Music is a tool that can call the attention of underlying emotions or themes. It can also control the pacing of the story. In the end, it can help create a sense of place and time. When you look at it closely, music is one of the many ways to manipulate the elements, making the stories more relevant, dramatic, and memorable.

To help you with choosing soundtracks, here are best practices you need to wrap your head around:

Learn the kind of stories worth scoring

You need to identify the kind of stories that are worth scoring – if music is integral to the story if music is told from one of the character’s points of view and if music evokes time and space. It is not worth scoring if it’s a news story with different viewpoints, news spots, and boring stories that are dragging.

Think musical metaphors

It will sound right if you can communicate why you use a piece of music to demonstrate a specific moment. When it’s time to think about music, you have to consider the underlying theme or emotion you want to convey.

For instance, if it’s nervous anticipation, it’s ideal for putting something fast-paced. If you do not think musical metaphors, the least that you can do is to resist the impulse of using generic ambient music, especially if your video drags.

Pick the music you love

The rule of thumb is only to use the music that you love. If there is music and it does not move you, you should not hasten and tarnish your work with it.

Fade the music out for particular events

If you want to create tension or highlight important events, you need to fade the music. When you do this, the silence has this subtle effect of highlighting whatever comes after it.

Refrain from using music to amplify basic emotions

You have to remember that music is best utilized to amplify underlying moods or emotions – not basic or simple emotions. Also, avoid musical clichés.

Utilize music to control the pacing

When it comes to pacing the story, it’s crucial that you use slow or ambient music. This will allow the audience to focus on a specific moment. If you use fast music, it will generate a sense of urgency. Simply put, you have to ensure that the music matches the tone as well as the pace of the story.

Look for fresh ears

Without a doubt, musical choices are subjective. However, it still pays to get a second opinion. By listening to opinions, you get a range of ideas helping you at the end of the day. Who knows you can get inspiration?

Final words

It’s important that you understand how to score your own film or project, especially if you have a limited budget. With some tips and research, you will eventually find the right musical piece for your film or projects.