There are MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files on the web that can be used as soundtracks for movie and multi-media productions. The links below are all covered by Creative Commons Share and Share Alike Copyright Contract. But you must give attribution to where you got it. This means you can legally use them in your productions so long as they are not for commercial purposes. The links below are mostly to Classical compositions because they are all in the Public Domain. Drag a downloaded MIDI file into GarageBand and assign different instruments to the various parts (or just to take advantage of GarageBand's high quality Grand Piano).
Even if the music available here doesn't suit your personal taste in music, there are still several reasons why you should consider the music available here for use in your media projects:
- Again, it's free and it's legal and that's a big deal
- Cinematic music has always been heavily influenced by classical music; it can be very evocative while supporting the visuals
- This can be an effective way to get your students a dose of culture without too much pain; give them some parameters (mood, desired length, etc.) and let them go to work choosing and translating a piece into something they think works
- Extended play time; much of the Freeplay music we use (while terrific) is usually limited to 2 or 3 minutes in length. Here it's not unusual to find movements that are 9 or 10 minutes long and whole pieces 2 to 3 times that length
- There's a reason why people still listen 300 years after the fact
The M Files: http://www.mfiles.co.uk/midi-classical.htm
Classical Piano MIDI Page: http://www.piano-midi.de/midi_files.htm
Scott Joplin: http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/2783/sjmidi.htm
Ragtime Piano: http://www.kunstderfuge.com/ragtime.htm
Kunst der Fuge: http://www.kunstderfuge.com/midi.htm
Public Domain Music Midi files with Creative Commons licenses. There is a suggested attribution statement in each folder so you can give acknowledgement in the credits of your project. You should also give attribution to the composer and piece.
