Music is more than just a background noise; it’s one of the main elements that sets apart a good video from a bad video. But if you’re new and like past “newbie Daniella”, there’s a lot of mimicking going on without any understanding of why the big channels you’re mimicking made their music choices in the first place.

This newsletter issue is intended to change all that.

Choosing the Right Track:

At the base of all music choices is, of course….. drum roll….. EMOTION and STORYTELLING. Music is the heartbeat of your narrative. Whether it’s building anticipation, increasing the feels of a heartfelt moment, or setting the rhythm for your adventure, the right music will impact how your audience FEELS in any given moment. Keep that thought at the forefront of your mind as you go through and consider your music options.

1. Genre and Mood Matching:

Align the genre and mood of the music with the tone and feeling of each scene. Upbeat tunes for lively adventurous scenes, cinematic scores for dramatic moments, and ambient tracks for serene landscapes. Quite literally, tap into how you want a scene to make your audience feel, and then tap into how each music track makes you feel. Find the track that matches the scene!

When the emotion changes within a scene or between scenes, consider whether or not a change in music is needed. The key takeaway here is that supporting the emotion is always the priority.

2. Pacing for Perfect Harmony:

Consider the pacing of your video. In traditional storytelling, the pace goes through a flow of tension and release. Match the energy of the music with the pace of your video and the rhythm of your visuals. Fast-paced tracks for action and high energy scenes, slower tempos for reflective /relaxing moments.

Syncing your video cuts or transitions with the beats of the music is an easy way to figure out how long your cuts should be and has the added benefit of releasing dopamine if cut just right!

3. Consider Your Audience:

Think about the preferences of your target audience. What resonates with them? Unfortunately, you do need to stick within the music preferences of your audience if you want to consistently attract the audience you desire, and that may mean saying “no” to some music genres. That said, early on, it’s important to experiment and get the music aligned with your preferences enough that you audience is aligned with who you are!

4. Enhance Story Arcs:

Use different tracks or variations within a single track to complement the arcs of your storytelling. For example, as a scene is building up to the tensest moment, use slower paced music and have that pace increase as you get closer to the climax. You can also use crescendos within music to enhance climax moments.

5. Beat Drops for Impact:

Time significant moments in your video with beat drops or tempo changes in the music. It adds emphasis and heightens the impact of those moments.

6. Silence Speaks Volumes:

Don’t be afraid of silence. In fact, strategic pauses in music can amplify the impact of certain scenes, dialogue, or build anticipation. I’ll talk about sound design in another newsletter, but one way I recently used this was by having happy music throughout some dialogue, and then right at the point I really wanted to ensure viewers were listening, I used a “glitch” transition and abruptly stopped the music. The point I wanted everyone to hear had no other sounds than my voice.

Other Music Tips:

1. Intro and Outro Themes:

Create consistency by using a signature tune for your intros and outros. It establishes a brand identity and gets your audience in the mood from the start.

Word of caution though: Emotion should always take priority, and if your theme song clashes with the mood of the episode, don’t use it for that episode. If your episodes have a constant tone that never changes, then this is no problem, but one option to solve this is to have multiple remixes of your theme song.

2. Avoid Copyright Hassles:

Opt for royalty-free music or tracks with proper licensing to avoid copyright issues. There are plenty of platforms offering high-quality, free-to-use music, including Uppbeat, which I personally use and recommend!

3. Volume Control:

Balance is key. Ensure that your music doesn’t overpower your narration or natural sounds. Adjust the volume to maintain harmony. I recommend having a read of this newsletter to learn how to equalise background music to not overpower any dialogue.

Action

Tap Into The Feels:

Next time you turn on some music, have a think about how it is making you feel? Do this often, and you’ll get a better idea of how different music types are impacting your emotions.

In The Edit:

When your editing, ask yourself, what do I want people to FEEL in this particular moment?

Based on that answer, is adding music the best way to lead the audience to that feeling?

What song would best support that feeling?