THE A-LIST

The RMA of Hollywood Provides the ASCAP Television and Film Scoring Workshop with Some of the World's Greatest Players

ASCAP workshop participant and ASCAP Foundation Steve Kaplan TV & Film Studies Scholarship recipient Robert Litton works with the RMA players during his recording session.

Among the many incredible individuals and organizations who have long supported the ASCAP Television and Film Scoring Workshop is the Recording Musicians Association of Hollywood. The RMA, originally formed by studio musicians throughout North America to ensure effective representation with their union, the American Federation of Musicians, participates in all matters affecting the livelihood of professional recording musicians. It also provides a great service in supplying the TV and Film industries with top-notch musicians for recording music. Because the Hollywood chapter of RMA believes in the value and importance of ASCAP's scoring workshop, its musicians work for demo scale.

WHAT THE FILM MUSIC EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE RMA "Recording soundtracks is our profession, not a sideline. We are passionate about achieving the highest quality. Even after three and a half decades of working with my colleagues in Hollywood studios, I am awed by their artistry and dedication. For composers and producers it means the finest imaginable musical performance in the shortest possible time." —ENDRE GRANAT (RMA, VIOLINIST AND CONCERT MASTER) "To put it simply, the musicians here in L.A. are the finest, most versatile artists in the world. I'm always amazed by our RMA musicians' ability to flow seamlessly from one stylistic challenge to another, many times in the same piece of music!" —JOHN DEBNEY (ASCAP COMPOSER, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE) "They can play any type of music, they can read anything and they are some of the best musicians in the world." —RANDY NEWMAN (ASCAP COMPOSER, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER) "Los Angeles musicians, particularly the select group that record the soundtracks for many film scores, are among the finest players in the world. The film industry relies on the incredible talent, ability and professionalism of these world-class performers, and I am proud to get the chance to work with them on a regular basis." —ROBERT KRAFT (PRESIDENT, FOX MUSIC) "Obviously, the level of musicianship is exceedingly high, but more than that is what is sometimes referred to as the 'depth of quality.' By this I mean that in many other parts of the world, if the first call English horn player can't do your session, you don't want the second call English horn player if indeed there is one. In Los Angeles, if you want five or six excellent English horn players you can have them. That these wonderful musicians show up for the ASCAP Workshop and play a five-hour session for demo scale is absolutely extraordinary. They are dedicated to fostering new film and television music and maintaining the health of our industry. We should be, and we are very grateful to them." —RICHARD BELLIS (ASCAP COMPOSER, ASCAP TV & FILM SCORING WORKSHOP MENTOR, FORMER SCL PRESIDENT) "After 35 years as a Music Contractor I'm still in awe of the Los Angeles musicians. Their musicality and sight reading abilities are amazing. As far as versatility goes, where else in the world can you record a big band cue right in the middle of a symphonic orchestra. Then there are the rhythm players who can not be matched. We can do it all faster and better so why go anywhere else?" —SANDY De CRESCENT (MUSIC CONTRACTOR/SANDY De CRESCENT, INC.) "The film music recording industry has existed in LA for over 70 years and has provided by far the most numerous, musically detailed and excellent scores over that time of filmmaking. Tradition, musical excellence and competitive musical talent continue in Los Angeles at the very highest levels. RMALA has been proud to serve our membership, over 1,000 Los Angeles recording musicians, with our ongoing professional communication, group representation and work with colleagues, politicians, film industry representatives and the American Federation of Musicians." —BRIAN O'CONNOR (FORMER RMA PRESIDENT) From the perspective of the music preparation community, LA can offer the best of everything in composition, arranging, orchestration, audio and midi transcription and all other forms of music preparation services provided by an experienced and efficient community of flexible, forward thinking professionals who are invested in their business and interested in it's success. —JO ANN KANE MUSIC "The L.A. recording musicians are truly a world class community of the most highly trained and diversified performers in the world. The roots of the film scoring business are firmly planted in the highpressured, fast-paced world of Hollywood filmmaking. Our community understands this and is called upon time and again to play the role of musical chameleon. On a day in, day out basis, we must become whatever musical character is called upon for each specific genre film." —PETER ROTTER MUSIC CONTRACTOR/SANDY De CRESCENT, INC.)

RMA International President Phil Ayling, says "Fine orchestras can be found in various places, but only in Los Angeles do we find such depth of talent committed to the recording arts — full time! Fantastic instrumentalists, composers and orchestrators have been coming to L.A. from all over the world for the last 70 years with hopes of finding a place in this most competitive art form. The synergy of all these individuals has created a musical community uniquely suited to the speed and accuracy required for the scoring stage and the artistry and emotionality required by film. RMA is proud to help with maintaining those standards and building on them for the future."

For participants in ASCAP's TV and Film Scoring Workshop, one of the most valuable opportunities is the chance to have a 40- piece orchestra perform their scores. And not just any orchestra, but one comprising RMA members, the same world-class musicians who regularly perform the music for Hollywood's biggest films and television projects. ASCAP salutes these talented individuals for their long-standing dedication to nurturing the next generation of composers.

ASCAP's Mike Todd says, "The RMA is like an All-Star professional sports team. Just as athletes must regularly train and exercise to perfect their game, it takes daily maintenance to sustain such a high level of performance. These musicians also breath life into the music as if they've read it a hundred times before. As producer of the ASCAP Television & Film Scoring Workshop, we are very grateful for their support, and the recording session is one of the major highlights of the program for our participants and the ASCAP staff each year."