Cinematic Music: From Idea To Finished Recording Information

Cinematic Music: From Idea To Finished Recording is the starting composer’s complete guide to mastering all the fundamental principles of composing, orchestrating and producing modern cinematic tracks.

From writing memorable themes, to effective harmonic progressions, structuring your tracks into pleasant sonic journeys, and mocking them up using modern sample libraries – we will cover everything you need to know to make your musical ideas come to life.

Through 26 hours of video content, you will be guided through the process of creating modern cinematic music in the style of Hans Zimmer, Two Steps From Hell and Brian Tyler – from coming up with the first ideas, to the finished recording is done.

Here’s What You’ll Learn

• Coming up with ideas for themes easily and effortlessly
• Using the PReVaDe method to craft memorable melodies
• Writing effective countermelodies and ostinatos
• Structuring your theme ideas into powerful, complete compositions
• The most fundamental principles for arranging for the orchestra
• How to avoid the worst mistakes that are ruining your orchestrations
• The basics of the orchestral instruments and their families
• How to make your orchestrations sound huge and lush
• Crucial principles for making your mockups sound more realistic
• Basic techniques and principles for better mixes
• My approaches for a clean, powerful production – even if you’re no mixer

What You’ll Learn In This Course?

Module 1: Enter The World Of Cinematic Music

We are starting off the course with some fundamental knowledge, mindsets and essential concepts around the topic of learning cinematic music. I will tell you my story of getting to where I am today, some of the struggles I’ve faced, and how this course seeks to bypass these big obstacles.

We will explore topics such as:

• What is required for this course
• How to get the most out of this program
• Why I made this course
• Who it is for, and what it intends to fix

Module 2: Crafting Your Theme

In the second module of the course, we dive straight into the main core of your cinematic tracks, the main theme. It is what people will remember, and what usually is seen as the identity of your piece.

We cover topics such as:

• Coming up with motifs for your tracks
• Using intervals to evoke different emotions
• Turning any motif into a full melody
• Practical techniques for more memorable, effective melodies
• Learning the language of harmony to find the best chords for your theme
• Practical modulation techniques for effortlessly moving between keys
• Crafting an effective story arc, with proper melody contour and shape
• Writing beautiful counter melodies for your theme
• Crafting powerful, moving ostinatos to give your piece drive and energy

Module 3: Structuring Your Composition

In the third module, we start talking about how you can take your theme, and turn it into a full composition. We will discuss tools and principles you can use to craft interesting sonic journeys, that keep the listener hooked from beginning to end.

We cover the following topics:

• Using growth and contrast to keep your track interesting at all times
• Crafting new sections from your main theme, effortlessly
• Using complexity and power to shape a dynamic journey through your piece
• How to create tracks with one theme that keeps repeating and growing
• How to create tracks with contrasting sections, and how to make them effective

Module 4: Orchestration and Arrangement

In the fourth module, we will start taking a closer look at the orchestral instruments, the orchestral families, and crucial principles to keep in mind when writing for each of them. We will also dive into some very important orchestration principles to ensure a powerful representation of your theme, and a clear mix in the end.

In this module you will see:

• A breakdown of the orchestral families and their main instruments
• Common orchestration mistakes and how to avoid them
• Tips for writing and arranging for Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, and Choirs.
• How to craft effective chord voicings for any orchestral family
• Using Foreground, Middleground, and Background to guide the listener’s attention
• Using the MeHaRyTe principle to orchestrate more effortlessly
• Digital orchestration tips and principles to keep in mind
• 3 orchestrations of the same theme
• Tips for arranging large, epic statements
• 1 hour analysis of one of my tracks and its orchestration

Module 5: Creating A Realistic Mockup

In the fifth module, we will focus a bit more on how we can achieve a more realistic mockup, based on what we did in chapter four.

In this final module you will see:

• My general tips and tricks to achieve more realism
• Crucial mindsets that can make or break your end result, easily
• My tips for using Mod Wheels for more dynamic and human performances
• An Over-The-Shoulder look at my workflow when mocking up themes
• Tips for setting up and using templates to increase your workflow and speed

Module 6: Mixing and Mastering Your Track

In the fifth module, we will focus a bit more on how we can achieve a more realistic mockup, based on what we did in chapter four.

In this final module you will see:

• My basic, easy to follow principles for mixing and mastering my tracks
• Tips and tricks to improve the quality of your productions, quickly
• An Over-The-Shoulder look at my workflow for my mixes
• Advice for mastering your piece

Module 7: Creating A Track From Beginning To End

In this module you will see me create a complete track from beginning to end, with all the mistakes, hurdles and victories along the way. From the first notes, to the final export.

In this final module you will see:

• Me come up with a motif, and turn it into a full melody
• Turn this melody into a complete theme
• Turn this theme into an AABA style composition
• Orchestrate and arrange the entire composition
• Record and edit the mockup of my track
• Mix and master, and export the final result

Module 8: Insights From The Industry

In this module you will be able to learn from the work experience from both talented industry professionals, and myself. We will discuss things we wish we knew when we got into the industry, and advice for people who are currently getting started.

In this final module you will see:

• Advice from industry professionals
• Costly mistakes to avoid
• Stories from the life of a traveling composer
• Tips for getting ahead in today’s market and industry

Who is this course for?

Cinematic Music: From Idea To Finished Recording is a course aimed towards beginner to intermediate composers that want to get a solid understanding of the fundamental principles and techniques that have the biggest impact on your work.

It is for people that struggle to take their musical ideas into full compositions, hitting roadblocks on the way, and need a structured process to help them finish tracks consistently, and with quality.

It is for people overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, given the fact that you could study each field of composition, orchestration, digital mockups and production for 4 years each – and want an all-in-one course that filters out all unnecessary information, and focuses on the main key elements that will be the most important to master in the beginning of your composing journey.

It is for people that want to increase their efficiency while composing, getting more reliable methods for coming up with themes and melodies quickly, writing better counter melodies and ostinatos without relying on luck, and structuring their compositions more confidently – mastering the principles of complexity and power.

In short, it is a course for composers in the beginning of their journey that want an all-in-one resource to get them to a place where they can create cinematic tracks effortlessly and consistently, so that they can improve and build on their foundational skills over time.

About Author

Arn Andersson is a Norwegian musician, traveler and creative educator that aspires to empower creatives to produce better art, live better lives and make a living from their passion as the co-founder of Evenant.

He has worked remotely across nearly 30 countries on his nomadic workstation while providing music for various ad campaigns, video games, a Lionsgate film, and trailer campaigns like Lady and the Tramp, Lego Movie, Cold Pursuit, and Welcome To Marwen. He’s also been a collaborator on tracks for renowned artists such as The Metropole Orkest and Hardwell.

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