Discovery, Sony, Channel 4

Lauren Finch

Composer and Rising Star Award finalist at Music+Sound Awards 2024

Tim Johnson

Orchestral mixing engineer, as heard on BBC, Netflix, Amazon, PBS, Sky, Channel 4

Arhynn Descy

Composer (Blank, Patriot: A Nation At War) and Ivor Novello Awards jury member

What's Included

20+ hours of in-depth video tutorials
Interviews with pro composers
A short film to download and score
16 Logic Pro projects (including 3 templates)
15 Cubase projects (including 3 templates)
150+ audio files
10 MIDI files
Interactive videos and widgets
Quizzes to help you remember
Built-in assignments to sharpen your skills
Access to a supportive global community of composers on Discord

I love Guy's approach to teaching. It doesn't feel like he's talking down to you, it feels like you're in the studio with him.

Josh, ThinkSpace student

Hosted by ThinkSpace Education

Mastering Orchestral Composition With BBCSO is delivered through ThinkSpace Education’s Virtual Learning Environment – a dedicated platform that has delivered courses and Masters degrees to over 35,000 musicians worldwide.

Buy today – start and revisit anytime

You can journey through the course module by-module, or just dip in to the topics you are most interested in. With lifetime access, it’s the ultimate resource for your composing adventure.

£149 / $189 / 179€

Buy and access on ThinkSpace Education

FAQ

Who is this course for?

Anyone who owns the Core or Professional edition of BBCSO – or plans to. Whether you are a total beginner or experienced user, there is plenty in this course to help you improve as a composer.

Is the course at beginner, intermediate or advanced level?

It’s all three. Beginners can journey through the course from the start. Intermediate users may find most value in the last four chapters, and more advanced users can dip in and out of areas where they feel they could improve. That said, even the most professional user will gain plenty of useful new knowledge and skills from any of the modules.

What edition of BBCSO is this course for?

Core or Pro.

How long will it take me to do the course?

That’s totally up to you. There is no set time. You can dip in and out whenever you want. There is over 30 hours of video in total, however that includes some of the same techniques shown in both Cubase and Logic.

Are there any deadlines or time limits?

No, none at all. This is a fun, creative adventure that you can journey through at your own pace, or just dip into whenever you want some new ideas and inspiration.

What DAW do I need?

Tutorial videos are taught in both Logic Pro 11 and Cubase 13 / 14, but the vast majority of the techniques shown can be achieved in any major DAW. Similarly, where there are Logic Pro and Cubase projects to download, we have also provided MIDI and audio files for those using other DAWs.

Who are ThinkSpace Education?

Established in 1996, ThinkSpace Education is an online learning provider for music makers around the world. Over 35,000 people have taken courses with ThinkSpace, including full university-accredited Masters degrees in composition. They are rated Excellent by customers on TrustPilot,

Why am I being sent to a different website to buy the course?

Our partners, ThinkSpace Education, are hosting the course on their virtual learning environment. This dedicated system has delivered thousands of online courses and Masters degrees to musicians around the world. Purchasing the course on the ThinkSpace website gives you instant access.

Who is Guy Michelmore?

Guy is a successful film and TV composer who has worked extensively for Marvel, Disney and Lionsgate, to name a few. He’s also a talented educator and communicator who founded ThinkSpace Education and runs a much-loved YouTube channel with almost 400,000 subscribers.

What if I don’t like the course after buying it?

You can contact the support team at ThinkSpace Education for a full refund anytime within 30-days of purchase. This is their standard policy. The only exception is if you have completed more than 25% of the course.

Is there a free trial of the course?

In common with most online courses, there is no free trial of the whole course. However, we will be making some tutorials from the course available as free samples during the introductory offer period. Also, if you do purchase the course and aren’t happy with it, you can get a full refund within 30-days of purchase by contacting the support team at ThinkSpace.