I Developed A Cinematic Theme From Scratch In 12 Minutes

🎶 Love what I do? Get my new EP Shifting Horizons — it helps me keep creating!
👉 https://samufl.bandcamp.com/

🎹 Get my FREE Hybrid Orchestral Starter Pack
👉 https://samufl.com/get-starter-pack

💜 Support my work (Donations)
👉 https://samufl.com/#/portal/support

Ever wondered if there’s an actual formula behind great movie themes? In this video, I’ll show you exactly how to turn a few tiny notes into a full-fledged cinematic melody — live, in real time.

Video Content:
After a short intro, I reveal the simple melody formula that so many cinematic themes follow:
Start with a 3- or 4-note nucleus — something with a clear rhythm or pattern.
Develop it using call & response (question & answer).
Add variation and repetition to build identity.
Finally, let the melody wander off and resolve — either openly or with a clear cadence.

Then — it’s go time.
I hit the clock and have 12 minutes to come up with a piano sketch from scratch. You’ll see the whole process uncut: the creative flow, the harmonization struggles, and the “aha!” moments when the theme clicks.

At the end, I share both the raw piano sketch and the fully orchestrated version, showing how a tiny melodic cell can evolve into a big, cinematic statement.

💡 Stay tuned until the end — I’ll also tease my upcoming EP, which dives even deeper into theme writing and storytelling through music.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:01 The Formula
03:23 12 Minute Challenge
15:50 Playthrough & Conclusion

#cinematicmusic #epicmusic #howtocomposemusic #compositiontutorial #themewriting #melodywriting #orchestralcomposition #epicorchestra #johnwilliams #samufl