I wanted to share how I wrote the trailer music for the family adventure movie Pete's Dragon. This track has been used quite a lot, and I'm really proud of it. It's called "The Sun Will Rise"鈥攑robably an unoriginal name, but I like it. It kind of captures the essence of the track.
What Makes Family Adventure Music Work
When I think about what's important for this genre, several elements stand out:
- Use of tuned percussion
- Changes and lifts throughout the track
- Heavy utilisation of the orchestra
- Not a huge emphasis on drums - the orchestra does the heavy lifting
The Unusual Structure
This track is actually quite unusual for me - it's over three minutes long, so I was obviously enjoying myself!
The structure is also different: it features a three-part third act, which is pretty much half the track. So a lot of it is big-sounding, which I like. You've got this lovely dreamy first act and a brief second act, then boom鈥攕traight into an extended finale.
My Creative Process
Finding Inspiration
I watched a lot of family adventure movie trailers on mute and played around with the theme while writing. I wanted to feel inspired by the visuals, imagining those quick-cut edits: explosions, flying dragons, fairies, pirate fights鈥攖hat type of thing.
Starting With Piano
This was part of Piano Works 8, which was all family adventure-type material. Like most of these tracks, I focused on sketching the piano as quickly as I could. Everything you hear in the final track is reflected in this initial piano sketch.
Building the Hook
I wanted to have a major chord progression with a little hook I could grab onto and pass around.
The beautiful thing about having a hook like this is that you can play it under different chord progressions. You get the familiarity of the hook, but the progression makes it feel like it's changing.
The Progressions
I used some interesting choices:
- First section: I - VI - III - IV (unusual for me!)
- Second section: V - VI - I (I like starting on the fifth chord鈥攊nteresting choice there, me!)
- Breakdown section: Takes the core progression and adds something nuanced and different
I sketched out the track pretty much with just a really simple bassline and a hook. That was my starting point.
Fleshing Out the Ideas
The Heart of the Track
The piano, tuned percussion, and string lines are the heart of this track. Everything else does the job it's supposed to do鈥攖he children's choir, the brass, the percussion鈥攂ut all my harmonic and melodic ideas come from these core elements.
String Techniques
I fade in the strings with a very basic chord tone melody. Then it's really important to get that ostinato string pattern going when we transition into Act Two. This is such an easy win: bring in a string pattern with some strings playing underneath.
On the second iteration of the progression, add a different pattern on top, generally higher up. This layering creates wonderful movement and growth.
The Extended Stop Down
I included an unusual extended stop-down section, which is essentially a breakdown. It gives you a chance to breathe before going into a 90-second third act. This pause makes the subsequent build even more impactful.
The Magic Ingredients
Don't Underestimate Woodwinds
Woodwinds add such a lovely, delightful lift to a pattern when you've got strings chugging away.
Don't forget to utilise woodwinds! They bring this wonderful shimmer and sparkle to the arrangement.
Long String Movement
Don't be afraid to give the long strings something more interesting to play. It gives this shimmer and movement, and you get wonderful micro-tensions as they play along with the rest of the orchestra.
All that movement gives the track life and magic鈥攖hat's really important in this type of music. It needs to feel like it's moving, growing, shimmering, and magical.
Brass Choices
I used Albion brass for this choral sound鈥攋ust perfect for family adventure music. In the final section, I gave the horns the top line, layering that hook with the brass and children's choir.
I also included a simple stepwise ascending melody, which gives a sense of growth and movement. This type of thing makes me want to go for a joyous run down the street!
The Percussion Approach
Metal Percussion for Sparkle
Rides complement these tracks so well. They add this wonderful shimmer you get with tuned percussion, but they drive it forward. You can add lovely little fills that add to the sparkle and loveliness.
I carried the rides through the track with symbols, gongs, and tam-tams. Don't forget the tam-tam for the final swell!
The Core Rhythm Pattern
The percussion is based around a numerical pattern: 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2, 3-1-2.
This 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2 pattern is something you'll hear all over the place in film scoring, trailers, and cinematic music. It drives a track, and it's such an easy win. The syncopation it creates, paired with the consistency of the rides, gives a lot of movement.
Adding Human Feel
I make sure not all the drums are doing exactly the same thing. There are ever-so-slight changes and little fills here and there to make it feel like there's a human playing, adding light touches to make the rhythm feel more alive and varied.
I also love a bit of stadium drum kit sound, so I added that in. It's not hugely overpowering鈥攋ust a suggestion鈥攂ut I think it's a really nice touch.
Percussion Guidelines
Remember: the small stuff can go faster and more intricate, while the slower stuff is just hitting those big hits. This way, you can work clearly with what your percussion is doing.
Key Takeaways
This track is slightly different because although we've got tuned percussion, it's not necessarily front and centre. And although we've got stops and dynamic changes, this track just feels very cohesive.
It changes progressions, moves hooks in and out, and changes top lines, but it all flows together seamlessly.
My Advice
Don't overcomplicate your writing. Think in really simple terms:
- Bass notes
- Chords
- Hook
- Top line
Write your track like that, then you can start to spread it around.
For the next iteration, keep the hook in the top line but change the baseline. Or keep the hook but change the baseline and top line. Or keep all three, but give them a different pattern.
The patterns will drive your track forward.
Final Thoughts
- Don't underestimate metal percussion (symbols, rides, crashes) to give magical sparkle
- Watch trailers that use this type of music鈥攖hey're so fun and full of life
- Enjoy the process! This style of music completely lifts me up, and I think that's important in life
This track was part of Piano Works 8. If you're interested in learning more about writing trailer music, check out my Trailer Music Courses.
