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Having a composer write original music for your film, advert, corporate video, game or personal project will bring the project to life but it’s worth considering how to budget this into your overall project finances. This depends on several factors, including the length of the music, its complexity, how much needs to be recorded live (as opposed to using VSTs) and how the finished recording will be used (in terms of licensing). Commissioning original music doesn't necessarily

For many films, adverts, corporate videos, games and creative projects, library music (also known as stock or production music) can be a practical and affordable solution. However, commissioning original music gives you something library music cannot: a piece created specifically around your project, its story, identity and emotional direction. Music has been closely connected to storytelling for centuries. Long before recorded sound, composers were writing music to accompany

Do you need a composer for your advert? Not necessarily, but original music can make a significant difference to how audiences experience, remember and respond to your brand. Television commercials, online videos, social media campaigns and radio advertisements can all benefit from the right music and a simple message can be transformed into something memorable - just think of the McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin’ It’! Music has been an essential part of advertising for over a century.

Do you need a composer for your film? Not necessarily – but the right original music can completely change how an audience experiences a story. Film music can create tension, suggest emotion, establish a sense of place and even make a relatively simple scene feel unforgettable. The relationship between film and music goes back to the earliest days of cinema. During the silent-film era, films were commonly accompanied by pianists, organists or small ensembles performing alongs

How Do I Find the Right Composer for My Film? Finding the right composer for your film can transform how an audience experiences your story. Music can create tension, heighten emotion, establish atmosphere and make individual scenes memorable - but how do you find the right one for your project? The best place to start is by considering your film, its story and the musical direction you want to explore. What Style of Music Does My Film Need? Think about the sound you want bef

Can I Commission a Composer to Write Original Music? Absolutely. Commissioning a composer to write original music is a great way to create something completely unique for your film, television project, advert, corporate video, educational project, live event or personal creative work. Unlike stock music, commissioned music is written specifically around your project. This means the composer can respond to your brief, visual style, brand, story, timings and intended audience t

A great musical idea is only the beginning. Turning that idea into a finished recording requires a combination of creativity, technical knowledge, and careful production. From developing an initial demo to creating a polished, broadcast-ready mix, professional production, recording and mixing can make a huge difference to how your music sounds and connects with an audience. Nick Pike Music offers full production, recording and mixing services from his purpose-built studio, wi

If you love the rich and expressive sonorities of live piano and saxophone recordings, you're not alone. Piano and Sax are perfect whether you’re producing an original song, creating music for a wedding, recording a film soundtrack, or adding a professional touch to a commercial advertisement project; live musicians can add whole new dimensions to your project and a sense of authenticity that virtual instruments can't match. Where can you get piano and saxophone recorded live

If you've ever dreamed of writing your own music, composition lessons are the perfect way to help turn your ideas into original, fully-realised pieces. Whether you're a complete beginner, an experienced musician looking to expand your skills, or a student preparing for exams, composition lessons can help you develop creativity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of music. If you're considering music composition lessons in London, then here are some tips you might find use

Ayloradia - Nick Pike Ayloradia is the fourth studio album from neoclassical composer and pianist Nick Pike. Following Nick’s debut piano, string and electronics album ‘Norastoria’ (2024), his more relaxed sleep piano album ‘Evergreen’ (2024), Phraxia (2025) which took impressive solo piano compositions with more texturally rich pieces, weaving both synthesiser and electronic elements, ‘Ayloradia’ is a return to the semi-orchestral forces of ‘Norastoria’ but with the experien

How Do I Compose Like A Pro? Composing music is both an art and a skill that develops through practice, patience, and experience. Whether you're writing your first melody or looking to refine your craft, understanding how experienced composers approach their work can help you write music that connects with listeners. While every composer has a unique style, there are a few key principles that consistently lead to stronger, more memorable compositions that satisfy your listene

What Music Theory Do I Need To Start Composing? This question comes up all the time with aspiring composers and, whilst the answer is not nothing, it is almost definitely less than you think. Many beginners believe they must master advanced harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration before writing their first piece. In reality, composition and theory develop together. Music theory is not a set of rules that must be memorised before creating music; it is a language that helps ex

Film music composers have the unique ability to shape emotions, enhance storytelling, and create unforgettable moments. Whilst there is no right or wrong or singular way to create a film soundtrack, there are a selection of techniques and methods that seem to resonate with listeners and watchers and effectively portray the desired emotions. The process typically begins with understanding the story. Before writing a single note, composers study the script, watch rough cuts of

Beginning a piece, be it on a blank piece of paper or a computer screen can be really daunting. There are endless possibilities for melodies, harmonies, rhythms, instrumentation (not to even get started on the production element) and this can be hugely overwhelming. This becomes less terrifying with experience and practice so if there is one piece of umbrella advice to follow it is this - just keep writing and finish your pieces. The more you write, the better you get and the

Creating your very first piece of music can feel intimidating but it should be viewed as a special moment where you are taking your first step into a huge and beautiful world. Many people assume that composing music is something reserved for advanced pianists or professional musicians with years of theory training. In reality, some of the most beautiful piano music begins with very simple ideas. You do not need to be a virtuoso to start composing, you simply need curiosity, p

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced composer, you should always be striving to better your craft and plumb new depths of your style. Using targeted composition exercises can dramatically improve your musical ear and technical ability, having a direct knock-on impact on your confidence and creativity. Creativity is not only natural but also learnt and encouraged to grow. Try writing a melody using only three notes to limit yourself and force creativity. Choose three n

The phrase ‘Curse of the Ninth’ refers to a long-standing superstition in Classical Music that composers who reach their ninth symphony are doomed to die before completing their tenth symphony. Whilst this sounds like a ridiculous myth, the idea has persisted for over a century - fuelled by the (maybe coincidental) deaths of some of the most famous composers in history! The curse of the Ninth is often cited as starting with Ludwig Van Beethoven who’s Ninth Symphony or Symphon