The course
You've found a free piano. Now write music people license.
Turn four chords and a free piano VST into finished cues for trailers, adverts and TV. You write everything in the piano roll, so you don't need to play.
Get the Cinematic Piano Course · £199 →30-day money-back guarantee. Lifetime access.
Start with the piano you already have
Richard wrote his first five PianoWorks albums on Spitfire's Soft Piano, a felt piano that was free in LABS for years. Those albums are still licensed for TV, adverts and trailers. The course opens with the pianos he reaches for and why. After that, the sound matters less than the writing.
The method in three steps
- Map the chords. Four to eight chords are the whole track.
- Choose an arpeggio. Patterns in 3 feel nostalgic and patterns in 6 feel pacey. The pattern turns plain chords into cinematic piano.
- Add variations. Develop that one pattern from the first bar to the last.
Want to try it first? Download the free Piano Pattern Pack.
Three tracks you'll finish
| Track | Where it's used | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| Dramatic neoclassical cue | Film trailers | Three-act trailer structure, adding strings and timpani |
| Uplifting, nostalgic track | Adverts and branded content | The advertising staircase, choosing tempo and time signature |
| Tense sound bed | TV drama and streaming | Holding one mood, choosing notes from a mode, adding colour |
Each track ends with a quick mix and master, so you finish with something you can pitch.
Make MIDI sound like a pianist
You'll separate left and right hands, humanise your timing, automate the sustain pedal and layer velocities. Two lessons cover this alone: "Humanising your part" and "Realistic programming".
What you get
- 51 lessons, about 16 hours of video
- Beginner level, with no piano playing needed
- Shown in Logic Pro; the methods work in any DAW
- Lifetime access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Your tutor
Richard Pryn has written trailer and advert music full time since 2014. Full bio on richardpryn.com.
Questions
Do I need a paid piano library?
No. You can follow along with a free piano from this site. Richard also uses Alicia's Keys and The Giant in some lessons.
Do I need to play piano?
No. Every part is written in the piano roll.
I already play. Is it still useful?
Yes. It teaches the structures trailers and adverts need, which is where trained pianists often overcomplicate.
Get the Cinematic Piano Course → Get the free pack first
30-day money-back guarantee.