Theme tunes, music & stuff…

As you’re probably already aware, Sarah’s exceptional design and illustration skills have made Happydesigner a leader in children’s book design and illustration. But did you know that our studio houses a unique combination of Sarah’s design and Barry’s music skills, all in one place? If not, then read on…!

Barry, a former professional musician, producer, and songwriter, has a wealth of experience in the music industry, both as a live performer and recording artist. He has now turned his talents to writing children’s theme tunes, songs, and other musical content for almost everything you could imagine! Animation, theatre productions, audiobooks, and social media advertising are just some of the areas we have composed music for, and we can do the same for YOU!

What services do we offer?

Well, just about anything music-related you need! Whether you want a simple tune to accompany your social media video through to a complex theatre production, we can help! These include:

Short intro tunes (10 – 30 second duration)
Full tune composition
Songwriting
Audiobooks, including sound effects
Tunes and beds for animated videos, including sound effects
Children’s theatre productions, including songs and background compositions

How Does It Work?

As with our book creation packages, we have designed the process to be as simple and straightforward as possible. We want the journey together to be as enjoyable as we can make it, especially as this helps us achieve the best results! Depending on the project, the process will involve a number of stages, during which we will request feedback from you to ensure we are heading in the right direction. After completion, we will present you with the files in a digital format of your choice. For instance, if you have an idea for a tune you would like us to work with, simply send us a recording of you singing, humming or even whistling it, and we can create the finished tune for you! If, however, you don’t have a specific tune in mind, then no problem. Simply give us an idea of the sort of tune you would like, and perhaps let us know some of your favourite children’s theme tunes as a guide, and we will compose one for you! The first stage involves us creating a basic tune for you, which, when completed, we will send you to listen to and provide us with your feedback. At this point, and if needed, there are a maximum of three revision stages to ensure you’re happy with the tune. Once this stage is signed off, we’ll move to the next stage, where we refine the tune and add instrumentation before sending you the finished version for approval.

Of course, larger and more complex projects, particularly those with several tunes or other incidental music, such as animated series or theatre productions, will require a more in-depth approach and bespoke package. However, no matter the project, we will strive to keep the process as straightforward as possible. Please feel free to message us with details of your project, and we’ll be delighted to provide you with further details of the package we can offer.

So, Now That I Have My Tune, How Can I Use It?

We are especially thrilled to offer a bespoke theme tune service that anyone can use alongside the book we created for them. Professionally composed, recorded and produced in our very own studio and provided in a format that can be used at home. You can read your story to your little ones while you play your very own theme tune quietly in the background, adding something very special and unique to the story-telling experience! And if you intend to publish the book, you can use the tune on all social media platforms along with your other promotional material, such as an animated book promo video (which we can also produce for you), to help your book stand out from the rest. You will have everything you need to showcase your book to your friends, family and other potential readers in style!

And who knows… If your book is discovered and turned into an animated series or a film, then, subject to licensing, your very own theme tune could end up being used and then listened to by millions of people worldwide!!

But why stop there? Wouldn’t it be great if your story could be read to your loved ones whenever they wanted, as often as they wished, and without the resulting sore throat?! Well, we can make that dream a reality with our audiobook service! It’s a very simple process, too! All we need is for you to supply us with a good-quality recording of you (or someone else if you prefer…!) reading your story. We will then create a professionally mixed and mastered recording of you reading your story, layered over a bed of complementary sounds and special effects, and, if you wish, including your very own theme tune!! You can then give this to your loved ones, and they will be able to listen to your story, read especially to them, over and over again – as many times as they wish!

What Other Services Do You Provide?

If you are working on a children’s project, whether a play, a theatre musical, a film, animation, or something more bespoke, and need accompanying music or songs, we can help! Utilising Sarah’s visual design skills and decades of experience, we can even create an album of your music and songs, which you can then turn into vinyls, CDs, or digital downloads to complement your project. Don’t despair if you have something a little different that we haven’t covered here. Don’t hesitate to contact us with details of what you are looking for, and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Are You PRS/MCPS Registered?

Yes! Barry, with his alter-ego ‘Sonorous Hue’, is registered with PRS and MCPS.

FAQs

How long does the process take?

As you might imagine, this all depends on the complexity of the project. A simple tune might take a couple of weeks or so to complete, whereas a large theatre production will take several months. The creative process is inherently difficult to quantify, and with the many variables involved in a process like this, it is always hard to place a strict timeframe on things. Despite this, we promise to complete every project in the shortest possible time without compromising on the quality of the work on which we pride ourselves.

What file formats do you provide?

Usually, a single theme tune is provided in an MP3 format, which is compatible with most devices nowadays. However, should you require, we can also provide .wav files. For larger productions requiring more flexibility, we can provide STEMS or other suitable formats.

What instruments do you use?

These days, with digital production, we producers and composers have a vast array of instrumental sounds at our disposal, and we will use whatever are required for each individual project. From simple instrumentation and synthesisers through to more complex compositions, utilising strings, brass, percussion and woodwind.

Can I have input into the process?

Yes—absolutely! If you have a tune in your head that you would like us to use, let us know, and we’ll work with you to create your finished tune. There are also review opportunities at strategic stages, where you can review and comment on the progress and provide feedback that we can use to refine your tune.

Will I own the rights to the music you compose?

No. Unless it is purchased outright for an agreed sum, most professional creatives retain the rights to their work, preferring to license the use of their work accordingly. In our case, you will receive an exclusive copyright license allowing you to use the tunes we write and produce for the intended purposes for the Period Of Copyright. This is defined as the lifetime of the creator + 70 years, which will work out to roughly 80 - 100 years.

I already have a tune; can you help refine and record it?

Yes, and we would be delighted to do so! Simply send us your tune, and we will advise further.

Do you work with theatres?

Yes, of course! We will help any theatre, club, or production company with its musical requirements.

I have the words; can you write the tunes?

Yes! Send us your lyrics, songwords, and details of your project, and we’ll get back to you with further details on how we can help.

Can you write the music for a full theatre production?

Yes. We can help with all elements, including the songs, incidental music, and other musical elements. In the first instance, simply provide us with an overview of your project, and we’ll get back to you to discuss the potential process in more detail.

If I have written the words, how does this work with royalties through PRS/MCPS?

Providing you have joined PRS/MCPS, all royalties will be split 50/50 between the writer of the lyrics and the composer of the music.

Theme tunes and Music - Ear worms work!