How Do You Compose Orchestral Soundtracks?
Hello,
I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I want to learn how to compose orchestral film scores in a style similar to John Williams and Alan Silvestri.
I don’t have a strong background in music or music theory (I’m more focused on filmmaking.) but I’ve become very interested in making music for films. What I want to learn is how to take a simple melodic idea and turn it into a big, grand-sounding orchestral piece.
I’ve watched countless YouTube videos trying to understand how to achieve that, but I keep finding different answers. Some people say to focus on melody and triad-based harmony, others emphasize rhythm and texture, while some focus heavily on orchestration. I’ve also heard about concepts like SATB writing, but I struggle to understand how to apply it or find the right harmonies.
At this point, I feel a bit lost and unsure of what I should actually be learning first. Any guidance or advice on where to start would be really appreciated.
I work in a DAW with an orchestral template, if that matters.