In this episode, Dave talks with Dr. Tim Stulman, Program Director for Music Production at Full Sail University and creator of Keyboard Kafe, about how much music theory producers really need, why basic keyboard and ear-training skills can reduce friction in the creative process, and how a little practical musicianship can go a long way when writing production music.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JtSSFgLMVWQ

Check out Keyboard Kafé and get 3 months free!
https://keyboardkafe.web.app/promo/52cues

Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.

Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

• Weekly Feedback - Week 35
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-35
• How Would You Start a Composing Career in 2026 (with Anne-Kathrin Dern)? | 52 Cues Podcast #283
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/how-would-you-start-a-composing-career-in-2026-with-anne-kathrin-dern-52-cues-podcast-283
• Office Hours
  https://my.52cues.com/events/office-hours-104215339
• Understanding Library Contracts | Workshop
  https://my.52cues.com/events/understanding-library-contracts
• Orchestral Chat Club
  https://my.52cues.com/events/orchestral-chat-club-102528723
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502797
• A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave
  https://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-105573228
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502874
• Hip-Hop Tension #4 | Composing Livestream
  https://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-tension-4-composing-livestream

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zJLQy2ipnN8

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

In this episode, film and game composer Anne-Kathrin Dern joins Dave to talk about how she’d start a composing career in 2026, including the differences between film, games, and production music, the changing role of composer assistants, and the practical steps she’d take to break into the industry today.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49hI7_Ch81w

https://annedern-filmcomposer.com
https://www.youtube.com/@AnneKathrinDernComposer

We Asked Anne-Kathrin Dern About Her Brutal Composer Advice | 52 Cues Podcast #282
https://youtu.be/rYF_xun27Ec

How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278
https://youtu.be/-owQEUH26js

Is Production Music Worth It in 2026? | 52 Cues Podcast #279
https://youtu.be/L9gJYZC8330

Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.

Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

• Weekly Feedback - Week 34
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-34
• Office Hours
  https://my.52cues.com/events/office-hours-104215323
• Live Feedback and Critiques (2 Hr Session)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-2-hr-session-100942283
• A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave
  https://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-105573217
• Minimal Percussion Dramedy | Brief Info & Cue Review Session
  https://my.52cues.com/events/minimal-percussion-dramedy-brief-info-cue-review-session
• Dark Sci-Fi Tension | Publisher Deliverables
  https://my.52cues.com/events/dark-sci-fi-tension-publisher-deliverables
• Hip-Hop Tension #3 | Composing Livestream
  https://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-tension-3-composing-livestream
• Throwback Hip-Hop for RRHOT | Submission Round
  https://my.52cues.com/events/throwback-hip-hop-for-rrhot-submission-round
• Understanding Library Contracts | Workshop
  https://my.52cues.com/events/understanding-library-contracts

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

In this episode, film and game composer Anne-Kathrin Dern joins Dave to talk about her recent brutally honest composer advice, how her own career has evolved, and how she actually gets hired.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rYF_xun27Ec

https://annedern-filmcomposer.com
https://www.youtube.com/@AnneKathrinDernComposer

How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278
https://youtu.be/-owQEUH26js

Is Production Music Worth It in 2026? | 52 Cues Podcast #279
https://youtu.be/L9gJYZC8330

Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.

Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/72TYUpvBsys

• Weekly Feedback - Week 33
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/95668894
• Office Hours
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/104215320
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/105502768
• A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/105573210
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/105502851
• Hip-Hop Tension #2 (Part 2) | Composing Livestream
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/104215491
• Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Final Submissions
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/104143332
• Minimal Percussion Dramedy | Brief Info & Cue Review Session
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/105462573
• Throwback Hip-Hop for RRHOT | Submission Round
  https://my.52cues.com/events/throwback-hip-hop-for-rrhot-submission-round
• Understanding Library Contracts | Workshop
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/106066053

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

In this episode, Dave reflects on what he learned from spending an entire week focused almost exclusively on writing music, and how simplicity, flow state, and avoiding constant context switching helped him finish eight cues without feeling completely burned out.

What this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OgxxwlznTWg

Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.

Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

• Weekly Feedback - Week 32
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-32
• Office Hours
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/103906733
• Q&A and Cue Review with Chuck Henry (10 West Music)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/qa-and-cue-review-with-chuck-henry-10-west-music
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502734
• A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave
  https://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-105573156
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)
  https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502820
• Hip-Hop Tension #2 | Composing Livestream
  https://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-tension-2-composing-livestream
• Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Revision Round
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/104143305
• Throwback Hip-Hop for RRHOT | Submission Round
  https://my.52cues.com/events/throwback-hip-hop-for-rrhot-submission-round

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

In this episode, Dave talks with Pibox founder and CEO Ivan Talaichuk about the point where Dropbox, email, and spreadsheets stop being enough and what production music composers can learn from the way professional music teams manage feedback, revisions, cue versions, and collaboration.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5p2apQqacwU

Find out more about Pibox:
https://pibox.com

Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.

Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

• Weekly Feedback - Week 31
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-31
• Office Hours
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/103906733
• Orchestral Chat Club
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/102528677
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/103575429
• A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/87969750
• Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/103575252
• Hip-Hop Tension | Composing Livestream
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/103492316
• Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Revision Round
  https://my.52cues.com/posts/104143305

Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com
It's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!

Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams,  cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.

One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!

Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!