Course · Orchestral & cinematic
Dark Fantasy
Dark, whimsical orchestral music for magical family adventure trailers.
- 12 lessons
- 3.6 hours of video
- Advanced
- Lifetime access
- Watch online, any time
Think of the music on trailers for films like Harry Potter or Alice in Wonderland. Dark, whimsical, a bit odd, and full of wonder. It’s orchestral music, but not the heroic kind.
Getting that sound is hard if you aren’t confident with orchestration, or don’t know enough harmony to work with modes. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you’ve even started.
This course is all about those two things: particular orchestration choices and “different” harmony. Modes, alternative scales and keys, and how to use them to make a track feel like it comes from another world.
Then I write a complete dark fantasy track from scratch to a real brief from a publisher. You’ll see me respond to their feedback and refine the track until it’s ready for release and pitching.
My fantasy tracks have been used on trailers for Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon and Pete’s Dragon, and on Come Away.
By the end, you’ll be able to
- Understand the orchestration and advanced harmony behind fantasy music
- Use modes and alternative scales and keys to create a magical sound
- Write captivating music for family movie trailers
- Build a track from a simple idea to a grand finale
- Feel confident tackling this style of trailer music
At a glance
Techniques you’ll learn
- three-act trailer structure
- borrowed chords and modal exchange
- chromatic semitone voice-leading
- orchestral layering and register shifts
- chord inversions for perceived motion
- rhythmic ostinatos in mixed meters
- call-and-response between choir and strings
- trailerization of classical music
- sketch-first workflow with iterative feedback
- velocity and dynamic automation for build
- transition refinement with staggered entries
- tuned percussion for magical atmosphere
Write music for
- fantasy film trailers
- dark fantasy TV drama underscore
- video game cutscenes
- supernatural thriller trailers
- adventure film scoring
- fantasy epic opening titles
Influences we look at
Danny Elfman · Tim Burton · A Discovery of Witches · Pinocchio · Robin Hood (Audio Machines) · Audio Machines - Worlds of Wonder · Mozart · Haydn · Vivaldi · Philip Glass
Proof it works
What composers say
Rich's informal style of teaching makes the course enjoyable and leaves you eager to get to work, move onto the next module and finally complete your track. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge in the field is second to none. I like how Rich demonstrates how to build a track from a simple idea through to a grand finale. The course covers how to create a chord progression and melody in the dark fantasy genre, how to structure and build a track, orchestrate and mix your final track. Plus there are lots of tips along the way that will enhance your piece. Thoroughly recommended! Thanks Rich!
What’s inside
- Introduction to Dark Fantasy
The genre of whimsy, awe, magic and wonder, plus analysis of trailers and how their music is used.
- How to get that Magical sound
The harmony and orchestration used to create ethereal, whimsical worlds.
- Dark Fantasy track from scratch
A complete track written to an existing publisher brief, including responding to their feedback until it's ready for release and pitching.
- Bonus: Dark Fantasy Toolkit and The Pixiephone
Ready-to-use chord sequences as MIDI files with a PDF, and a Kontakt instrument of a 1950s tuned percussion toy for childlike adventure vibes.
This is for you if…
- You want to write dark, magical orchestral music but feel daunted by it
- You lack confidence in orchestration
- You don't know enough about harmony to compose with modes
It’s not for you if…
- You want modern hybrid sound design. Try Hybrid Trailer Music
- You've never written for orchestra at all. Uplifting Orchestral is a gentler start
Who’s teaching
I’ve written music for ads since 2007 and movie trailers since 2011, and went full time in 2014. My music has been used on over 100 campaigns, including Captain America: Civil War, Glass Onion, WandaVision and The Conjuring 2, and I’ve won eight awards along the way. Since 2017 I’ve taught thousands of composers how to do the same. More about me.
Questions before you buy? Email [email protected].
Questions
Do I need to be able to use a DAW?
Yes. You need to be able to use a DAW so you can follow along with the videos.
Do I have to use Logic?
No. Use whichever DAW you like, as long as you know how to use it.
How long is the course?
Over 3 hours of video, including a full walkthrough of a successful track.
Can you guarantee I will get a placement?
Of course not. The composers who get work are the ones who put the hours in. They also happen to be very nice people (industry secret).
How long do I have access?
Forever. It's a one-time payment, not a membership, and you get all future updates and new lessons free.
What if it's not for me?
Within 30 days of registering you can ask for a full refund, as long as you haven't accessed more than 30% of the course (not counting anything public or in the Welcome module).
Dark Fantasy
Learn the orchestration and modal harmony behind mystical, Burton-esque trailer cues, then watch me write one to a real publisher brief.
Not ready yet? Start with the free path
The free learning paths cover the same ground in article form. Work through one first and come back when you want the full walkthrough.
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