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Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 4:25 am
by themarkalanproject
Hi All,

Just curious if I am on the right track for a piano underscore submission? I know an underscore is meant for dialog so I tried to keep it as simplistic as can be. Especially with percussion, however I am now questioning if I did too little or too much with the rest of the composition here. Also as far as the mix too much reverb or saturation?

Appreciate any feedback. Still a noob student here chasing his first placement deal! Thank you!


https://www.taxi.com/members/Er9Iix4ATp ... ic-reverie


For this listing: TAXI # S240225UN


PIANO-Based UNDERSCORE INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a very successful boutique Music Library that's distributed by Universal and has tons of credits in Big Films, Countless TV Shows, and Commercials!

This company gets some really, really great placements, and lots of them! Please listen to the following examples the Company's CEO gave us to get yourself in the ballpark of what they need:

Instrumental Examples

Quoting the Library's CEO: "We'd like to hear sophisticated, modern, pattern-based piano cues that are intimate, soft, and underscore-friendly. Structure-wise, make sure to both have a consistent composition and give the editors options to use, i.e. a dynamic section, build-up section, and more intense section. The key is to have different sections in terms of intensity, but NOT different in terms of harmony or 'new ideas'. Pianos often have quite a few resonances – so Dynamic EQs, Multiband compressors, different reverbs, etc. are very handy techniques to keep them from sounding muddy."

Please submit well-crafted Piano-Based Instrumental Cues that could add feeling and emotion to whatever is being shown on screen. Instrumentation can include strings, percussion, acoustic guitar, etc., as long as piano is the main focus. Remember, you're not trying to show off what an amazing piano player you are, so much as creating a vibe, feeling, and emotion while leaving plenty of room for dialogue to be the focus.

TIPS FROM THE LIBRARY TO HELP YOU NAIL THIS PITCH: "Many composers throw in way too many ideas and are not focused on ONE CENTRAL MOTIF: they try to keep things interesting by adding new harmonic lines and elements (melodies, even improvisations, etc) instead of focusing on the production and textures. What I'm looking for is basically: obvious production music (in form and structure), that sounds like commercial music (production style)." Put simply, keep it SIMPLE! We know that other Libraries like to receive music with complementary A and B sections, but this Library is NOT one of them – stick with ONE CENTRAL MOTIF per submission, please!

All submissions should be about 2 minutes long, give or take. Good edit points and non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings are required. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, texture, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.

This Music Library offers an EXCLUSIVE deal with a cool twist. You’ll keep 50% of all gross income generated by your music, plus you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share income generated by your PRO. In other words, if the company licenses your music under a blanket deal, you’ll get income. If they license it for a YouTube video, you’ll get income. Not all music libraries pay you for things like that! The Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share.

Because this is an Exclusive deal, the music you submit for this pitch cannot already be signed with other Libraries or Publishers. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. Please submit as many Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Sunday, February 25th, 2024. TAXI # S240225UN

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 6:14 am
by superkons
There are no piano patterns going on in your tune like the references, so that will be the 1st thing the screener will notice, as that bit is actually a hard requirement from the company

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:27 pm
by themarkalanproject
Okay thanks for the feedback. I will definitely do a piano arp and change violin string chords to harmonize better when the piano notes change up. Then make it a tad more dynamic, I was worried since they kept stating to keep the motif. Great advice. Thanks again,

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:54 am
by cosmicdolphin
themarkalanproject wrote:
Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:27 pm
Okay thanks for the feedback. I will definitely do a piano arp and change violin string chords to harmonize better when the piano notes change up. Then make it a tad more dynamic, I was worried since they kept stating to keep the motif. Great advice. Thanks again,
Had quick listen, I think the other guys gave you some good feedback which I agree with.

I could be wrong but it sounds more like this was an existing piano track you thought might fit, rather than a new cue you wrote specifically for the listing? The reason I say that is because apart for featuring paino it doesn't really sound very much like what they are asking for which often indicates someone is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole musically speaking.Just after I read this thread a new video dropped on Youtube which I think explains it better than I can and is worth a watch.

5 Biggest Mistakes Most Sync Newbies Make (That Cause Burnout)

https://youtu.be/MkkXqxL_pUg?si=Lu28CQ3EFAc74XQs

Hope that helps.

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:24 pm
by themarkalanproject
No, sadly I actually wrote it just for this. Am I really that off target? Was trying to be different a bit, it has elements listed that they say. Too many elements? Very little percussion, dreamy acoustic guitar part for like 5 seconds, I toned down the strings, some choir which was also in referenced tracks, but otherwise it’s primarily piano with several arp patterns.

What’s driving me nuts is I’ve been told use the reference tracks over and over.. but have been returned when it sounds too close to them lol, or I differ too much. Struggling to find the fine line.
Thanks for sharing the Youtube video. I’ve been following that YouTube channel for the last month. Very good content.

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:54 pm
by cosmicdolphin
themarkalanproject wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:24 pm
No, sadly I actually wrote it just for this. Am I really that off target?
I think the trick to it is to listen to all of the references ( usually 3 ) and triangulate what the commonalities are. There is a video somewhere that must be pretty old by now on Sync My Music about how to analyze a reference track which might help. I still use it sometimes myself even though I've been at this for 8yrs

Re: Would this work for a piano underscore? Or did I bring in too many elements?

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 3:39 pm
by themarkalanproject
That sounds very helpful. I just subscribed to the channel few weeks ago. If you happen to stumble on it again please share if can. Also you’ve been very helpful and responsive. I appreciate all your help.